Cosentyx and Weight Gain

Adverse Effects and Monitoring

• The most common adverse events associated with secukinumab include upper respiratory tract infections, oral herpes, headache, rhinorrhea, diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue, with weight gain being notably absent from this list 1
• Monitoring recommendations for patients on secukinumab focus on tuberculosis screening, complete blood counts for neutropenia, inflammatory markers, and signs of infection, but do not include weight monitoring as a concern 2

Medications Associated with Weight Gain

• Antipsychotics, particularly olanzapine, clozapine, and quetiapine, are associated with weight gain 3, 4
• Glucocorticoids, such as oral steroids like prednisone, are associated with weight gain 3, 4, 5
• Certain antiepileptics, including gabapentin, pregabalin, and valproic acid, are associated with weight gain 3, 4
• Some hormonal contraceptives, such as medroxyprogesterone acetate, are associated with weight gain 3, 4

Clinical Implications

• Patients can be reassured that weight gain is not an expected side effect of Cosentyx therapy 2
• If a patient on secukinumab experiences weight gain, other potential causes should be investigated, including concomitant medications, disease activity changes, or lifestyle factors 5
• Monitoring efforts should focus on documented risks, including infections, neutropenia, and inflammatory bowel disease exacerbations 1, 2