Celebrex and Weight Gain

In extensive clinical studies of people taking Celebrex, weight gain was only reported rarely -- and it occurred in just as many people not taking the drug. Rapid, unexplained weight gain, however, is the primary symptom of congestive heart failure, which is a risk of Celebrex, so you should report this to your healthcare provider. If you are taking Celebrex and weight gain occurs gradually, try eating a heart-healthy diet and getting more exercise.

 

An Overview of Celebrex and Weight Gain

While side effects are possible when taking Celebrex® (celecoxib), gradual weight gain is only reported rarely. In previous clinical studies, weight gain occurred in less than 2 percent of people taking Celebrex. Given how uncommon this is, it is difficult to say whether this is because of the medication, other factors, or a combination of both.
 

Understanding Clinical Trials

Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies, where thousands of people are given a particular medicine and then compared a group of people not given the medicine. In these studies, side effects are always documented. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they occur, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine. Side effects are then usually separated into those that occurred more in than 1 to 2 percent of people (common side effects) and those that occurred in less than 1 to 2 percent of people (rare side effects).
 
Weight gain with Celebrex was seen in less than 2 percent of people. It also occurred just as often in the group of people not taking Celebrex. This is why it is not possible to say for certainty whether the medication, other factors, or a combination of both played a role in this gradual weight gain.
 
(Celebrex and Weight Gain Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;