Does methotrexate cause weight gain?

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 30, 2024.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

What effect does leflunomide, prednisone and TNFi on weight?

Methotrexate was shown to cause a modest amount of weight gain over 6 months, in a study measuring weight changes in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

The patients who were most likely to gain weight when starting methotrexate, were patients who had recently lost weight due to rheumatoid arthritis. The methotrexate weight gain may return them back to their normal baseline weight.

In the this study

TNFi (tumor necrosis factor inhibitors) showed the same amount of weight gain as methotrexate
prednisone showed a larger weight gain than methotrexate
leflunomide showed a modest weight loss compared to methotrexate

There is a greater risk of death for rheumatoid arthritis patients who

have unintentional weight loss
are obese

If you have concerns about weight gain or weight loss when you are starting methotrexate it is important to discuss this with your healthcare professional.
It is a good idea to have your starting weight recorded and then at regular intervals have it remeasured so you can quickly identify any changes and act accordingly.

References

Methotrexate Medication Information: https://www.drugs.com/methotrexate.html

Changes in Body Mass Related to the Initiation of Disease Modifying Therapies in Rheumatoid Arthritis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4963297/

Current and early life weight and associations with mortality in rheumatoid arthritis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30719967/

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