Does prednisone make you gain weight?

YES! I've been on steroids for over 7 years for Auto immune disorders Rheumatoid Arthritis, Anklosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis plus hives. It's awful and I've gained not due to extra calories more because of the disease, chronic inflammation and PAIN. This is the vicious cycle of chronic illness. Inflammation causes pain, pain and inflammation need treatment, pain causes decreased mobility adding more weight as steroids also lower the metabolism. Causing weight gain causing more pain on joints causing more inflammation causing more steroids! It's awful and need to have treatment that's effective and not the insurance company dictating treatment but the Drs. who are treating us. I was a very active and fit, healthy, and gym rat before all of this so it's not my lack of knowledge of healthy eating. I know caloric deficit, it's chronic illness cycles that don't break.

This is my 5th day taking Prednisone 20mg once a day. I have gained 5 lbs. I have been eating a lot of sweets since I started on this med which is probably more of the reason for weight gain, but yes Ive gained weight.

Prednisone is a synthetic hormone type drug that spikes your blood sugar. Yes you will gain wait if you take it regularly at any dose. If you only take it once in a great while for bronchitis etc., you probably don’t need to worry. I have been on it three years now for asthma, with heavier doses the last 12 months. I have put on 110 pounds and it’s NOT BECAUSE I ATE MORE. It’s the lesser of two evils when it comes to this drug, and the side effects are nasty.

Yes. I've been on it twice. First time in 2005, gained 50 lbs, never came back off. Second time, 2008, 100 mcgs, on for 6 months or more, gained 25 lbs, and developed hanging belly. Just starting to take off this weight now. Its a terrible drug.

I’ve been taking prednislone for 5 years. Initially I was on 60mg a day and within a year I had put 2.5 stone on. My dose has been reduced now to 10mg a day and the weight has come straight back off however has left me with stretch marks because i gained and lost the weight so quickly,

Prednisone makes many people gain weight. It causes water retention, and for me an appetite like hungry bear! I have taken it in the past but now I refuse it. It weakens the immune system as well. However, it can be a good solution for a few issues ... not for mine though.

Yes. The corticosteroid like excess cortisol triggers fat storage in abdomen and peripherally around abdomin. It causes fat accumulation on upper back and near neck at back, cheeks, forehead and chin and front neck, larger breasts. This is a normal body body response to excess cortisol which the corticosteroids mimic in relation to lipid storage and metabolism.
Starving oneself does not correct the action of corticosteroids.
As well suppression of adrenals by prednisone leads to adrenal insufficiency meaning that aldpstrone and DHEA are insufficient which further causes depression and weight gain.
That is well know, NOT unknown as your site states

Heck yes!! I've been on "preddie" since 2014, 30 mg a day for Systemic lupus erythematosus. I am already on the chubby side. I feel bloated all the time.

I was on prednisone for 6 months. Originally I did not gain wait. However after about 2 months I started to gain weight rapidly. Overall i gained about 35pounds. However after I discontinued the steroid I lost that weight with exercise and swimming. it took about a month for the weight to come off. Hope this helps.

Prednisone is well known to cause weight gain among other potential side effects. It causes many to crave sweets. Some degree of weight gain may also come from fluid retention. Monitoring one's weight is important while using prednisone.

DrDonovan

So... you WANT to gain weight ?! Prednisone is your man. I have been on small dose 2 &1/2 years n packed on 35lbs 1st year. While I was eating a full meal all I could think of was what I was going to eat next. Off it now n losing but really have to work at it.

Some people temporarily gain weight, but it will go away. It raises your cortisol and insulin and makes your body hold estrogen. If you eat fiber rich foods like ground flax seeds, Jerusalem Artichokes and lower carb intake it will prevent a lot of gain. Eliminate soy and dairy, two of the biggest estrogen keepers. Take Alpha lipoic acid and conjugated linoleic acid too. Also, walking 30 mins a day keeps estrogen levels in check. If you take it around 2am I heard cortisol will be in check too, but I don't know if it's true. I lost three lbs. on 13 days tapered from 60.

Oh yes, I have been on prednisone on and off for about 4 months. I am embarrassed to say I have gained 15lbs. My face looks like a blowfish. Last June I had neck surgery. With my now 3 chins I don't have a neck. All you see is a blob of skin. I have tried to go without the medication. But I am able to do so much more when taking it. I have a lung disease and am only 48 yrs old. I live on oxygen and my O2 sats have been really low. I was in a bad car accident(fell 30 feet of an embankment flipping my car) with the accident, the lungs are worse. I bruised a lung badly. I suffer with chronic back and neck pain now. I'm going out of town soon to see a specialist and possibly discuss a lung biopsy. It sucks to be in pain and ill on a daily basis.