Does pred always cause weight gain? | Arthritis Information

 

I'm still weighing my options b4 my apt. Does dosage amt of drugs like pred have anything to do with weight gain? Does weight gain occur if you are on the lowest dose. Also i've been reading pred is an old school way of treating RA. I've often been confused by this drug. It's supposed to decrease inflamation, but it makes you puffyI haven't had tons of Pred because it doesn't work for me...does nada but for some people it is a pain and life saver. Again we are all different. Pred could be considered 'old school' but the thing is it is often effective when nothing else is, particularly for controlling flares and particularly for certain people. And if it is effective, does it matter?   My sister has been on Predisone, Ultram and Plaquenil for many years and has not gained any weight.  I believe the Ultram may be helping her keep her weight down because it is a mood elevator (for her anyway) and gives her a lot of energy.  I don't believe she was always on Ultram though, and still had no weight problem.  I think I heard once that the lower dose of Pred. is not as likely to cause weight issues but I'm sure someone here can give you better informaiton on that than I. 

Hi there, Prednisone can cause fluids to accumulate in your body and it increases your appetite and causes puffiness in the soft tissues.    Between the fluids and the increase in eating you can gain weight.  The increase in appetite is more like cravings and it's a hard one to satisfy.  Some people gain, some don't.  I've been on Pred. for 3 years and I've gained. Before I was put on it I wasn't able to walk and was homebound from RA/PA. 

Pred. is not the old school way of treating RA.  Pred. is given to relieve inflammation of RA.  There's nothing else in the pharma field that relieves inflammation like steroids - unfortunately. 

If your RA flare is bad enough Prednisone will be your miracle drug.  Prednisone doesn't stop the disease process but it will slow it down.  I've tapered from 30mg daily to 7.5mg. but just recently had to go back to 20mg because of a flare caused by major surgery issues.  I'll begin tapering next week because my RA meds are starting to work again and should be tapered to maintenance dose of 7.5 mg. by Christmas.

Believe me when I tell you that none of us want to take Prednisone. There are times in the disease process when nothing else works.  Lindy 

I was only taking pred for a short time, but at a high dose. I got all fat in the face and I did put on a few pounds, but I'm back to normal now.   It's hard to say whether I gained weight from the pred or because I spent 4 months pretty much just sitting there because I was so messed up with RA.thanks guys. i admit i am kinda vain...well not so much vain, i just pride myself that i am still fit after having six kids lol. of course i would go that route if nothing else worked tho. i did read somewhere that it can cause weight gain irregardless of what one eats. newbb39305.2489699074

I know how you feel.  Before I got hit with RA, I was always at the gym wight training, running....it was very difficult to sit there for so long and think that all my hard work was going down the tubes.

But just so you know, since my RA has been controled, I am able to do most of the things that I could before, so be encouraged!!

Linncn39305.254212963

I only gained a few pounds - never got the moon-face.

edited to say - I have an enormous appetite while on Pred - just use common sense and don't overeat.

MatthewFL39305.3829050926YOu can control your weight while on pred you just have to be careful with what you eat.  The side effects are normally worse at higher doses  but everyone is different Hi, when I was on 15mgs, I had the 'moon face' , and got the worst craving for bad for yuou foods... Cocoa puffs , I ate by the box! Also, the retaining water was a problem for me as that's the last thing you need with a heart operation (which I had in Dec). So, yes I think you do gain weight from the water retention, your appetite increases and some nasty side affects...I'm on 5mgs, now and all of these problems have disappeared. (I took lasix a diuretic for the water retention....and didn't bring home anymore cocoa puffs! But, Pred saved my life before the RA drugs kicked in. Good luck with this, LyndaI've only been on a lose dose of pred...5 mg now down to 2 mg....but for some reason, I actually lose weight while I'm on it.  Slowly, but surely, I take about a pound off a week.  Now if I can just do that, for oh about 3 more years, I'll be down to a normal weight!  But seriously, I think something in my body chemistry must be off that it affects me this way, but I'm not complaining.

re Prednisone. It does give you a moon face and depending on how long you are on it, depends on the amount of weight gain.

However, big important things for some people, especially with anyone with glaucoma, or even without glaucoma, get an eye pressure reading. Pred raises your eye pressure. Something else to watch out for, but that is for long term users of pred. Only a couple of weeks will not do it.

Joanne

I don't take prednisone on a daily basis.  Just a "burst and taper" when I flare.  I always lose weight when I take it.  I also sleep better too.    Prednisone keeps me awake.
I took it for 1 year starting at 20mg and tapered down slowly. I am not on it anymore.
Didnt gain any weight but I lost a lot of sleep and even now I am not a good sleeper anymore like I was before all this started.  Thinkthinn39315.3473032407
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