WEIGHT GAIN DUE TO MEDICATIONS

PalmettoparkGuy
PalmettoparkGuy Posts: 212 Member
edited October 3 in Food and Nutrition
I recently got an unbelievable case of poison ivy and poison sumac. Needless to say I ended up at the Dr's office who gave me a prescription for Prednisone. One of the side effects (among many) is bloating. In 5 days I gained 20 pounds. Obviously not fat, I guess water weight. The pills made me sick and I got off of them, within a week I lost 16 pounds of it, and not because I was exercising or dieting. I guess my point to this story is, when you hit a plateau or have unexplained weight gain, check out the side effects of your medications, you may be surprised what is affecting your system.

Replies

  • Lotte34
    Lotte34 Posts: 429 Member
    Hi there
    I was on prednisone for about 10 years (for various reasons) and I am now just over 200lb due to it. I wish i had lost 16lb of the gain in a week.
  • Monica_has_a_goal
    Monica_has_a_goal Posts: 694 Member
    Prednisone is notorious for making you gain weight. As an asthmatic I occassionally use it and I've gained up to 20 pounds in a month due to it. Grrrrrrr. :grumble:
  • PecanTanDiva
    PecanTanDiva Posts: 162
    Yeah, its a steroid and I have been on it for asthma on previous occassions (5 - 10 days). I'm still on steroids due to my Lupus and have gained lbs upon lbs, which is why I am on here now. I have always been 115-120lbs, but those medications are horrible. I have lost 25lbs, but I have to exercise almost everyday, the one day that Im off, I take a 6mile walk through my neighborhood, lol...I often skip my meds, which Im not supposed to, just to keep from eating everything in my fridge. Some people hate when we use meds as a reason for gaining weight, but steroids do that and more if they are taken for a long period of time.
  • mjshmily
    mjshmily Posts: 137 Member
    Yeah Prednisone can be tough when trying to control weight. I found it also made me eat like a horse, and a dog, and a whole farmyard of animals. I was always hungry (and apparently a tad cranky). Lots of medications cause water retention. Drinking loads of water helps. If that doesn't relieve some of the bloating it's wise to talk to your doctor-they may be able to assist or there may be more than meets the eye going on.
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