About ten days ago, I had an appointment with an orthopedist. Though my hip had started to improve, I wanted to get a professional opinion. In addition to a series of stretches and exercises, he gave me some samples of Celebrex (celecoxib) along with a prescription.
I never ended up having that prescription filled, though I did end up using the samples for just under a week. Before taking them, however, I first looked up the possible side effects. I do this more out of morbid curiosity than anything else.
Celebrex, side effects, and weight gain
As it turns out, Celebrex has an impressive array of side effects… Bloody, black, or tarry stools? Red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin? Vomit that looks like coffee grounds? Sign me up!
To be fair, these are the most severe, and least common side effects, and the list isn’t really any worse than for most other prescription medications. Anyway, one of the other things that I saw mentioned in several places was water (fluid) retention and weight gain.
Interestingly, while I was taking the Celebrex, my weight loss stopped entirely despite the fact that I was still eating well and working out regularly. If anything, it actually started creeping up a bit.
And when I stopped? A near instant loss of three pounds, putting me back on track with where I would have been without if I hadn’t hit that temporary plateau.
Coincidence? Possibly, but interesting nonetheless.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
That can happen w/ prescription strength NSAIDs And it’s not ever a good idea to exercise when you’re taking them. But hey – congrats on the weight loss.
Sounds like fluid retention…which shouldn’t have been too surprising. A couple extra pounds for a few days shouldn’t hurt you long term.
Blaine: Yeah, I really wasn’t worried about a temporary thing like that. Rather, I was mostly just documenting it in case others run into something similar. Once I stopped taking the Celebrex, the extra pounds disappeared literally overnight.
I have wondered, with drugs where weight gain is a side effect, if it is from the meds, or if the meds just make you hungrier. Interesting…
Heather: I’m sure the answer varies for different drugs. For example, some friends of our have a son who has been on ADD/ADHD medication (not sure which one). A side effect of this drug is weight gain (which has happened in this case) and it appears to be a result of increased appetite.