Spiriva Weight Gain Side Effects (Page 10)
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I've talked about this problem before concerning the side effects from Spiriva. The only side effect I've experienced was a sudden, and seemingly permanent weight gain. In spite of efforts to lose the weight I've had no success whatsoever. I've gained weight from other medications in the past only to lose it when the medication was discontinued. Not so with Spiriva. It has been almost three years since I've used the inhaler but yet the added weight persists. I should mention that all of the added weight has been on the midsection and nowhere else! To make matters worse has been a disended abdomen to go along with it. I contacted the drug company right after it happened and, naturally, they acted as if it was new to them! I'm not the only one this has happened to. Although a rare side effect it has been a problem for others, the same as mine. This thing is ruining lives, and should be pulled from the market. It won't be though...profits are the name of this terrible game. Bill.

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I,m happy for you and thank you for your encourgment........ BUT........those of us with advanced COPD can often barely walk to the mail box

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Sounds good, Bill, but I've been on an 800-1000 calorie diet for over a year, walk on the treadmill as much as my deformed/arthritic hip allows without excruciating pain (20 minutes a day at 3.5 mph at least four days a week) and I don't want to take narcotics to alleviate the pain (I use aspirin - it's the only NSAID that helps at all). I can't stop taking Spiriva as all other meds to control my emphysema contain a corticosteroid (which is known to cause weight gain) or contain at least one of the ingredients in a medication that I tried as a replacement for Spiriva that put me into anaphylactic shock. My pulmonologist and I aren't going to take that chance again - I was in critical care for three days and in the hospital a total of five due to that devastating allergic reaction, as I stated in an earlier post. You're very lucky you can stop taking Spiriva but some of us can't.

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Hello;
My name is Bill and I've commented on the weight gain properties of Spiriva in the past, and the struggles I've had over the last four years of trying desperately to lose it. Well, I have found a way to lose the unwanted weight gain with its associated belly bulge! To all those out there who have given up please read the following on the way I got rid of this terrible problem.

Last mid-December after struggling to fit into my clothes that I used to feel prouf to wear I finally put my foot down and barged out of my front door in very cold weather one morning and went for a six (6) mile walk, actually a trudge as there was snow up to my ankles. I came home and had a 300 calorie meal and went about my daily
affairs. Later on I went for a four (4) mile trudge and continued on day after day while consuming no more than 1000 calories a day for the following four (4) weeks.

After one (1) month I had lost almost thirty pounds (30) and eight (8) inches off my waistline!! I lost every pound of the Spiriva weight gain and the terrible belly bulge that went along with it!

Solution: Do the same and do not ever take Spiriva again. I'm back to a normal life style and the weight and bulge has never returned (nine months). Good luck!

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Thank you for reminding me about the stem cell research - I had forgotten about that for emphysema. There is also stem cell research regarding my other chronic condition, i.e., progressive cerebellar atrophy. It seems that stem cells may be the answer to curing many chronic diseases/conditions.

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THAT really sounds encouraging. Armed with this information, I'll definitely follow-up.
And just as an FYI, among my research, I discovered a hospital in Bangkok Thailand and Tijuana Mexico that treats COPD with stem cells. Unless you just hit the Lottery, taking advantage of that will be little bit of a challenge. However, when I ask my Pulmonary doctor about this new stuff, he said a hospital in Tampa and one at the Univ of Ariz is spooling up to start research on this. That's exciting

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As I said in an earlier post, it just might be the bromide factor in the Spiriva that is causing the weight gain, as potassium bromide is known by vets to cause weight gain in epileptic animals treated with it. I could be totally wrong, but I think that it's something the drug company should at least investigate. As to COPD being incurable, eventually a cure might be found but what might work for emphysema, for instance, might not work for bronchitis. There is lung volume reduction surgery to treat emphysema in patients who have severe disease that is no longer responsive to other modalities. They remove the affected parts of the lung but apparently this is effective only in emphysema patients whose upper portions of lung have been affected.

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To all "US" poor souls having to deal with this weight thing from Spiriva, I'm doing a ton of research on my own to find out just what causes this. Frankly I don't think Doctors even know or maybe just not care. I can't accept this idea. there is no cure for COPD. There IS a cure.......we just haven't found it. Keep you all advised

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Wish I could help, but I'm stuck! I had an anaphylactic reaction to a different medication and was in critical care for three days, in the hospital for a total of five days. Now my pulmonologist and I are afraid to change from Spiriva because very other medication is either a corticosteroid (which is known to cause weight gain) or contains at least one of the components in the medication that caused me to have the anaphylactic reaction. I'm on an 800-1000 calorie diet, am on the treadmill at 3.5 mph for at least 20 minutes a day at least four days a week, but haven't lost an ounce. At least, though, I've not gained anything in the past month so I guess holding steady is the best I can hope for. Anything less than 800 calories is dangerous for me as, since I gained all that weight (60 lb.), I'm borderline diabetic with an A1c of 6.2 and I could go into ketosis at less than 800 calories, which could become ketoacidosis. My mother was a ketosis-prone diabetic and that's what finally killed her - ketoacidosis once too often, and my pulmonologist is afraid to have me take that chance, although (unfortunately) my primary M.D. doesn't think it's a problem despite my family history. He attributes everything to old age (I'm 73) but, even worse, he accuses me of lying about my diet and exercise because, in his words "If you're really on that kind of diet and exercising then there's no way you can gain weight." He keeps trying to get me on Optifast, the "prescription only" diet that is very expensive, not covered by Medicare and, even worse, it's 600 calories and nothing but a chemical concoction that contains stuff I haven't put in my body in over 20 years, like artificial flavoring, coloring, aspartame... I'm in the process of getting a new primary!

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Hi there,I was diagnosed April 2 with copd started taking spiriva also gave up smoking I have gained 20lbs mostly round mid section and look as if Im 9 months pregnant I look disgusting I put it down to stop smoking spoke to my doc dismissed it and said just watch diet which I do. I thought I was the only one thank you I don't know what to do to get rid of this excess weight I'm so depressed. I'm a 64 woman and I do exercise. can anyone help. Grateful

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Yes you are right, thinking about, that is my problem, and this persist even if you let the medication... on other side, what should I take? a real problem I will ask my doctor to change my medication... now I am having problem in muscle... have to investigate perhaps is the same....

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Have just found this website after Googling a question about Symbicort and Spiriva and weight gain. I started taking these two medications in January this year and have been perplexed at the amount of weight I seem to have gained recently - about 10lbs. As I seem to have the 'fat gene' I am pretty vigilant about what I eat and normally at this time of year would have lost any weight gained over the winter - instead I seem to be putting it on! I also have had some serious cramps at night - really painful. Don't know if that is another side effect - it seems to come on after a few glasses of wine.

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I concur with everything you've said. I was diagnosed with COPD about 2 years ago and was immediately put on spiriva, advair, and prednisone. Each one blamed the other for my sudden fat belly. Have been trying to wein myself off of them by gradually reducing the amount from each. but my pulminoglist jumped up and down and had a fit. I seriously beginning to suspect this whole drug thing is a "kickback" racket

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Good luck with the Spiriva. On the other hand, I am going to start checking all of my girlfriend's medications, and mine, for under-reported side effects.

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I feel so much better to know that the weight gain was not in my head. I've gain 10 lbs. in less than I yr, I surely feel like a toad with my big belly. When I talk. to Drs. I feel as though they think it is because I over eat and don't excersize but I do. 66 yrs old I still do all my yardwork, etc. It's very disturbing that no one seem to care except the people that have this problem. Thanks to everyone for sharing.

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My girlfriend experienced the same midsection weight gain with Spiriva, and she has been using Proair, too. For COPD.

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I have read with amazement the comments made about Spiriva and simbicort. I have been on these 2 drugs for near 3 years for COPD. In that time, my weight has shot up from 17 stones to above 20 stones, and as with other people it's all around my mid-section. This has had a profound effect on my wellbeing.....ordinary things like walking have become a daily challenge and stairs and even slight gradients have become too much to tackle. I am 68, male, and for most of my life I've been reasonably fit, even though my lifestyle as a musician has led me into a rather sloppy lifestyle. I was a heavy smoker until 3 years ago when I had to be admitted to hospital with some serious breathing problems. That is when I was prescribed the 2 drugs. I have not had a single cigarette since then although I still like the odd E-cigarette. My chest is now clear and have had no further problems since. I have the dilemma now as to decide........is it the drugs that have kept me clear, or is it the fact I don't smoke anymore? The weight gain is horrendous. I have now made a decision without Doctors advice ( because I don't think drs. are sufficiently interested). I came off Spiriva 5 days ago and so far no adverse effects. As from today I'm dropping off Simbicort, but I'll closely monitor over the coming weeks anything which resembles side-effects. Wish me luck.

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I wonder if it could probably the bromide. I seem to find things out serendipitously - one of my neighbor's dogs was just diagnosed to have epilepsy. She told me the vet is treating her with potassium bromide and among the side effects he warned her about was possible weight gain - it's one of the rare side effects but it does occur. This whole Spiriva weight gain is really getting to me.

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I've gained 30 pounds since using Spiriva.Next doctor visit,I'm going back to Advair.2 times a day is more hassle,but I didn't gain weight on it.

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In 2005 I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis & put on Advair, a steroid. Within about 4 months I had gained 6 pounds--mostly around waist & abdomen. It seemed more like bloat. The doc changed me to Spiriva but there was no weight loss. I have been on Spiriva for 8 years & breathing is no better. I have gained 4 more pounds. I cut back on food but no weight loss. I also walked 2 miles a day. My waist has gone up at least 6inches so none of my jeans fit. I developed severe dry mouth, convulsive coughing & bronchospasms, a urinary tract infection sore muscles, depression. All of these I attribute to S piriva. I kept telling my doctor but he just said to use Spiriva every other day. This was useless. This past Feb. I had a very bad case of what I believe was norovirus from some catered food. I had diarrhea for 5 days & couldn't eat any solid food. After 2 weeks I had lost 10 pounds,had no appetite for over 2 months but forced myself to eat what I could. In early April I told by new pulmonologist I really couldn't tolerate Spiriva anymore.. He told me to stop taking it.
I asked if I should try Robitussin & he just shrugged. I did stop the Spiriva, tried Mucinex time release tablets which I have used now for2 weeks--only 5 tablets as I didn't want to dry myself out too much. So far, so good. The bronchospasms have stopped and the nice thing is I have lost another 3 pounds so that most of the waist blubber is gone and my abdomen is going back to normal. My muscle stiffness is gone also. All of the side effects from Spiriva came on so gradually that I didn't associate some of them with the drug. Now I can see that all the misery was due to drug side effects. The 3 doctors I have had over the past 8 years really didn't care much about these effects & I doubt they ever reported them to the company. All they do is switch you from one drug to another until you feel like a lab rat. The Mucinex ,if you are not familiar with it, contains only one active ingredient which is guaifenesin--the expectorant part of liquid Robitussin. I don't know how this OTC works for other forms of COPD, but if all else fails it might be worth a try. You can check with your doctor. So far I have had no side effects and overall I feel much better.

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I contacted Pfizer about the problem and within 48 hours I received a very nice telephone call from a representative of Boehringer Ingelheim. She had not heard of the problem before and was very, very interested in finding out more. We spoke for almost an hour during which she asked about my background, etc. My problem is a bit different - I had gained weight when I quit smoking, but not a lot and was starting to lose. Then, six months after quitting I was diagnosed with mild emphysema and put on Spiriva. I have not been able to lose even an ounce more of weight and have even gained more despite proper low-cal diet and exercise. I met a lady in a restroom who was using an inhaler (not Spiriva) and we got to talking. I told her I used Spiriva and she told me about the weight gain and being unable to lose, so she asked her doctor to switch. She said to google "Spiriva and weight loss" and I did, so that's how I got to this site (among others). Anyway, here's a phone number that will put you in touch with Vickie W, the rep who called me. I'm sure she'd be interested in hearing your story, too, and everyone else's. The more the merrier. 1-800-542-6257, press option 4.

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