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Weight gain after stopping 6MP?

I know that everyone is different and there are specific circumstances and many factors but I have been trying to figure this out for 3 years now and have recently questioned…. Would coming off of 6MP after an extended usage (10+ years) and switching to biologics cause the body to hold on to weight?

I was consistently the same weight for years. I have screen shots of my weight from annual doctor visits while on 6MP. Then I had a bad flare the winter/spring of 2019 when a dr convinced me to come off of 6MP before starting other treatment. They put me back on 6MP, I was on Prednisone for 1 month during the flare, and started biologics. About a year later, I had gained 40 pounds during that time mainly from the Prednisone and they took me off of 6MP again when the biologics seemed to be working. I gained 35 more pounds and haven’t been able to keep any of it off.

I’ve been on Budesonide for months on and off now - they can’t keep me off of steroids without flaring even though I’m on biologics every 28 days now. They want to put me back on 6MP and I don’t know what to expect. I’m hoping by a miracle that my body regulates and I can start letting go of the weight. I’m so miserable. It’s so bad. Crohn’s, skin issues, joint pain, fatigue.. and those are on good days without intestinal pain or nausea/diarrhea.

Any thoughts? I hope that makes sense. Explaining all we go through gets exhausting sometimes.

  1. Hi , I'm sorry you've been experiencing this. Weight gain really can add an emotional and physical stressor to our lives. I was only on 6MP briefly and did not see weight gain, but I did see it on Prednisone, as you mentioned. Hoping you get some answers soon. <3 Have your doctors given you any info on weight gain with 6MP? -Eshani (IBD Team Member)

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