Can I take Pred without weight gain?

[warmwaters]

Give it a couple more days. When I went on my first dose, it took about 5 days and then I felt great (compared to what I had felt, which was that I couldn't get out of bed and slept for 14-20 hours a day). Great was I could get up and have meals, and walk for a few blocks, and sit out in the sun (which isn't an issue for me). 

BTW - I'm now on prednisone as well, and doing much better than what I just said.

[YYC_ Mommy]

JannaLee, I hope that you feel relief soon! Please keep us posted on how you are doing with the Predisone, I would be interested to hear.

Take care

[harrigan]

Hi Janna - you have always been so thoughtful and encouraging to the rst of us when we have needed it.  Hope you are feeling some benefit by now.

I'm about to join you on the pred weeks as my rheumy has just upped the dose of methotrexate and given me 5 weeks of pred again.  I hate it as it makes me wide awake at night (and exhausted at work next day) and last time I developed s NEED for cake!  Any cake, but especially good solid ones like madeira and fruit cake.  I would fine myself smiling at the thought of cake and staring at the cake aisles in the supermarket!

Let me know if you have any good ideas for sleeping/avoiding eating everything in sight!  XX Ailsa

[ros]

I can't believe that this discussion is happening when I am agonising about the pros and cons of taking prednisone. At my last appointment with my doctor, and after a lot of discussion, I stopped taking the 5mg of prednisone that I had been taking for three months. I was not happy to be taking it and thought I would cope without it.
My doctor was willing to see how I would go without it.
Well let me tell you all that I didn't realise what that little tablet was doing for me. Within a week I was in agony with joint and muscle pain and a very sore neck. I have had a feeling of being choked for weeks. Now that gland below my ear is very sore and swollen. (I can never remember it's name!) I have put up with it for long enough. I'm starting to feel very depressed because I can't seem to do anything.
I have an appointment tomorrow and I know he will put me back on prednisone again, and I really think I will not protest about it this time. We need some quality of life and if this is what we need to do, maybe we have to accept it.
I put on weight in the time I was taking it, but I know I was eating too much. I was sooo hungry all the time. But having just been diagnosed with Sjogrens I told myself I had an excuse for overeating. I had a syndrome! This time I will need to be very strong.  You are very lucky to not put on weight.
I hope you start to feel better, I think you probably will feel the difference very soon!

[DragonflyC]

Hi, Ros. 

Have you tried any other medications?  I took prednisone at first, but only until the plaquenil had time to kick in.  For me, the plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) has done a pretty good job of alleviating the symptoms that you mention long term, and I only have to take prednisone during a flare.  It sounds like the low dose of prednisone helps you a lot, though, so it would make sense if you decided to just stick with that.

Best wishes!

[JannaLee]

Yes Ros,

Dragonfly asks a good question.  Are you taking Plaquenil?  If you can tolerate it, and the majority of us can, there is certainly benefit without the pred. side effects.

Janna

[kim31072]

Janna I hope that the pred brings you some relief and on our titrate down you find a dosage that works for you.

I think the Dr wants to know if it is not helping is that if it offers no relief then the issue most likely isn't inflammation based as that is what pred is used to treat(along with allergic reactions)which is why it is often given in cases of asthma flares or bronchitis/pneumonia.

I have been on it almost 3 yrs and my weight goes up some occasionally(never more than 5 pds or so)and its usually when I come off my maintenance dose and go higher for awhile then taper down(the gain comes on during the taper for whatever reason)One thing I have found is if you are craving something(but you know its not what you think you should be eating so opt for something else..then something else..and again and then finally end up eating what you wanted to begin with-its usually just easier(and less calorie shopping )to go ahead and eat what you are craving (in moderation)rather than munching then giving into it.

I like sugar when my dose is up-and I just go ahead and have a few cookies or a small ice cream rather than 6-7 things that are "good" for me then eat the cookies..cause I always give in!LOL!So I figure by caving quicker I am actually in the long run SAVING myself calories-cause I wont stop til I get what I originally wanted.

Good luck and I hope you get some relief soon-I would call the Dr if you dont notice any improvement in the next 3-4 days-that should be long enough for the pred to be working as its usually pretty quick acting(which is why it comes in just a 5 day dose pack)-and if you aren't experiencing any relief he may want to get you off the med instead of continuing when its not helping.

[Pegasus47]

DragonflyC:
Your points well taken.

For each approach, there are many opnions.  Normally our body should be able to cleanse itself.  However, for those who are very constipated, this cleansing maybe helpful.  She has Fibromyalgia - and has been trying to keep all potential toxic materials out of her system- including not using paper towels, use only organic cleaners in the house, keeping her urine at neutral pH - her whole life is revolved around her pain.   When I asked her about her BM, she said this has been a problem for her in her entire lifetime. 

For those of us who does our number 2's (BM) everyday, that shouldn't be a problem.  But otherwise, it maybe helpful.  For me, it feels like a fresh start. 

There are people who go to detox centers- to clean out, not detox for drugs.  They swear by it, so I tried it once.  I was surpised how well I tolerated it. 

Hope sharing this experience is helpful

Pegasus

[JannaLee]

Thanks so much Pegasus!  I agree and can certainly see the benefits of your suggestion!

I so appreciate this "think tank" atmosphere and so many various different ideas and experiences and opinions!

Janna

[ErinG]

Hi Janna,

I think it might be possible to curb the weight gain if you closely monitor your calories and your exercise.  

I've been on prednisone for over a year, I started at 60mg and I've tapered down to 15mg.  I didn't notice my weight gain until after I was on it for a couple of months, and I eventually gained 40-45lbs.  My face did get round pretty quickly, but the rest of the weight took a while.  But I also started eating like a horse because I always felt hungry (I frequently purchased those Pounder bags of pretzels...probably not the best choice!).  I think if you can control your eating you might be able to avoid the weight gain.

I started exercising and monitoring my calories back in January, and I have managed to lose almost 20lbs.  I even had to increase my prednisone from 7.5mg to 20mg at one point and I didn't notice a weight gain.  I think if I had made this effort back when I started taking it I could've have avoided having to buy bigger clothes!

My aunt takes 3mg of prednisone daily and has been on it for a couple of years.  She is very fit and she doesn't appear to have gained any weight, but she does have  a slight moon-face.

Good luck!

- Erin

P.S.  One of my favorite filling snacks is a bag of 94% fat free microwave popcorn.  The entire bag is between 200-300 calories.

[ros]

Hi Janna and Dragonfly, Would you believe that my doctor has never prescribed plaqinel for SS! He can understand why it would be of benefit though. We must be a bit behind over here. That is why this forum is so wonderful. He is good in that I can make suggestions that I have read on here and he will look into them for me. And he is a very good listener!

From what I have read, I think 5mg of prednisone is a small dose and I wonder if it would cause long term problems if you stayed on that level.

I am going to talk to him about the plaquinel today. He did mention the eye thing when we talked about it last time. Can your optomistrist keep a check on that or do you need to see a opthamologist?

How are you feeling Janna? Is the prednisone kicking in!

[JannaLee]

Hi Ros,

The thing with the eyes is a certain test you need to take every year.  It's a peripheral vision test and a special machine is needed.  I'm pretty sure an optometrist can administer this test, the trick is finding one with the machine.

I sincerely encourage you to press for Plaquenil from your rheumy.  It's considered the standard treatment~ as far as I know.

I woke up feeling quite terrible this morning.  But a couple hours later I noticed I could turn my head without neck pain. 

This is not good enough.  I went to a meeting today from 4-6pm and now I'm all done in ~unable to cook dinner but sitting up on the sofa. 

Since this is only the second day (just took today's last dose a minute ago) probably I shouldn't worry.

Erin,

I had to laugh about your suggestion to control my eating!  Therein lies the rub!  I can barely control myself when I DONT feel hungry.  Heaven help me when I do!!

Thank you for the suggestions.  Do I need to eat less than I normally would?  Does pred. trigger your body to store more fat than normally?

Thank you all so much!
Janna

[DragonflyC]

I only see an optometrist.  I am confident that he is monitoring my vision sufficiently.  The eye problem is really rare; some people on the boards have mentioned that they don't even monitor for it in the U.K. anymore. 

Ros, I'm so glad to hear that you have a doctor who is willing to listen and learn.  I've found two doctors (my GP and rheum) who are the same, and I wouldn't trade them for anything!

--C.



P.S. Erin, I completely agree about the popcorn!  We have an air popper and make huge bowls of it several times a week with a little real butter and salt.  It's delicious, and we feel like we are eating a ton without taking in too many calories.  Now that spring is here, we're eating lots of fruit, too.  I picked up some strawberries at Stop and Shop yesterday that were amazing.

[Babs659]

Hi, Janna.  The 4mg of prednisolone actually took about 3 weeks to work.   I was very weak and woozy and the Plaquenil hadn't had time to kick in (that took 9-10 months for me).  Also the 4mg dose definitely caused a weight gain--but only about 10lbs.  I am now (after one year) down to 2mg every other day and holding my own.  The weight has started coming off.

Hope that helps

[JannaLee]

Thanks Babs.  I'm feeling a little better but not enough yet.  Today is day 4, so it's probably still too soon for me.