I'm amazed that so many others have had troubles with Prednisone! I had to start taking it around the age of ten, and though I was always chubby before then, I ended up at a maximum of 150 pounds. I got so depressed about the weight gain that I started pretending to take the medication and secretly throwing it out - of course, my parents found out eventually and switched me to something different. Some of weight came off, but I stayed overweight at 120 pounds until I grew into it in high school.

Hey, i just registered at this side
I'm on prednisone right now, because i have RA and a medication i was taking for it gave me a really bad side effect on my kidney. first i took 3 grams in 3 days, then i was taking 30 mg, and now i'm on 20...its all been going on for about 2 month now...and it is a horrible medication...although i've only gained about 8 pounds it has somehow rearanged the fat in my body, so im really depressed about itAlthough i exersice daily and try not to overeat... also i got the moon face and acne but now that i know other people lost that weight i can too

I am so glad to have stumbled across this thread! I thought I'd dive right into the conversation with my story and then go back and read (and respond) to previous posts. There's a LOT!

I had battled weight off and on as a teen and later during my dad's cancer battle. About five years ago I finally had reached my goal weight and was sitting at 113 pounds. It had taken a minimum of two hours of working out 5 days a week and dropping to a 1200 calorie diet... all at the suggestion and under the guidance of my doctor. To this day, I don't think I could eat over 1200 calories in a day.

Then, I was burned pretty badly while at work. The chemicals got into my gear while cleaning machinery. I was working away without realizing what was going on under my gloves. The chemicals had actually numbed my skin. Even when I pulled my gloves off at the end of the day and realized sections of my skin had dissolved from my hands and arms, I still felt no pain. It was about two days before the pain hit... and it hit hard!

During this time, with bandages covering both hands and arms, I could no longer work out. The heat of my own body temp rising was just too much to handle. Going from two hours a day to none definitely contributed to the first part of my weight gain. In the two months after I was injured, I gained 25 pounds.

The next challenge came as the skin began to heal. It itched horribly! Some times it got so bad that I would just hold a towel in my hands and squeeze it to keep myself from scratching. The skin just wasn't healing properly, so the doctor put me on Prednisone. I was on it for almost a year. In the first six months on it, despite maintaining my 1200 calorie diet and beginning to work out again, I gained over a hundred pounds. It was a devastating blow!

Through the legal battle over workman's comp following, I lost my job and my insurance with it. This battle has been all on my own. Five years later and I have only managed to take off less than fifteen of those pounds. My hands are better, but not 100%. Luckily I didn't scar... on the outside. I'm sure many of you understand what it does to you on the inside. There is some comfort in finding I'm not the only one.

Wow... that was long-winded! I guess I needed to get that story off my chest.

Hi! I just found this forum. I've been taking prednisone for about 2 months for interstitial nephritis (from Sjogren's Syndrome). I started at 60mg per day, but since starting CellCept 3 weeks ago I am down to 40mg. I've definitely gotten the moonface and I've gained about 10 pounds since starting the prednisone, it's definitely all in my torso. I noticed a significant increase in appetite, but I think (hope) I'm getting better at controlling it. I'm good until I get home from work around 6pm and I just can't stop myself! It helps to have fewer snack foods in the house, but it's like I just can't wait until dinner.

I just hope that the CellCept starts working, gets my kidney function back up, and lets me start weaning of the prednisone more!

Wow, this site looks brilliant, only found it today.

I only started on Prednisolone 10mg and Sporanox 100mg one week ago.

I have been diagnosed with Aspergillosis, a disease cause by Aspergillus fumigatus, which is basically a mould, that is in the air all the time.

At the moment I am not sure if it is the drugs making me feel so bad, or the actual illness.

For me, the worst part is not knowing much about Prednisolone, so today I ordered "Coping with Prednisone: And Other Cortisone-Related Medicines" It was only £5.44 plus £2.50 P&P from Amazon.

Well, got to go, to check the rest of this site out.

Puff Ball

Hello all - I am also new to this...but I am struggling and need advice. I am on 25mg pred (for RA and interstitual lung disease due to RA) a day and gained approx 30lbs. Any suggestions or advise as to what type of diet I need to go on. I realize I need to cut calories, add exercise (to the best of my ability) cut out sugar and salt....but what I need is a diet that I can follow... any suggestions and/or recommendations.
Thank you in advance

I was diagnosed in 05 with Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) and Primary Billiary Cirrhosis (PBC). I was put on Prednisone (30mg daily) in Nov 08. I had just lost my 30 lbs of pregnancy weight after having my son in Aug. I am 41 yrs old. Over the past 7 mths I have been weaned down to 15 mg daily but I have gained 20 lbs. I'm depressed, angry, and sad everyday due to this weight gain. I have been going to the gym 5-6 days a week since Dec with no results, not even 1 lb of weight loss. I know I should just be grateful that this medicine is saving my life....but it's tough when you have no energy and nothing fits! I've seen everyone talking about low-carb diets, does this really help??? I think my age is a factor as well. Anyone else out there over 40??

I just found this forum after doing a search on prednisone and weight gain.
I have been on prednisone on and off for a couple of years, but during much of this time I was losing weight due to my condition (Lupus and Sjogren's Syndrome coupled with severe gastro problems). After losing 60 pounds, I finally levelled off. Being sick is no fun, but since I started out over 200 pounds, the weight loss was really a blessing in disguise. However, due to a flare up, I have again been on a round of prednisone and just realized that I have GAINED 10 pounds since seeing the doctor two weeks ago.
I am quite concerned that the prednisone may now be having the same effect on me that I have seen it have on others, and reading about successes with weight loss while on the drug has made me feel better. I am beginning a low carb, low fat diet tomorrow. And yep, I am WELL over 40.

I have Lupus and RA and gained over 80 pounds on Prednisone. Tried on and off to lose it but no luck even after I reduced to a super low carb and eventually just undereating. I decided to try to not need the Prednisone and after working hard with meditation and some low level yoga I was finally off prednisone. I finally started to lose some weight and after a 10 pound loss I was put back on 10mg of Prednisone for a sinus problem. I gained 8 pounds in less than 1 week. Fast forward one month and I am now back on a daily dose of Prednisone for the Lupus - this time 40-80mg depending on how bad the flare up is.
I just feel so frustrated and ticked off.

I've been on prednisone for a little over 3 months now and I've gained about 25 pounds. I really just started noticing the weight the past few weeks. My pants are definitely a little snug and it's starting to get uncomfortable. I started out at 60mg per day in late March, and today my rheumatologist gave me to green light to taper down from 25mg to 20mg. I'm hoping that my lab results continue to be good so I can keep tapering every few weeks. I've been trying really hard to control my hunger, but sometimes I just let go and eat whatever I can. It's like I need to always be chewing or something! It doesn't help that some of my meds have to be taken with food, and others don't, so I find myself having to snack when I normally wouldn't so I can take the meds and not upset my stomach. Now that I have more free time in the evenings (summer class is done) I'm going to try exercising more after work. I just feel so huge right now, and it makes me really upset at times. I don't even recognize my face in the mirror sometimes because it has gotten so round. I guess I just need to keep telling myself that I won't be on this drug forever, and eventually I'll get back to normal.

I've been on Cellcept now for a little over 2 months at it looks like my current dosage of 500mg twice a day is working well. My kidney function actually improved from 41% over the past several weeks to 44%, which I didn't expect. I can't wait to see what my nephrologist says when I see him next week, he thought 41% was as good as I was going to get!

Having been on Pred since November 2008 due to uncontrolled hives - I have just been able to wean to stop- last week no less. I gain about 40 lbs; mostly on my face and abs. To make it all worse, I started a sequence of IVF in May (those shots didn't help my weight or bloating). Now I am 2 1/2 months pregnant and even though my doctors weren't worried about the low 5mg dose of pred I was on - I was not ok with the potential risks to my pregnancy. I have heard their is an increase in my body naturally producing steroids which might acount for the not needing pred to control my hives.

Honestly, I was not particularly attentive to self care when I was on pred - now that I am pregnant I am MUCH more attentive to my caloric intake. I have always worked out - but I am more focused now. But I am starting my pregnancy heavier than I would want - which is risky. Anyone had any similar experiences? Has anyone been on pred through their pregnancy? Has anyone experienced weight loss or body changes following discontinuing pred? I am just wondering what to expect?

It is nice to find a place where real people chat about their pred experiences!
Thanks

Hi eocb--
I took prednisone throughout my second pregnancy for RA (about 7.5mg/day). It was the only medication the doctor said was OK during pregnancy. I had a healthy baby boy (who is now almost 12!). After delivery, I had a major flare that was treated with more prednisone so post pregnancy weigh loss was a nightmare for awhile until I found other meds and decreased the prednisone (highest dose was 25 mg/day). Good luck!

I have also experienced weight gain on Prednisone! I had the moon-face and the weight has been difficult to get off.....but, YOU can do it!

My husband was put on Pred for something and he gained like 10 pounds almost instantly!!!! So needless to say he stopped using it. I wanna say it took him about 2 months to lose the weight.

I am 81 years of age and have been on Pred. since Feb.'09. Will be on it for a year. I am only 5 feet tall and have always been able to control my weight but I have gained about 10 - 12 lbs. Have the moon face, humps on my shoulders, big stomach, tremendous appetite. I started out at 40 mg. but have been reduced down to 5mg. now. I was diagnosed with Vasculitis which is inflammation of the arteries. The med is working but I am afraid I won't be able to get the weight off when I have finished taking the Pred.
I have started exercising (treadmill) and trying to watch the carb intake. I guess until I am completely off the drug, I won't be able to lose much. I felt so bad when I was first diagnosed I didn't feel like exercising so I just ATE and ATE and ATE and cried a lot. But, the appetite is stabilized somewhat and I feel better but I still have mood swings. Anyone relate to this?