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Prednisone Weight Gain Question

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/3/2011 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
I've been battling a flare for over 2 wks now and my GI originally had me on only 20mg of Prednisone to try to get remission without side effects. After speaking to him this morning he now wants me to go to 60mg. I'm terrified of the side effects. I was a heavy person for a long time and finally lost a bunch of weight with years of excercise and eating better. The thought of undoing years of work in a matter of months is depressing me greatly.

I was wondering how the weight gain on Prednisone works exactly. This is my first time taking it. Are the weight gain and "moonface" instant or does it take a few months of being on it? If I am on 60mg and then 50 and then 40 for like a month will that make me gain over 20lbs? I'm just curious as to how this weight gain works and the dreaded "moonface".

Looking for light at the end of the tunnel..... cry
Posted 10/3/2011 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Poopy (your name cracks me up), for me, the weight didn't show up until after a couple of months but it wasn't easy to take off. It came on gradually. Some people notice it right away when they start prednisone, others see see it after they begin to taper. I was one of the ones who saw it later. As I was tapering off, I thought I was in the clear of gaining weight, and each time I went to the GI, my weight went up and up. It was terrible. 60mg is a hefty dose. I hope it kicks this UC into remission. I hope you're able to taper down from the high dose quickly. The higher the dose, the worse the side effects. Try not to worry about it now though, try to focus on getting better. One thing that I think is extremely important is to try to eat the same amount you do now. I was always hungry when I was on pred so I ate and ate. Normally, I don't eat a lot at all. If I had set out 3 meals a day and stuck to them, I probably wouldn't have gained so much. If you gain a little weight, it's probably water and you will lose it easily. If you gain a lot, it's regular pounds and hard to lose. It took me months to get in my old jeans.
Posted 10/3/2011 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
  •  I was on pred for a month in June 2009. I was on 20mg and I tapered down 5mg's every week until I was off it.  I was waiting to start the remicade.  It helped my symptoms right away and I remember thinking oh I wish I could stay on this.  I then had to start the pred again in July(it took my remicade awhile to get approved) 2009 and was on it until Nov. 2009.  I gained 50 pounds and I have only lost about 15 of it.  It is very hard to lose and when I was on the pred I ate everything.  It was like I couldn't control myself.  I was so moody and crazy on it that in Nov. I said to my doctor you need to take me off of this right now.  So, I tapered down and I haven't had to go on it since(knock on wood lol).  I am trying to lose the weight now but I am scared like you that I will have to go on it again exspecially if I don't lose weight and I will gain more weight.  Or I will lose and have to go on and gain it all back.  I guess just try to exercise and not eat so much(good luck).  All the drugs for UC suck!!! Their side effects and everything they do to our bodies. Ugh!!!

Posted 10/3/2011 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies guys. I've at least lost about 10lbs with this latest flare, so I have those to at least gain back haha. I thought 60mg was high too but my GI said he would rather up it and then lower it rather than go on say 40mg and it doesn't do anything and then having to up it to 60mg. I am suppose to call him on Thursday. He wants to get the bleeding under control before lowering it again. This has been my worse flare to date, diagnosed a year ago, had 3 flares, this being number three and absolute worse. My other flares I could at least go out and do things, just couldn't eat, etc. This one, not one ounce of energy and going on the Prednisone has really depressed me. Been missing things I had been looking forward to, etc. Sorry, just venting to peeps who understand. :-)
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