Weight Loss For Asthma Sufferers

[robichag]

Hi all. I am hoping I am not the only one out there with this issue.

It seems that my medication is making it impossible for me to lose weight consistantly.  I am currently taking Montelukast once a day, and two puffs of Symbicort once a day.

Has anyone else felt their asthma medication is a hinderance to weight loss, and if so, did you find any solutions?

Thanks everyone

Gabirel

[Heybales]

Are the side effects water retention?

That can only max out to certain point.

While water weight gain can mask fat loss on the scale - inches will show what is still happening.

Eventually the fat loss will show on scale too.

Or are side effects that it changes your metobalism, lowers it specifically?

I'm guessing no, which means it will not be impossible for you to lose weight.

If side effect is it makes you hungry and go over your goal eating, well, have to figure that one out.

Also, little tip. For a body that is already under stress, like sickness or disease, pick a smaller weight loss goal amount.

The combo of stressed body and too big a deficit will set up a combo fight for weight loss that will just stress you out - and that's not good for weight loss either.

[robichag]

Thank you for you input.  However, this is all very interesting but also generic advice.

The medication (Symbicort) has a cortecosteroid in it. There is contreversy at the moment regarding wether or not you gain weight while on this medicaiton or if it hinders weight loss. There are studies supporting both sides of these claims.

My specialist doesn`t believe that the Symbicort can cause these weight issues, but I have only had problems since I have began this course of treatment. There is no other option for me, as this is the most effective course of treatment I have experienced.

I have been doing all kinds of things over the past 3 years to try to lose weight. The only variable left that I have not  changed is my asthma medication, although  I have worked with my Specialist to find the optimal/minimal dosages to keep my asthma under control and I am basically living symptom free.

I am hoping to hear from other asthma sufferers who have dealt with this kind of isssue before and what solutions they found.

Best Regards,

Gabriel

[whome]

The montelukast is a leukotriene blocker - similar to the way antihistamines block the effect of histamine that is released when you encounter something you are allergic to - this blocks (at least some of) the effects of some things called leukotrienes. You should be getting a drug information handout (if in the US) with each fill of your prescription for the montelukast - you will find a comprehensive list of known side effects in there - I don't think weight gain in among them

While corticosteroids are well known to cause weight gain this is usually at much higher doses than the amount that should be absorbed into your body with the Symbicort inhaler - the great advantage of the inhaled steroids for asthma is that a much smaller dose is delivered directly to the body part where it is needed rather than an oral steroid that is absorbed through the GI tract and circulated through the entire body in order to get the drug to the body part that needs it.

Not saying that it is IMPOSSIBLE for this to be a problem for you, just that it is not LIKELY to be the problem

Good luck 

Craig

[Hlj1117]

Hi, did you ever get this resolved? I have the exact same thing going on and am so confused at what to do. 

[Heybales]

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@Hlj1117 wrote:

Hi, did you ever get this resolved? I have the exact same thing going on and am so confused at what to do. 

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Did you read the existing replies from 6 years ago?

Some app usage makes it easy to skip comments already made.

Like any body that is stressed with disease or meds, adding the big stress of a big diet is not good on top of that.

Don't attempt to lose weight so fast, pick a smaller loss rate. How much do you have to lose until healthy weight?

You will have to be very accurate with food logging to confirm you are eating less than you burn.

How do you log your foods - weight or volume, everything or some things?

You may have to correct your Fitbit for how much you burn, or help it be more accurate with it's estimates.

After 30 days of best accuracy records - it can be known what needs to be done no matter what meds you are on.

Med's won't change the laws of thermodynamics - but they can make it more difficult to get good estimates.