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Losing weight, or trying thereof

Posted , 8 users are following.

DebbieHurts
DebbieHurts

Hi all, I just have a question about the weight gain of prednisone.  Since taking it for a year and a half and having to go up on it a couple of times, I've gained 25 pounds and now weigh 250 (I'm kinda tall).  For the first time yesterday I bought a 3X pair of jeans!  So, now I'm going to try to cut down on the calories and snacks.  My question is, with the weight from pred. does that mean I won't be able to lose weight easily, since I'm still taking a big dose 18mg a day, trying to gradually cut down but having so much pain.  What I mean is: does the weight of pred. stay on you, as long as you take it?  Or can you lose it before?   Sounds like a dumb question now...haha

3 likes, 22 replies

22 Replies

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  • DebbieHurts
    DebbieHurts

    Posted

    By the way, I'm not sure I was clear in writing down the dr's method.  I should have said on alternating nights for two weeks taking 20 one night and 17.5 the next, then 20 again and then 17.5, etc. And then the next two weeks would be alternating 20 with 16 and so on.  Is that still tooo much?
    • EileenH
      EileenH DebbieHurts

      Posted

      That sounds better - but why is he telling you to alternate 20/17.5 and then go to 20/16? It's the changes from day to day that seem so large. Why not 20/17.5 for a couple of weeks, 17.5 every day for a couple of weeks, 17.5/15 for a couple of weeks, then 15mg every day and so on? That is a fairly common way to reduce using cut 5mg tablets. It will probably work down to 10mg/day - but beyond that you need much smaller steps.
  • DebbieHurts
    DebbieHurts

    Posted

    Hi Eileen, I've started on your slow reduction.  I wonder if the new dose should be 17.5 or 19 with the old dose being 20?  I'm trying the 17.5.  I woke up in the middle of the night with intense pain in my arms.  Still hurts, but not as much.  What a rollercoaster of pain.  You say you have had this for 10 years?
    • EileenH
      EileenH DebbieHurts

      Posted

      Depends on how sensitive you are to the change in dose. You only have one day at a time on the new dose so your body has time to get used to it but it does sound as if your body is very sensitive so just 1mg at a time might be better. People have used it for 2.5mg drops at a time - it has to be that if you are on enteric coated pills as they only come in 2.5mg and 5mg.

      Yes - and for 5 years with nothing at all to help! To be fair, I've had very little pain when the dose has been right for the last 3 years. 

      Out of interest - are you on prednisone or Medrol?

  • DebbieHurts
    DebbieHurts

    Posted

    Hi Eileen, it is prednisone and I have both 5mg tablets and 1mg tablets, so doing the math is easier for me than for you, it looks like!
    • EileenH
      EileenH DebbieHurts

      Posted

      Not for me - I have 1, 2 and 5mg tablets. I don't live in the UK and am on Lodotra - Rayos to you - a delayed release version that you take at night and it releases at 2am. No morning stiffness!!!! I like it - others don't always.
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