Tocilizumab and weight gain

[ruth_p]

Has anyone else experienced Wright gain while on tocilizumab?

[beeckey]

Hi Ruth I have put weight on since starting tocilizumab but i am not very mobile so it is hard to say whether its the drugs or lack of exercise.I lost a lot of weight when i was on Sulpha but got back to my normal weight after a while when i was taken off it.Started tocil and my weight started to go up i had been the same weight for years before the ups and downs of drugs but i also would like to know if it is the meds

[ruth_p in reply to beeckey]

Like you I'm not sure if it is the toc or not. I flared last year when my Humira stopped working but since then I also lost my fitness because I hadn't been cycling. Maybe I just eat too much but I'm now two stone heavier than I was two yeats ago. I joined a gym last week so I'm hoping that will help me lose weight.

[mary4444 in reply to beeckey]

hi beeckey is tocillizumab steroids havent heard of that one was on sulfalazine a few years back lost weight due to feeling sick and loss of appetite

[ruth_p in reply to mary4444]

No tocilizumab is a biologic treatment.

[davannh]

Yes yes yes! I started Tocilizumab six years ago and the weight started to pile on. Two stone. I cannot shift it, it has nothing to do with being immobile as I have had RA for over 30 years. It has been a very effective drug but I am very very unhappy with the weight gain.

[ruth_p in reply to davannh]

I'm really hoping I can shift it at the gym. I'll let you know how I get on.

[beeckey]

Yip 2 stone for me too not good.I have been on it for 4 years

[Angels-delight]

Hi, I didn't put on weight just the opposite but I have had a change in meds and even taking steroids I have lost my moon face which makes me happy. I had my first Tocizumab infusion 2 weeks ago in Canada, prior to that I had 4 infusions in the UK, the last one was December 2015 so I will have to see if I gain weight. I usually have a problem gaining weight, finding it difficult to get my weight down even before RA and the meds. I am glad it is working for you and you are hopefully pain free.

[Ozzy]

I have gained weight since starting it two years ago.

[Warcho]

I have been on toc.for 2 months and haunt noticed any significant weight gain.However I'm finding it very effective for my ra.embrel stopped being effective after 2 years,I'm hoping I will get more mileage from tocy

[ruth_p in reply to Warcho]

I was originally on Enbrel which stopped working after 2 1/2 years, then I had Humira which stopped after 4 1/2. I've been on Tocilizumab since May last year. It's been great so far and actually started working after 24 hours! My weight has been creeping up since. I'm hoping the gym will sort it out though. ☺

[michaelegan in reply to ruth_p]

I have had three infusions of Tocilizumab and have not experienced any improvement in fact my pain has intensified.

[ruth_p in reply to michaelegan]

I was very lucky it worked so quickly. It might be it doesn't work for you. You need to speak to your consultant.

[michaelegan]

Thank you Ruth