15 mg prednisone - eating like a lunatic!

[My Butt Hurts]

I've gained 25 pounds since starting 40 mg prednisone and Humira injections.
I needed to gain that much, because I lost 40 on a bad flare, but I'd like to stay right where I am now.
Trouble is - I'm still eating like a madwoman!
Should I still be crazy-eating on just 15 mg of pred? It seems like such a small amount, but I'm just as hungry as when on 40 mg.
I think about food ALL the time - even after I've just eaten a big meal. I'm never satisfied.
Help!

 

[katiesue1506]

Yeah... sounds about right... the day I started Pred I ate tons of candy, a mc d's hamburger, a salad, 3 or 4 granola bars, and a ham sandwich... all for lunch.

 

[BWS1982]

I could be wrong, but from what I know, 15 mg/day is still way more than the body naturally produces of it's own "version" so I wouldn't be surprised of any remaining side effects, even lower than 15...

 

[saidinstouch]

I'm down at 10 now from 40 and I noticed a decrease in my appetite at around 20, but I also have sort of been trying to cut it out and put up a bit with the hunger pains because I'm trying to keep myself from breaking the 200lb mark since I have never had an issue keeping my weight on.

I hate this stuff so much, but it saved 8 inches of my colon + my terminal illeum so I guess I can't complain. I just hope once I'm off it I can get my diet in check and keep this stupid disease in check as well!

Hopefully in another dose lowering or two you will find some relief from the hunger, the other option is to get healthier snacks like granola bars and what not so at least you don't feel quite as bad about eating them.

 

[drew_wymore]

Yea I was eating like crazy until I actually got completely off Pred. I have noticed that I've dropped a few pounds though as I dose down from 60. I have to consciously keep myself from eating sometimes though. I think the body produces > 5mg of corticosteroid to begin with so anything above that is bound to cause weird side effects.

 

[Methofelis]

I just went down to 10mg as of today from 40mg.

I was VERY glad to gain weight back... (I'm only 5'4 -- losing thirty pounds when you only weight one-twenty is quite a bad thing) -- but for some reason, I haven't been eating more since starting the Prednisone, just more junk food in my regular foods place. It seems my body wants the calories more than the quantity.

 

[Matt645]

When I was first diagnosed 12 years ago I had lost about 40lbs from my usual weight in 2 months, my once muscular legs ached form the rapid muscle loss and I just couldn't hold any food down, the Doc prescribed prednisolone and literally overnight I felt much better, so much so that my girlfriend booked a Chinese restaurant on a 'all you can eat' night... the waitress looked most surprised as this frail underweight man kept ordering dish after dish, to this day I don't know where I put it all??

That was the enjoyable side... the mood swings made me hard to be around though and to this day I have unexplianed anxious attacks which I hear can be a long lasting side effect of this powerful drug.

 

[Kev]

Hey Metho.. you went from 40 mg straight to 15 mg? Or was is a gradual taper?

 

[katiesue1506]

I was gonna say, when I tapered from 60mg to nothing it took over 5 months total to do it. I think my biggest hunger pangs were around 20mg-40mg once you get to 15mg its just the puffy cheeks and bloating.

 

[vickyoddsocks]

i always eat like a loon!
I dunno what it is!? I always seem to have a great appetite, even when im ill. (unless im really bad) I just love my food! So losing too much weight has never been a problem for me! Infact, i think if i didnt have crohns id be the size of a double decker bus!! lol!

 

[claire1]

Feel obsessed with food!

Hi Everyone.

I was admitted to hospital with severe flare up at the end of Feb. In hospital for three weeks.
Was on the hydracortisone steroids four times a day while I was in there (didnt respond)
I have now had two infliximab infusions and think that drug is a miracle, its certainly put me in remission!
When I came out of the hospital they put me on 40mg of prednisolone. I have been taking it down by 5mg per week.
I just hate this medication it is making me so hungry, I look pregnant.
I lost about a stone in hospital and I have put it all back on.
I constantly think about food! I feel I am obsessed with it.

Will all the side affects dissappear when I come of the steroids?

I just dont ant another flare up when I come of them although I do believe the infliimab may have done the trick, seeing my consultant on Thursday @ hospital and he will tell me if I am to carry on with them.

Claire