Readers Respond: Did Prednisone Cause You to Gain Weight? How Did You Deal With It?

Prednisone can cause a redistribution of body fat to the face, back of the neck, and abdomen. The weight gain and redistribution is undesirable, to say the least. Chronic use of oral corticosteroids or frequent IM injections can also increase adipose tissue (type of connective tissue that contains stored cellular fat). How did you deal with weight gain from prednisone?

Fighting prednisone

I have Chronic Uveitis and was put on 40 mg of prednisone, over the past 4 months i have gained 15 pounds but I work out 6 days a week, and eat clean I know how depressing this is, my advice is to keep eating clean and working out~ believe me I dont always feel like doing it but gaining more weight isn't an option! I'm now down to 10 mg but I'm on 2,000 mg of celcept too and have injections inside my eyes~ my advice is You have to stay positive and do the things you love, your mental state is such a huge part of your healing, be an inspiration to others~ thats my goal.

—Guest Kellie

Weight Gain= 20 lbs each

I have been on and off prednisone for over a year due to neuropathy, and have gained weight every time. Every time I am placed on it is is always high dose, and take it anywhere from 2 weeks to 8 months and it always causes me to gain weight. I get extremely lethargic, retain water, sweats

—Guest Dorothy

Will I ever lose the weight?

I am a 17 year old girl and I got diagnosed with vasculitis when I was 15. I was on a very high dose of steroids for over a year and put on about 2 stone. I am very self conscious and I am going on holiday soon. I have joined the gym and started healthy eating. Will I ever lose my weight!!! :(

—Guest JP

When will it end???

I took prednisone for about 6-7 months and experienced a 20 lb weight gain, especially in my face. I was called "teddy bear" and other things at school. Because of this I had to go to a therapist for depression. When I was tapering down my parents told me when I finished my last dose it would take maybe a few weeks to go back to normal. This was definitely not the case. 9 months later my cheeks (which grew to the size of oranges) went down to a little smaller than golf balls. I have barely lost any of the weight with profuse exercise. I tire with half a lap around my school track, and sweat like I just jumped in a pool. I'm on the brink of tears with a soft playful punch on the arm. I hated this medicine and saw almost no improvement to my symptoms. (Crohns)

—Guest Jacob

This is my problem too!

I've been on 5mg daily for about a year and I feel like I'm starving all the time, gained 20lbs, and had to go on antibiotics to deal with the painful acne. I want another option but I'm 22 with some intense RA. It makes it almost impossible for me to exercise because I'm always exhausted too. I worry if i get off of it i'll just get worse. I don't know what other options I have...

—Guest Jessica

Weight Gain

I was given a (wrong) large dose of 40mg Prdnisone for Ulcerative Colitis over a period of 6 weeks, then once the hospital realised it was too much, I had to then come off it gradually. This is now 6 years ago and I have struggled with my weight since. I wish I had never gone on the drug, the hospital never spoke to me about the side effects and just brushed aside the wrong dosage. I have kept the blue card that you have to carry around with you whilst taking the drug but feel that in my case, I was never given the time to speak to me and explain what might happen. I feel mentally 'scarred' after taking these tablets even after such a long time. I cannot lose the weight round my middle, I have not had a waistline since before taking the tablets and thoroughly miserable. Would tell people considering having to take these tablets to speak to their consultant fully first as they are given out too easily in my opinion.

—BeachCY

More than just weight gain

I took the 5mg pk followed by 4mg pk -- after the first day of the second pack, I find myself with a fat stomach and 12 extra pds, can't breathe easy, uncomfortable, soreness and stiffness, profuse sweating. It didn't help my problem, but it made me feel a lot worse. I hope I never have to take this again. It's been 2 days since I stopped the last pk and I don't see an end in sight. Very uncomfortable.

—Guest Sue

Would rather die than up dose again

I've gained 65 lbs in my 4 year relationship with prednisone. I'm titrating again, this time I believe for the last. I have allergic asthma. I read what all of you have written and I feel so sorry for each of you. This "prednisone" is horrible. I have no quality of life anymore.

—Guest Kathy Jones

Gained 10-12 pounds on Prednisone

I have struggled with weight problems all of my life. I am now faced with having problems controlling my food intake since being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and having been placed on prednisone. I feel very bad because I have not been able to lose this weight and am very afraid of putting on more. So, I am seriously considering taking myself off of it without telling my rheumatologist.

—Guest Shirley

Gained weight

Please help, I took prednisone during my chemo but have stopped since 2 months and since then I am working hard to lose but the weigh scale is not moving an inch.

—Guest payal

Urticaria - part II

I am almost 50yo and was prescribed Prednisone to topically apply to a case of serious stress induced urticaria. I had huge itchy welts all over my body even all over my eyelids. I've been a size 0 my whole adult life. I know peoples first thought is good, they say, "you look good with a little weight on ya". That's not the point. This is a weird weight gain, it's repositioning to my belly, shoulders, arms, butt, thighs, boobs, back, stomach-with rolls. I am seriously wearing my husbands tee shirt and underwear, mine are no longer comfortable. I've never had an appetite, everyone always told me to gain some. I have to force myself to eat. I work out all the time. But starving doesn't work for me to lose weight. Oh and I never weigh myself, I judge how my clothes fit. I can feel it I don't need to see it (too depressing). I've got to get rid of this extra size. Has anyone tried taking water pills, ya know, a diuretic? I really need some advice. I'm a hard worker if exercise is the only help.

—Guest Vonnie

Uriticaria - part I

I have a short span to explain what I've been suffering from, the short list is-Chronic Migraines, insomnia for 20 years, fibromyalgia, trigeminal neuralgia, thoracic outlet syndrome, Hiatal hernia, tinnitis, chronic pain in back, arms, hands and wrists, neck, shoulders, my whole back, and now I've become one of those people that are allergic to everything, aspartame, sulfates, nitrates. If I smell bacon cooking I'll have to go to the emergancy room. Same with perfumes (except my own), mens cologne, basicly unless I watch it get made I can't know what's in it. I'm a Dental Hygienist but, I can't plan ahead in order to work. I am a workaholic who can't work. I'm only 50yo and should still be doing my job, that I loved. When it finally sunk in that my career I worked so hard for, I wouldn't be able. That caused me to breakout in stress induced urticaria, raised, red, very itchy rash even all over my face and my eyes. I waited 6 months I knew about prednisone. I can't fit into my clothes.

—Guest Vonnie

Weight gain from taking prednisone

Need help with the weight gain. Have gained 30lbs. Really not good for my depression. Please help, what can I do?

—Guest Shirley McGhee

Am I gonna look like a cream puff soon?

Diagnosed with IGA Nephropathy. Just started treatment with pulse steriods. Yikes food has never looked so good before. Bad timing with Easter and all. Gained 3 pounds already and have never been overweight and 48 yrs old. Going to gym 4x week and being careful not to over eat. I will just stay positive and believe that this will only be for a short term and in about six months, my kidneys will be happy and body returns to its normal weight! In the meantime, anyone see my ankles? :)

—Guest Cream Puff

Do side effects outweigh benefits?

I am a 24 yr old who was diagnosed with sarcoidosis in Sept. My first dose was 40mg daily -- since then I have tapered to 20 mg every other day. I have gained almost 20 lbs. but I have never felt so great. Minus the insomnia, night sweats, increase anxiety, and moon face, I can now breathe and move without pain. You must see if what it's actually treating does outweigh the side effects. I know in my case it has.

—Guest shannon