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Prednisone side effects

Posted , 9 users are following.

manikki
manikki

Since I have only been on 20mg for 1 week so far ( newly diagnosed PMR), and in 3 weeks will go down to 15mg ( hopefully), I was wondering about one of the side effects I have read about...the puffy "moon face". Does this occur at this dosage of the Pred, or is everyone different? I know it's probably the LEAST important side effect...but was just curious if it happens to everyone, or varies. Thank You

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Silver49
    Silver49 manikki

    Posted

    Eileen and others will give good advice on that. I didn't get the problem immediately but I have started to cut the carbs and it is beginning to resolve. I wish I had done it from the beginning now but the appetite from the steroids was so difficult to control. Good luck on your journey. This is a great forum with lots of support and helpful advice.
  • diane_e02657
    diane_e02657 manikki

    Posted

    I hope you can tolerate the lower dose.. that's often the hard part.. I am down to 7mg just 5 days ago since Feb this year and am trying very hard to wean down even more.. I have maintained some doses for a month at a time.. so I am hopeful. I was swiched to Rayos (time released prednisone by by rheumy and I sleep a little better and wake up feeling better and I think it helps on my decreasing the drug... like evryone I hate these steroids but gotta do it !! Good luck to you.
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy diane_e02657

      Posted

      I had real trouble reducing, but having switched to Rayos I find that it has been much easier. I now do reduce very slowly having had so many problems in the past with over enthusiastic medical professionals. I do find I can get quite stiff in the evening before taking it though, otherwise it is great.
  • ptolemy
    ptolemy manikki

    Posted

    I started on 20mg and was told cutting out gluten and simple carbs would stop the moon face. I did that and never got a moon face, I am not sure if it worked or I would not have had one anyway. I now find that I almost recoil if I see something with gluten in it which is quite interesting. A friend makes the most fantastic spinach quiche without the pastry, so I am going to try that. Now that it is OK to eat eggs and cream again. 
  • Anhaga
    Anhaga manikki

    Posted

    So far no moon face, but I think it is because I had lost so much weight before diagnosis (my friends said I looked like a Biafran refugee) and I was so freaked out by the possibility of putting on weight in the wrong places once I felt better (and later the potential for developing diabetes) that I have been really strict about my diet.  I am told I "look better" so I think I no longer look haggard.  So I suppose it is partly where one starts from.  Exercise and limiting highly processed foods should help.  Eat protein and lots of fresh vegetables.
  • EileenH
    EileenH manikki

    Posted

    Yes, everyone is different. I just put on weight in general because of PMR stopping me exercising which then redistributed itself a bit with pred. But when I was put on Medrol I really did develop all the Cushings signs. When I was switched to Rayos is slowly went and has gone altogether now.

    Some people manage to lose it sooner, others later. Some have to wait to be off pred altogether. But cutting carbs does seem to make a difference.

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey manikki

    Posted

    manikki, whilst the the "moon face" can affect many patients on Pred in various proportions, it is certainly not a given that you will experience it.  As the others have said, you can possibly help to avoid it by reducing carbs.  Also, as Pred has the propensity to cause fluid retention, it may help if you include plenty of known diuretic-type foods into your diet, such as asparagus, celery, garlic, fennel and melon.

    ​With regard to your first reduction, you would be wise to consider decreasing to just 17.5 rather than go direct to 15mg.  The smaller decrease is likely to prove far more successful, being less of a shock to the body.

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