Weight Gain as opposed to weight loss

[UCTD]

I have limited systemic scleroderma and take the following medications:

Prednisolone 5 mg,Omeprazole 40mg, Plaquenil, Telfast,Arcoxia, Fluoxetine, Tolterodine, Betmiga, Bosentan, Gabapentin, Monteneuklast, paracetamol, Iloprost every 6-9 months and Rituximab infusions every 6 months.

I am very overweight now and can’t help but wonder if the medications are in part responsible?

[ilovedancing]

I have the same condition as you and dont take any of those medications. I was prescribed gabapentin for the pain in my feet but after reading about the side effects including weight gain I decided not to take it. I also refused omeprazole as I read it can interact with the thyroxine I take for under active thyroid. I had an iloprost infusion when I was first diagnosed 6 years ago I was in hospital 5 days. It made me quite I'll and they had to stop the treatment.I try to keep active to keep weight under control but missing the activities we used to do before lockdown. Dancing 3 times a week, swimming, yoga, gym all gone.

[UCTD in reply to ilovedancing]

I guess you don’t have severe symptoms necessitating all of these medications. I have been very ill and without the meds would not be able to function. You are lucky to be able to keep so active usually. What works for one person doesn’t work for another I guess. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[pino99]

Hi, I don't know many of those medications, but the prednisolone can definitely produce significant weight gain. I gained 10 kilos when I was first put on it, only on 10mg tapered down to 5 mg quite quickly, so if you have been on it for a while now that is a prime candidate. Have you had a recent medication review with your GP? You do seem to be taking a large range of medicines and it may be that things have accumulated over time and may no longer be needed.

I was able to lose the weight whilst on the pred by having a plant-based diet with very little oil, but not easy and not for everyone!

Best wishes,

Pino

[UCTD in reply to pino99]

Thank you for your reply. Yes I am on a lot but o have multi system involvement hence the need for all of those medications. I am fed up and now waiting for a hip replacement so in a lot of pain and not able to walk too far 😱

[KatieAnna in reply to UCTD]

I'm sorry to hear that you're so ill. This is a very variable disease we all experience differently. I'm on quite a few meds but they don't affect my weight. I haven't heard of most of the ones you're on tjough. Good luck with the hip replacement. I hope things go smoothly.

[UCTD in reply to KatieAnna]

Thank you

[Hidden]

I’m on some of those meds including Iloprost (3 monthly) plus Mycophenolate. I have actually been losing weight because I’m struggling to eat. Being worked up for gastroparesis soon. The weight gain meds for me amongst yours are steroids and Gabapentin (I put on a stone in 4 months with pregabalin). But this is the first time in ten years (when I was misdiagnosed with RA) that I’ve lost rather than gained weight without trying and it’s the only silver lining for me as a very overweight person - about not being able to eat much at all.

However someone posted this on a local scleroderma group and, although I admit I find it hard to get my head around, i think it might have relevance to why people with Scleroderma often gain rather than lose weight. sruk.co.uk/about-us/news/li...

[UCTD in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much 😊