Weight Gain on Copaxone?

[tt89]

Anyone experience this. I had it with Betaseron and I think on this drug too. Is this common? Im newly diagnosed since the start of 2008. I'm working out daily, swimming and all. Its just coming out of nowhere and I eat good, nothing bad that would cause weight gain.

Anyone experience this? I refuse to pack on pounds for the sake of these drugs...if I should become imobile later on, that weight will be awful. I'm seriously thinking of just going without any injections. I don't know what else to do.

If you had weight gain? Were you able to lose it? What did you do in order to accomplish this.


Thanks

[cheerleader]

Hi TT-
My husband has put on about 5-7 lbs with Copax (at 6'2" he's now 190lbs)...and he's eating better and working out more consistently since diagnosis, so he figures it's the copaxone. But he is also relapse and progression free after a year and a half. He'd rather have love handles and no disease progression. Me too. Just make sure you keep moving, and keep your heart healthy.
AC

[Wonderfulworld]

I suppose that I am about 14lbs heavier than pre-Copaxone days but to be honest a bit of weight gain pales into insignificance if you're faced with serious relapses without it like I was.

What's a stone or two here or there when before Copaxone I was relapsing 4 times a year?

[tt89]

Thank you to all for your responses
I'm picky about that I guess also because I pray that I never become imobile but if I do, weight is something that would make things harder..
I don't know. I just have so many emotions about stuff right now being newly diagnosed I don't know where to start or how to deal with alot of it.
Thank you for your time...very much I so appreciate it

[MattB]

I started Copaxone in early March of this year and I didn't experience any weight gain. Recently I actually lost 15 pounds which I could not afford to lose(my three year and very serious girlfriend left me and moved out) and I'm having trouble gaining it back.

[daverestonvirginia]

I can't say I have gained any weight because of taking copaxone. But, I did decide to go on the Best Bet Diet (BBD) right abount the same time I started copaxone and I lost a fair amount of weight being on the BBD. That was several years ago, right now my weight is staying right about at the level I went to after being on the BBD for about six months. I have never heard of anyone else saying being on copaxone causes weight gain, I know I have not had that experience.

[SunnyDay]

It could be Copaxone, it could be my IUD. I'm not sure if either of those play a factor, both, or I'm just eating a few extra calories here or there when I'm stressed. I know that I've been relapse free for 1.5 years and when I think about that, the weight comes second. You could also talk to your doctor about changes in diet or even changing drugs.

[funkyr7]

I am 18 years old and have been on copaxone for 13 months. I have gained 12 - 15 pounds. I am very active, have been counting calories, 1,200 per day, and work out every day for at least one hour of cardio and also use weights. Despite all this, my weight is still climbing. I have a doctor's appointment next Wednesday. I have not had a relapse since I started Copaxone.

[lyndacarol]

funkyr7--Insulin is necessary for removing glucose (blood sugar) from the bloodstream. With the help of insulin, glucose is either taken into the cells and used as energy or stored as fat.

Excess insulin can result in weight gain. If you are unexplainably putting on weight, ask your doctor to order a "fasting serum insulin test" to check your level and see if this could be the reason for your weight gain.

[funkyr7]

LyndaCarol --

Thank you. I will do that.

[Wonderfulworld]

Funkyr7 I too have put on stone - I posted earlier - but I think it's a combination of being on amitriptyline for nerve pain and perhaps Copaxone. And being a chocolate fan too probably!

Just to say my husbands weight has been steadily climbing despite diet etc (he does not have MS) but just a thought to ask the doctor for a thyroid test - my husbands thyroid was out and he is now stabilising his weight following tablets for his thyroid.

[greenandchic]

Weight gain on Copaxone is my biggest fear. I am very sensitive to weight gain due to insulin resistance and sub-clinical hypothyroid. For the past couple of years, I am finally at a weight and size to maintain my health and vanity. The last thing I want to do is mess up my body.

I would like to know if the weight gain (if that is a real side effect of Coxaxone) is from insulin resistance, hypothyroid, increase in appetite, slowing down of the metabolism, etc. There has to be an explanation...

[RedSonja]

I have been a Cop junkie for four years now. I put on a kilo in the last year, but I reckon that is probably menopause, since I got all the other fun things too. Anyway I'm getting the weight off now.

[chort1313]

No weight gain here from Copax. And didn't have any weight gain when I was on Beta either.

[nacho]

I've gained 20 pounds since I started taking Copaxone. I stated working out again after I got released from the hospital back in 8/2008 so it's likely that a lot of the weight is from muscle I've put on. I am stronger now that's for sure. I currently weigh 210 pounds.