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Prednisone Moon Face! How Long to Develop???

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Ulcerative Colitis
How long did it take for your Prednisone Moon Face to Occur (40mg +)
Less than 3 weeks - 25.0% - 6 votes
3-4 weeks - 33.3% - 8 votes
4-5 weeks - 12.5% - 3 votes
5-6 weeks - 4.2% - 1 votes
6-7 weeks - 8.3% - 2 votes
greater than 2 months - 16.7% - 4 votes
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Posted 6/4/2009 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone! Today I was prescribed 40mg QD Pred for four weeks with a taper of 30mg x 1 wk 20mg x 1 wk, 10mg x 1 wk, and then 5!mg x 1 wk.

I am hesitant to take this full course, though I know a taper is necessary. I was wondering for those who have been on steroids for eight weeks or greater-- when did you develop moonface? I am 22 and just finished up with nursing school. I feel like this is one less stress I need, especially while suffering from UC.

In your responses could you please tell me how many weeks it took the moon face to form & possibly about any weight gain [plus the  dose]? Maybe making some sort of poll here. I know every body responds differently- but I would like to see what happens generally.

Thanks for all your help :)

Posted 6/4/2009 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
I would say about six weeks - I was on it for 12 weeks. I really needed it though and have no regrets for taking the course of pred for that long.
Posted 6/4/2009 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
I did a pretty quick course of pred...40mg for 5 days, 30mg for 5 days, 20mg for 5 days, 15mg for 5 days, 10mg for about a week and a half (longer than 5 days b/c I was waiting for my GI appointment to know what to do next), then 10 mg every other day for about two weeks (waited to go completely off until I was through a job interview). It worked really well...I didn't have any issues when I came off, even though I had a bout of food poisoning when I was on the 10mg every other day that took me a while to get back to normal after. I know my dosing was really unusual, but it seemed to work quite well for me. My doc hates using pred and I was really hoping to be able to avoid it, so that's why he let me try such a short course.

I had *very* slight moonface that started after a week, I think. It seems like it's highly variable how long it takes to start working. I gained a few pounds, maybe five, but I needed to and I think that was more to due with the fact that I wasn't having diarrhea any more!
Posted 6/4/2009 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
I just lost my originial reply, but I'll try to cover everything.

Mine took about a month. It was the first side effect I had (aside from not sleeping well-that started from the very beginning), and it was the first to dissipate when I tapered off.

I was put on pred in the hospital, and was put into a Humira trial shortly there after. I was required by the trial to stay on the full dose (40mg) for the first 8 weeks, so I ended up being on that dose for 9 weeks. I then tapered 5mg/week until I got to 20mg, then they slowed it to 2.5mg/week until I was done. It sucked. But there were a few people in the trial that tried to rush the taper and ended up back on the higher dose again, so I am glad I followed the rules.

Aside from the lack of sleeping, my side effects didn't start until a month in. So I had the moon face, and also facial hair growth, HORRIBLE acne and a complete lack of menses. They told me the last one wasn't from pred, but it was-as soon as I tapered, my periods came back. I gained 50 pounds while on pred, most all of that in a 2 month period. It was horrible. I got stretch marks from the rapid weight gain. (I gained less than half of that with each of my pregnancies!) I was done with the pred in August of last year, and as of now, I have only lost 15 of those 50 pounds.

When I tapered, I had INTENSE paranoia, really bad joint pain and I lost about half of my hair. Again, they told me the last was not due to the pred, but once I was completely off of it, the hair loss stopped, and now it is all growing back in.

I hated it. I will have to be out of options to go on pred again. But like you said, everyone reacts differently, and I was on it for about 4 months, all said. You may very well have minimal issues, if any. If you need it, you need it!

Congrats on finishing nursing school!!
Posted 6/4/2009 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
I'd also like to add that I tolerated pred very well...the moonface was really the only symptom I had. Maybe some slight munchies, but I think that's partly because I had energy again (not too much, just normal) and felt like doing things, so worked up an appetite. I slept like a rock the entire time I was on it and nobody told me I was moody or irritable!
Posted 6/4/2009 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for all of your input so far! i appreciate all the time you put into your posts.

hope to hear from a few more.
Posted 6/4/2009 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
I get moonface after a few weeks on a high dose (40-60 mg). I don't like this side effect, but it is a SMALL price to pay for relief from a flare. Be careful not to put good looks before good health!
Posted 6/6/2009 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
i got moonface about 3 weeks into 40mg of prednisone. i'm currently on pred (again, ugh), and have been taking 30mg going on 2 weeks now. i'm basically just waiting for the moonface to kick in. i know it's vain or whatever, but it's still a real bummer to have to walk around with the weirdest looking face. and i have a job where i'm speaking with people face-to-face pretty much all the time.
but so far, i haven't gained weight on pred this time. i did the first time. i gained about 20lb. i feel like i have more control over my appetite this time around. i'm wondering about the hair loss though. that also happened to me during my first pred experience. so, in conclusion: i'm waiting for the moonface and probably the hair loss. YES!...
Posted 6/6/2009 11:02 PM (GMT 0)

I started 40 mg. on Feb. 1 - one weekand then 30 mg. one week and then 20 mg. 2 weeks - 15 mg. for 2 weeks.  Now on 10 mg. since. Waiting for visit with specialist on June 18 for any more decisions about prednisone.

 about four weeks I developed moonface.  I have not lost any hair.  Only other side effects from prednisone is nice skin, more energy and UC improvement.

ElaineNY

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