Does Diclofenac cause weight gain?
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 Diclofenac cause weight gain?
Diclofenac may cause weight gain as a side effect. However, weight gain is considered one of the less common side effects of Diclofenac but it can be quite significant if it occurs.
People who have gained weight on this Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug have claimed to have gained a huge amount of weight. But again, not everyone suffers from this side effect. If you’re one of the unfortunate ones, make sure you talk to your healthcare provider.
Only your doctor can help determine the exact cause of your weight gain and whether you should continue to use Diclofenac or not. This painkiller causes side effects like weight gain in only those people who take it for their chronic conditions(1).
What does research suggest?
There is no exact explanation to understand why Diclofenac causes weight gain as a side effect in some people. However, there are some reasons that may contribute to weight gain, even if they don’t directly interfere with your body’s fat-burning processes.
Studies suggest that Diclofenac may cause water retention 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. This makes them heavier on the scale.
Some experts believe that people who are long-term users of Diclofenac are more susceptible to this side effect. This is because Diclofenac, being an NSAID, is associated with a number of side effects. It may or may not damage your kidney over time(2).
This can also make you more sensitive to Diclofenac-induced water retention. Some studies have shown weight gain regardless of water retention. This indicates that Diclofenac is associated with weight gain with or without water retention as a side effect. The exact mechanism through which it happens is still unknown.
What to do if you suffer from Diclofenac-induced weight gain?
There are a few things you can do if you suffer from Diclofenac-induced weight gain. Some of these include:
Consult your healthcare provider
The most important thing to do is to talk to your healthcare provider about this weight gain. As we have just discussed, weight gain associated with Diclofenac is not that common but it can be quite prominent if it happens.
Only your healthcare provider can determine the future use of Diclofenac, especially if you have a chronic condition for which you have been taking this NSAID.
If Diclofenac is making negative changes in your body, it may not be a good choice of treatment for you. If that’s the case, your doctor may switch you to another anti-inflammatory drug.
Limit your salt intake while being treated with Diclofenac
It is best to consume less amount of salt while you’re being treated with Diclofenac. This is because Diclofenac 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.
Eat the right foods
Eating good things is the key to your weight management and your overall weight. Diclofenac is associated with a lot of gastrointestinal side effects as well 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 protein and good fats in your daily diet. It is also essential to take probiotics daily to protect your stomach from Diclofenac-induced gastrointestinal side effects.
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References
1.-
National Health Service. Diclofenac. [Internet]. NHS.uk. [cited 2022 Sep 28]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/diclofenac/
2.-
Gan TJ. Diclofenac: an update on its mechanism of action and safety profile. Curr Med Res Opin. 2010 Jul;26(7):1715-31. doi: 10.1185/03007995.2010.486301. PMID: 20470236. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20470236/
