Prednisone - Weight Gain?

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  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
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    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
    LuckyAng Posts: 1,173 Member
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    I had to take it for 9 days, I didn't gain anything. BUT, I will say I was hungry a lot.
  • AZKristi
    AZKristi Posts: 1,801 Member
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    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
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,326 Member
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    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
    hbm616 Posts: 377 Member
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    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
    fitzie63 Posts: 508 Member
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    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
    SteveCro Posts: 788 Member
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    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
    hodgechic Posts: 15
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    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
    marcia724 Posts: 180 Member
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    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
    Wen37 Posts: 218 Member
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    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.
  • cobes24
    cobes24 Posts: 132 Member
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    It makes some people feel really hungry...when I prescribe it I just warn people to watch what they're eating as they may be more munchy than normal. If you were on it long term then wt gain (and the moon face/big belly) are more of an issue.
  • acksaysbillthecat
    acksaysbillthecat Posts: 64
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    Hi Jess,
    I was on it for a short period as well. What I experienced is that it made my stomach hurt (pretty badly) at night, therefore I wanted to eat just to get the hurting to stop. It did stop hurting when I ate. So I probably added a pound or two. I didn't actually make me hungry, but I am sensitive to meds. Clare
  • ksims7572
    ksims7572 Posts: 1 Member
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    I've been on prednisone for just over 2 years. As I was cycled up and down, (taper, flare, up the dose, taper, flare) for the first 18 months I was able to minimize the weight gain, but these last six months I ballooned with the belly, neck pads, hump and moon face. A total of 20 lbs. The doctors had been telling me not to worry, the weight would come off once I got off the medicine, but now they are talking about a maintenance dose and I've had 2 doctors tell me that it's difficult to get the weight off. I'm hoping this website and app will help, since writing down what I eat is the one thing I know that has worked in the past.
  • californiansun
    californiansun Posts: 392 Member
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    I was recently on it for 10 days and I gained 4 pounds, you become very hungry. I was on it for most of 2011 and I gained over 30 pounds. Try not to be on it too long, but it does make you feel better!
  • emigema
    emigema Posts: 1
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    I started taking 60 mg of Prednisone 5 days ago. According to the doctor I will be on it for about 6 months. Even though it is going to make me feel better I am paranoid about gaining weight and the puffy face. I am logging down everything I eat and being VERY careful eating low cal and low sodium food. Once I feel better I will be able to run again which I know will help me out alot to maintain the least amount of weight gain(hopefully). It will take about a month before i start feeling better. How long will it take before I will start seeing the weight gain and the puffy face?
  • Crohns2013
    Crohns2013 Posts: 57 Member
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    Prednisone is awful stuff, at high doses. I doubt 6 days at a pretty low one will cause any issues though. I was on high dose pred. for about 4 months, gained 20lbs (more from being unable to do anything, lots of hospital and laying on the couch time, then eating too much) and the best part? I still ended up with major surgery. The meds didn't work.
  • ConnieKay1
    ConnieKay1 Posts: 4 Member
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    Yes, fellow asthmatic here. You wont feel well enough to gain weight until you get your breathing under control, then boom it sneaks up on you a few weeks later. My advice is whenever you go on prednisone cut out desserts and alcohol for a few months and don't give it a chance to get you. I have had several dose packs of prednisone and they do lead to weight gain.

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