Does Tecfidera cause weight gain or loss?

Drugs.com

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Weight gain or weight loss is not a recognized side effect of Tecfidera and is not documented in the prescribing information for Tecfidera which reports side effects that occur in clinical trials at a 2% higher incidence than placebo.

However, anecdotally blog sites report weight gains with Tecfidera of anywhere from 5-6lbs to up to 25 pounds, but there are also people who report weight loss of up to 14 pounds.

Weight gains may be due to the suggestion to take Tecfidera with a high fat or high calorie meal to reduce the severity of flushing, a common side effect of Tecfidera. In addition, MS itself can cause problems with physical activity, and this may cause weight gain.

Weight loss may be due to gastrointestinal side effects that occur with Tecfidera, as these are common. People who experience nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting are more likely to lose weight with Tecfidera.

Both gastrointestinal events and flushing are more likely to occur during the first month of Tecfidera administration and tend to get better with time.

Related medical questions

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords