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Prednisone and weight gain......

Posted , 16 users are following.

Marla0415
Marla0415

I have gained 20 lbs since being on Prednisone. I was watching what I ate closely at first trying to keep it from happening. Then it just seemed to come on me. . Since at the time I had no real idea about the duration of PMR and being on steroids I thought in a few months when it's over and I'm off Pred I'll get the weight back off. Well now that I know that I could be on these steroids for quite some time I'm wondering if it's actually possible to get the weight off even though I'm still on the Pred. Has anyone had success at this. I'm at 20 mg currently and know it will be a long process to reduce since I've already attempted 3 x and had to go back up even higher than my initial dose.  I've read Pred actually changes your metabolism.  The PMR battle can be discouraging and then to gain the weight too makes it more so. Any comments and thoughts are appreciated from my fellow PMR cohorts!!!

1 like, 87 replies

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  • JanSP
    JanSP Marla0415

    Posted

    Forgot to mention - This GCA flare my fourth I had to go up to 80 mg pred.
  • jeannae68307
    jeannae68307 Marla0415

    Posted

    Marla,

    I share your frustration.  I gained  almost 30 pounds in 20 months since I was diagnosed.  I started on prednisone and was switched to prednisolone.  The prednisolone really packed on the bulk of the weight in five months. I think I gained partly because I was sedentary with the pain and didn't correspondingly decrease my calories.  I also couldn't exercise.  If u can exercise even 15 minutes a day on a bike that might help.  I was doing ok when I did the bike but soon as I couldn't do bike anymore things got much worse. 

    • Marla0415
      Marla0415 jeannae68307

      Posted

      Jeannae...it seems many share this frustration.  No one likes to gain weight that they don't need!  And I've just come through a rough time as I increased my steroids back up from trying to lower them.  It's just been the past 4/5 days that  I feel like I can go for a walk now or to the pool for a flex/stretch class.  I will just keep trying the best I can to get this weight back off and move more. 
  • jeannae68307
    jeannae68307 Marla0415

    Posted

    Hi Marla,

    imwas just reading your post and know your frustration.  I put on 35 pounds.  It has leveled off so not gaining anymore but can't seem to get this off.  Had to give all my clothes away.  That was hard to do but it is the least of my worries.  Trying to stay positive seems like the hardest part and now having my adrenal glands not working from the prednisolone has really scared me. I haven't head anyone else say that their adrenals stopped functioning from the pred. 

    Best wishes for losing a pound this week.  I'll be trying too.

     

    • Marla0415
      Marla0415 jeannae68307

      Posted

      Hi Jeannae,  I've read throughout the forum that sometimes the adrenal glands take awhile to get going again after reducing down below I think about 7.5 mg of Prednisone. Where are you on your dose? The weight issue is discouraging but I am trying and have lost about 6 lbs. my face still looks like a beach ball though! Ugh I hate that but there's nothing we can do to rid ourselves of the moon face till we are way down on the Pred.  I have a long ways to go. Still working at getting to 17 mg.   I had to buy some new summer clothes as well so you aren't alone there!  One day at a time we go! Keep your chin up! 

    • EileenH
      EileenH jeannae68307

      Posted

      There are others whose adrenals didn't reactivate after being on pred - it isn't a big deal, you take an artificial corticosteroid just like with thyroid problems.

      Cutting carbs drastically will probably help you lose some weight - I lost all 36lbs of pred weight.

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