Does Plavix 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 Plavix cause weight gain?
No, Plavix is not associated with weight gain as a side effect. A huge number of clinical trials were performed but none of them observed weight gain. However, the drug may make you lose weight. This is because Plavix can cause a loss of sense of taste in some people.
This can make food undesirable and leads to lesser consumption, which can create a calorie deficit (1). This calorie deficit can make you lose weight. However, if you’re overweight or obese, the drug may not get absorbed in your body properly as research shows the low efficacy of Plavix in obese individuals (2).
Plavix may or may not cause water retention in your body. Some case studies showed this effect, but only in those people who have been using this blood-thinning medication for more than a year.
This water retention can make you heavier on the scale. However, it is also not considered a common side effect and is not expected to be seen in people with short-term treatment.
What to do if Plavix makes you gain weight?
If you’re noticing an unusual amount of weight gain while being treated with Plavix, you need to consult your healthcare provider. It is highly unlikely for Plavix to cause weight gain. However, it may be causing fluid retention in your body and it needs to be checked.
Meanwhile, you should make some good lifestyle changes. Incorporate exercise and a good diet into your routine. It is also important to limit your salt intake if you’re not sure what is the exact cause of your weight gain.
What side effects are common with Plavix use?
Plavix may not cause weight gain, but it is associated with some side effects. The commonly reported ones include (3):
- Diarrhoea
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Joint pain
- Bruising
- Minor bleeding
- Headache
- Itching
- Stomach pain
- Dizziness
Plavix is also associated with some rare and serious side effects, including:
- Allergic reactions
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Blood disorders
- Hallucinations
- Convulsions
- Vision changes
- Liver problems
- Kidney problems
- Bleeding in the brain
- Low blood sugar
- Low blood pressure
It is important to note that not everyone taking Plavix will experience these side effects and they can vary from patient to patient. Factors like age, weight, dosage strength, frequency, underlying health conditions, and overall health can make a difference.
Make sure you properly monitor the side effects and report them to your doctor. People are different and can respond differently to medications. If you are gaining weight, you need to discuss this with your doctor.
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References
1.-
Cave AJ, Cox DW, Vicaruddin O. Loss of taste with clopidogrel. Can Fam Physician. 2008 Feb;54(2):195-6. PMID: 18272634; PMCID: PMC2278309. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2278309/
2.-
Gremmel T, Steiner S, Seidinger D, Koppensteiner R, Panzer S, Kopp CW. Obesity is associated with poor response to clopidogrel and an increased susceptibility to protease-activated receptor-1 mediated platelet activation. Transl Res. 2013 May;161(5):421-9. doi: 10.1016/j.trsl.2012.12.015. Epub 2013 Jan 20. PMID: 23340049. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23340049/
3.-
MedlinePlus. Clopidogrel [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2022 Apr 15; cited 2022 Oct 2]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601040.html
