Ask the Expert: Methotrexate Side Effects

I have only been on the methotrexate for a month, but I've already gained 6 pounds. I do not normally gain weight fast and had actually been losing weight because I am eating well and doing yoga and water aerobics. Has anyone found anything that can counter this side effect??? I am only 25 and don't want to have to battle my weight as well as all the other crap that's going on in my body!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks.

I was on methotrexate for over 2 years. During that time, I was put on several other meds for RA.  I gained 20 pounds and continued to creep up the scale. The side affects of nausea and body aches caused me to beg my rheumatologist to try something else.  She switched me to Arava approximately 4-5 months ago.  My nausea and such cleared quickly. I then began loosing weight. I had assumed my weight gain had been due to some of my other meds.  Just recently it dawned on me that maybe I was loosing weight because I was off the methotrexate.  Then found this sight and I think found my answer.  So far I have lost 10 pounds and I feel soooo much better. The Arava is working great!...and weight continues to come off slowly with no change in  my activity level.

I cannot believe how I've put on so much weight in about 9 weeks going from 56kgs to 65kgs while my eating habits haven't changed.  I now realise that it must be a side effect and a rather unhealthy one at that so I'm going to ask my doctor about Arava (a rava good idea ).  Have you found it to be as good over time as methotrexate?  I would be really pleased to hear your comments. Thanks, Steph

I can't believe how my weight is gaining over the last 9 weeks from 56kgs to 65kgs while I'm still eating the same foods and doing the same amout of exercise.  I'm going to ask my doctor about Arava (a rava good idea ).

I also got a cold sore which lasted over a week about 7 weeks of taking Methotrexate. Has anyone else experienced this?

I had a bi forefoot reconstruction which was unsatisfactory.  Has anyone else had a good or bad result as these stats are obviously not kept which is a great pitty for people trying to do a pre-op research.

Thanks for this site and hope to hear from someone soon.

Cheers, Steph

I can totally relate to what your saying. I have never had a weight problem but on methotrexate I have gained 14 pounds over 3 months and no matter what I do I cannot lose it. My rheumatologist said that methotrexate is not the problem but this isn't true, i am also on folic acid but that is not supposed to put on weight either. I am 53 and never had a weight problem.

Finally !!  Ever time I mention my weight gain to my Rheumatologist he acts like I've been out eatting the entire buffet line (which I have NOT)  I was diagnosed with RA 1 yr ago and it seems as if life as i knew it is OVER.  I eat UNDER 1000 calories per day and cant lose a pound.  I quit taking Klonopin and PremPro a week ago .. thinking it was one of those drugs making me gain weight.  I've never been sick in my life and my body is not used to all of these different medications .. I can actually smell the methotrexate coming from my pores this morning after my injection yesterday. 

 

I was told I was one of the earliest diagnosed cases of RA... I wish I would have waited until I was in severe pain to seek treatment.  I have decided to discontinue my treatment ..

 

 

Prem Pro and Klonopine are your the reason you gained weight

I have been on methotrexate for 8 months and have increased the size of my waist and stomach, but have not gained weight.  it is a fight to keep my weight down.  I feel the methotrexate also make me more agressive, but I can not find anything on this on the internet.  Does anyone else out there have this problem?

I have been on methotrexate for about 15 months. I have systemic lupus and I do not take steroids. I have never had a problem with my weight. I am 43 yrs old. I have gained over 20lbs since I started this drug. My stomach and waist size have increased. I am extremely frustrated and my doctors keep telling me that weight gain is not a side effect of methotrexate. I find it hard to believe. I see my rheumatologist every 2-3 months and I gain between 3-5 lbs. I am seriously thinking about going off this medication. Does someone have any information that can help me.

Could anyone tell me if you are also on folic acid because I wonder if the combination is causing the weight gain. I also drink 2 litres of water a day and that makes no difference to my weight.

Hi I have had Lupus since 21 years old I now am 43 years old I have been in remission for years and in the last month I have been in hospital and have been put onto methotrexate I have gained 5kgs in one month I am devestated.

Going to specialist on Friday to see what they say.

 

Interestingly, my weight gain is all around my waist too. I have been on mtx for only 7 weeks, and am discouraged by the weight gain and bloating. My breasts are also exceedingly tender.

Mary,

 

I quit taking mtx because of the agressiveness it caused.  I switched to Arava and it worked wonders but has many side effects, which now I am taking 4 blood pressure pills.  I have since quit arava and it stays in your system for a year or more.  I take nothing right now.  Pat

I can't believe I found someone that has issues with methatrexate. I have no weight gain at all in fact I am losing weight.

I was diagnosed with Rhematoid Arthritis at 28. Im now 42. I get it in just about every part of my body.

I am interested to finally see I am not the only one who feels this drug makes them more aggressive. I also feel anxious and don't seem to be able to "handle" real life as well as I used to. I am more impatient, less tolerant and I get tingling and burning in my upper arms. My Rheumatologist says the methatrexate would not cause this but I have taken it before, then stopped taking it, to change treatment and those symptoms went away. I know have infusions and have to take methatrexate with it and suddenly those symptoms return. The pain is less but it hasn't gone away but I don't like feeling the way I do. I still have to take plaquenil and sterioids as well.

Does anyone else agree or have similar symptoms.

 

 

Oh my god I am getting off this drug right now I have gained so much weight I work out 7 days a week 2 times with a trainer. ANd it is all around my middle to. I have never had a fat belly before. I have gotten so frustrated, my docs said it would not cause weight gain but it is to coincidental. I have looked everywhere about this until I found this website. I thought I was going nuts. You saved my sanity. Thank you I am going to make an appointment with a naturopath. 

Kristi

FINALLY!  I have been on Methotrexate for six months and though I am relieved to not have inflammation like I once did (which was crippling!) I feel very discouraged that I have gained in size (not in weight, which I realize that its a matter of less muscle more fat).  It has been so frustrating trying to get any answers as to why I cant get leaner and despite my diligent efforts to eat healthy and exercise I am still thick, particularly around my midsection (which has NEVER been an area of concern for me).

Its very tempting to discontinue taking Methotrexate and regain my lean figure again...? But to have the chronic pain that I lived in just to be slimmer is hardly worth it.  

??

Thanks for the great information though.  My doc kept saying the weight gain was because I had turned 40 years of age?? LOL 

I am 52 and have been on methotrexate for almost a year.  I also had solu-medrol infusion once a month, which is a sterroid.  I have been off the sterroid for about 2 months now and I have not lost any weight.  I have been also working out and it seems as if I carry most of the extra weight around my waist.  I was glad to see that I am not the only experiencing weight gain from the methotrexate.  I really hope to be off the methotrexate soon so I can be back to myself again.

I am seriously feeling better about myself after reading all of these posts.

 

I am 30, diagnosed four years ago with RA, and have issues with weight. RA damaged my thyroid and I topped out at 201 a couple of years ago and then worked VERY hard to lose close to 40 pounds...only to slowly creep up again to almost 190 lately -- and almost all of the gain is around my middle. I may be a big girl but my one nice feature has been a small waist that is quickly disappearing.

 

I've been under a lot of stress at work and that has left me little time to work out or eat properly. I know stress can cause weight gain specifically about the middle so I've stepped up my workout routine with no difference -- in fact, I swear I'm still getting fatter as my pants are getting tighter and tighter. I know that weight gain is, in theory, not one of the MX side effects but, boy, I have to hope the 15-20 pounds I've put on are because of the four months I've been on it. In theory, because of other side effects that my rheumotologist seemed to consider pretty important, I'll be going on new drugs soon and I'll let you know if it makes a difference.

Hi - I was wondering how the new drugs are working? I read your post from April 2009.

 

I've been taking Methotrexate for 4 years.  I stopped a year ago (Nov. 2008)because my weight had topped 300lbs and I stopped taking everything! About a month after I stopped I began to lose weight. Granted, I was dieting pretty good but I've dieted before with no results, (I've always fought with my weight, but NEVER have I been this overweight). This time, however, I began dropping weight like crazy. I lost 45 lbs in the 6 months I was off the methotrexate.  In June 2009 my hands started hurting so I went back on the methotrexate. Sure enough I stopped losing weight almost immediately, and slowly started creeping back up. I'm up now 15lbs. The other odd thing is that I lost 40 lbs., but hardly lost anything in my stomach.  I swear my stomach is almost the same size as it was at 300 lbs. and right now I weigh about 265).

Thank you for asking, Lisa. I've been on the new drug, Cimzia, for 13 weeks now and have felt pretty gosh-darn good for the past three weeks. My doctors' office was part of the clinical trial and was pleased with the results being seen by participating patients so when Cimzia was approved by the FDA at the end of the summer they put me right on it. I was disappointed it took more than two months for me to notice a difference (some of the trial patients were seeing results after only two weeks) but the difference has been worth the wait. I'm still struggling to lose the weight I gained while on MTX but at least the gaining stopped. Now that the Cimzia is doing its job, I hope to ease back into my old workout routines to get back down to the 160 that I was happiest at (and hopefully get my waist back).

 

With the Cimzia showing so much promise, I am being weaned off Plaquenil and, if that goes well, will also go off Celebrex and will only have the Cimzia injection every other week for RA treatment. It will be nice to retire my "old lady pillbox," as my friends call it.

 

 

I have beeen on methotrexate since 4 months and have experienced weight gain. I am on a good sensible diet. I walk half an hour in the mornings and swim half a km in half an hour in the evenings. The rest of the time I work from home (editing publications). Last year I had undergone both knee joint replacement but I still need to use a walking stick when I go out - I can not manage the slope, steps and speed breakers, etc. The orthopaedic surgeon says my muscles are still weak and I need to continue my physio therapy. I was also on HCQS along with MTX but had to stop after 2 months as my vision became very blurred. Then underwent emergency cataract surgery. I also suffer hair loss. However, I feel very good with MTX as I have no pain for most times and I have got back my life. And I do no have any other side effects like nausea, dizziness as experienced by many people taking MTX. I do wish we can find a solution for weight gain. I have reached my peak weight which can be quite depressing.

I too feel good I have found this site as I have been taking mtx for SS and RA for just over a year now and during this time have gained over 20 pounds!I have spoken with my GP and Rheumy about this but both say I need to excersize and follow a healthy eating plan, which is something I have done all my life! I am at such a loss as to what to do as I have taken different meds over 10 years and find the mtx helps a great deal in one way, but watching my tummy bulge is really getting me down. Please, any tips would I love to hear from you.

I have been on mtx for one year and I also am bigger than I have ever been 20pounds over my pregnancy weight. My OBGYN and my GP knew that this drug would put weight on me but my RA doc says not the drug? Have you tried any other drugs? Hope we can get some answers somewhere.

I am also on mtx for one year for inflammation caused by SLE.  After struggling for 5 years to GAIN some weight, I have gained 7 lbs in the past 8 months (which is a lot on me), and a lot of it is around my middle also.  I am 58 and have never had any weight problem (finished with menopause 10 yrs ago, so that isn't it).  I am at the same activity level and am eating less, but I keep gaining instead of losing.  The mtx helps my other symptoms, but might try going off it for awhile to see if I can lose the weight.  My Doc said it takes 3 weeks for mtx to leave your system.

Yep - II'm having the same issues. Ive put on weight aroundmy waist and always feel bloated around the stomach. I;ve been taking it for nearly 3 years and I have been putting on for the last 2 years noticeably. niall

I was diagnosed at 25 with RA and have been on mtx for a little over 4 years right after I was diagnosed. I was diagnosed 5 weeks after having my second child, but had lost the entire 30 lbs I had gained. But since being on mtx I have gained 20 lbs despite working out 1.5 hours 5 x's a week with a trainer for six months and eating only 1300 calories. Couldn't lose weight and I've never had a problem with my weight. Very discouraging. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one experiencing this. There has to be something to it even though my rheumy said it wasn't connected.

 

It's hard going from a size 6 to a 12 in a short amount of time, but it's also really hard to be in crippling pain.

Wow!  so glad to have found this site!  I too take Mtx - was diagnosed in July of this year with Psoriatic Arthritis  - it is now October and I can't believe my weight gain!  I was told too that this was not a side effect -- but am so glad to know I am not alone.  The Mtx has cleared up my psoriasis and my joints feel so much better - but the other side effects including the weight gain are not so fun!

This is the best site ever. I have Chron's and a bit of RA. I have been taking MX for the past seven weeks and Prednisone for 9 weeks and gained about 7kg! Had a Gastric Bypass ± 2 yrs ago and was NOT supposed to gain weight (lost 54kg). Now what? Nothing fits and I just cannot handle the weight gain at all!! Dr no help! Same old story of watch what you eat and exercise - I have been doing this and due to the op I am not supposed to put on any weight. Does anyone know if I will loose this weight by itself? Someone told me it might be water retention, but also no consilation!

Terry

Sounds like you have a serious malpractice on your hands. Its well known in the Rheum and GI world that anyone on MTX should have their lfts (hepatic function panel) drawn at least every three months. That was pure neglegence on their part. When our patients dont do their labs on time, we call the pharm and stop the RX. Im sorry for your loss. Luckily I worked in the medical field many years before my diagnosis of RA and I knew the risks of every drug. Patients should be kept in the loop with all the potential side effects