I was put on IV solu-medrol (145 mg) and swear my face has a face of its own! And trying to get off the stuff is very painful (flank pain). Does anyone know WHY this happens? The weight gain is understandable, but changing facial features? I don't even recognize myself. Why does artificial steroid have an effect that natural doesn't? My body can't produce any on its own.
Thank you everyone for helping me see I am not alone in this!!! I just started taking prednisone about 2 months ago and now my face looks like a chipmunk!! I absolutely hate it and my belly is starting to become round also, so I'll be doing situps daily until I am off these suckers. I am only 23 and my average weight is 105 at 5'2". I dont mind the weight gain so far, but I just want my face back, hopefully after my dosage is lowered this will subside. Thank you.
On the Dreaded Dexamethasone for Multiple Myeloma cancer. As an ex pro runner turned biker, I used to weigh less than a lice of bread but ate like a horse. Now, I'm 25 pounds heavier and fuller in face and belly fro and sides. Ya, it sucks. Funny, though, that all my friends remark, "You look great; you've gained weight!". Want to scream
One thing that does help is a diuretic and plenty of water. You'll piss like a race horse with Lasix . If your kidneys can handle it, might be worth a try.
I been on prednisone for 23 years. I have a lung disease with constant inflammation. I consider myself a pro in the world of anti inflammatory drugs. Recently, I started taking "turmeric," in capsule form. This herb is AMAZING. I use to be on oxygen, barely able to walk to the bathroom. After a month of taking turmeric, i was no longer in need of oxygen and have been breathing better than my most adult life. I completely recommend it, I am down to only 10 mg of prednisone. I take the brand Turmeric Curcumin Gold(
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). 1000 mg daily along with pepper in my water, and a fat such as cod liver supplement. Turmeric needs pepper and a fat in order to be absorbed into your body. My doctor advised me never to take prednisone at night.It causes worse side effects when you are sleeping with your glands, such as night sweats, etc. I luckily have been able to control my weight gain mostly due to my vanity over the years and being very careful on what I eat. As far as the moon face, after 5 years of being on the medication I didn't get it as bad as I use to. Now I tend to be a little chubbier in the cheeks but nothing horrible, no double chin. =)
My wife is using wysolone She got edema at ankles Dr has given some medicines to pass urine more Now edema has been reduced at ankles But now there is a swelling at face. Face becomes moon I want to contact Dr But instantly Could you reply your interpretation
I don't take Prednisone, I take HydroCort (Cortef,) which is like the MOTHER of all Cortosteroids. This is the treatment of choice for Addison's Disease. I had my 1st Adrenal Crisis on 10/20/1998 and I have had to take steroids every single day since. I gained about 10lbs almost immediately, which was a good thing because before my diagnosis I weighed 83lbs at 5'5" tall. I learned all the stuff you need to know to medicate yourself when you have ABSOLUTELY NO CORTICAL FUNCTION like with Addison's Disease. I got so good that my Endocrinologist gave me an Honorary PhD in the management of Addison's Disease. I really didn't notice any major side effects until about a year ago. Almost overnight I gained 20 lbs, my ankles swelled and my face swelled to unrecognizable proportions. I looked 6 months pregnant in the belly too - my waist increased almost 10" overnight. The tops of my hands and fore arms look like I am 100 years old with purple & black bruises with no origin that I can recall. The really dangerous part is that there is fluid building up around my heart and other internal organs too - so I get winded just trying to get a sentence out without catching my breath.
Unfortunately, stopping my Cortef for me would be like a Type 1 Diabetic try to live without Insulin. So I listened to my Doctors carefully, read everything I could, asked lots of questions and here is what I have learned. First, I have had some pretty fast success by making a lot of the changes mentioned in this thread. I cut my Cortef down to the absolute minimum I could take and still get myself to the bathroom without help. My doctor has me on a pretty high dose of Lasix too. Between those two changes, I lost well over half the extra fluid - even in my face and it's still coming off. I am watching what I eat and making sure that I only eat when I am truly hungry and need food. Watermelon is a natural diuretic, particularly facial and I can swear to that.
Finally, the only reason my doctor's believe to be a seriously contributing cause of this sudden change in how my body is reacting to Cortosteroids - is because I have been under a HUGE, and I mean HUGE amount of stress this last 6-9 months. (The IRS has a Tax Lien on all my assets, my Ex is continually dragging me to court, I'm too sick to work so I am literally poverty stricken, and I have come to within hours of being homeless several times. Those are just a few of the high points. I spent all last Summer disabled from a coming off a drug called Zyprexa. I almost died 3 times in the ER -- as many have, and am considering litigation against them now.) So, knowing about the stress in my life, a couple months ago my doctor put me on a fairly low dose of Xanax daily to combat anxiety. Xanax pretty much saved my life.
So I don't look like I used to, but every day I seem to be getting closer. When I pass a mirror I just try not to look at my face. I try to keep moving around and I have always been a pretty positive person. Since I lost half my hair when this started I have been wearing wigs. Now I have gotten well enough that my hair has started to grown back enough for me to switch to Hair Extensions, which are tons better looking, more comfortable and natural looking. I know that all this sounds terribly vain, but my point is that you need to do whatever it takes to keep your spirits up. Stress, Pain, Anxiety & Fear can and WILL affect you physically one way or the other. I'm going to keep watching this Thread because I am always open to new changes I can make in my life to lower my need for this awful, yet miraculous drug that unfortunately will always be a part of my life as there is no cure for Addison's Disease.
I was on prednisone for almost 2 years at 120 mg - moon face, weight gain, panic attacks, sadness, weak bones, and sleeplessness are common side effects of the drug. Great surgeon did an ileoanalanastomosis - which has been a terrific blessing to my body. To get rid of the prednisone side effects, I am taking calcium with D3 for the week bones, Curcumin C3 Complex® with BioPerine to boost the adrenals, lots of vitamins, melatonin to sleep better, etc - make sure these supplements will be good for your body according to your medical doctor No matter how little food one eats while on prednisone, immense weight gain happens - the weight eventually comes off, but the body takes time to work normally again. Be patient, drink lots of water with fresh-squeezed lemon, regular foods - the body will overcome!
I just have to say I am definetly the anomly here. I am 32, female and have been on Pred for over 3 months for UC. I have lost 15 lbs, no swelling or moon face, have never had more energy or felt better about life. All I want to do is create things! I also, right from the start have been drinking about nine plus big bottles of water a day to try and avoid the swelling. I am hoping this has made the difference. If I can give any advice, drink water like its going out of style. It will flush everything!!! I have hadno bad side affects, only a bit of insomnia at first.
How are you doing? You're the only person I have read in these post that has GCA. I was diagnosed with it in August 2013 this year, would love to communicate with you. I feel the same way I hate the side effects of prednisone but love that I know it is a wonder drug that will help put GCA in remission.
Thanks for sharing,I hope you are doing better.
I have been on prednisone for about 20 years due to kidney problems, I'm only on 5mg at present and for a long time but am totally fed up of the steroid face. It seems to upset me more now than ever and I hate seeing myself in pictures or indeed in the mirror. I take lots of tablets but there is none I would like to see the back of more than steroids. I see other people when I attend hospital and they don't seem to have as round a face as me, I think some people respond to it more than others.
It makes me feel really ugly.
Any tips to get rid of it appreciated.
you need a new doctor! the pitting edema should be treated with furosomide and potassium! Fluid volume overload is not a good thing!
God bless you. I hope you are doing well.