Filgotinib and weight gain

[28maggie11]

Fighting a losing battle with weight think filgotinib is the culprit. Anyone else think weight gain with this drug. Not sure if helling RA as had a steroid jab

[Hidden]

Hi 28maggie11,

Sorry to hear of your situation. Weight gain can happen when on medications (steroids in particular) and living with RA (due to it making it more difficult in some cases to exercise).

Please make sure you report the suspected side effect via the MHRA's Yellow card scheme (find out more here: nras.org.uk/resource/report....

These resources may also be of help to you:

- nras.org.uk/resource/exercise/

- nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/

- nras.org.uk/resource/diet/

- nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/

I hope you find this information useful and wish you all the best. Should you require any additional information or support please contact our helpline on 0800 298 7650 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4.30pm) or email us at [e-mail]

Kind regards,

Hannah

NRAS Information and Support Coordinator

[Chocnbags]

Yes .yes me I didn’t connect the two until I read your post 🙄 I thought it was the cake and chocolate 🍫 .I am going to try a keto diet to see if I can move a few Lbs

[Runrig01]

I think it’s easy to gain weight with any biologic, or med that reduces inflammation. My rheumatologist explained that prior to treatment, our bodies burn so many calories fighting inflammation. Once on correct treatment it doesn’t need to do that, so we therefore burn less calories per day. He advised reducing calorie intake to account for not fighting inflammation. Makes sense. Steroids are also known to cause weight gain. I’m on long term steroids and if I increase my prednisolone by a mg or 2, then I can gain 3-4 lb overnight, which is usually fluid. Goes on quicker than it comes off unfortunately.

[oldtimer2]

I find that even small increases in my steroids cause weight gain. This is both from fluid retention and also because it seems that steroids affect my 'off switch' . I mean by that the normal time that I stop eating because I feel full just doesn't seem to happen. I found that measuring out my food by portion or weight to restrict the amounts works for me. (But it took several years to lose the weight I gained when on high dose steroids.)

[Blodynhaul]

Hi 28maggie, sorry only now seeing your post on weight gain!

I've been on Filgotinib for 20 months & have put on a quarter of my previous body weight since then! Totally fed up with that side of it as it affect what I can do so much. It must be the drug as nothing else changed since having my RA out of control thru 2021. I've not been on steroids since then either. I'm stuck on 12 stone, having been 9 and a half for decades & because of associated drug side effects I can't do aerobic exercise & burn some off.

How are you now? your post was 9 months ago. Interested to hear how your weight is now & how you are otherwise? Would love to hear if you've managed to lower the weight somehow .Thanks!