Prednisone Side Effects

elivelez62
elivelez62 Posts: 19 Member
in Challenges
I was prescribed prednison for a sinus congestion. I heard it makes you gain weight. Is this true?

Replies

  • hotdog_love
    hotdog_love Posts: 7 Member
    It certainly could - but also affects people differently.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    edited March 2016
    Yup it can though it depends on your dose. For me anything above 50 I retain fluid. It makes me ravenously hungry. I am a weird person though. I didn't gain any weight ( other than the water weight but I was in the hospital for a long time and went home on 40 and when I stood on the scale at home I weighed the same as I did pre hospitalization even though I was severely underweight).
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    edited March 2016
    What dose and how long will you be on it (including weening?)

  • TheLittleRedHairedGirl
    TheLittleRedHairedGirl Posts: 154 Member
    I'm also interested in knowing this. I have Psoriatic Arthritis and my Rheumatologist want's to put me on it but I told him no-way-jose! I've heard, and known, people who have gained weight while on it, and since this would be a long-term thing for me I don't want to take that risk when I'm trying so hard to loose weight, not be sabotaged.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    What dose and how long will you be on it (including weening?)

    Yes, length of use is important too. I've used it twice.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    edited March 2016
    TheLittleRedHairedGirl wrote: »
    I'm also interested in knowing this. I have Psoriatic Arthritis and my Rheumatologist want's to put me on it but I told him no-way-jose! I've heard, and known, people who have gained weight while on it, and since this would be a long-term thing for me I don't want to take that risk when I'm trying so hard to loose weight, not be sabotaged.

    Nm I didn't realize the steroid I suggested was for IBD only. Are you on any maintenance drugs like biologics or immumomodifiers? Those are sometimes steroid sparing
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    What dose and how long will you be on it (including weening?)

    Yes, length of use is important too. I've used it twice.

    Yes. Short term usually is OK. I was on it for 4 months.
  • HippySkoppy
    HippySkoppy Posts: 725 Member
    It can.....but if you are aware of the side effects ie: extra hunger then you can be prepared.

    I've been on Pred. for nearly 3 years and the least I have gotten down to is 15 mg with up to 30 mgs for flare (I have Lupus) apart from a little water retention and of course the moon face which receded after the dose dropped I have been very lucky but careful with my diet and haven't gained anything, I'm 53 and really sedentary so it can be done.

    Those being prescribed it need to weigh up the benefits of steroid use and their pitfalls - after this period of time with no real let up I now have osteoporosis (steroid induced) along with a 2 back fractures and degenerative joints in my spine and I am very aware of the long term diabetic issues that can arise with steroids.

    That said, without them and now Mycophenolate (DMARD) I wouldn't be here so it can be a bit of being between the Devil and the deep blue sea at times.

    All the best.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    edited March 2016
    HippySkoppy wrote: »
    It can.....but if you are aware of the side effects ie: extra hunger then you can be prepared.

    I've been on Pred. for nearly 3 years and the least I have gotten down to is 15 mg with up to 30 mgs for flare (I have Lupus) apart from a little water retention and of course the moon face which receded after the dose dropped I have been very lucky but careful with my diet and haven't gained anything, I'm 53 and really sedentary so it can be done.

    Those being prescribed it need to weigh up the benefits of steroid use and their pitfalls - after this period of time with no real let up I now have osteoporosis (steroid induced) along with a 2 back fractures and degenerative joints in my spine and I am very aware of the long term diabetic issues that can arise with steroids.

    That said, without them and now Mycophenolate (DMARD) I wouldn't be here so it can be a bit of being between the Devil and the deep blue sea at times.

    All the best.

    Yup i resisted going to doctor to get diagnosed with Crohn's because I was terrified of Prednisone but because of this I almost died and was put on iv steroids than 60 mg of Prednisone. The side effects are nasty but I honestly can say I probably would have died as I was near perforation when diagnosed. Satan's tic tacs (Prednisone) are worth it in that case.
  • HippySkoppy
    HippySkoppy Posts: 725 Member
    Ah @singingflutelady <3 the expression "Satan's tic tacs"!!!! May I borrow this for future reference???

    These disease processes and the havoc they create in our bodies are very hard to bear at times, I'm glad you were helped. Hugs to you and congratulations on all that you have achieved I have seen many of your other posts and have always been very impressed.

    Cheers to you from a fellow Aussie.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    edited March 2016
    Yes sure, I didn't make it up. It is used often in the Crohn's and colitis community. Unfortunately I am not an Aussie. I live in the wrong Sydney (Nova Scotia Canada).

    Thanks for the compliments :)
  • TheLittleRedHairedGirl
    TheLittleRedHairedGirl Posts: 154 Member
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    TheLittleRedHairedGirl wrote: »
    I'm also interested in knowing this. I have Psoriatic Arthritis and my Rheumatologist want's to put me on it but I told him no-way-jose! I've heard, and known, people who have gained weight while on it, and since this would be a long-term thing for me I don't want to take that risk when I'm trying so hard to loose weight, not be sabotaged.

    Nm I didn't realize the steroid I suggested was for IBD only. Are you on any maintenance drugs like biologics or immumomodifiers? Those are sometimes steroid sparing

    Yes, I'm on biologics. To date I've been of 5 and all of them have failed. I'm waiting for a prior-auth to come through for, yet another, infusion drug.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    @TheLittleRedHairedGirl which ones? I am on Remicade at the moment but it is starting to fail a bit.
  • TheLittleRedHairedGirl
    TheLittleRedHairedGirl Posts: 154 Member
    @singingflutelady Remicade put me in the hospital with drug induced Lupus, fluid around my heart and left lung. I'm currently on Otezla, Methotrexate and Folic acid.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    I know some people who have gotten lupus from it :(. I'm also on azathioprine.
  • TheLittleRedHairedGirl
    TheLittleRedHairedGirl Posts: 154 Member
    I had to find a new Rheumatologist when the old one refused to believe that Remicade was the cause, despite 10 different specialists in the hospital all saying the same thing. I'm not familiar with Azathioprine.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    It's a known side effect. Also can cause psoriasis in non psoriasis patients (I know how ironic) and I get joint pain (again ironic as it is used to treat RA too). Azathioprine=imuran. It's originally a kidney and liver anti rejection drug so an immunosuppressant. They often pair it (or merho) with biologics as it reduces your chance of creating antibodies
  • TheLittleRedHairedGirl
    TheLittleRedHairedGirl Posts: 154 Member
    Does it work for you? I've also been recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and wonder if there's an alternative for me other than another infusion drug.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Yes but you are already on metho so they wouldn't put you on both
  • HippySkoppy
    HippySkoppy Posts: 725 Member
    Um, I don't know if this will be helpful or not...I tried Imuran and methotrexate (X 3) and failed each time but the mycophenolate I have tolerated and it has helped maybe @TheLittleRedHairedGirl this is a drug your Doctor could consider??
  • elivelez62
    elivelez62 Posts: 19 Member
    Thank you for all that responded. I took 30 mg the first day and the hunger came back. I decided to discontinued the prednisone and see if my symptoms got any worse which they did not. Sometimes doctors are quick to prescribe medicine. I am fully recovered now from my illness with out prednisone.

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