Question
Is loosing weight from legs and buttocks a side effect?
29 October 2010. Related: All topics, Changing treatment, Side effects.
I have been on meds for 18 months and have lost 16 kg, which is not really noticeable cause I am a big gal. However, I am a bit worried cause it looks like my legs are thinner as well as my buttocks. I have complained about this to my doctor and have now been referred to another physician as I am worried that this might be the side effects.
My viral load is 29 and CD4 count is 1079. My main worry is what if they change me and I don’t do well? Do you think it is the weight as I don’t remember when last I weighed less than 100kg.
After 18 months can I really develop new symptons beside the discolouring of my nails?
Answer
Hi
Thank you for your question. I will try to answer each part, but you did not say which drugs you are using and which country you live in. This information would be helpful so the answer can be more specific.
Fat loss (from the face, arms, legs and buttocks) used to be a common side effect from using combinations that include either d4T (also called stavudine or Zerit) or AZT (also called zidovudine or Retrovir). AZT can also cause muscle loss from the buttocks and can cause darkening of the nails in Black people.
Switching the d4T or AZT to alternative drugs can slowly reverse some fat loss, though putting tissue back on the buttocks and face is difficult and even if it reverses it is a slow process. Exercise to increase leg and buttock muscle takes a lot of work, but can slowly build up to balance the lost fat.
The drugs you could switch to are either tenofovir or abacavir. Please speak with your doctor about which or these or other alternative may be better for you.
Your CD4 count and viral load show that the treatment is controlling HIV very well, but any unexplained weight loss should be discussed with your doctor in case it is a symptom of another illness.
Hi Londi,
Are your meds working well? Is your viral load undetectable your CD4 count getting stronger? If yes, then you could talk to the doctor about ways to gain weight. Is 48kg well below your ideal weight range? Your ideal weight will be worked out looking at other factors, such as your height.
Hi, I was diagnosed in 2015 and have been on art ever since. The reason y I got tested is coz I was loosing too much weight. When I started Arv my weighed 46kg now I weigh 48kg and have been on treatment since 2015. Is it normal that I only managed to gain 2kg in 3 years or should I really be worried? I live in south africa
Hi Kama,
Was your test for HIV? Can you call the GP and ask for the result?
But there are many reasons why people lose weight. You are worried about it, so it’s a good idea to talk to the doctor about what’s causing it.
Hi I’m losing my weight my face,buttocks and my legs I eat good drinks more water but I have blood test 4 week’s Now I didn’t hear from my GP I worried because everybody my colleaques ask me now I can’t go out I leave in Nederland
Hi Andries, this service in only about HIV. Please speak to your doctor.
Hi Lisa
i am not taking any medicine for anything and i am not HIV positive, my problem still persist. all i do now is lock myself in my room and im just waiting there in pains and my condition.
Hi Tommy,
Are you living with HIV? If you are what meds are you on?
There’s info here about exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and Creon:
https://www.creon.com/
Diagnosed with a pancreatic efficiency, and was put on Creon. Prior to this I was loosing weight rapidly. Now I’m gaining weight everywhere except my legs and arms. What are the possible causes of this happening?
Hi Andries,
Are you living with HIV? If you are, what meds are you taking? How long have you been on them for?
Hi, I was developing big stomach and decided to workout my upperbody after having done push ups and stomach exercise, I started feeling pains on my legs and losing a lot of weight on my thighs and the rest of my legs. So I decided to stop exercising but the pains remained and did not stop losing weight on my legs. This has given me a lot of stress, my upperbody never changed, now I have big upper body and slim lower body. I can’t go out anymore people have started noticing my body they it is. Please help me I’m so depressed.