Moon face/weight gain

[lsgs]

Quick question,
At what dose of prenisolone does the moon face go away?
And when does the weight gain slow down?

Is it hard to lose the weight again or does it come off quite easy? I'm so sick of my big fat face!!

Cheers!

 

[KWalker]

Hello! It's been AGES since I've been on prednisone so I can't give you exact dosages but what dose are you currently on and how long have you been on it? When I was on prednisone I was on a very high dose for quite awhile before tapering and people at school actually gave me the nickname of "squirrel" because it always looked like I was storing nuts in my mouth because my cheeks were so puffy.

Because prednisone weight gain is mostly water weight, it should come off fast once you stop taking it. Mine did atleast. Prednisone is like a steroid;and like other steroids people use for recreation use, you have to keep using them in order to keep gaining because once you stop, you will start to lose again.

 

[superzeeman]

I remember being in the hospital for 7 days with nothing but IV and broth and gained 7 or 8 lbs. I never lost that weight. In fact I think it messed up my metabalisim permanantly,

 

[UnXmas]

I had a bit of a moon face, which actually I didn't mind too much because my face was too thin to start with. I got really noticable bags under my eyes too. It went really fast - it was the first side effect to go, and went before I'd even finished tapering.

 

[parentnj]

I think its a bit different for everyone. Our son's moonface was quite round at 40MG but he is at 20 mg now at is has gotten quite a bit smaller but still noticeable.

 

[SarahBear]

Hi, lsgs!

Like parentnj said, it's different for everyone. In fact, some people don't even get moon face at all on Prednisone.

Most of the weight gain associated with Pred is water weight. Try watching your salt intake; that might make a difference. Are you well enough to try some light exercise as well?

 

[ThanksP]

I noticed it start to go away around the 20mg and less doses. The weight gain came off quickly for me, but the moon face took a little longer. Make sure to drink lots of water to help flush it from your system.

 

[Manzyb]

I agree with ThanksP. It was about 20mg that my moonface started to go away and I didn't gain much weight anymore from it.

 

[lsgs]

Hmmm I've been below 20mg for a long time now and there's been no change in my face and my weight is still increasing I started on an 80mg intramuscular injection and followed it with 50mg in August 2012. It has taken me this long to get down to 7mg. Maybe it's because I'm on a super slow taper?

I've tried doing some exercise and it has made no difference to my weight, I don't think I'm able to do enough to lose weight atm.

Thanks for all the replies

 

[2thFairy]

I lost the prednisone weight pretty fast once I got down to 5 mg, but had moon face even 4 months after completely stopping it.

 

[AK47]

My moon face really kicked in quickly at 40mg, but i started showing signs at around 30mg. Ive been off it 3 months now, still got a bit of a moon face, although not as bad! But its slowly going away

Funny how this drug gives you a moon face! I used to think 'no way its impossible' but then when it happened to me, i was like nooo!

 

[CLynn]

It would give me extra chins too, lol! Nothing like a moon face and extra chins!

 

[snowhite_dahlia]

When I was on my Prednisone Revolving Door when I was first diagnosed (I would taper off, flare, have to go back on the Prednisone, taper off, flare, back on the Prednisone... you get the idea), I noticed that the moon face wouldn't go away until I was on a very low dose (like less than 10mg) or off it completely.

However, on my most recent bout of Prednisone, I've been drinking TONS of water and I'm amazed at how much it's kept a lot of the side effects at bay. To illustrate, I've been on 40mg for a couple months now - my face should be blown up like a balloon, but all I have is a little extra weight around my chin. I don't think anyone can even notice but me.

 

[ThanksP]

I too found drinking water helps immensely!

 

[UnXmas]

Hmmm I've been below 20mg for a long time now and there's been no change in my face and my weight is still increasing I started on an 80mg intramuscular injection and followed it with 50mg in August 2012. It has taken me this long to get down to 7mg. Maybe it's because I'm on a super slow taper?

I've tried doing some exercise and it has made no difference to my weight, I don't think I'm able to do enough to lose weight atm.

You started at a much higher dose than I did (the injection) and your taper is much longer than mine was, (it sounds like you've been on it quite a while too) so it makes sense it would be more likely to take longer for your side effects to go away. My moon face disappeared when I got to about 10mg I think, and once it started going it did go quickly.

Try not to worry too much about losing weight. I've read that even after you're off steroids completely it can still take several months before your body gets back to normal. I was so impatient for all the side effects to go away. Some went almost immediately and some are still here - I'm waiting for the hair on my face to go away! It must be hard having to put up with the weight for so long, but it will go away eventually. If you eat much the same as you did before prednisone, there's no reason you won't get back to your pre-pred weight.

 

[CLynn]

The one side effect that I did enjoy was the energy buzz at 60 or 80 mgs....

 

[guest78]

I am currently on 5mg and still have a bit of a moon face, it isnt as bad as it has been - not by a long long way. i have also only put on 3lbs. but i have completely cut out salt as i have learnt from previous pred taking that its mainly water retention. and as hard as it is to remember its a fake hunger. its not real and you dont need to eat any more food than normal, i know its so tough, iv been in tears at how hungry i feel but this time round i have been so strict! and it has really paid off.
it normally takes me about 2 months to lose the moon face after stopping pred, and the weight comes off when i start exercising/stop eating so much - just like any other form of weight gain.