Does Spironolactone cause weight gain and cellulite?
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 Spironolactone cause weight gain and cellulite?
Spironolactone can cause both weight gain and cellulite. However, it can also cause weight loss. According to research studies, Spironolactone is not associated with weight gain as a side effect and no medical explanation has been given by experts to understand how it happens (1).
However, when we looked at data from surveys where actual people who have been taking Spironolactone were questioned, we came to know that this diuretic does cause weight gain.
Many people have claimed to have suffered from rapid weight gain, like 25 lbs in just 4 to 6 months, and cellulite, especially on their thighs. This can lead to a lack of confidence and depression, especially in women.
Why does Spironolactone cause weight gain and Cellulite?
There is no possible explanation as to why Spironolactone makes you gain weight. This diuretic removes excessive water from your body and research indicates that people can lose their water weight because of this drug activity.
However, still, people out there claim to gain weight. If you’re one of the unfortunate ones, you should definitely concern your healthcare provider. Weigh all the pros and cons of Spironolactone before you continue to use this medication.
Some people may lose weight after stopping Spironolactone, but proper weight loss requires hard work and dedication. However, it is important to note that you should never stop taking prescription medications without consulting your doctor first.
What to do if Spironolactone causes weight gain and cellulite?
There are a few things that you can try to get rid of Spironolactone-induced weight gain and cellulite. These include:
Eat healthy foods
Eating healthy is the key to losing weight. When you continue to eat healthy, your body slowly starts to melt the excess stored fat to convert it into energy.
This can help you lose a significant amount of weight. No matter what you do or how much you exercise, if you don’t eat right, you will not lose weight. Stick to light carbs, lean protein, and good fats.
They will not only help you lose weight but will provide you with a number of good nutrients that your body needs. Junk food and high sugary foods have no nutritional benefit.
They just feel good on the lips. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you completely stop eating things you love. Just limit the ones that are not healthy.
Drink plenty of water
Water is one of the most important components of the human body. You need to continue to drink water and it is extremely important for maintaining your water weight as well. Water can help remove toxins from your body and can actively increase your energy levels.
Exercise and stretch
Exercise is an important addition to your daily routine if you wish to lose weight. It gives definition to your body as you continue to drop pounds. Exercising and muscle/strength training can help prevent cellulite by strengthening your muscles and skin cells.
It keeps your skin tight and reduces the appearance of cellulite. Stretching is also quite important, especially after a good and steamy workout session. It helps your muscle breathe and stretches your skin to leave no gaps in between your cells that give you a cellulite-like appearance.
Try apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has some great benefits when it comes to losing both weight and cellulite. For weight loss, you can add 2 tablespoons of pure and organic ACV to a cup of lukewarm water. You can also add honey to this mixture to help with the taste and drink it on an empty stomach.
It removes toxins from your body and speeds up the fat-burning process. For cellulite, you can apply ACV to your skin. It helps with the tightening of the skin to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Combine olive oil with coffee grounds for stubborn cellulite
According to research, coffee grounds mixed with extra virgin olive oil is a great remedy to reduce the appearance of your cellulite. Just apply the mixture to the affected area and cover it up. You can do this 3 to 4 times a week for a few months to reduce your cellulite.
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References
1.-
Elkholey K, Papadimitriou L, Butler J, Thadani U, Stavrakis S. Effect of Obesity on Response to Spironolactone in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction. Am J Cardiol. 2021 May 1;146:36-47. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.01.018. Epub 2021 Jan 30. PMID: 33529620; PMCID: PMC8038969. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33529620/
2.-
MedlinePlus. Spironolactone [Internet]. Bethesda, MD: U.S. National Library of Medicine; 2022 Mar 15 [updated 2022 Mar 15; cited 2022 Sep 29]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682627.html
