Does budesonide cause weight gain?

Key takeaways

• Budesonide is a corticosteroid medication used to treat inflammatory conditions. While most corticosteroids carry a risk of weight gain, budesonide is considered less likely to cause this side effect.
• If weight gain from budesonide occurs, it is often due to increased water retention and changes in fat metabolism, rather than an increase in body fat.
• If you experience persistent side effects from budesonide, including weight gain, consult with your doctor about alternative medications that may be more suitable for your condition.

Overview

Budesonide is a corticosteroid medication that helps manage symptoms of inflammatory health conditions. Inflammation is a natural process that your body’s immune system uses to fight infection and disease.

Inflammatory diseases cause symptoms due to excess levels of inflammation, which result in injury to your body.

Budesonide (sometimes known under the brand name Uceris) specifically targets your airways and gastrointestinal tract. Doctors often prescribe this steroid drug for the following inflammatory health conditions:

• Crohn’s disease
• inflammatory bowel disease
• kidney disease
• asthma
• ulcerative colitis (UC)

Like all corticosteroids, budesonide can cause side effects with long-term use. However, weight gain is unlikely to be one of these effects.

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Budesonide and weight gain

Budesonide belongs to a group of medications called corticosteroids. In general, long-term use of oral corticosteroids may lead to weight gain. But some 2018 research has indicated that people tolerate budesonide better than other forms of steroids. Other research suggests that budesonide results in less weight gain than prednisolone, another common corticosteroid.

The drug’s prescribing information does not include weight gain as a common side effect.

It’s also important to note that perceived weight gain with steroids is often a result of increased water retention. This is because steroids often change how your body balances minerals and electrolytes. Steroids can also increase your appetite, resulting in weight gain.

In some people, steroids change the way their body metabolizes and distributes fat. This can lead your body to accumulate fat in your abdominal area and around your face.

If you take steroids as a long-term treatment for your condition, you’ll likely experience some form of weight gain.

Other side effects of budesonide

The side effects of budesonide you may experience depend on the form you take. If you take an inhaled form of budesonide (Pulmicort), you may notice:

• throat irritation
• sinus swelling (sinusitis)
• thrush in your throat and mouth
• throat pain
• respiratory infections, like the common cold

Some less common but more severe side effects of inhaled budesonide include:

• pneumonia, which causes coughing and a fever
• allergic reactions, such as skin rashes and difficulty breathing
• eye problems such as blurry vision or double vision
• osteoporosis, a loss in bone density
• wheezing
• low blood pressure
• loss of consciousness
• infection
• high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)

If you’re taking budesonide oral tablets or capsules, your possible side effects may differ from those of the inhaled form of the steroid. These medications can cause mild or more serious side effects.

Some mild side effects you may notice include:

• acne
• bloating
• headaches
• trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• nausea
• feeling flushed
• joint pain
• constipation
• mood changes

Serious side effects of budesonide tablets are not common but do occur. You should seek medical attention if you notice any of the following side effects. If you feel your side effects are life threatening, call 911.

These serious side effects include:

• your body’s inability to fight off infections
• allergic reaction
• hormonal fluctuation, such as loss of cortisol or increased cortisol

Alternative medications

If you’re taking corticosteroids and noticing weight gain, a doctor may recommend switching to budesonide, which is less likely to cause this side effect.

But if you’re taking budesonide and experiencing side effects that don’t go away, a doctor may suggest some alternatives. A doctor’s recommendation will depend on the condition you’re treating, so it’s always best to speak with them before stopping any medication.

For example, if you’re taking budesonide for a gastrointestinal condition (such as Crohn’s disease or UC) or arthritis and you experience weight gain, a nonsteroidal alternative may suit you.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) work by interrupting the inflammatory process to lower inflammation levels. This helps prevent the progression of your condition.

 These medications may be more suitable and less likely to cause weight gain than steroids. They include:

• sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
• methotrexate (Trexall)
• leflunomide (Arava)
• hydroxychloroquine sulfate (Plaquenil)

These medications might not be a direct alternative for every condition that budesonide treats. A doctor can decide what medication is most appropriate to prescribe for you.

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Summary

Budesonide is a drug that belongs to a group of medications called corticosteroids. These medications, like all drugs, come with risks of side effects, including weight gain.

Weight gain isn’t consistently reported as a side effect of budesonide, although some brands do list it as a possible effect. There’s limited evidence that budesonide causes weight gain, but it’s still possible.

Weight gain from corticosteroids is mainly due to water retention, but these drugs can also cause your body to metabolize fat differently. As a result, you may notice weight gain around your abdomen and face.

If you experience side effects that don’t go away, consider speaking with a healthcare professional. They can recommend a treatment plan that’s right for you.

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