Dear Madam, Hi & Welcome. I can understand your concerns regarding the safety of prescribed BP lowering medications. Weight gain is not a side effect of either of these medicines. It can be due to some underlying problems involving heart, liver or kidneys or hypothyroidism. The most common side effects of Hydrochlorothiazide (a thiazide diuretic) include headache, dizziness, tiredness, weakness due to hypokalemia (low serum potassium levels), increased or irregular heart beats and a serious skin condition called Stevens-Johnson syndrome or exfoliative dermatitis. Since it helps in losing water and salts from the body ( water pill ) it is unlikely to cause weight gain. As far as Amlodipine (a calcium channel blocker) is concerned its most common side effects include increased heart beats, palpitations, flushing, headache, gums enlargement, swelling around the ankles and feet, & constipation. These side effects are seen in early in the course of treatment and usually resolve once you get accustomed to it. Weight gain is not a side effect of Amlodipine. Kindly do the CBC, liver function tests (LFTs),lipid profile, thyroid function tests, kidney function tests, etc to rule out any underlying diseases responsible for the weight gain. You need to have certain lifestyle changes to reduce your body weight like: 1. Reduce the intake of dietary salt 2. Do regular exercise ( brisk walking) at least 30 minutes & keep your body mass index between 19 and 25. 3. Avoid smoking, alcohol, stress, coffee and caffeinated beverages 4. Eat a diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products & skimps on saturated fat and cholesterol You can continue taking Amlodipine as suggested by your doctor or you may request for other drugs like Lisinopril or Losartan for the control of high BP as these drugs also do not cause weight gain. Hope the advice given above would be useful. A feed back is appreciated.