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Weight Loss and RA

Effie Koliopoulos

There's a ton of talk about weight gan with RA and meds, but who here has experienced weight loss? And I mean *unintentional weight loss* not from what you are actively trying to do. I noticed weight loss several years ago when moving from methotrexate pills to injections. Anyone else?

Effie Koliopoulos Moderator & Contributor
weight gain*
KMRT Member
I lost weight when I first started on Leflunomide; Unfortunately it was short-lived.
1. Effie Koliopoulos Moderator & Contributor
  I'm glad it was short-lived. Weight loss from meds and RA in general isn't an easy thing to deal with either. How did the weight loss improve? Did you get off the Leflunomide? -Effie, team member
opiesmom Member
I have lost 25 lbs since diagnosis, don't know if it is the meds or the RA. I am taking Methotrexate ,Plaquinil, prednisone and Xeljanz.....
1. Erin Rush Community Admin
  , that's interesting. How do you feel about the weight loss?
  
  Best, Erin, RheumatoidArthritis.net Team Member.
opiesmom Member
not happy, I weigh 5lbs...I am5'4.. and little boys size 10s are falling off
you can see every bone in my body. my BMI is 12.7
1. Richard Faust Community Admin
  Hi . Has your doctor had any thoughts on the weight loss. Sometimes people with RA can experience nutritional absorption issues. Our patient leader Lynn Marie discusses this in this article: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/poor-nutritional-status. There can also be the issue of muscle wasting, which will show up as weight loss. This article discusses it in more detail: https://www.healthline.com/health/rheumatoid-cachexia. Of course, there are other potential causes of weight loss and only a doctor can provide the proper diagnostics. I just want to make sure that you have the information for any discussions with your doctors. Wishing you the best and please feel free to keep us posted on how you are doing. Richard (RheumatoidArthritis.net Team)