Does Celebrex cause weight gain? (1+ potential causes)
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Does Celebrex cause weight gain?
Celebrex may or may not cause weight gain as a side effect. It is not considered a common side effect associated with this Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, but it can happen to some people. Around 2-3% of the people taking Celebrex have reported this side effect.
If you’re one of the unfortunate ones who’s gaining weight on Celebrex, immediately talk to your healthcare provider about this and the future safety and efficacy of Celebrex if you’re going to use it for a long period of time.
How does Celebrex cause weight gain?
Celebrex can cause weight gain in the following ways:
- Water retention
- Increased appetite
Water retention
Celebrex can cause water retention as a side effect in some people. There is no way to be certain who will suffer from this side effect, but some people eventually begin to retain more water in their bodies(1). This makes them heavier on the scale.
Some experts believe that people who are long-term users of Celebrex are more susceptible to this side effect. This is because Celebrex, being an NSAID, is associated with a number of side effects. It may or may not damage your kidney over time. This can also make you more sensitive to Celebrex-induced water retention.
Increased appetite
Celebrex may affect your appetite, especially if you’re a long-term user of this medication. Studies suggest that appetite changes are not common in short-term users or people who only use this medication when needed.
This indicates that the continuous use of Celebrex produces this effect as the drug slowly begins to affect your metabolism. These two possible reasons associated with weight gain may not be accurate in all cases.
There are still a lot of misconceptions and a lot of other theories that try to explain why Celebrex causes weight gain in some cases.
What to do if Celebrex makes you gain weight?
There are a few things that you should do if you suffer from Celebrex-induced weight gain. These include:
Talk to your healthcare provider
Although Celebrex is not commonly associated with weight gain, it may still make you gain some. If your weight gain is significant, only your healthcare provider can help you to prevent that – as your doctor knows about your medical history, your age, and your symptoms.
Other factors may also be present which could contribute to your weight gain. Your doctor will evaluate these factors and will rule out any other possible cause of weight gain to be certain whether the drug is responsible or not. If it is responsible, your doctor may switch you to another medication.
Cut back on table salt
It is best to consume less amount of salt while you’re being treated with Celebrex. This is because Celebrex is associated with water retention and it could contribute to weight gain by this medication.
If you continue to use higher amounts of salt, your body will increase the rate of reabsorption of water from your kidneys and this can make your body retain more water. This is why it is recommended to limit your salt intake, just in case.
Watch what you’re eating
Eating good things is the key to your weight management and overall weight. Celebrex is also associated with many gastrointestinal side effects, which may cause bloating and make you heavier on the scale. However, eating good food can help you big time.
Make sure you have all the protein and good fats in your daily diet. It is also essential to take probiotics daily to protect your stomach from Celebrex-induced gastrointestinal side effects.
Final words
To sum up, Celebrex may cause weight gain in some people. However, this side effect is not frequently reported. If you are experiencing any side effects while taking this NSAID, please talk to your doctor.
Remember, the safe and effective use of medications is the key to achieving your desired therapeutic outcome. So, make sure you stick to the recommended dose and do not take Celebrex more often.
It is also important to check for the expiry date before you take this medication, as expired meds may not be potent enough to help you with your symptoms and can lead to therapeutic failure.
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References
1.-
Cohen B, Preuss CV. Celecoxib. 2022 Oct 10. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30570980. [Cited 2022 Oct. 01]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535359/
