Weight gain from short course of prednisone?

algrif37
algrif37 Posts: 107 Member
edited November 27 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm coming off a foot injury and my doctor has prescribed a 6 day course of prednisone for my inflammation. I've also just been on MFP for 2 weeks with a loss. Yay!! Normally I never take prescribed steroids because I don't like them for various reasons I am a nurse practitioner and do have knowledge about them. However my foot still hurts and I'm hesitant to take them because of weight gain. Does anyone have experience with weight gain and short term prednisone use? I know it's water weight and will likely come off quickly but I hate to take it if it isn't necessary

Replies

  • HappyHope0123
    HappyHope0123 Posts: 101 Member
    I've always assumed the weight gain with steroids is associated with the long term use, not short term. I've seen it in some of our patients (I'm a nurse) but they've all been on a low dose long term. I've personally taken a few rounds of prednisone over the years without weight gain. I'll have to ask our pharmacist about this.
  • siluridae
    siluridae Posts: 188 Member
    Why do you even go to the doctor if you will not take the medicine he prescribed to you? He does not do that for fun. Take your medicine and get healthy.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Medications can cause an increase in appetite, but only eating too much causes weight gain. Be conscientious and you'll do great!
  • HappyHope0123
    HappyHope0123 Posts: 101 Member
    Hey now...no criticism...an honest question was asked. Medications can have SERIOUS side effects, and prednisone is one of them. It treats inflammation...it's a corticoSTEROID! Here's a link to the side effects...not any I want to have...http://www.drugs.com/sfx/prednisone-side-effects.html

    Some of us go to the doctor, hoping not to have to go on medication, and then reluctantly do so because of potential side effects.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I know it's not prednisone...but I was popping motrin like it was candy last week and my weight ballooned up 5 pounds. If you're in pain, take the meds. It's water weight, you'll lose it.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,336 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    Medications can cause an increase in appetite, but only eating too much causes weight gain. Be conscientious and you'll do great!

    This is not precisely true. Some medications will cause weight gain because of water retention. In some cases that water retention is quite pronounced and very visible on a person beyond what shows up on the scale in terms of weight gain.

    A more precise statement would be, "Medications can cause an increase in appetite or water retention, but only eating too much causes FAT gain."
  • roxanneanddavid
    roxanneanddavid Posts: 1 Member
    I took it for a bad allergy a few years ago and ballooned out in two weeks. It was NOT water weight and I didnt over eat. It was as hard to lose as any other weight gain. I will never take it again~
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    I took it for a week due to bronchitis last year and couldn't eat a thing and was constantly jittery and running around. I think I lost 5lbs!
  • 100df
    100df Posts: 668 Member
    I have taken steroids long term (months) and short term (6 days).

    I experienced the hungry horrors while on them long term.

    Did not notice anything during the 6 days of 3 mg pills of prednisone. I was ready to be hungry and determined not to give in. That may have helped. Pills definitely helped my neck issue.
  • algrif37
    algrif37 Posts: 107 Member
    Thanks for all the replies. I started the pills today so we'll see how it goes! I go to this doctor because I do trust him he is a respected podiatrist. He is made me custom orthotics and give me a Cortisone injection in a walking boot so it's an issue that I'm working on long-term with him. But I am an educated medical professional and can make decisions on medications with my own health and long-term side effects in mind. hopefully this will help get the inflammation down and can get back to exercising soon. Thank you everyone!!
  • happyfeetrebel1
    happyfeetrebel1 Posts: 1,005 Member
    I took Prednisone for a bit more than a year, and gained about 100 lbs. No exaggeration. My autoimmune disorder didn't hurt and I felt GREAT! However, if it wasn't nailed down, I ate it. I'm not kidding, no food was safe. I've never eaten like that in my life. I'm off that now, and life is a lot better. Good luck!
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I've taken it twice, for 21 days each. The first time I gained 10Lbs The second time I was actively dieting. I gained 7Lbs. Not sure if it's water or what.
  • VykkDraygoVPR
    VykkDraygoVPR Posts: 465 Member
    siluridae wrote: »
    Why do you even go to the doctor if you will not take the medicine he prescribed to you? He does not do that for fun. Take your medicine and get healthy.

    Just because a doctor gives you a prescription, it doesn't mean that you need to take it. Steroids are (usually) in the same vein as pain killers. If you need the relief, then take them, if not, then don't sweat it.



    Any way, OP, as long as you log correctly, and eat within your goals, you'll be fine. I don't like prednisone either, but I did take a course once (6 days). I didn't gain with it. It also didn't make me feel hungry, so YMMV.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    I've taken steroids twice in my life. One was to control a serious blood loss issue, and the second was a year for low cortisone. The first time I didn't notice any gains beyond a pound or two. The second time I gained 10+lbs in a year (I was eating too much, I know) and ended up with insulin resistance that is difficult to control.

    Because I appear to have deeveloped IR from the steroids, I would advise people to think twice before taking them. Is the risk worth the benefits? I would avoid them unless it was, or close to, a life or death situation.
  • OyGeeBiv
    OyGeeBiv Posts: 733 Member
    happyfeetrebel1 wrote: »
    I took Prednisone for a bit more than a year, and gained about 100 lbs. No exaggeration. My autoimmune disorder didn't hurt and I felt GREAT! However, if it wasn't nailed down, I ate it. I'm not kidding, no food was safe. I've never eaten like that in my life. I'm off that now, and life is a lot better. Good luck!

    I could have written this exact post. Except I was on high dose prednisone for over 2 years. It was a miracle drug with regards to pain, but hell in ever other way, including withdrawal from such a high dose for so long, as well as weight gain.

    Prior to that, I'd been on short courses of prednisone and I wouldn't hesitate to take it as a short course again if needed. Don't forget, the inflammation in your foot can cause its own "damage" if it's severe enough, such as putting pressure on nerves and blood vessels, making you limp so you stress other joints, etc. You'll probably be better off healing more quickly and then losing any (non-water) weight you may have gained in the short term. Just hide the junk food before you start, if you can!
  • algrif37
    algrif37 Posts: 107 Member
    Sounds good to me. I've done everything else I can do for my foot. Hopefully this will do the trick and keep me from surgery. Because it's taken me two weeks in a walking splint to even be able to walk in a shoe. I love walking and traveling and can't be laid up forever!! I'm watching my calories like a hawk and keeping my fingers crossed. I have an autoimmune disorder as wel as low cortisol (adrenal burnout) so we shall see what happens. Thankfully it's only 6 days. I feel for you guys being on it long term!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I was put on 2 weeks of them 3 years ago exactly... weighed in at 213 at my doctor appointment one week later... Then I stuffed my face during the Holidays, went to another appointment 1 month later, and I had lost 8 pounds.

    So I wouldn't sweat it too much (I pretty much started MFP 2 days before the second appointment but highly doubt I lost 8 pounds in 2 days, lol!).
  • shrcpr
    shrcpr Posts: 885 Member
    I just came off a short course for inflammation and no weight gain and didn't notice being hungrier. Of course, the inflammation was in my mouth and gums and I couldn't eat even if I wanted to so my experience is probably not much help.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    I only retained water on Prednisone when I am above 50 mg a day. II start at 60 mg before weening. I left the hospital after a month and a bit while being on iv steroids then oral steroids, lots and lots of iv fluids and meds, tpn etc the same weight as I did when I was admitted which was 20 lbs underweight and did not gain any weight until the biologic I was on started working and I started absorbing nutrients. I have Crohn's so Prednisone is usually only prescribed during a flare so that could explain that but I hated Satan's tic tacs for the mental health issues they cause. #autoimmunediseasessuck
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Oh I am usually on Prednisone for 4-5 months at a time.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    If you are worried about Prednisone I hear endicort has less side effects.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    I have RA and was on prednisone for many years and to the point of fragile skin and a moon face. I finally was taken off this drug and now I'm on a biologic. I have also been given a short course of prednisone for a flare ups of my RA and it kills its painful flare up. In both examples I gained nothing. Watch your intake.
  • HippySkoppy
    HippySkoppy Posts: 725 Member
    @algrif37 I have been on long term steroid treatment due to auto-immune conditions.....I am have been taking a moderately high dose @ 15 mgs for over 2 years alternating with higher doses up to 30 mgs for short periods to control flares.

    I am in the camp of taking your Doctors advice with this.....yes the drug is known to increase appetite and perhaps contribute to water retention but ALL medications come with side effects and it is up to you and your health practitioner to decide whether they are what you need to help you heal.

    For the record I haven't gained any weight while on these drugs....I was patently aware of the potential to increase my appetite and I made sure to keep logging accurately during this time. Strangely enough it is only when the dosage is altered either up or down that the hunger pangs make themselves really apparent.

    I feel that I must address the comment by another poster saying that they caused her to become insulin resistant and these drugs should be reserved for only life and death situations.....I believe in my heart that such an outcome would be extremely rare and certainly one for which the person was already predisposed to develop with or without the medication.....

    Such a warning to anyone on a public forum should be taken with extreme caution and making sure that ALL the pros and cons are weighed up logically and with the help of a trained medical professional before deciding to NOT take the medication if it is prescribed for you.

    I wish you the very best with your foot and your healing.
  • MarziPanda95
    MarziPanda95 Posts: 1,326 Member
    edited December 2015
    Last easter I was put on a heavy course of prednisone (95mg! for a severe case of autoimmune ITP) and yes, I gained. But that was COMPLETELY because I ate too much as the medication made me hungry. A month later was when I started to diet and I had no trouble losing whilst still on such a high dose.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    I have RA and was on prednisone for many years and to the point of fragile skin and a moon face. I finally was taken off this drug and now I'm on a biologic. I have also been given a short course of prednisone for a flare ups of my RA and it kills its painful flare up. In both examples I gained nothing. Watch your intake.

    It but which biologic? I am on Remicade and love it. It has changed my life though Prednisone saved my life. It was the only thing that stopped my intestinal bleeding.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    edited December 2015
    HippySkoppy wrote: »
    @algrif37 I have been on long term steroid treatment due to auto-immune conditions.....I am have been taking a moderately high dose @ 15 mgs for over 2 years alternating with higher doses up to 30 mgs for short periods to control flares.

    I am in the camp of taking your Doctors advice with this.....yes the drug is known to increase appetite and perhaps contribute to water retention but ALL medications come with side effects and it is up to you and your health practitioner to decide whether they are what you need to help you heal.

    For the record I haven't gained any weight while on these drugs....I was patently aware of the potential to increase my appetite and I made sure to keep logging accurately during this time. Strangely enough it is only when the dosage is altered either up or down that the hunger pangs make themselves really apparent.

    I feel that I must address the comment by another poster saying that they caused her to become insulin resistant and these drugs should be reserved for only life and death situations.....I believe in my heart that such an outcome would be extremely rare and certainly one for which the person was already predisposed to develop with or without the medication.....

    Such a warning to anyone on a public forum should be taken with extreme caution and making sure that ALL the pros and cons are weighed up logically and with the help of a trained medical professional before deciding to NOT take the medication if it is prescribed for you.

    I wish you the very best with your foot and your healing.

    You are right. This a public forum and I am not a doctor. My IR may have been predisposed. Who knows.

    I did type that badly... I wouldn't take steroids unless it was crucial to my health, but it may, and probably will, work out better for others.

    Sorry about that.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    I have RA and was on prednisone for many years and to the point of fragile skin and a moon face. I finally was taken off this drug and now I'm on a biologic. I have also been given a short course of prednisone for a flare ups of my RA and it kills its painful flare up. In both examples I gained nothing. Watch your intake.

    It but which biologic? I am on Remicade and love it. It has changed my life though Prednisone saved my life. It was the only thing that stopped my intestinal bleeding.

    I'm on Humira and my life is so much better.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    I had the choice of humira or remicade but I just can't handle the self injection so I went with iv Remicade. Biologics are scary but worth it.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    I had the choice of humira or remicade but I just can't handle the self injection so I went with iv Remicade. Biologics are scary but worth it.

    Honest, it is easy!!
  • HippySkoppy
    HippySkoppy Posts: 725 Member
    @nvmomketo

    Thank you for being so open in addressing the issue with you post and clarifying your position in regards to steroid use...and being open to being pre-disposed towards insulin resistance....

    Also just something for you to consider if you ever need steroids in the future to keep you healthy there is a definite case that you could/would have developed IR without the influence of steroids but perhaps from past dietary issues or genetic make-up and you could take them safely without experiencing a "flaring" of your IR.....esp. now you have it controlled due to your dietary changes.

    Sorry OP for this digression.....
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