Does Prednisone make you gain weight due to increased appetite or something else? Also for anyone who has gained weight from taking Prednisone, was the weight gain temporary, did it taper off or did you easily lose the additional weight once you stopped taking the medication? Thanks!
I also read prednisone can cause your body fat to "redistribute" to certain places...the face, back of the neck and abdomen. But having said that, it can work wonders for RA! Hi Crunchy.....WELCOME TO AI Almost everyone ask the same questions and I did the same thing. Prednisone increases weight, by increasing the appetite and also by sodium retention (water weight). If you can get the weight off as soon as you can, after you are off the Prednisone, you may be able to keep the majority of belly fat off but the longer you take Prednisone, it becomes harder and harder to keep the weight off. You really need to understand how Prednisone works in the body and try to halt to much weight gain, as possible, while using Prednisone. I added a link to more information about Prednisone. This should help you understand the "whys and how's" of Prednisone. In fact after I post this. I am going to put the link into another topic for our other members who may want to learn more about Prednisone. I have gained off and on Prednisone weight of 30 lbs and so far all I have been able to get rid of is 12 lbs but I can't help but think a lot of reason is because RA-ers have a harder time exercising and we take so many other drugs that could possibly interfere with out bodies mechanics. http://www.myasthenia.org/information/Prednisone.htm Hoping you are having a great day and keep on posting. Toni I've been off of pred. for about 4 or 5 months. I started out, though, with 5 mg and was on that for over a year. I never gained weight, but then I wasn't on a high dosage. I eventually tapered off of it. It took several months. Good luck to you with your health.
Susan I have been on prednisone for a year and a half. I have gained 20 lbs. and definitely have the moon face which I hate. Every time I am well enough I exercise and I only eat two meals a day. I crave sugar so I eat licorice. (I never used to crave sugar) My hubby said it sure doesn't seem like I eat more. I am down to 5 and 4 mg. a day, (from 15 and 20 mg.) depending on how I am feeling. I seem to have stabilized at 20+ but it is very depressing for me. I have always been in shape. I am having a hell of a time weaning down. I sure hope I can get off the stuff. Harder to exercise and RA is hard enough on the self esteem.
When I went off, my appetite returned to normal, and over the past 4 months or so I have lost all the pred weight and then some. I am currently at the lowest weight I have been in at least 20 years...still WAY too much, at 170, but its better than the 212 I was packing. It makes you bloated too - my doctor said to drink lots of water... and that DOES help... but sweet things taste sooooooooooooooo much better on prednisone... LOL I can't wait to get off of it... but I love it cuz it helps. It's a love/hate thing. It also makes me cranky - and I cant sleep - and I swear it makes me crazy. It also makes me HOT. Which is fine in the winter, but it the summer - it's not so good. was that the link I put on the board, that you mentioned in your post to clairxx? Did it help you? Just wondering if it did. Sometimes I will put links into a post or in a new topic and very rarely do I see many members mentioning if they liked them, if they do help out or if it annoys them, that is the reason why I asked. Did you still want new graphic sites for those cute little gifs we so love...or do you have enough for right now? Toni Toni It was that link you posted. REally interesting and some depressing. I need to get Brett to read it because I have been obsessed with my weight. He doesn't bug me but I am so self conscience. I bookmarked that site as it had a lot of good info I will refer back to. The doc did suggest maybe one day on and one day off for weaning. Going to talk to rd about it. YOU KNOW I LOVE GRAPHICS. Bring em on. Just don't send me any that will invade my computer and do all the nasty things that those pop ups and bugs do. I obviously am clueless about them but I do buy the latest "protection". LOL Maybe on the front board page under tips and tricks but let us know they are there. You can be so much more expressive and maybe there will be less misunderstandings.
woobie
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