Has anyone taking methotrexate experienced weight gain? I am experiencing steady unexplained weight gain despite a regular exercise and cautious diet. I am curious if anyone else is having the same issue.
Years ago while on a high dosage of prednisone, I gained a lot of weight. I had to go on a super strict diet to stop that and I even lost a little each week, which the medical folks thought was shocking. I ate about 1,000 calories a day, ate tons of veggies, no salt, no sugar, no junk, no dairy (with the exception of a little butter), reduced my meat/animal product consumption, ate very little flour (like a half a slice of whole wheat bread once or twice a week), no pasta and my idea of a dessert was a sweet potato with a little butter. Well, it was tough, but it worked. I slowly lost weight. When I got off the meds, the weight fell off rapidly.
Funny you should ask this question. I have been on Methotrexate for a fortnight on Sunday, and in this time I have put on 4kg. I can’t believe it!!! Thought I was going nuts until someone suggested today it may be fluid?? Like you, Will be really interested to watch this thread progress
Yes i have gained with methotrexate 
If methotrexate was helping with the pain I would gratefully deal with the weight gain aspect but it’s not helping that I can ascertain. What I find helps the most with the pain is a steady unwavering dose of Motrin. I have been taking the Methotrexate since 10/3/14 and I have deliberately cut back on the Motrin to see if the methotrexate is working for pain and found that without the doses of Motrin I can barely function. And the weight gain doesn’t help the situation. I Hike the local trails on average of of 15-20 miles a week and watch my diet like a hawk. I don’t expect or want to be model thin at 60 years old but carrying around the extra weight isn’t wise at this age either. It’s harder to keep off as the years go by. I will be finished with the first 12 weeks of this drug in December and if possible will ask the rbeumotologist for something else to try.
Prednisone is notorious for weight gain even in small doses. It was very uncommon to have you losing weight on a high dose - I can see why your doctors were stunned. Methotrex is an immunosuppressant which is different than a steroid if I understand what I’ve read correctly. So I am surprised by the weight gain aspect especially since the doctor didn’t mention weight gain as a side effect. They only cautioned me about not drinking alcohol while on this med.
Nomad said:
Years ago while on a high dosage of prednisone, I gained a lot of weight. I had to go on a super strict diet to stop that and I even lost a little each week, which the medical folks thought was shocking. I ate about 1,000 calories a day, ate tons of veggies, no salt, no sugar, no junk, no dairy (with the exception of a little butter), reduced my meat/animal product consumption, ate very little flour (like a half a slice of whole wheat bread once or twice a week), no pasta and my idea of a dessert was a sweet potato with a little butter. Well, it was tough, but it worked. I slowly lost weight. When I got off the meds, the weight fell off rapidly.
I actually had a nurse yell at me back then and accuse me of not taking my medicine. I was losing tiny amounts of weight weekly. I know it is very hard and now that I’m older, ironically I find this type of militant eating actually more difficult. I was in my 20s at the time and frightened. This motivated me. I checked all my food for salt and sugar. I recall not wanting to eat too much celery because I understood it to have a relatively high salt content, even if it was natural sodium. I’m on many meds now for various things and I’ve just started a similar diet and it’s a struggle. But, I am sure that the diet helped me and helps me overall. Already, my high blood pressure has normalized (still taking meds, but will likely have to reduce the dosage soon) and my body aches have reduced. Sadly, I’m human and find it hard to keep up this routine. But, I also have a lupus, Sj.Syndrome, ITP, some other stuff that I can’t keep up with, Trigeminal nerve pain, IC…etc. it all improves when I get militant with my eating. So, it’s worth it in the end. When I mess up, I try not to let it last long…just pull myself up and get back to it.
I actually lost 38# on methotrexate over the course of a year. The reason for that was it made me sick to my stomach 3 days a week and I couldn’t keep anything down. It never did anything for my pain.
I wish you the best of luck!
Take care
Wendy
I have gained fluid weight also. It is the craziest thing because I am instructed to weigh myself every day because of pulmonary hypertension (SLE, RA). And I can gain 3 -4 lbs in a day! I have been on high dose steriods. Now I take 10mg pred and .7 mL MTX and noticing weight gain. I believe it's fluid especially if I have eaten salty, sugary foods.
And I'd like to add to the lady that said she stopped eating celery because it has sodium. It may not seem likely but according to a nutritionist organic sodium found in celery and barely actually acts as a diuretic, so does having the required quota of water.
That was a long time ago and I just reduced my celery intake as I was unsure. Today, I intake some celery almost daily as I have a green drink almost daily and I usually put some celery in it. I’m trying to pay close attention to how my body reacts AND I would say I think you are likely right because I’m noticing the scale responding more rapidly since I’ve been adding celery to my green juice drinks. I had bad aches after being in the sun today ( dumb of me!) but generally speaking the juicing and clean diet has helped me lose weight and has reduced my body aches.
One of the things that makes us gain weight and keep weight on its toxicity. Unfortunately all the drugs they use to manage her symptoms are toxic. Of course these drugs it saved my life, but eventually once you’re stable, you have to detoxify.
Lately I’ve been having fantastic success using a nutrition plan that is very simple to use. this is the best I have felt in years. And the weight is coming off without exercising at all. The plan includes both really high quality nutrition as well as gentle detoxification.
Pardon my typos! Yes English is my first language 