Cataflam and Weight Gain

There are some possible side effects with Cataflam, and weight gain is one that is reported rarely. Among the things you can do if you notice weight gain while taking Cataflam are limiting your alcohol intake, getting regular physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week, and eating a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products. However, if you experience unexplained rapid weight gain along with swelling or a cough, you should contact your healthcare provider. These symptoms can signify congestive heart failure in some people taking this drug.

 

Cataflam and Weight Gain: An Overview

There are a number of problems that have been reported in people taking Cataflam® (diclofenac potassium). Gradual weight gain is one of these problems that are reported rarely. In previous clinical studies, weight gain occurred in less than 1 percent of people taking Cataflam. Given how uncommon weight gain is, however, it is difficult to say whether it is actually caused by the medication, other factors, or a combination of both.
 

Understanding Clinical Trials

Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies in which thousands of people are given a particular medicine and compared to a group who were given a placebo (sugar pill). In these studies, side effects are always documented. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine. Side effects are then usually separated into those that occur more in than 1 percent of people and those that occur in less than 1 percent of people.
 
Weight gain with Cataflam was seen in less than 1 percent of people. Weight gain also occurred just as often in the group of people not taking Cataflam. This is why it is not possible to say whether the medication, other factors, or a combination of both played a role in this gradual weight gain.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;