Weight Gain and Biologics: The Battle of the Pudge

The Seated View has movedI am still bringing you the information and support you need to live a better life with RA and chronic illness, just on another site. I'd love for you to visit my new website! - Lene

If you want to leave a comment or question about weight gain, RA, and Biologics and are looking for answers or feedback, please jump to this post on my new site. It has the capability for direct replies, this site does not. You can also reach me at leneATyourlifewithraDOTcom.

- Thanks, Lene

I’ve known from the beginning that Biologics can affect your weight. When I was on Enbrel, I couldn’t keep weight on, and looked anorexic despite eating like a horse. When I switched to Humira, I started gaining weight. I, who had never before spent much time past a size 6, became a 10. After years of being  literally skin and bones, it suited me just fine. 

And then the gaining continued, until finally settling around a weight that requires a 16 pant. Never having been this size, I feel it’s important to mention that I’m probably more like a 14, but when you sit down all the time, the mid-region requires a little extra room. It was also scientifically kind of interesting, as I have never eaten a more healthy diet, free of crap.

So where was the weight coming from?


I figured it was a combination of medication, middle age, and menopause each contributing to add some of the pudge. Until this week, though, I didn’t know how big a role medication played in the weight gain.

And then The Original Dragon Mother mentioned a physician’s blog post, I got the link, and the light bulb went off.

In a follow-up to a post asking the question whether these medications cause weight gain, Australian physician Dr. Irwin Lim presents a literature search that indicates that yes, they do. In fact, there are numerous journal articles about studies indicating that this weight gain happens.

TNF inhibitors, such as Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade, appears to cause weight gain and an increase in BMI. Moreover, they seem to specifically cause fat gain in your stomach.

No sh*t, says my size 16 pants holding in my pot belly (aka Lucy’s favourite pillow).

 
Dr. Lim points out that there doesn’t seem to be any studies on the role of diet and exercise in holding this weight gain. Purely anecdotally, I can tell him that my diet has been very much the same for several years, and nonetheless, I gained weight.

(In making this statement, I am not including the last couple of months in which an alarming amount of crap has entered my diet, with some degree of subsequent addition of… well, addition. This is easily understandable, however, and when I stop eating all the crap (soon…), it will hopefully go away again)

The medication -induced weight gain is extremely frustrating. In the beginning, I enjoyed feeling more substantial, but as I repeatedly had to buy new pants, I stopped finding it quite as amusing.

It is extremely frustrating to not lose weight despite eating a largely healthy diet. It is also extremely frustrating to, when you cut down on certain things within that diet, to not see your weight budge at all. And it is beyond frustrating when your disability and chronic pain levels prevent you from exercising.

Most of the time, I try not to care. But the odd time when I look at myself in the mirror on the way to the shower, or see a photo that especially shows my head to resemble a bowling ball, it is difficult to incorporate this body as being me.

And then I remind myself that my blood tests show I am healthier than I have ever been. And I also remind myself that the medication which has made me so pudgy is also holding my RA at bay, and enables me to live this life I love.


  
And in that context, who cares about the extra weight?

Comments

Unknown said…
OMG!!!! My first year on Enbrel I gained around 15 pounds. I've since added more, also thinking it must be menopause because it's in my stomach and my rheumy denied it could be related to biologic. I've tried losing weight with diet and exercise, with awful results.
Anonymous said…
Sheesh! If there weren't enough bad news about RA and the drug side effects. I figured my weight gain was due to the lack of activity caused by surgeries every year since I was diagnosed. But you're right. We need to keep things in perspective.
Sydney Harper said…
This came at the perfect time. I was diagnosed with RA last year and just started Humira a few months ago. Before my diagnosis, I had lost quite a bit of weight for me. I went down a clothing size at least. Since I've started Humira, I've put some of that weight back on and it came on suddenly. But just last week I started noticing I had belly flab, or more belly flab. I'm hardly the picture of physical fitness but this was new. So I decided I had to quit wallowing around and do more exercise. Hopefully that will keep the flab at bay. Humira has been good for me so far. If it comes with some additional pudge, I guess I'll deal with it.
Unknown said…
I empathize completely as I am on my fourth biologic and the weight gain has been substantial. It is also in tandem with the Cymbalta I was prescribed for Fibro. So...dealing with A.S. and Fibro and weight gain have presented many challenges. And I too need to remind myself to be grateful for each and every day..it can be tough sometimes.
Thanks for expressing so eloquently what many of us feel!
Unknown said…
I empathize completely as I am on my fourth biologic and the weight gain has been substantial. It is also in tandem with the Cymbalta I was prescribed for Fibro. So...dealing with A.S. and Fibro and weight gain have presented many challenges. And I too need to remind myself to be grateful for each and every day..it can be tough sometimes.
Thanks for expressing so eloquently what many of us feel!
Lori C. said…
Hi All! So happy to see that I am not the only post menopausal woman, with the dreaded pudge, who has noticed a significant weight gain with biologics. About 2 years ago, I was seeing a rheumatologist who prescribed Remicade for psoriacic arthritis. My psoriasis cleared up instantly! But, I immediately noticed a "blimping up" of my weight and blood pressure. And my fingernails were starting to peel off from the cuticle. The doctor told me it was "NOT A BIG DEAL". And the nurse told me I needed to leave my house earlier, so,that the traffic didn't raise my blood pressure.. Really?! After noticing even more horrible side effects, I left that doctor because he was not listening to me. I was in more pain than before the Remicade. The new doctor put me on Enbrel. It's working for the psoriasis, but I am continuing to gain weight. I have cut down on my food intake (I'm a total sweet tooth) and have started exercising more. I feel better because the medication is taking care of the aches and pains, and my psoriasis is going away, though slowly. I guess it's going up that next size, until I can get this under control. Thank you all for sharing your stories. It is so nice to know that there are people out there like me.
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said…
I have had moderate-severe plaque psoriasis for the past 29 years. I am currently 47 and my skin is probably 97% better since using first enbrel and then humira for the past 10 years. I have now decided to stop the biologics because I believe that it has caused significant weight gain especially in my stomach. I also believe it has caused my IBS as well. The weight gain was slow and I was always blaming myself, stress or hormonal imbalances. I would ask my dermatologist if the injections caused weight gain and he would just respond with, "no". I just went to a new dermitologist and she told me not to inject in my stomach that it could cause digestive issues. I already have digestive issues and I believe it could be from enbrel and humira. I told the new dermitologist that I wanted to try creams, lotions a sprays again to see what happens with my skin, weight gain and digestive issues. Can anyone relate to this?
Unknown said…
I have RA and was put on Humira in 2013 @8.5 stone(grew up with lbs & stones)Began gaining weight gradually and was told it was NOT the biologics.Humira was wonderful for about 9 months, was then switched to Enbrel.which has continued to work along with the weight gain!!!!I am now 2 stone heavier all hanging around my middle = 3 sizes larger for clothes.
I find it totally horrible having all this flab + having very little $ to buy clothes that fit
RA is depressing enough to live with without turning into a blimp AND having this side effect denied by rheumatologists........"it is menopause"..........well that was 15+years ago??????And then my physician told me to "try shapewear"!!!!!!!
I am now heading for cancer treatment.......also caused by biologics?????????It is so good that it is FINALLY being said out loud that these drugs cause weight gain! And nothing you can do will work to move it...................

Anonymous said…
I am so thankful that I came across this website! I started Humira about 3 months ago after being on Methotrexate for 8 years (off and on) and I have gained almost 20 pounds! I am not all that small anyway so this has affected my health by having all this extra abdominal weight (which is where I gained pretty much all of it). I have asked my Rheumatologist and she said that she can not see where weight gain is not a side effect. It is such a relief to know that I am not alone and other people are experiencing the same thing.
Anonymous said…
I was diagnosed with acute ulcerative colitis almost two years ago. I was put on simponi which work great at first and I did notice I started getting the belly fat. Im sure the steroids didn't help that at all either. The Simponi (I liked I could do the injects at home) quit working so the Doctor put me on Remicade. So now I have to go do three hour infusions and on the first one I started to break out in hives. I've only done two infusions so fare so its too early to know if it will also cause weight gain. But for a person who has struggle with her weight for the last 20 years, knowing your medication may add to that isn't the best news. I pray that all you other autoimmune suffers get to feeling better.
Anonymous said…
Thank you so much for writing this. I have Ulceratice Colitis and have been on Humira 2 years and am not even menopausal but at 34-35yrs of age I started at size 8-10 and am now size 14 in only 2 years with zero diet change and only eat fruit vegetables and chicken or fish and no fried food, no fast food, I walked daily 2 hrs per day - nothing gets rid of the weight iny middle. I wish everyone strength to carry on & feel good regardless.
Anonymous said…
I too am very thankful to have read this article and others' comments!! I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (a form of RA) over the summer. My rheumatologist put me on Humira injections in August 2016. I felt incredible pain relief immediately (within two days of the first injection), and I was thrilled to have my quality of life back. However, in the past few months I have absolutely noticed weight gain, especially in my belly area. I had to go up a pant size, and based on others' comments am worried I will be forced to increase sizes even further the longer I am on the medication. Nothing else in my lifestyle has changed...I still workout 3-4 times per week and eat very healthy. Although my pain was quite severe prior to taking Humira, the weight gain has made me feel awful/anxious. Maybe it sounds vain, but I work hard to look and feel good in my own skin, and I am really struggling with how to proceed. I asked my rheumatologist if weight gain is a known side effect and she gave me a very short response: "Only to the extent that people feel better, and any weight loss that came from chronic illness gets better." Well, I don't believe that...especially after all of my online research about others' experiences. I have anxiety about my weight gain and need to feel like myself again. For this reason I decided to go off of the Humira. I don't want to live in pain, but I can't live feeling so insecure and anxious about my body either. I am simply not going to settle for going up 5 pant sizes! Has anyone else gone off of biologic treatment for these reasons, and have you found any other solutions that helped you live with less pain? I tried some natural supplements before going on Humira, and my pain was still very high. Any suggestions??
Unknown said…
Yes, i have gained 30 lbs since starting humira in August of 2016. All of the weight is on my belly and face. I am miserable, cant loose it, for this reason I am stoping humira.
Anonymous said…
I am wondering if anyone has had any success losing the weight. I too have gained considerable weight since being on biologics. I started on Humira, then went to Cimzia and now am on Remicade. I have a wardrobe full of clothes I can't wear and a healthier diet than anyone I know. I eat better now than I have ever in my life. I don't do a lot of exercise but try to stay active. A colleague commented the other day how much energy she thought I had. I saw a dietician who recommended "tapping" (Emotional Freedom Technique) as a possible solution. This did not work for me, as overeating bad food is not my problem. I also have coeliac disease, so most chocolates cakes and treats are off the menu for me. I am really struggling with this. I know that going off the biological is out of the question, without it I cannot function, but as I continue to gain weight each month I am terrified of the health risk of being obese.
Anonymous said…
Trina I have Crohn's and I am on Remicade. I'm not sure if I would have opted out had I known about the weight gain up front. I was never thin, but I packed on an extra 30 pounds since being in the infusions. No matter how I cut back on food, drink water with lemon, spike my food and drinks with apple cider vinegar, replace a mean with a protein shake..NOTHING WORKS. So I decided to just live with it. I still can't exercise due to the pain in cause but the meds cut my number of trips to the potty in half and stopped the dreadful fistulas. So call me Shamu as I keep enjoying the relief!
Anonymous said…
I have gained 15 pds with no changes to my diet and more exercise that pre enbrel. I am starting to get worried. I hope its stays at 15 pds. I eat healthy and walk everyday. It seems contradictory that what allows me to walk is also affecting my health. Doctor and pharmacist deny any links to the meds. What else can I do besides diet and exercise?
Unknown said…
Let me chime in, also. I have been researching weight gain and biologics because my specialists say that it's not the drug causing me to pack on the pounds but thanks to this and other blogs, I can see that the real-life experience of people on them is refuting my rheumy/dermatologist's opinions. I have been on Stelara/Ustekinumab for over a year and a half now (started in June 2015). My dosage was doubled a few months back and before that, I'd gained about 15 lbs. Since the doubling, I've gained 10 more. It's out of control! I take the Stelara for psoriasis and it's been very effective but my PsA has gone through the roof and the enthesitis is out of control (my achilles tendon, for instance, is like a wee purple balloon and it hurts like hell to walk). Therefore, I'm researching a TNF inhibitor (as opposed to an Interleukin inhibitor) because my rheumy says that it will be better for the arthritis. However, my hematologist says the Stelara is a godsend because my chronic severe iron deficiency anemia is actually no longer forcing me to have infusions every 5 months... because my GI specialist confirmed IBD and possible Crohn's, which causes blood loss through the gut/intestines. So, now I'm not suffering the bloating and gut pain or anemia but I've gained all this weight and feel So Freaking Tired and the joint/tendon inflammation is killing me. So? LOL. Gotta find a new biologic that treats PsA, Crohn's and psoriasis but doesn't cause weight gain or depression (an issue with Stelara). Any input?
Unknown said…
http://www.bjchealth.com.au/connected-care/tnf-inhibitors-cause-weight-gain-fat-increase If anyone wants further reading.
Unknown said…
I am so glad I found you. I am dealing with all your issues alone. NOT ANY MORE.
I have felt so shamed and guilty. I am so grateful to listen to so many voices that are going through everything I am. RA, Menopause, Battle of the Bulge while eating healthy while my friends have fun and the hips still spread from my seated view.
I am going next to Amazon to buy your book and I will check in with you regularly.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Patricia Anita Young, Writer
KG said…
Glad to know what's causing my problem. I was told that embrel wouldn't do that. 15 pounds later, up one size and a stomach that's the entire muffin not just the top! I had managed to lose 30 pounds but now feel like a big fat failure. Don't know if I can get off the embrel or not. Don't want to put on any more weight but I do like to take trips with my Huston our motorcycle. The weight gain makes it harder for him if I gain weight .What a mess. Thanks for your info and good luck.
Anonymous said…
I am male and am on Enbrel ,Gained at least 30 pounds,It started within 2-3 weeks of the first shot.
Asked the Doctor about it was told that it was not the cause and I just need to watch what I eat,
Sad thing is I have not gained weight in years until now.
The choice for me is feel a little better and be extremely overweight or feel really bad and healthier.

Thanks everyone
Vicki Luna said…
My Rheumatoligst may start me on Humera next week. I am newly diagnosed and just don't understand why they don't tell you weight gain is a side effect. I makes me wonder if they keep up with the latest findings. Am I being too cynical? It kinda makes me not trust what they say. It seems that if a person knows weight gain is a likelihood why not offer countermeasures to the patients. I look forward to the pain relief but I already have a weight problem. My problem is pain is hard to deal with but the possibility of inflammation of vital organs really scares me, how do I balance the benefits verses the risks?
Anonymous said…
I have been on Remicade for 2 yrs but so unsure if weight gain is because of just Remicade or some recent depression. I exercise @ 5x a week, try to drink close to 80z of water and it does not seem to do one thing.
Unknown said…
I posted above back in the Nov/Dec timeframe that I was going off of Humira injections due to weight gain (against my rheumatologist's recommendations). I continually asked her for natural solutions, and she simply told me to stay on the Humira. Again, I admit that it worked, and I was pain-free within days of my first injection. However, there was no denying my pants getting tighter when nothing else in my lifestyle had changed. I have always worked out often and eaten pretty darn clean. I did a lot of research on my own, and almost tried a gluten/dairy free diet, which would have been very difficult for me. However, before it came to that, a friend told me about the effects of lemon juice in water every morning first thing before you eat/drink anything else. It is a known remedy for inflammation...something about the alkaline in it. I also take a fish oil supplement every day, but the lemon juice in water was the true game changer! Within two weeks, I was pain-free once again with NO BIOLOGICS in my system. It is so simple/easy/cheap...it almost seems too good to be true. I don't even use fresh lemon juice. I buy it in the big bottle sold in any grocery store for cooking. A few table spoons in an 8 oz glass of water every morning before I consume anything else has worked wonders! I hope others will try this and have the same success because I am so thankful I found a natural solution. I have very little if any pain now, and have been going strong for a couple of months since I started the lemon juice remedy. I am back to my normal weight and my clothes fit great. I feel like myself again, and it is awesome. This may not be such a quick and easy fix for everyone, since all body chemistries are different. It may take some time and hard work/determination to research and test out different solutions to find what may work for you. But keep trying! If this many people are seeing weight gain, it's pretty likely it is the biologics causing.
Lois said…
I have been on Cosentyx for 3 months. My rhuemy said to use it instead of Humira which I was on for almost 7 years. I was on Enbrel a couple years before that. My psoriatic arthritis was worsening so the doc thought I should change up my med. I too have gained weight (30 lbs) over the last 9 years. I have never had a weight problem. I eat very healthy and walk a lot. I agree the biologics cause weight gain. I am going to try the lemon juice in water. Also have decided to stop my meds. I have a light therapy machine in my home and that treatments works for me. I like what I have found here and learn from what others write.
Page's Page said…
Thanks so much for this information! I truly believe most Doctors, even the good ones, don't know the side effects of biologics. I have Crohns and was on Remicade, almost died! Then Cimizia with some relief, now I've been on Humira for 3 years and have gained 20 plus pounds and can not get it off any way I try!! High blood Pressure as well and never had blood pressure issues in the past. I've been doing really well on the Humira. I chose to stop taking and my Doctor freaked out!! Wants me back on ASAP, so I guess I'll do it at a reduced dose though, I was a once a week injection! So glad to hear from other women having this problem, I do agree it is better to be healthy and symptom free to enjoy my life!
Anonymous said…
I would love to know if anybody has NOT put weight on or have managed to diet it off
Anonymous said…
OH WOW, I am so happy to have found this BEFORE I visit my doc again. I have been on biologics for about 8 months. The first time, no change...after that each and every time I go I end up with another few lbs. I belong to a gym and work out (yoga, water WRTX, and swimming) 3-5 times a week. It depends on how I feel, and sometimes I admit it's a slow burn but I'm still there. I also walk my dogs.

I do not eat all that much, as a matter of fact, my family keeps asking me why I'm not hungry. And yet I've put on about 15lbs, it is mostly in my belly. I'm not a vein person, but this is incredibly uncomfortable and my blasted clothes do NOT fit. I hate this.

But thanks, I'm sorry for all the rest of you who are having this problem too. But I am happy I can fully believe (unlike my doc) that it is the meds doing this to me!

Score one for the medicated!

Anonymous said…
I started cosentyx a year ago. I was 80 percent covered in psoriasis and had the onset of psa. I noticed weight gain the first month on cosentyx.. I expressed this to my Rhuemy and was consistently told it was not the medication. At the time I could only find limited reviews on cosentyx. In total I ended up gaining 16 pounds. Mainly around my thighs and belly. I have a small frame so the weight is noticeable. I count my calories and work out 5 times a week. I tried everything to get the weight off. Calorie intake vs calories burned. I then decided to do a 4 day fast. I did it with a group everyone I. The group lost weight, I gained 2 pounds while on the fast. Cosentyx is a great medicine for what it is meant to do. It cleared my psoriasis and I was pain free. However the side effects were too great in my case. Low self esteem, lethargic , depression from how I felt. I was a watch owl on my food and weight. Not so much for vanity reasons I felt so uncompfortable day in and day out, I also became extremely emotional. I have been off it 2 months. It's been a struggle to get the weight off but it slowly is. I'm sharing this as it may help someone. I thought I was going crazy. I had my dr saying eat better yet I was eating like a heath guru and kept getting bigger. It can be emotionally breaking in anyone.
Sheila H. said…
@Chelsea Roy...I cannot Thank You enough for your post about the lemon water, drinking this in the morning before any food or drink. I will be doing this faithfully. I have psoriatic arthritis and have taken many different biologics in the past and am currently on Cosentyx. It is not working and the ones I took in the past did not work either for pain. However, Stelara and Cosentyx was amazing for getting rid of the psoriasis...Just did not take care of the severe pain that I have. I have heard about the lemon water but never knew it helped so much for pain.I also have a lot of inflammation and know that lemon water will help. I am excited to try this. Thanks again for posting this and your experiences. I will post my results after a while. Have a great day. 😃
Martin said…
Hi, great article. Thanks for posting. My daughter finally gained control of her JIA with weekly Enbrel injections. Wonderful drug in that respect. Now been clear of any inflammatory event of over 18 months(i think) and, as a beautiful 9 year old girl, has really started to blossom into a beautiful (very) young woman. She piled on the weight with Enbrel. Its not really moving but she carries it well. She is very aware of it and it probably affects her friendships and perceptions of her at school. Why has she gained the weight...? well, biologics functionality is a bit of a black box as i understand - the clinicians don't truly understand how they function and control the RA / JIA and as a peer group, my daughter (9 yrs old) is part of a tranche of children for whom the long term effects of this medication are unknown. She is part of a trial group, so to speak. Is this a complaint? Well, i'd much rather her not carry the weight but she leads a great, active life style. As you say, given the alternative shes in a massively better world.
Anonymous said…
I am 36 years old and was diagnosed 1 year ago with RA, after months of the most intense pain that came on within a few weeks. I was unable to drive, brush my hair, tie my shoes, most basic daily functions were impossible for me. The methotrexate was helpful but did not relieve all pain and discomfort. Humira was a great relief and I feel so much more like a person in that I can carry out day to day things, with one huge drawback...... I have gained 50 pounds since starting Humira. I eat well and walk 2 miles 3 times a week and every evening I do yoga followed by light cardio. I cannot seem to shed even one pound. This is so very frustrating for me. Nothing in my closet fits, I do not look the same, I have no energy, and nothing makes any sense medically as all blood work is great. Unfortunately I cannot stop taking the Humira because I still remember so vividly the excruciating pain that had me in tears daily and prevented me from enjoying my kids. I do hope that there will be answers soon for this problem.
Anonymous said…
I am so grateful for all the posts, knowing I am not alone in this. I was diagnosed 2 years ago with RA. Have been through various combinations of medicines and are going onto my 3rd Biologic Injection next week Enbrel. I have gained about 30 pounds in the last 18 months and hate it. It is difficult to deal with the daily pain, stiff joints, not being able to do what I did 2 years ago. At times I feel completely useless and get so upset if I cannot open a bottle or turn a tap on. It is a complete new life, and not everybody understands why I walk funny, do things much slower or not at all. Weight gain has affected my social life. Just to get dressed in the morning is a frustration. So if every Rheumatologist says that biologics doesn't cause weight gain - what are we all doing wrong then? Surely by now they have realized that biologics DO cause weight gain. I am absolutely terrified of what Enbrel is going go do to my body - is it really worth it? I cannot stand the pain anymore, and do need the meds, but I don't want to gain more weight - it is difficult enough as it is. thank you for sharing your stories, it means a lot to me
Unknown said…
Hi all we must report theses side effects to the manufacturer of Humira. GOOD NEWS! Yes you can lose weight. I recently went through IVF and was given a thyroid medication to lower my thyroid- it was normal but they wanted it to be lower . So I went on a low daily dosage and finally started getting back to normal weight!! Ask your rheumatologist about this or better still an endocrinologist. alao gotta watch everything we eat, so intermittent fasting (my GP told me) and exercise as much as possible. All the best.
Unknown said…
Ireport the SAME GOOD NEWS. I had failed to take my thyroid meds for weeks and I ended up with the infamous Hip Spreading. I went back to my routine of taking my throid med first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and the pounds are shedding.
Believe me, my Psychiatrist once diagnosed my fatigue and depression as a symptom of my low thyroid. Don't give UP!
Anonymous said…
Lene, thank you for these. You’ve made me feel better about myself physiologically and psychologically. I appreciate you and wish you the best :)
Amdel Herbal said…
Hi..!
I really like this post...
Hashmi herbal weight gain pills is manufactured using natural ingredients which help in gain weight without any kind of side effect.
Anonymous said…
Hi,
I weighed 142 lbs. I became sick and went down to 126 lbs in 3 months. Diagnosed with Crohns/UC - Undetermined. Put on high dose of prednisone with a taper of a total of 9 weeks. Feet, ankles and legs swelled terribly, and gained weight back to 142. Started Humira and have been on it for 4 months and have continued to gain weight. Now 162 lbs with a huge muffin top too. Humira is working for symptoms so far but have the weight gain, joints progressively getting worse, have acne on sides of face (am 64 and haven't had acne in years), itchy skin which comes and goes, and hair loss. Very discouraged as all of this has taken place in 9 months. Exercise has not helped the weight gain. Would love to stop Humira and see what happens but was extremely sick before diagnosis.
Mamma Lion said…
I've had AS (ankylosing spondylitis) since 1979. I was in full remission from '81-2002 with almost no symptoms. Didn't even have a rheumy during that period. Fell out of remission in 2003 and have taken everything under the sun. AS frequently has IBD/Crohn's symptoms as well, and that's been what has activated more than anything else in me: Severe abd pain with swelling and inflammation of colon with none of the other Crohn's stuff. I've been on Stelara every 8 weeks to control that, but this past November I awoke to find that I all of a sudden couldn't even button my pants. I've put on maybe 5 lbs, (I'm small) but it's ALL in my front lower belly. It's crazy making because I eat only fresh fruit/veg, lean chicken/fish and the like. No alcohol, no sugar, etc. I also started exercising at the local gym 3x per week, and I don't have a sedentary job: I walk on average 3 miles per work day. So here I am, having clothes that no longer fit and NOTHING I can do about it. I'm glad (sorry) it's not just me, because I get the same speech about it not being a side effect. My face is puffy as well. I take it with Methotrexate injections which are weekly....I really want to get off this stuff, but I don't want the severe symptoms to begin again. (my MD thinks I need to move back to California, where I was in remission for years)
Unknown said…
Found a GP with interest in RA who actually listened to me! Talked about weight gain and she suggested I try a Mitochondrial/Ketogenic diet. Started keeping a food diary and being VERY cautious and controlled with what I ate.Did not seem to work at first but after 4 weeks I had dropped a couple of pounds.....for the first time in 4 years! Kept going for 2 months and lost around 8lbs........could fit most of my clothes again! I am still cautious about the food I eat but not as strict, my weight has stayed down.However I am now getting heavy sinus problems within a day of injecting...........................on we go.............I have been on Enbrel for around 4 years.
MakeUpMadeEasy said…
I have been on cosentyx since end july 2017. i have gained 5 stone in weight no change in diet or exercise. heres my story hope it helps some of you here.
at the time i started the biologic i was attending slimming world weekly and was losing 1 to 2lbs per week started drug post first few injections started gaining weight. 1 to 2lbs per week. one week in august i gained 12lbs. went fully plant based low fat vegan at this stage cut calories down got fit bit the whole shebang to make sure wasnt eating more than i was burning. was eating 1200 cals burning 2500 with exercise daily and gaining 2 lbs per week then took injection start december went to slimming world that night got weighed up 1lb went the following week was up 20lbs thats nearly a stone and a half in one week. needles to say didnt eat xmas dinner had bowl brocolli but still put on another 4lbs the next week. That was it for me i was done with biologics. with the huge weight gain my beathing is shocking on nebilizer and inhalers. body in a jock so last injection was very beginning december its now near end jan 2018 ive lost a stone off the injections so far that was last week. went from uk size 12 to uk size26/28 in 18 weeks so yep the biologics can back on the weight and no matter what you do it wont budge. in my case i would have ended up having a heart attack as it was going on rapidly. imfully v egan i recommend the diet to you all there are proteins in animal products that mimick proteins in our bodies as a result our immune system attacks those proteins and our own thus inflamation nuff said try vegan diet guys thats what im treating mmy psa with at the moment. I would take the cancer back rather than have all this weight.
Erica said…
Hi for those of you who have had success with lowering your thyroid may I ask which drug you take? Seeing my GI on Friday and would like to discuss this with him as the weight gain has caused big depression which of course is making my UC worse!
Adele said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said…
Thank you for the exercise information. You are so right you know.
Metaphysical teachings say when the Physician solves one problem, the patient creates a new problem, one that may have existed all along.
I need a forever lifestyle change now that the medication is working.
Exercise is the new norm forever!
Anonymous said…
I have definitely gained weight with the Humira injections but it's giving me a lot more mobility so maybe I can work off the extra pounds
Anonymous said…
I am 54 and been on simponi just over a year. I've been 105lbs pretty much my whole life and no matter how hard I tried could not gain. Today I am 131.6lbs definitely the biologic. The belly is a struggle to get rid Of, glad to hear I'm not alone
Earl Rosa said…
Losing weight is not an easy thing to do, have to work hard to achieve positive results. Diet plays a major role, you can easily get weight loss meals from providers such as Activeats if you don't have enough time to cook.
Unknown said…
I'm back (with both good and bad news)! You'll see 2 of my posts above about my Ankylosing Spondylitis - the horrible pain, the Humira injections, the weight gain, the miracle lemon juice solution, etc. Sorry for this novel, but I need to share my follow-up story. Even if it helps just one person, I'll be thrilled.

Let's start with the bad news - maybe the lemon juice was truly helping me for some time or maybe not. Unfortunately, I had the worst flare-up I've ever experienced in March 2018 after being relatively pain-free for months. Note: this occurred while still on my lemon juice regimen. Not only was the pain worse, but it expanded from just my hips/butt/pelvic region to also radiate like spasms in my lower back. This pain was truly unlike anything I've experienced...and I was an athlete who had ACL reconstructive surgery. I was essentially incapacitated and so desperate for relief that I was willing to try anything (without going back on the biologics)!!

I made an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, and I cut out dairy and gluten from my diet even before I saw her. She recommended elimination food testing to see what may be triggering my pain, since she said the inflammation/pain is often caused by something we are putting into our bodies. My body was definitely treating something like an intruder, and I had to find out what it was. In addition to dairy and gluten, she told me to cut out nightshades (certain root vegetables that seem to cause inflammation for many people) - tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and white potatoes. I also cut out all alcohol except Tito's vodka and champagne(both gluten-free). She had me do this for 3 weeks and then introduce one thing back into my diet at a time to see if my pain came back within 3 days (your body takes up to 3 days to process things). It might sound impossible to omit all of this from your diet, but I promise you can stick to it and still have things to eat. I really love to eat, and I was able to do it! Bonus: it was a great diet to shed some inches!

In all seriousness, this effort was so worth it! I'm running out of room, so my next comment will be a continuation of this...read on...
Unknown said…
...continued from above...

Now for the good news - through my elimination food testing I found that gluten and tomatoes seemed to be triggers for me. I've avoided those 2 things along with eggplant and white potatoes (peppers don't seem to be an issue)for almost 5 months now. The naturopath also had me double my probiotic dosage, take 3,000-4,000mg of fish oil per day, and turmeric and D3 supplements. She did some cardio-sacral massage therapy (look it up), and I eased back into being active with yoga-ish stretching and foam rolling. I'm back to my normal workouts 3-4 times per week, and I have had pretty much no pain. A little stiffness or aching here and there (more in the morning, at night and after wearing high heels), but I'm back to myself again with no drugs!

I read a lot on the autoimmune disorders, RA, etc. and I believe it all starts in your gut. Looking back to right before my horrific flare-up, I was away for a weekend of fun and ate tons of gluten and tomato. I've also recently read literature supporting the theory that certain "bad" bacteria and/or not enough "good" bacteria are present in the gut of those with RA and other autoimmune disorders. Could it be this change is all just the probiotics healing my gut?!

I don't know for sure, and I'm still in the midst of my experiment. At the recommendation of my naturopath, I'm recently starting to introduce small amounts of triggers back into my diet. I'm happy to report that I've had no pain yet. Fingers crossed that maybe my gut is healed! Maybe I won't be dealing with this for life after all. We shall see.

My point in writing this is that I believe if you're dedicated to finding a natural solution, you can and will do so! I also want to stress again that every single body is different. What works for me may not work for you. My naturopath says "Health and wellness is not a science, it is an art because we are all different." I believe we should all put in some real effort to figure out the root cause of an issue (instead of simply masking the symptoms with biologics or other drugs).

I admit this began as a vanity thing for me with the weight gain from Humira, but the last 5 months have made me feel strongly that there are so many aspects of our bodies and minds that are affected by what we consume. And I swear I am not trying to sell you anything...and I am not a hippie who buys all organic or lives off of protein smoothies!

I hope my story helps you in some way, and I plan to continue providing updates here. I'm a freelance writer and blogger, so I'll likely blog about this eventually. I hope there's a day in my lifetime where I see a proven natural solution for the autoimmune disorders that plague so many of us. Stay strong and keep trying to find improvement, whatever that looks like for you!
Unknown said…
What do we do become overweight or cribled from pain. it's sad and depressing.But now I have read comment on this site helps me understand go with the flow.
Anonymous said…
I just stumbled across this blog ad I am Googling Entyvio and weight gain. Entyvio also is a biological used to treat Ulcerstive Colitis and Chron’s Disease....I feel my appetite has increased since starting it this past December. Entyvio is not a tnf blocker so I am unsure if it is the med, or just me not showing any control. It is a relatively new biologic....wish I had answers. Great post!
Penny Duncan said…
I know this is an old post...but it helps me so much...I was diagnosed with Chrones about a year and half ago....went through several drugs...including Humira and now Stelara along with meds for chronic migraines...and over this same span of time I have put on so much weight...I a size 10 and had been most of my adult life.....and now have bloomed into an 18 and it just won't go away... Also not spending my days eating any differently than I have for decades...minus the foods I can no longer eat because of Chrones....I'm finally coming to grips with the fact that at 53 I'm still here and my family still has me around and love me for me...there's just a bit more of me to love!! ;)
Unknown said…
I got off of enbrel, remicade, and stelara and tried Otezla for a year. It's a pill, and I lost 25ish lbs. It said not work for the psoriatic arthritis, so I started Tremfya. Guess what? I've gained 25 lbs in 6 months...
Unknown said…
I got off of enbrel, remicade, and stelara and tried Otezla for a year. It's a pill, and I lost 25ish lbs. It did not work for the psoriatic arthritis, so I started Tremfya. Guess what? I've gained 25 lbs in 6 months...
Amdel Herbal said…
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Unknown said…
This is so discouraging right now dangit. I was just diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis and was just looking for side effects. It seemed like such a miracle drug until I read the weight gain. I honestly don't think I can put myself through that because I've worked my ass off to get where I am at.
Is the pain worth it for the vanity?? Ugh, now I don't know what to do!
Jessica Courson said…
I was diagnosed with UCLA in 2007. Had total colectomy in 2012 after I fought for my life a d tried all meds for UC. Remicade was a miracle until I had a reaction. Once my total colectomy surgery a d having the ileostomy reversed two months later I felt great for a year. No weight gain noticable. I've always worked out a d love eating healthy. So weight gain was not a issue. Then I started getting symptoms again in 2015. I had gi scope and biopsy showing I now have chronos disease. I go to the bathroom up to 20 times a day and eat the same diet as usual nothing changed. I don't keep anything in my system I eat longer than 30 minutes and that with medicine to slow the process down but not any success. They put me on entyvio 1 year ago and I have had some arrhythmic symptoms and definite weight gain.. I've been about 125 to 135 normal for me and no belly fat ever. Now on entyvio I'm weighing 156-163 with same diet a d active. I coach cheer, I walk, I am active all day.
After this site I realized it has to do with the biologics. My dr just uped my does to every 4 wks I instead of 8wks to help the chronos symptoms.
I have infusion tomorrow at 9. I decided I will still go but also talk to my dr about thyroid med. Otherwise I am going to stop taking it.
Gaining weight and the depression it causes isn't healthy for me or my family. I'm not the same mom, friend, coach, daughter and wife and that medicine is not worth taking so much from me.
I don't even feel or recognize myself since the unexplained weight.
I am very thankful for stumbling upon this blog to see the real life experiences. Its helped me so much and I wanted to share my story in hopes it helps someone with encouragement!
Jessica Courson said…
I did forget to mention that I never had belly fat and I'm 34. Being in entyvio I have belly fat and it is the weirdest thing to feel about how you look a d see yourself.
I've always prided myself on a small flat stomach. I mean it's more about what is inside of us humans not just the exterior. We are also human and know that we strive to be the best version of our self we can.
I've tried the natural path method a d was overwhelmed. But I know it would be successful if truly committed to our own routine. Then we could try less biologics!! I'm serious about staying on entyvio but my dr. Has to understand a d prescribe some to speed up thyroid.
First time blogging😊
Anonymous said…
I have psoriatic arthritis. Been on enbrel for years now. The past 2 years I've noticed 30 lbs weight gain. I've also tried exercise with no results. I've seen the post on lemon water. Curious on if theres a a certain amount of lemon juice to put in?
Wanda J said…
I have a question about the lemon water too. Did you stop using the Humira? I've been diagnosed with HS and fot the first time in 6 years, i am outbreak free. As much as i am happy, im so depressed anout the addition of belly fat to an already fat belly.
Unknown said…
I started Enbrel for my rheumatoid arthritis at the same time that I signed up for bariatric surgery. While I was waiting for the 6 months to pass to have my bariatric procedure I gained 20 lb. I am one month out after bariatric sleeve and I have not restarted my Enbrel because I fear it'll interfere with my metabolism. I've lost 28 pounds in the last month and I fear putting it back on by starting Enbrel again. I see my RS specialist soon and I plan to ask her about the effects of Enbrel on the metabolism before I start it again. Hope I get some answers.
runner+RA said…
I have been on Enbrel for 100 weeks. I was 115 pounds and a daily runner, but extremely fatigued before Enbrel. After I started Enbrel, I gained 15-20 pounds and haven't been able to take it off. I trained for a marathon this past summer and thought for sure that the extra weight would disappear with increasing mileage. No such luck. Still have that same ugly belly pudge. I went from size 6 pants to a 10 in a matter of months. I have blamed the Enbrel (I am 49, but am 7 years post menopausal) and my Dr. says it isn't the Enbrel. Disappointed, to say the least. Thinking about going off the Enbrel to see if I lose weight and will be investigating alternative meds. MTX is what I was taking, but didn't work for the fatigue. :(
Unknown said…
I was diagnoised with psoriasis and my dermatologist wants me to start injections of Humira and im slight of frame and theres no way i want to gain a lot of weight but im also scared of all the safety conditions of Humira and most biologics. He was going to try giving me a pill in another medication but i have epilepsy and they would interact with that med. Who would ever feel safe taking something that can cause serious infections that can spread throughout your body, may increase chances of getting lymphoma, nervous system and blood problems and liver problem. Im more scared than ever and now im facing weight gain too!!! I dont know what im going to do, I dont know if i can do any of this 😥😥😣😣
Unknown said…
I was diagnoised with psoriasis and my dermatologist wants me to start injections of Humira and im slight of frame and theres no way i want to gain a lot of weight but im also scared of all the safety conditions of Humira and most biologics. He was going to try giving me a pill in another medication but i have epilepsy and they would interact with that med. Who would ever feel safe taking something that can cause serious infections that can spread throughout your body, may increase chances of getting lymphoma, nervous system and blood problems and liver problem. Im more scared than ever and now im facing weight gain too!!! I dont know what im going to do, I dont know if i can do any of this 😥😥😣😣

Unknown said…
did anyone gain weight in their butt
Anonymous said…
Has anyone gained a lot of weight in their bum
Unknown said…
I have been on Remicade for AS for 3 years and also have gained appx 20 pounds and the skin on my neck has become very loose. I am 53 and never had loose skin. I have had UTI s and skin lesions ... I have asked to go off twice and been told its not a good idea. My blood pressure is low and my blood work white blood count is low... gets red flagged almost everytime . I see my specialist in Jan and am going to ask to go off it. Has anyone have a alternative????
Unknown said…
I have been on Remicade for AS for 3 years and also have gained appx 20 pounds and the skin on my neck has become very loose. I am 53 and never had loose skin. I have had UTI s and skin lesions ... I have asked to go off twice and been told its not a good idea. My blood pressure is low and my blood work white blood count is low... gets red flagged almost everytime . I see my specialist in Jan and am going to ask to go off it. Has anyone have a alternative????
Anonymous said…
Not sure what is AS? I do know OA osteoarthritis, PsA psoriatic arthritis and RA rheumatoid arthritis.
Unknown said…
Thank you for your post. I started Remicade summer 2017 for PA and have gained 25 pounds. All in my stomach. I eat healthy but do not exercise. I am trying to get out and walk more. I will be following your blog.
Angie said…
Is it possible after being on Humira and methotrexate than taking myself off, to still gain weight? Going off the medication was a bad decision, I'm paying for it now. I will be starting Simponi on the 1st :( But does RA alone, untreated for about a year, cause weight gain? I too have not changed my eating habits, actually they gotten better, but am putting on random pounds. I'm up about 20.So now I feel like crud from the RA and the excess weight.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Monica said…
When I went off of Enbrel to have a surgical procedure I also paid for it dearly. It took a long time to get my rheumatoid arthritis back under control after resuming Enbrel. I also had a weight gain after stopping the medication but it was due to not having good control of the rheumatoid arthritis to allow me to be more active and mobile which contributed to weight gain. Not sure if that's your same situation or not but it is just one example of what happens when you stop a medication that controls a disease disease process.
Unknown said…
Thank you Chelsea Roy for your detailed description of what you achieved by food elimination testing. You hit the nail on the head. Medical scientists are now finding out that our gut bacteria and all the other microorganisms that live on and in our bodies are responsible for a lot of our health and wellbeing. Really new and exciting research. Example: it is your gut bacteria that put you to sleep by making you drowsy.
I am going to have a serious look at your method and see if I can find someone to help and guide me through it to find my own solution.
Thanks for inspiring me to take this step. At the back of my mind I had thought about this gut connection but haven't yet done anything about it.
Kim D said…
Chelsea Roy, I believe 100 % with what you tried. I tried natural homeopathy before I lost my colon & rectum but didn’t have the right ND .
Now I do but I found him after I started stelara for UC . I’ve gained 15 lbs in 1 year. I’m seriously thinking of lowering dose to then remove it completely & try to stay inflammation free on my own but I’m scared. I also have raised blood pressure now and headaches from stelara but for the most part I love that I’m pain free and can do everything now. I would love to chat with you because we think alike. Let me know if you have time.
Kim

Anonymous said…
Hi Angie, for about 4yrs I've been on Humira & Methotrexate for UC and RA. I am 67 and have gained approx 90lbs since meds began. Previously I was on steroids and Remicade until reactions started. My DRs all deny the weight gain is from the meds. Though compassionate, they deal with the symptoms and are lost when I enquire about the cause/effect aspect and gut biodome. Frustrating. I too have a lean healthy diet and am active. I would like to be able to manage my conditions thru diet and supplements, but there aren't qualified practitioners to help me do that. My tiny frame plus substantial weight gain has contributed to depression. I continue to investigate other methods. I am glad I found this blog and will visit regularly.JM
Unknown said…
I have been on Orencia infusions for over a year. I also am post menapausal. Weighed 125-130. My weight was stable until they raised my medicine from 750mg to 1000mg. In 2 months I gained 30 pounds. He is checking my cortisol levels to see if they are too high. If you all research cortisol you might be surprised where the weight gain is actually coming from. It’s been a month now since they reduced it back down to 750 and I am slowly taking the weight back off. Once the results come in he will have to change up my medicine because it’s not working for my RA. Good luck all
Pufferfish17 said…
Was on Remicaid for 12 years for PsA and ballooned up quickly. Was unable to lose weight even on strict diet plans eating 500-600 calories per day. Went off all meds for 2 years and lost 20 lbs immediately eating 1500-2000 calories per day, but symptoms of PsA returned quickly. Tried Otezla. Lost 30 lbs in 3 months, and while the pain was dulled, my mental state was not right - made me feel sad all the time! Dr suggested Enbrel and gained 40 lbs in 4 months all in the belly. Dr suggesting Simponi ARIA which I start this month. Do not want to take any more drugs-want to be med & pain free. Looking for healthy solutions! Been up & down the scale for past 15 years and want off...
Trying moringa leaves too see if any relief - will post again if works.
Anonymous said…
I’m 40 years old, have been on Humira injections for 6+ months and I have also gained weight. My eating habits have not changed any, but I’m still gaining.
I have gained 25 pounds.
Has anyone came off the Humira and lost the weight pretty easily or does it stay?
This is really depressing me. I’ve always watched what I ate so I could look a certain way and also to be healthy.
I’m considering coming off the Humira if the weight gain continues.
Has anyone came off the Humira and instantly lost weight?
Anonymous said…
I’m 40 years old, have been on Humira injections for 6+ months and I have also gained weight. My eating habits have not changed any, but I’m still gaining.
I have gained 25 pounds.
Has anyone came off the Humira and lost the weight pretty easily or does it stay?
This is really depressing me. I’ve always watched what I ate so I could look a certain way and also to be healthy.
I’m considering coming off the Humira if the weight gain continues.
Has anyone came off the Humira and instantly lost weight?
Warrior Cat said…
Wow! I was diagnosed with RA back in 2009 and began methotrexate at that time. I went from a size 6 to a 12 in about 18 months without increasing food or decreasing exercise. Figured it was menopause. I was in really good control with very few flares or pain episodes. When I lost my husband about 5 years ago the stress in my life caused some severe flares and my doctor upped my dose from 6 tablets to 8. And the weight packed on again moving me from a size 12 to a size 18. I wasn't getting any relief from the pain until I began seeing an acupuncturist. She got me to go gluten/non-cultured dairy free and I saw significant changes in pain levels but not in weight.

Then late in 2018 I begin experiencing horrible diarrhea that occurred only on the day after I would take my methotrexate. My new rheumatologist cut me down to 4 tablets and then finally to injectible methotrexate at 10 ml. It took care of the diarrhea and I lost 10 pounds in a month. Due to increased pain I was increased up to 15 ml and gained back 3 lbs in 2 weeks. Pain is still an issue.

I had planned on talking to my rheumatologist the end of this month about trying a biologic but after reading all of these comments that isn't going to happen.

I currently take Boswellia, Tumeric, Bromelain, 5000 units of V-D3 3 times a week. I may investigate an elimination diet to see if I need to tweak things.

I thank you for the information and plan to follow this.
Kate said…
I was diagnosed with AS 5 years ago when I was 36. I have been 5'6" between 130-135 most of my adult life. I used to run long distance but stopped once my pain go too bad and switched to elliptical and walking. I still strength train as well. I tried Humira for 6 months with no real pain improvement, but it did cause my hair to thin and fall out. My Rheumy switched me to Cosentyx 4 months ago and have gained 20lbs, mostly around my mid-section and boobs! It is totally noticeable. I have a vegan diet and watch carbs. It HAS to be the medication. I'm stopping it to see. Best of luck to all!

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