Prednisone and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• October 10, 2010

For Inflammatory Conditions "It has helped me like no other medicine I have ever been on. Almost to being a wonder drug. The only problem I have is the side effect of weight gain and swelling in three weeks. I've gained 6 pounds and am so swollen in my legs, trying to find a way to fight off the side effect. Will try anything. I feel like I have a quality of life with this medicine."

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 2, 2024

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "This is the best medicine for me: I have RA for about 4 years. The doctors and professors gave me a lot of different medicine. I was so sore in my joints and had swelling (my entire body), also got depression about it that I did not want to be alive anymore. Then one GP gave me prednisone, I started with 10 a day, went down to 2 a day. Now I am taking 1 or 2 a day after I had breakfast, depending on the stiffness and pain in the morning. Some days, like maybe 1 a month or in 2 months, I will take 3 or 4 for 1 or 2 days when I have a flare-up. I only take one other medication with it. I am so happy about it and will keep on until I'm not here anymore! I believe, because my daily intake is not high, I am OK for all the other negative side effects. I do not gain weight at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 30, 2018

For Sinusitis "This helps tremendously with sinusitis - only good side. I was given several times over the past couple of years, but side effects are horrible. There is weight gain, hair loss and thinning, swollen feet, anxiety, sleeplessness, mood change, pain in hands and feet, joint pain, blurred vision, etc. I do not recommend taking this drug unless absolutely necessary, and if so, proceed with EXTREME caution."

• McS...
• January 5, 2012

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I have been taking this medication for 1 month for spondyloarthritis - 10 mg in the morning and 15 mg Mobic at night and have noticed the following improvements - improvement in plantar fasciitis to the point of being minor, improvement in bursitis on the opposite foot to being minor, improvement in pain in thumb from not being able to hold a pen to being able to give a firm handshake. No adverse reactions. Swelling in the toe still evident but reduced in the foot. Was advised of side effects and have altered diet and increased exercise to avoid any weight gain. Have lost weight, which may be associated with the altered regime or this medicine."

• tob...
• July 16, 2015

For Inflammatory Conditions "I took this for temporal arteritis. I gained 70 lbs., developed moon face, swollen legs and arms. I was unable to sleep at night and was so sleepy during the day, I fell asleep anywhere. Developed cataracts, had them removed, but I still have blurry vision and have not been able to drive in 1.5 years. Hair is thin and very dry skin. Have a hard time walking due to vision and weakness."

• Anonymous
• November 26, 2009

For Immunosuppression "I have been taking prednisone for ten years. I have lupus and will have to most likely stay on it the rest of my life. When I first started taking it, I was 9. The side effects were harsh: loss of hair, hair growing more (thicker and faster) on arms and legs, significant weight gain, very puffy in the face, increase in appetite, and water retention (edema) all on 60 mg every day. With that being said, I felt a whole lot better, and it kept my lupus in remission for about 3 years, so I was able to go down as low as 5 mg EOD. For me personally, after I have been using it so long, I only see any side effects if I go above 20 EOD, and it's the puffy face. Prednisone is a very good immunosuppression drug, but it did take my body some getting used to."

• Hig...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 11, 2016

For Bullous Pemphigoid "I took prednisone for bullous pemphigoid four years ago. It took over six months to get diagnosed, so it was bad by the time I started prednisone. At first, the doctor tried CellCept, but that did not work. Prednisone immediately took care of the itching and a week or so for the rash. It took a few months to be able to wean myself off it (I started at 60 mg and was dropping successfully until I hit 20 mg; after that, whenever I dropped, I would flare up, so I stayed at that level for something like two months). Now I only take it when I have serious flares, for only 3-4 days. As for side effects, I had insomnia, but not too bad; I did not gain weight, but my stomach did increase in size. I am perfectly willing to put up with that for the relief."

• ALE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2016

For Lichen Planus "I had an 8-week course of pred. While it erased my lichen rash, it made me gain weight, my face was unrecognizable (fat), and I constantly was eating. Also, I don't know if anyone felt tipsy on these meds? I began being clumsy and couldn't sleep. After 8 weeks of taking, 4 days after stopping, the rash came back. I was told to take 1 a day! Still on them, but now I'm getting bad joint pains, depression, and a short fuse (mood swings, excessive sweating)."

• Ali...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 15, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "Made me gain 140 lbs over 6 years, no one told me about how steroids affect your sugar and insulin. I'm now diabetic. If you use this medicine, I would strongly recommend talking to a doctor about a carb-free, sugar-free diet to avoid weight gain and diabetes. Did not help with pain at all. Helped me regain control of severe asthma, for that, I'm grateful."

• Don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2019

For Ankylosing Spondylitis "I have a long list of autoimmune disorders, chronic migraines, neuropathy, stenosis, sciatica, 6 bulging discs, and more. My back flares up so bad I can't walk at all. I love this medication because within a few days I feel normal again, but I've gained 15 pounds now in 5 days, and I'm not even eating. The weight gain is horrible. Otherwise, I highly recommend it."

• Anonymous
• June 3, 2011

For Immunosuppression "I am grateful for my transplant, however, the side effects of this medicine have been crazy. I was on it for 8 years with my first transplant. I put on 50 lbs in 6 months. Broke out all over my chest and back. My hair grew thick and dark everywhere. Now, with my second transplant, I put on 65 lbs, no breakout, and have been experiencing hair loss. The entire time I’ve been on it, I have had major mood changes and agitation."

• Jen...
• April 1, 2011

For Lupus "Immediately made me feel like a new person! Helped me walk 'normal' again and go down stairs without horrible pain. Made my hands and feet swelling improve greatly. My hands were squishy, my feet were so swollen I couldn't fit in my shoes, and my toes looked like little sausages. Like any other medication, there were side effects, of course: moon face, weight gain, hair loss, and horrible taste, but I would do it all over again because it helped me so much with pain, swelling and is continuing to help me live normal. Yay for prednisone."

• sma...
• May 28, 2014

For Lupus "This medication does work great. However, the side effects are no fun. It causes weight gain, mood swings, and a host of other side effects. If the bad side effects were not there, I would definitely stay on this medication, because it helps so much with the pain and all of the other medical conditions that lupus can cause."

• AIH...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 21, 2020

For Inflammatory Conditions "I took prednisone 20 mg for 3 years for autoimmune hepatitis, and it definitely helped bring down my AST/ALT. I even saw regression of cirrhosis (by fibroscan). Side effects included increased appetite, weight gain (20 lb max), moon face, hair started growing curly instead of straight, more severe infections (especially GI), and trouble regulating emotions. I didn't complain though, as I knew it was keeping me alive!"

• Anonymous
• June 15, 2019

For Inflammatory Conditions "I was put on 90 mg of prednisone for two months because my blood count was low. The first month, it made me overweight, overeating, sleepy, and tired all the time. The other month, I started to have different side effects. I started to have dizziness, anxiety, didn't want to sleep, loss of appetite, confused, memory loss, and seizures. I never had anxiety or seizures in my life. I also lost a lot of weight. I was 195 lb, and I went down to 145 lb. When I was having those side effects, what made me so scared was the anxieties and seizures. This happened to me 5 years ago, and I'm still having anxieties and seizures. Now I'm being put on different medications for my anxieties and seizures. This has changed my lifestyle so much."

• Kri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2020

For Sinusitis "Update: side effects of prednisone were weight gain (temporarily), anxiety, insomnia, difficulty concentrating. These issues began to clear days after the end of treatment. My initial post was 10/10 on December 30th. The latter side effects are difficult and interrupt daily life the most, depending on your daily routine and work responsibilities. Exercise was extremely easy, and my lungs felt great, so I was able to run and continue weightlifting during the entire treatment. See December 30th for full treatment dosage. From 10/10 to 7/10, good for short-term use (x"

• not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2017

For Ulcerative Colitis "I had my first UC flare at the end of March, lost 40 lbs, and was bleeding so badly I was hospitalized on IV prednisone for 7 days. My symptoms remained. I've been on 40 mg prednisone for 4 weeks now together with Lialda. I finally stopped bleeding 2 weeks ago, but it has not been a fast process, a wonder drug for me. My doc took me off Lialda because she is not convinced it is working. I am still on 40 mg prednisone and the pain is still there, not as severe though, and I go 3-5 times a day and about the same at night. Side effects: weight gain on belly and moon face, peeling skin, neck and leg pain, heart palpitations, and a hard time sleeping."

• Lit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2016

For Mixed Connective Tissue Disease "Swelling, severe joint pain, especially wrists, leaving me unable to use my hands. Dr. prescribed prednisolone 20 mgs to start. Within 1 hour, my pain was gone, and the next day, swelling had almost disappeared. As I was on a long course, I did suffer from being paranoid and gained over 3 stone in weight, however, I did realize I had to bear with it to have any quality of life, and it did work. For 5 years, I had no more symptoms. Recently, my pains and swellings are back, only in my wrists this time. Doctors prescribed only short periods of the drug. I had no side effects, but 3 days after finishing, my wrists were screaming pain. I am 70 this year and otherwise have good health, so I will have my way and use of my hands back by using this drug."

• Rob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 27, 2024

For Polymyalgia Rheumatica "Rapid onset PMR left me nearly paralyzed. 40 mg prednisone per day had me feeling almost normal in 24 hours. Like many here, I tapered too rapidly and relapsed. After 7 months, I am at 11 mg per day and will taper 1 mg per month going forward. Many other side effects are appearing: blood pressure, heart rate, weight gain, hot flashes, hand stiffness, general fatigue. The marker 'C-reactive protein' has been kept within normal range during tapering, so prednisone is working."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2017

For Allergic Reactions "Took away my poison ivy rash, made me gain weight, and made me psychotic. I hate that doctors can write prescriptions to take one thing away, have to write another prescription to fix that problem. A bunch of greedy, money-making machines they are."

• mjm...
• May 24, 2015

For Ulcerative Colitis "I was hospitalized three times last year for ulcerative colitis and severe anemia. I had tried Asacol, sulfasalazine, and nothing worked. I was afraid to try the prednisone, and when I finally did, it helped immediately. I could kick myself for waiting so long and almost dying from blood loss before I got it. The side effects that I had were insomnia, feeling wired and roid ragey, and after 7 months on it, I gained around 50 lbs. It gives you the mad munchies. It's not a long-term fix because of the long-term health risks: diabetes, vision loss, hump neck, weight gain, and it also suppresses your immune system. Remicade worked for me while I was on prednisone, but once I tapered off, I had the most terrible joint pain, arthralgia, and edema."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2016

For Ulcerative Colitis "Worked great the first time, but remission only lasted 3 months. 2nd time worked quickly again, but couldn't taper off as fast. On it for 3 months. Side effects: lost about half my hair (grew back), high blood pressure (180/100), puffy face, irritable, gained 20 lbs, swollen lower legs and feet. Hope I never have to take it again. For now, mesalamine enemas are working (6 months)."

• Kii...
• January 8, 2017

For Lupus "It ruined my teenage years. I got stretch marks, I gained weight, moon face. I didn't recognize myself anymore. I hope I never, ever take this drug again!!! I hope my moon face goes away and I look like the person I was before..."

• Cam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2021

For Atopic Dermatitis "I was put on first a week pack, which cleared up my face but came back three days later, worse than before, on my face, bad rash with itching. Then I got put on a 20-day pack and took very long for it to clear up, but then came back three days later and had gained lots of weight on it. Not worth it, don’t use it if you can avoid it!!!!! (I’m a 19-year-old girl)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 19, 2022

For Immunosuppression "I took this for a transplant, and for me, it didn’t work. I have been on very high and very low doses. The side effects were horrible, in my personal experience. Horrible depression at times, acne, weight gain, dry skin, and consistently feeling sick and itchy."