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Worried about Moonface and Prednisone

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/5/2010 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Question: I'm back on prednisone after ending up in the hospital with a blockage. They gave it to me IV in the hospital and had me leave taking 15 mg a day for a week because I didn't want to even take it because of all the side effects. I also had my second remicade infusion a week ago. For the past week I was going to the bathroom normally, but then I started to feel blocked again. Now my doctor wants me to take 60 mg for 4 days, then 55 for 4 days, etc... I've taken it before and developed a moonface and fear the same will happen this time. How long and how much of a dose causes that. The prednisone has already enduced mania. Would it be better to do 40 mg a day for 4 days and taper from there?
Posted 4/6/2010 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
I was recently put on prednisone for the first time. I have had Crohn's for 5 years and been on everything from the 5-ASAs to 6MP to Remicade. Nothing was helping so I started Pred 4 weeks ago. I started at 60mg for 10 days and have been tapering down by 10mg a week. This week I drop to 20mg and then taper down by 5mg per week.

I have not gotten the moonface or the weight gain. In fact, I've lost weight. Pred has also put me into remission for the first time in 3 years, even with remicade. The only real side effect I've had is sleeplessness, which is better now that I'm at 30mg.

Hope this helps.
Posted 4/6/2010 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Oh thank you so much. That is encouraging. Although he wants to taper at 5 mg increments, but I guess that's because it's 4 days at each dose.
Posted 4/6/2010 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think you should worry about the moon face side effect of pred right now - I think it's more important to get this flare up under control quickly. Then, you can work with your physician to wean off the pred. The moon face associated with pred goes away a few months after you stop taking the pred, so I wouldn't worry about it being permanent; you just have to be ok dealing with possible moon face if the pred causes it in the short term.

The side effects of pred that I worry about are bone loss and the possibility of steroid induced diabetes. Be sure to take calcium and vitamin D supplementation.

PV
Posted 4/6/2010 6:40 AM (GMT 0)
I am 100% in agreement with PV on this. I was on prednisone for over a year after failing every other drug and now I have osteoprosis and had an A1C level in the high 9's until I got off of it. As for the moon face and even the moods swings that come with the prednisone, I am so sorry and understand how hard it is. It is hard to not be able to recognize yourself when you look in the mirror but remember that it is only a temporary thing that overtime will disappear. I can honestly say that I dispise prednisone with a passion but the benefits usually outweigh the side effects if you have been that bad off. If you have really bad concerns about it, see if your doctor will let you use entocort instead. It still has the moonface potential because it is a steroid but the side effects are a lot less likely but it is more expensive.
Posted 4/6/2010 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
I have to agree with PV and tsitodawg too. I've had moonface and it's less than attractive, HOWEVER, right now you need to get your disease under control and if the pred is what will help, then that's what you need to take. Besides, moonface WILL go away. All of that being said, I don't think you'll be on a high enough dose long enough for it to happen. Hang in there!
Posted 4/6/2010 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all of you. I had moonface in college for a year and besides the emotional rollercoaster of being on prednisone, the appearance certainly didn't help. I happen to be a TV reporter, so it bothers me even more. But yes, I know I need to get this under control. I'm hoping the combo of this and the remicade will kick in soon. Also, has anyone tried drinking aloe juice? Does anyone think that could help in healing the inflammation? Just curious.
Posted 4/6/2010 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
hey, someone told me that if u taper to quick or stop cold-turkey, your face will get even bigger... is this true?
Posted 4/7/2010 6:39 AM (GMT 0)
Your face will become motionless as in dead if you quit cold turkey and you've been on a high dose for a long time.
Posted 4/7/2010 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I just finished tapering off prednisone on sunday and ive got to say my face is going down pretty fast! Its still a little swollen but im starting to recognize myself again which makes me more optimistic for losing the prednisone weight:) So like everyone else is saying worry about your health first!
Posted 4/7/2010 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
Grandpato2, is that true? lol That sounds like when I was younger and made a face a my sister and my mom would tell me that if I make that face one more time it will stay like that forever. I took the chance and proved her wrong multiple times.
Posted 4/8/2010 6:52 AM (GMT 0)
Yes it is true.
Posted 4/8/2010 6:53 AM (GMT 0)
If your going to be on prednisone for awhile it's smart to get a medic alert bracelet so doctors know you need it if you can't comunicate.
Posted 4/8/2010 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Predisone for a couple of years now.  I am battling my weight, and I am really wanting to come off of it.  My doctor said no again yesterday. I have a moon face, but the weight gain did not start coming on until 3 months into taking predisone.  It can be every helpful, and I was better for sometime, but I have just gotten fat for the first time in my life.  I am down to 5mg, but I am not seeing any weight decrease yet.  There are special precautions for starting and stopping predisone.  I had surgery last year, and I had to be injected with steriods ect before I was operated on.  

Posted 4/9/2010 6:48 AM (GMT 0)
Cindywcrohnes you should see the weight coming off soon if your at 5mg. My eat everything in sight appetite stopped as I got below 20 mg and I slowly began loosing weight at 5mg's. Good luck!
Posted 4/9/2010 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on prednisone for 15 months now and have been around 10 mg most of the time, but have been up to 30 and down to 5.  I haven't gained weight or developed moon face but am having a lot of problems with blurry vision (will be seeing an eye dr again tomorrow).  We've tapered me down 5 mg at a time when I was on 30, but now we do it 1 mg at a time, as I can tell a difference just going down that amount.

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