Spiriva had caused me to gain weight which I can not lose, anyone have an answer?

There are professional medical people on this site. Hopefully they might have an answer to your concerns. pledge

I had contact with a medical professional but along the line here but somehow lost him. My problem of weight gain from Spiriva still plagues me after two years of discontinuing it.

Every single pound is on the midsection only, and nowhere else. There have been others online that said the same thing: "All on the midsection and nowhere else." Just by that statement alone tells me that they truly have suffered the same side effect as I have. Along with that is this distended abdomen problem that is quite embarrassing. Even though it has been over two years since I last used the inhaler I have not been able to get rid of the weight. I do have a feeling that it very well could be damage to my system somehow. This is certainly a serious side effect, a dirty one, that should warrant that this damn thing be pulled from the market. Bill.

Well, keep on trying. you are a fighter and best of wishes!

Ask your doctor to check you out for Cushing's Disease. Accumulation of fat on the abdomen but not on the limbs is one of it's symptoms.

I would still do myself a favor if I were you and get my testosterone level checked just in case.

Spiriva weight gain problem: The only medication I am on is the antidressant Wellbutrin (Bupropian). This medication alone causes weight loss which it did when I first took it. It has had no bearing on the weight gained from Spiriva. Aside from this I have never, ever had a weight problem. I had been in a size 32 trousers since high school. I now seem to have a permanent 36 inch waist line bulge. I know this is a rare, and difficult problem to solve and perhaps there is none. No doctor has been able to help me. That's why I've come here to this open forum. Thank you, Bill.

As men get older, they tend to gain weight there because their testosterone level drops, that is why I suggested you have one done.

I've had my testosterone checked 4 times since then with the last by a urologist
3 months ago. You have to realize, as with the other people, that this is not a normal weight gain. Along with the weight gain is swelling inside of the belly. At times when I inhale, take in air, the area will suddenly bulge out causing a great deal of discomfort. I had a gastrointerologist examine me but could find nothing wrong other than stating that the bulge was unusal. I am convinced that the drug has done some kind of damage that has yet to be determined. There were 2 women online that stated that they looked as though they were pregnant. At the time both were in the process of filing law suits. Both were under the age of 40. I did contact the drug company, they took info, sent out a questionaire and that was it. I believe the only way that I'll make progress is to drastically reduce my calorie intake while at the same time walk long distances and see if I can get it off and keep it off. Bill.

Where did you see those comments? I can understand some abdominal distention while you are on it, due to the fact that anticholinergic meds like spiriva can slow down your gi tract, but that's not weight gain. I have checked 3 references now and none say anything about weight gain, and I've had many patients who used it without weight gain. I'm trying to figure out if there is some other effect it has that could cause weight gain. I can see where symbicort would cause it because its a cortisone. I searched spiriva here in DC, and went back to 2004 and found only one that even suggested weight gain. The responses to that were that it didn't cause it.

There are no steroids in spiriva so that's not a consideration. I'm going to keep seeking this out, I like to learn things like this, but I want the reason why.

That is the strangest thing, where it puts the weight. I'll have to keep researching until I can figure it out. I want to know why, lol.

Sounds great. I've looked everywhere within my resources but find nothing. I've searched in vein to find someone, anyone, who has had this problem and found a solution to it. There must be some way to rid one self of such an unsightly condition unless, God forbid, it's permanent damage. If Spiriva is permanently damaging people in this respect then shame on the manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim of Ingelheim Germany, for not removing this thing from the market. They have an outlet in this country. Those are the people I contacted by phone. They acted as if they never heard of it, and said they would report it to the FDA. The psychiatrist I see twice a year, a psychopharmachologist, said they are lying, and that they knew exactly what I was talking about! Good luck in your seach. Bill

Hello;
I hope I'm still "talking" with the medical practioner Kaismama. If so then I have another question regarding weight gain problems from using the inhaler Spiriva. You had mentioned that you were going to look into this problem of Spiriva weight gain and all of the other perculiarities that go along with it.
Bill.

I haven't been able to find anything. There has to be a reason somewhere.

I hope you can find something. I know that this is a rare side effect that's hardly ever heard of but it is real. There's one thing about those who are affected this way... the weight gain never seems to stop as long as one continues taking it. I've taken different medications that's caused weight gain but in every case the gain leveled off over time in spite of continuing the drug. I'm certain that with this stuff it never stops as long as one continues taking it. I'll never forget a woman who contacted me online 11/2 years ago. She stated that her 62 year old father had taken it for 2 years, and had gained an unbelievable 90 lbs! He finally stopped because of a developing heart condition and diabetes. I wonder what would have happened if he would've continued taking it. I had plenty of questions for her but for some reason I couldn't get back to her. Bill.

To Kaismama;

Hello, this is Bill, the one who struggled with the Spiriva weight gain. The last time we had contact you'd mentioned that you were curious about this side effect that I've toiled with for the last 2-3 years involving this strange, and yet overlooked side effect. The damn thing ruins lives and should certainly be looked into. Anyway have you taken the time to find anything on this problem? If not then that's alright too. I'll still be here waiting for someone to offer a solution. Incidentally; I've had my testosterone levels checked, once again, and will find out the results next Monday. I still believe this problem goes deeper then that. My levels were normal when this problem started.
Sincerely, Bill.

I can't find anything about it. Have you ever communicated with the FDA about it?

I took Spiriva 5 yrs ago, at 37 & gained 80#s in 4 months! My arms, legs, belly, rear & breasts blew up! I called Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. & spoke to one of their medical reps, approximately 3% of people have had this adverse side effect, so it wasn't enough to make it into their top side effects list. I am a woman & went from 140 to 220, I have had no success at losing the weight, my health actually worsened, needless to say I stopped the Spiriva after 2months & just use my emergency inhaler, which is getting more & more difficult to rely on. I have been with a trainer for over 2yrs, gym for 4yrs, coach softball for 16yrs, saw a nutritionist (no diet issues), was only on pain meds that I had been on for 10 yrs (so I know they weren't the culprit), I have tried South Beach, Atkins, 6wk Body Makeover, anything & everything! Nothing is working! I feel your pain! If someone finds success, let em know, please.

Hello, I just recently quit using spiriva I went from 159 to 228. I had a heart attack July 2013, then open heart surgery September 2013. I quit smoking July 2013 now I have asthma. Was put on spiriva in September 2014 now I have this weight and can't lose it.

There are many people who have complained about extreme weight gain and feeling bloated around the mid section from using Spiriva ! It might not be listed as a side effect by the drug company, but it certainly is happening all around the world. I have experienced it too,