Prednisone Weight Gain?

[Skippy]

Hi there.


I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences on prednisone regarding weight gain? I have been on prednisone for about four months now, and have gained a much needed twenty five pounds. I am 5'7'' and weigh 145lbs now. Although I look healthy, it is still frustrating at times when your body is changing so quickly due to side effects of prednisone. Does the weight go away as well as the chubby cheeks? Any input and consolation would be great. It is a little depressing not being able to fit into my old jeans like I used to even though I work out like crazy.

 

[Creepy Lurker]

Hi there.


I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences on prednisone regarding weight gain? I have been on prednisone for about four months now, and have gained a much needed twenty five pounds. I am 5'7'' and weigh 145lbs now. Although I look healthy, it is still frustrating at times when your body is changing so quickly due to side effects of prednisone. Does the weight go away as well as the chubby cheeks? Any input and consolation would be great. It is a little depressing not being able to fit into my old jeans like I used to even though I work out like crazy.

The face will shrink pretty fast, but weight added due to appetite increase tends to stay.

I'm eating like a horse myself, at the moment

 

[drew_wymore]

I gained back 75 pounds I had lost while on Pred. The moon face will fade once you're off it. The weight will probably stay depending on whether you're flaring and your eating and exercise habits. At the weight you're at though I wouldn't worry too much =)

 

[lady m]

Hi
I kind of have the opposite problem, i was really hoping pred would help me gain weight as i went down to about 88lbs and i'm about 5' 5", i've put on about 8lbs in nearly 3 months of being on pred but could really do with an extra 20 - 25lbs on top of that. I too would love to fit in my old jeans.

 

[hippie4lyfe]

i gained 25 lbs on pred and the moon face is fading now as im weaning, its annoying and takes time but the effects arent permanent.

lady you should talk to ur doc about weight gainer, something to help u put on some weight.

 

[Skippy]

Hi there,

I'm just concerned about the weight gain. I feel hungry all the time, but I try to limit myself so that I eat healthier light meals. The only noticeable difference is that my clothes fit a bit tighter now.

 

[wi_girl]

The only time I seem to lose the prednisone weight is when my GI is attempting to wean me off of it and I have a flare up.Of course my dose gets upped and so does my weight everytime that happens.I fear I will never get off of prednisone.

 

[hippie4lyfe]

skippy i think you are doing the best you can, sadly pred is one of those things where you will put on weight, but it sounds like your plan will put on the least weight possible. if you crave snacking, eat fat free stuff like fruits or veggies, maybe some nuts (dont overdo it it can be fattening)

 

[MCPayne]

Well I can say, as is the case with most everyone else on or that has been on Prednisone, that weight can is a side effect of the medication. I was on the medicine back during high school, and my sophomore year I gained I think 16 pounds. I'm still underweight, almost 25 years old now and only 112 pounds.

 

[BWS1982]

well, it should probably be specified that weight gain (of many orgins) is a side effect simply because appetite increases, not because prednisone is like a 1000 calorie pill of sorts. If you can control the appetite, you can control the gain (if any)...but then again, many Crohnies put on pred are in need of some added weight, fat or otherwise, because of severe and acute weight loss from the disease.

 

[Skippy]

Thank you for the advice. I am working out regularly and my diet is still limited to certain foods which makes it somewhat difficult at times. Currently I'm doing a half hour of cardio a day with some weight training as well. I'm noticing I feel better all around, which is expected with working out and becoming more active.

 

[theability]

I don't have issues with the weight gain, the insomnia is killing me!!!

At least I am finished with this round today!

 

[hippie4lyfe]

theability i didnt have issues with insomnia but i did wake up in the middle of the night and my sleep was cut short by 2 hours, i think that goes away over time as you get used to the meds. i guess it depends on the dosage you are taking.

 

[FruitLoop]

Pred makes me eat like a horse - which combined with me feeling so tired during a flare up which makes me eat high fat and sugar stuff fr the instant energy fix makes me pork up well during a flare.

I am sick of people telling me "you look well" - when they actually mean "you can't be very ill to be gaining weight like that" !!

 

[BWS1982]

I am sick of people telling me "you look well" - when they actually mean "you can't be very ill to be gaining weight like that" !!

EXACTLY! I HAD THAT TOO! ARGGH!

 

[AbstractDonut]

Well increased energy was another thing that happened (and acne) when I was on prednisone. Try picking up a few more hobbies.

 

[Colt]

I wish I had increased energy with my pred. I'm exhausted. I got 8 1/2 hours of sleep but I'm still tired.

 

[Isla]

My GI is a short, fat, and balding dude He thinks I am pretty small and I am way over weight!

 

[hippie4lyfe]

The tiredness goes away when you taper...the weight gain has stayed with me and how Ironic that I have a physical the next Monday with a Gp who is really hard on people with weight gain. I have gained quite a bit since I saw him last 2 years. He was off for a year of colon cancer, and he is very skinny, then again so is my GI...ugh

Ugh I have been tapering for months, and there are days I can barely move, today is a good energy day, ::fingers crossed:: i hope to God it continues this way.

 

[Sallen]

why didnt i get weight gain all over?!? it all went to my face hahaha.

After stopping i think it took a couple weeks (mayb 1 month) for the hamster cheeks to go, it just went i did nothing

 

[Skippy]

My cheeks are huge!! Sometimes I forget that I have these enormous cheeks, and then I scare myself when I look in the mirror because I'm not used to it. Is anyone else experiencing severe joint pain?