{"id":628860,"date":"2024-07-08T13:27:59","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T17:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=628860"},"modified":"2024-10-25T09:52:00","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T13:52:00","slug":"does-rinvoq-cause-weight-gain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/does-rinvoq-cause-weight-gain\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Rinvoq cause weight gain?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Inflammation is a double-edged sword. It’s part of the immune system’s defense mechanism, but it can cause serious issues—like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis—if it gets too severe. <\/span>Rinvoq<\/span><\/a> (upadacitinib) is a prescription medication that can treat these conditions, along with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. And while it’s a powerful anti-inflammatory drug, Rinvoq may cause weight gain in some people. Exactly how, why, and when may vary, but we’ve got all the details below. <\/span><\/p>\n

Why does Rinvoq cause weight gain?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) <\/span>prescribing information for Rinvoq<\/span><\/a> states that, during <\/span>clinical trials, <\/span>Rinvoq only caused weight gain in around 2% of patients. This could simply stem from its drug type. Rinvoq is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, which means it blocks certain enzymes that cause the immune system to create inflammation.<\/span> One study from 2019<\/span><\/a> demonstrated that 84% of patients taking JAK inhibitors saw increased body weight. However, the FDA only lists increased weight as a side effect when it’s used for atopic dermatitis—a type of eczema—not arthritis or other conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Determining the cause of this weight increase when taking Rinvoq for atopic dermatitis is a little more complicated. “The mechanism behind this weight gain is not entirely clear,” explains Dr. John Lowe, MD, of <\/span>Restore Care Wellness Clinic<\/span><\/a>. “But, it may be related to changes in appetite or metabolic effects.”<\/span><\/p>\n

In some cases, weight gain might not stem from Rinvoq itself, but from supplemental medications. Some atopic dermatitis patients take corticosteroids like prednisone as well, <\/span>which may cause weight gain<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)<\/span><\/a> are another common companion, and although they don’t cause weight gain, they might cause fluid retention.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though JAK inhibitors and certain <\/span>biologic drugs<\/span><\/a> prescribed for inflammatory diseases may affect a patient’s weight, remember that everyone reacts to medications differently, so it depends entirely on the person.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other Rinvoq side effects<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to Rinvoq’s manufacturer, <\/span>AbbVie<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>other common side effects of Rinvoq include:<\/span><\/p>\n