Does Spiriva 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 Spiriva cause weight gain?
Spiriva is not associated with weight gain, according to research studies, but several surveys have revealed that it does. Clinical trials and other studies showed that Spiriva does not affect your body’s metabolism in any way and has no possible mechanism that could affect your body gain.
However, a huge number of people have claimed to gain weight, especially in their midsection or waistline. Some have complained of constant bloating and having a belly that looks like a pregnant belly. This indicates that Spiriva does indeed make you gain weight, although there is no possible explanation for that.
Spiriva is a medication that is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It contains the active ingredient tiotropium bromide, which belongs to a class of drugs called anticholinergics. (1,2)
Spiriva works by relaxing the muscles in the airways, helping to open them up and improve breathing. When you inhale Spiriva using an inhaler device, it delivers the medication directly to your lungs. It helps to reduce symptoms of COPD, such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing.
It is quite unusual for an inhaled formulation to cause changes in body weight, but such cases are still reported.
What is the incidence of weight gain on Spiriva?
The incidence of weight gain on Spiriva has not been established yet, as the drug is not commonly associated with the side effect. Studies and clinical trials have not reported weight gain as a significant issue associated with Spiriva use.
However, it’s important to remember that individual responses to medications can vary, and some individuals may experience weight gain while taking Spiriva.
If you have concerns about weight gain or any other side effects while using Spiriva, it is best to consult with your healthcare provider.
What factors can contribute to weight gain while taking Spiriva?
There are a number of factors that can lead to weight gain while taking Spiriva. The drug doesn’t necessarily have to be the cause of your weight gain. One of the main factors leading to weight gain is an imbalance between calorie intake and energy expenditure.
Consuming more calories than your body needs can lead to weight gain over time. Poor dietary choices, such as a high intake of processed and sugary foods, can contribute to excessive calorie consumption.
Lack of physical activity or a sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to weight gain as it reduces the number of calories burned.
Additionally, hormonal imbalances can play a role in weight gain. Certain medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), can affect hormone levels and metabolism, potentially leading to weight gain.
Medications like Antidepressants (Eg: Effexor, Zoloft, Pristiq), Antipsychotics (Eg: Seroquel, Abilify), and Corticosteroids (Eg: Methylprednisolone) may also have weight gain as a side effect.
Emotional factors can also influence weight gain. Stress, boredom, or emotional eating can lead to overeating and unhealthy food choices, contributing to weight gain. So make sure that it’s not your lifestyle factors or other medications that cause you to gain weight.
What to do if Spiriva makes you gain weight?
There are a few things you can do if Spiriva makes you gain weight. These include:
Talk to your healthcare provider
The first and most important thing that you do is talk to your healthcare provider. If you’re gaining a lot of belly fat, this is not a good sign.
Visceral fat can lead to a number of other health-related problems and can damage the quality of your life. This is why it’s best to address this problem and look for alternatives which are safer for you to use.
Exercise
Exercise can also be quite helpful, especially workouts that are focused on your waistline. They can help activate your abdominal muscles, which in turn start to burn nearby fat. Yes, ab workouts are probably the hardest to do, but you can start with beginner-friendly workouts.
Eat good food
Eating good food is another way of reducing your belly fat. Not only this but staying away from heavy foods that can make you bloated is also quite important to see any progress. No matter how much you work out, if you continue to have a poor diet you will not see promising results.
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References
1.-
Disse B, Speck GA, Rominger KL, Witek TJ Jr, Hammer R. Tiotropium (Spiriva): mechanistical considerations and clinical profile in obstructive lung disease. Life Sci. 1999;64(6-7):457-64. doi: 10.1016/s0024-3205(98)00588-8. PMID: 10069510. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10069510/
2.-
Beeh KM, Welte T, Buhl R. Tiotropium – ein langwirksames, inhalatives Anticholinergikum zur Therapie der chronisch-obstruktiven Lungenerkrankung (COPD) [Tiotropium (Spiriva) – a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)]. Pneumologie. 2003 Sep;57(9):519-25. German. doi: 10.1055/s-2003-42216. PMID: 13680472. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/13680472/
