Gaining weight on Doxycycline/Prescribed drugs?

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Replies

  • charbaut
    charbaut Posts: 1
    I have been on and off Dorxy 150mg for the last few years. In this time, I can definitely notice a weight gain, especially in my abs. I do an hour of cardio almost everyday, plus I am in a US Marine run boot camp 5 days a week. I have not lost a single pound while maintaining a clean diet, and a rigorous workout schedule. I'm 47, so part of me wants to blame hormones, but recently I heard a story on NPR about antibiotics making us fat. Doctor Oz just did a show on this as well. I'm starting to lean on the side of the Doryx being the cause, rather than age and slowing metabolism. Very frustrated!
  • Mena212
    Mena212 Posts: 1
    Interesting! I, too have been on 100mg of Doxy for the past 5 months and am so pleased that my rosacea has calmed down tremendously yet my weight has gone up. Never made the connection until my mother mentioned antibiotics could be the trigger. I do heavy cardio at least 5 days a week and my eating habits have remained the same. My belly feels almost puffy and it is an uncomfortable (full) feeling, especially in the upper region, below the chest line. Also have noted that I have not been as 'regular' as I always have been and now am wondering if the Doxy could be that trigger, too! Will mention this to my dermatologist at my next visit.
  • day248
    day248 Posts: 1 Member
    RN here: I'll weigh in on this as I am currently taking this drug. I had lost approx 70lbs over the course of a year. I've gained a few lbs back from poor diet over the course of about 4 months. I started working out again, and food tracking about a month ago. My weight had been holding steady. Approx 2-3 weeks ago, I started taking Doxycycline 100mg daily for skin issues. I've gained 10lbs in those 3-ish weeks with NO CHANGE IN DIET AND EXCERCISE. I started doing some research. Here is one article that has just been released on the subject. Keep in mind that the reason for use of the drug is different, but there is starting to be some evidence that antibiotics can cause severe weight gain in about 25% of the population. Also, the weight gain is NOT listed (anywhere, in any source I have access to ~ none of my drug books either) as a side effect.

    Here is the article for those interested:
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140414123818.htm
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    I've taken it, and never had an issue with weight gain. It's just an antibiotic.
  • Barry4321
    Barry4321 Posts: 1
    Ive been on Doxycycline for 3 weeks for Prostatitis, and have gained about 5 pounds. I feel bloated in my stomach, hips, and butt. I workout with weights 5 days a week, run about 6 miles a week and am actually eating less since starting the drug.
  • dominicstimma7
    dominicstimma7 Posts: 1 Member
    I don't care what experts say. It happened to me I took doxy for 30 days 200 mg a day n gained 10 pounds. As soon as I stopped taking it the weight came off. It builds up intestinal bacteria thus leading to belly fat.
  • kmart919
    kmart919 Posts: 20 Member
    How does the ANTIBIOTIC doxycycline build up intestinal bacteria? o.O How does intestinal bacteria cause belly fat? O.o i sure hope you have bacteria in your intestines. Normal flora is essential to balance the "good" vs "bad" bacteria. Doxycycline doesn't cause weight gain. Stomach upset, esophageal irritation, increased sun sensitivity (so it does not matter AT ALL if you are all ready tan), diarrhea, possibly bloating? Sure. It can cause all that, but it doesn't cause true weight gain or "build up intestinal bacteria". I also took it for 3-6 months many, many years ago. Zero weight gain and clear skin from it.
  • robertf57
    robertf57 Posts: 560 Member
    absolute hogwash! doxycycline doesn't cause weight gain. if you gained weight on it its because you are eating more calories than you are burning. don't blame a drug that has been prescribe for decades millions of times. weight your food and count calories accurely.
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
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  • KARW45
    KARW45 Posts: 1 Member
    I took doxycycline for nearly a month while I had Lyme disease and built up fat around my middle. I was also taking estradiol. I am a runner and even did some light jogging that month. I am convinced from my own experience there is some mechanism by which this medication causes weight gain. I never had that quick a fat build up ever. I am trim and exercise, even lightly while sick. I also am careful about my diet, and do not and did not eat much sugar or dairy. It would really help for someone to get to the bottom of why there are so many anecdotal reports of this drug causing weight gain from people. There is definitely a lot on this online.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    I was prescribed doxy for a bad viral infection. So many side affects! I'm pretty tanned, but burned within a day. Massive headaches especially the first 6 days! Nausea in the mornings. Yesterday was my last day. I took it for 10 days, twice a day. I've been done one day. I'm so bloated. It's all in my stomach. Anyone know how long it takes to go away? I'm not constipated, just bloated in lower abdomen area.

    Antibiotics will not help VIRAL infections and if your doctor prescribed it for a virus I would find a new doctor ASAP.
  • kellyfilbeckyoung
    kellyfilbeckyoung Posts: 1 Member
    I started researching today to see if there was a link between taking Doryx for the past month and gaining almost 5 lbs. I workout everyday doing high cardio mostly Insanity workouts mixed in with Bikram. I have never had a problem maintaining my weight. My daughter grabbed my stomach the other day a stomach that was never there to grab a month ago and I just thought well I'm 30 now maybe it is going to be more difficult then it has been in the past. So happy to see this forum because as others have mentioned it is not listed as a side effect. Obviously after reading all these responses it needs to be. I will not be taking another Doryx pill after this confirmation and fingers crossed the stomach goes back to normal. Thanks to all that have posted about their experience!
  • oh I am feeling so insecured after reading all the comments as I have just started taking doxacyclin for my acne as it is troubling me a lot for the last 3 months.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    I gained on Prednisone but that is to be expected. I lost all of the weight once I got below 50 mg a day. I have also gained on Remicade but I was underweight and not absorbing food until the Remicade started working. I hate that weight gain but at least it means I am healthier.
  • mcnulty_aine
    mcnulty_aine Posts: 1 Member
    I have had a similar experience, I have been on Doxycycline for about 9 months and though I am an athlete I have gained about 15lbs. Even during season when I heavily exercised daily and had to watch my diet, i was adding on the pounds. Definitely more rapidly once my season ended, 8 of those pounds in the last 3 months! One doctor said that as an antibiotic it could be the cause of the weight gain but i just cant seem to kick it! Has anyone had experience with stopping the medication and losing the weight?
  • wayneyeager
    wayneyeager Posts: 4 Member
    Prescribed doxycycline for prostatitis. No changes in diet or exercise. Gained 7 lbs in 1 week. Water? Fat? Not sure but that's a shocking gain! Something is going on. They do feed antibiotics to livestock to fatten them up, after all.
  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
    I took doxycycline for two months and lost weight as it made me feel a wee bit nauseous all the time.
  • Mouse_Potato
    Mouse_Potato Posts: 1,493 Member
    edited August 2016
    There's an awful lot of first time posters in this thread, all saying the same thing...

    ETA: Crud. Zombie thread got me.
  • dodge_girl_2
    dodge_girl_2 Posts: 2 Member
    I just had a lightbulb moment myself. I have gained fat. I have lowered my caloric intake but feel bloated all the time. Has anyone stopped taking this and dropped the weight?
  • FreyasRebirth
    FreyasRebirth Posts: 514 Member
    I was on it for ~5 months. I was pregnant for most of it so I was gaining weight but I didn't gain in excess and it didn't prevent me from losing it postpartum.