Prednisone - Weight Gain?

JessicaW0204

So I went to the allergist yesterday and he said I am having a severe allergy attack. I live in lower Alabama and the pollen level here is off the charts - he prescribed me prednisone for 6 days. I have heard that this will make you gain weight but if I am only taking it for 6 days will it still make me gain weight?

ashnm88

You have to take it for a long period of time. A past co-worker has been on it off and on for years at a time and it caused weight gain. Long term use can cause weight gain.

carolemack

It shouldn't...not for just 6 days. I often have to go on it for a week at a time and I don't have a problem with it.

AmyEm3

I took it for 5 days last fall for asthma/bad cough and if IIRC the scale did go up 5lbs but it went away again after I stopped the pred. It ticked me off but it must have just been water weight b/c it went away fairly quickly and I was not eating anywhere near enough to actually gain that amount.

delilah47

My ex-husband whom I have been caring for for the past 7 years is very sick and has been taking prednisone for about the same amount of time. I have also taken a very aggressive dose for 6 months many years ago. If you are taking it for 6 days, I wouldn't worry about gaining weight. Normally, prednisone gives the user a "moon-face" and a big tummy. My ex has both even though he is now very skinny due to illness. Don't sweat it, you will be fine.

kappy_hollowell

Not weight per se, you'll just retain fluids and feel bloated and fat. I've taken it before, the fluid comes off in a few days after taking it.

TOYGRRRL

When I'm on it for very short periods less than 10 days I am okay. But when I had to stay on it for over a month for an RA flare I blew up like a Macy's day parade balloon. And it took me over a year to lose 20lbs. You should be fine. I'm presently on 60mgs today and past two days then go to 40mgs for 3 days and 20mgs for final 3 days for a severe asthma episode due to the flu. How many mg per day did they put you on?

baileylm

It may increase your appetite so have healthy snacks at the ready. Be prepared for insomnia as well, which can also increase appetite because you'll feel tired. But for 6 days, I agree with the others -- no worries.

Tashry

Having dispensed it for many years to patients, I can say that prednisone can often times cause an increased appitite. So long as you keep your calories in check you should be fine.

mommy7

My son has taken it on and off over the past 3 months and did gain 6lbs in that time span (he just turned 10).

MsBeautifullOne

It a mild steroid...

thegeordielass

I took 30mg prednisolone (near enough the same thing, right?) for 14 days and while I was being very aware of what I ate due to the Dr warning me about an increased appetite and a family history of weight gain using it, I actually felt no more hungry then normal and lost 7lbs despite doing nothing different!

JessicaW0204

It is a 6 day pack, starts with 6 pills today (4 mg each) and then 5 tomorrow, 4 the next day and so on....

JessicaW0204

The reason I am so worried is we are doing a weigh in challenge at Zumba and I am doing really good so far. Every pound counts! lol

LixxiLees

I've been on and off it for 10 years due to arthritis and uveitis. I put on weight but alot of it was bad diet and binging due to depression (caused by them!).

I'm now losing that weight and it's coming off pretty easy, but I don't put on any weight when I do a short sharp dose when it's needed!

valenief

It is a steroid so it can cause mild weight gain.

bootstrap7

It won't cause weight gain if you're only on it for a week. Those of us who have been on it for months on end, yes. If you want to read more about it, check out my blog. I have a whole post dedicated to Prednisone:

www.ronnielee-fightingforit.blogspot.com

lisapr123

My husband is on it ALL THE TIME, it feels. Right now he's on day 3 of 15, paired with 21 days of antibiotics for a sinus infection.

By day 2, he'd gained 7 lbs on his 6'4", 200 lb frame. Was it all from the Prednisone, probably not. But it seems to make him retain water. So whenever he's on it he increases his water intake from 12-16 cups to double that (I know that's a lot of water, but we don't drink soda, juices, etc....) Normally when it's all said and done, he's up a pound or two, but it comes off easy when he's off it.

My brother, on the other hand, is on a daily dose due to some severe medical conditions and it has contributed to his long-term weight gains.

thinktank32k

Taking the pack for 6 days you will be fine plus the dose is low. I am on and off pred due to lupus. I gained 4olbs in 2 months, but well worth the return in my health. When I am on 10 mg or less i barely notice the weight gained when paired with healthy eating and exercise. I am fighting now to get back to regular weight but it is a struggle with steroids being part of my daily routine.

iuew

So I went to the allergist yesterday and he said I am having a severe allergy attack. I live in lower Alabama and the pollen level here is off the charts - he prescribed me prednisone for 6 days. I have heard that this will make you gain weight but if I am only taking it for 6 days will it still make me gain weight?

i have been on prednisone multiple times; sometimes for longer than a month.

occasionally, my weight shot up fast. however, during the taper down, it fell just as fast. i will say that for me, it increases hunger. however, when i didn't actually eat more than usual, the weight was lost as soon as i tapered down.

my guess is that if you don't take in more calories, you won't experience permanent weight gain.

prednisone is not my favorite medication, but it has helped me out a few times, so i'm grateful that it is an option.

MsTanya77

I took a step down dose stera-pack for a sinus infection for six days and I gained six pounds. It makes you very hungry and lethargic. After I finished the medication and got back to my normal fitness routine it came off.

LaurenAOK

When I took it I was told that it would make me retain water and increase my appetite - and it did do both of those things. Thus, the "weight gain." Just know that you may be bloated while you're on it, but if you control your portions you should be just fine.

LuckyAng

I had to take it for 9 days, I didn't gain anything. BUT, I will say I was hungry a lot.

AZKristi

If it is the 6 day does pack where you start out with 5 pills the first day and then decrease the dosage each day, I wouldn't worry.

I have severe TMJ and when the joint gets super inflammed beyond what NSAIDs can correct, I end up with a dose pack of prednisone. I've never gained weight with them.

meshashesha2012

it doesnt make you gain weight. any extra food you eat with it will make you gain weight.

the way around that is to take it with a glass of milk or something similar

hbm616

Wow I'm suprised people say it makes them hungry! My asthma used to be really poorly controlled so if I got a cold I would end up needing prednisone for 10 days and I was nauseous for the entire time! I remember it happened over Thanksgiving one year and I was so sad that I felt too miserable to enjoy any of the food. I guess I'm just abnormal though haha.

Prednisone does have an affect on insulin so if you are diabetic it will raise your blood sugars so you would have to keep that in mind.

fitzie63

You have two choices: (1) take the medication as prescribed and deal with whatever little weight gain later OR....

(2) don't take the medication because you worry about the side effect of weight gain and risk >>>>
NOT BREATHING.

In this situation, you would do much better to discuss your medical issues WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN ... rather than on My Fitness Pal. I am a retired cardiac care (coronary care intensive care)/cardiac rehab RN. It is not anyone's place on MFP to be advising you regarding medical issues.

SteveCro

The 6 day pack you will be fine, just watch your calories and shouldn't cause much problems. It will at high doses cause many issues. I was diagnost with Sarcoidosis of the lungs from soybean dust. Specialist started me at 5mg 2 times a day for 2 weeks, then 15 mg for 2 more wks., .then 30mg, then 40 mg 2 times a day for 10 and 1/2 months. I started at 180 lbs and at 195 I refused to be a 200lb person.. I stopped eating much and it threw me into medicated diebetes. At 11 months I weighed 231lbs. Had to bring the dose down slow just like they started. Altogether I was on Predinisone for 18 1/2 months and gained about 51 lbs. Bad stuff!

Steve

hodgechic

my firend took prednisine no you will not gain weght
he had to takeit for the same lenght of time
youmay feel queezzy wehn you finsh but just watch your calires as well as you get hungry and have a great appetite
if you did have to take it for along tie try to find something else
its ok for about a week .... check with your doctor
you just get a bit jittery ..

marcia724

I just got a 6 day dose yesterday as well! I was worried about this...but the replies on here make me feel better. I think if we just continue to watch our calories we'll be fine!

Wen37

I had to take it for a week for tendontitis. I was worried too so I worked out more and harder. So it actually helped me because I pushed myself to the next level. I also upped my water intake. I gained no weight and had no negative side effects.