David Says:
Spiriva Weight Gain Side Effects (Page 5) (Top voted first)
Updated
William Says:
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.
216 Replies (11 Pages)
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Re: William (# 1) 
I agree Bill. ive stopped taking spiriva and cant get rid of swollen abdomen. my dr was also no help and told me to try seratide thats suppose to be a weight gain side effect med also. i really dont know what to do. im just using ventolin atm and hoping i dont get worse. Thanks Bill. any clues would be apprecited.
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Mimi Says:
Re: jessee (# 202)
I'm glad you said that about the energy. I'm on my second month of Spiriva and I matched tired all the time as well as gaining tremendous weight very quickly.
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Verwon Says:
What type of doctors did you visit?
It is possible that the weight/swelling of the midsection that you've experienced is due to water weight gain.
Learn more Edema details here.
You should really see a doctor that can evaluate you for such, such as a cardiologist, or someone with experience in recognizing it, as it can be a very dangerous condition if left untreated. However, if that's what the problem is, it may explain why you can't lose the weight.
How much fluid do you take in each day? How high is your sodium intake?
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Theoted Says:
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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Di Says:
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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annemarie Says:
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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Judith Says:
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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Judith Says:
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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Jsph Says:
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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Pat Says:
The same has happened to me. The weight only exacerbates my COPD and now my back is a problem.
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Paula Says:
I've only used spiriva for about two weeks. I've gained 12 lbs and have abdominal pains and diarrhea for the past week. My breathing seems to be worse right after I use the inhaler. I see my doctor next week for a follow up. I was diagnosed with emphysema and my pft is 89 without inhaler and 92 with.
I'm so frustrated I'm ready to give up. The doctor said to not stop using the spiriva
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Skip Says:
Hello, I just fund this forum 20 minutes ago. Have been on Symbicort, 2 puffs/day morning and night since September and have gained an ungodly amount of weight. Hasn't helped my symptoms much. Saw doc today and he started me on Spiriva in addition to the Symbicort. I have only had one dose-- today in doc office-- but feel as if my breathing has improved already. Thought maybe this was he miracle I have been praying for and now very discouraged to read here that if anything, the spiriva may accelerate my weight gain even more! But maybe worth it to breathe easier? I am so lost...
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Skip Says:
Melissa, I have only been on the med for 7 months but your story is scaring me to death. Both my doc and my pharmacist say the exact thing as yours: there is nothing in Spiriva that would cause or contribute to weight gain. I am tempted to discontinue it as my pulmonologist has me on Symbicort too, and he says that there is clinical evidence that it does have an ingredient thqat could cause weight gain. I don't know which one to discontinue. Thoughts?
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Skip Says:
OK Group, What is the collective opinion on which medication is worse for weight gain: Spiriva or Symbicort? If I stick with one and drop one for weight gain reasons, which one should be dropped?
Don't worry, I know that you guys aren't doctors or chemists, I am just interested in patients' opinion and experience.
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jules Says:
I stopped spiriva one month ago after taking it for one year or so my upper abdomen is now deformed and I have gained 15 pounds only in my abdomen. I also have unbelievable gas and my bowel movements are no longer regular. since stopping spiriva I feel much better and have no shortness of breath. But I do not smoke. I am a small person but went from a size 4 pants to a size 10. I do not eat very much and never touch sweets. I know that it was the spiriva that caused this and I am hoping the distended abdomen will go away. I am seeing my doctor tomorrow and hoping she can do something about my abdomen. it is really embarrassing my abdomen is bigger than my breasts. I am going on a cruise next week and forget about wearing a swimsuit. Seriously this is unbelievable that a medication can do this. I better be able to get back to my size and shape. I seriously have doubts that this medication did anything for me other than the weight gain
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Shay Says:
Hi Jules,
Please share what your Dr says when you tell him/her that you believe it was Spireva that caused your weight gain. I would love to hear if there's a Dr anywhere who can explain how this drug can cause the abdomen extension. There are many of us who have experienced the same effects but no one seems to have any answers.
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Melissa Craig Says:
I was told out right from the doctor it could not be the spirivia because it is not a side effect, which is the only thing I take
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Skip Says:
I echo the shout out to all members of the chat board to contribute what you know about Spiriva, Symbicort, and weight gain, esp. in the abdominal area. I too experienced the exact same thing others describe but thought it was completely coincidental as I had no prior information about this as a side effect. The prescribing physican, a pulmonologist, didn't mention it and neither did the side effect literature dispensed with the Spiriva. Unfortunately I DO feel that Spiriva relieves my COPD symptoms much better than Symbicort so I am in a quandary: is the symptom relief worth the weight gain? Where will the weight gain stop? Can I tread a thin line by taking it maybe 3-4 times a week instead of daily? What a dilemma...
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Judith Says:
It might be helpful if you referred your doctor to this site. I told my pulmonologist about it and simply told him to google Spiriva & weight gain. He did, found this site, and no longer argues with me. However, we're afraid to change the med as Spiriva works for my breathing and I had an anaphylactic reaction to another inhaler.
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