Does Hydroxychloroquine Cause Weight Gain?
Key Takeaways
- Weight gain from Hydroxychloroquine is very rare. Other factors probably caused the weight changes
- Weight gain happens when there are other medical conditions, prescription drugs, or lifestyle things happening.
- Sometimes, people taking Hydroxychloroquine even lose weight.
- Talk to a doctor if there are any sudden or important weight changes.
Introduction
If you’ve been prescribed Hydroxychloroquine, you may be worried that you may gain some weight while taking it, because weight gain is a concern with the majority of prescription drugs that you may potentially take for a long time. Other medications do commonly cause weight gain, but Hydroxychloroquine is actually very unlikely to cause weight gain.
There is a lot of data about medication weight gain, so there is little reason to worry about Hydroxychloroquine causing significant weight gain.
What is Hydroxychloroquine?
Overall, Hydroxychloroquine is used for a lot of conditions. It helps keep the immune system in check and reduces inflammation so that the immune system doesn’t cause disease flare ups, which is very important for people taking it for the long term.
Does Hydroxychloroquine Directly Cause Weight Gain?
- No, hydroxychloroquine has no evidence to support that it causes weight gain, or that it works as a weight-loss aid.
- It’s not expected that significant side effects will occur that will lead to weight gain.
- Most clinical studies report that less than five percent experience weight gain, and for those that do, reporting significant weight gain is not common.
- In comparison to corticosteroids which are extremely likely to cause weight gain, hydroxychloroquine can be considered a safer long-term option.
- Indicating that hydroxychloroquine is “weight-neutral” is also a widely accepted consideration.
Why Do Some People Report Weight Gain?
Even though weight gain is not a side effect caused by the medication, some people experience weight gain. A few things that can contribute to weight gain are.
1. Better Appetite
Better control of inflammation and pain that is not related to the medication can increase a person’s appetite. If a person previously lost weight because of the illness, gaining weight will likely be perceived as a weight gain.
2. Less Activity
When people experience fatigue and joint stiffness, as well as the disease flaring up, it becomes harder to do physical activity, and less activity tends to cause weight gain over time.
3. Disease or Lack of Disease
Autoimmune diseases can also contribute to imbalances in metabolism and hormones, as well as a decrease in energy levels and all of these factor in to cause weight gain.
4. Other Medications
Hydroxychloroquine 400 mg can be taken with many different medicines. Some of these medicines, especially steroids, antidepressants, or hormone therapies, are known to cause weight gain.
Can Hydroxychloroquine Cause Weight Loss?
Interestingly, while taking hydroxychloroquine, there are some people who experience slight weight loss. This may occur due to:
- Minor side effects from the medication, such as nausea
- Better control over blood sugar
- Better control of inflammation, which can help the body’s metabolism function more effectively.
Some research shows that some users may lose about 1%-3% of their total body weight over a period of several months. This isn’t guaranteed or intended to happen.
What the Data Shows About Weight Changes
We have real-world patient data that shows the following trends:
- Most of the people who use the medication do not have any noticeable change in their weight.
- Approximately 3-5% of users of this medication report a small gain in their weight.
- A comparable number of users of this medication report a small loss in their weight.
- There are not many instances where there are major or quick changes in someone’s weight. When it does happen, it is usually due to other reasons.
These data trends indicate that even though users of Hydroxychloroquine may experience changes in their weight, the changes usually are not attributable to the use of the medication.
How Long Does It Take to Notice Weight Changes?
If there are changes in weight that do occur, they usually take weeks or months to develop. Changes do not happen suddenly. Hydroxychloroquine is not likely to be the cause of sudden weight gain. If you do experience sudden weight gain, be sure to talk to your health care provider about it.
Keeping track of weight over time instead of stressing over day-to-day changes gives a more accurate picture.
How to Manage Weight While Taking Hydroxychloroquine
If weight gain is a concern, some simple changes can help:
- Balanced, nutrient-dense diet
- Stay active within your comfort
- Be mindful of portion sizes if you food and appetite
- Track weight trends over the month instead of daily.
- Speak with your provider about your medication combo
These strategies can help keep weight gain in check while still allowing you the benefits of the medication
When to Talk to a Healthcare Provider
Medical support is warranted with:
- Rapid or unknown weight gain
- Unexplained swelling or edema
- Changes in appetite
- Daily activity is impacted by fatigue
These symptoms may be related to something other than the medication.
Final Thoughts
Does Hydroxychloroquine cause weight gain? For most, the answer is no! It is weight neutral and is a better alternative than most other medications used for the same diagnosis that can cause significant weight gain. Any weight changes that may occur will be mild, indirect, and due to other health factors.
If you take hydroxychloroquine, and notice some changes in weight, take a look at all areas of your life. Think about changes in your eating habits, and exercise, as well as your other health conditions, and other medicines you are taking. Most people can lose weight, or manage their weight well, while in treatment.
When you understand, it helps you stay informed, confident, and helps you shift your focus to your well-being, instead of stress about things you don’t need to focus on.