Another way to control fluid retention is to make sure you eat enough potassium rich foods, about 4,700 milligrams daily. Potassium helps to decrease sodium levels and also increases urine production which helps flush out extra fluids. Lean protein can also help promote weigh loss for patients on prednisone.
Fluid retention can be controlled by eating a diet low in sodium – no more than 2,000 mg a day – and higher in potassium. You can find a list of high-sodium foods to avoid in the General Guidelines for Healthy Eating. You can increase your potassium intake by eating potassium-rich foods such as: Apricots.
The good news is, once the steroids are stopped and your body readjusts, the weight generally comes off. This usually happens within 6 months to a year.
Some experts say that it's easier to lose weight about 6 months to 1 year after stopping corticosteroids. You may not lose the weight immediately. But it does tend to be easier after you've stopped taking the medication. This is because you're no longer fighting the effects of high cortisol, as previously discussed.
Minimize canned and processed foods, soy sauce, cold cuts, chips, and other salty snacks, because high-sodium foods contribute to water retention. Choose low-calorie sources of calcium. Another prednisone side effect is the risk for bone mineral loss, so boosting calcium intake is important.
Fortunately for most people, as prednisone is tapered and stopped, the weight gain will stop and reverse. However, since everyone is different, it is difficult to say how long it will take to achieve prednisone weight loss. Learn More: What Is Body Mass Index?
Fat redistribution will only go away after tapering off prednisone. Weight gain is more likely to happen when prednisone is taken in high doses or for a long time. If weight gain is bothersome, talk to your doctor about modifying your drug regimen.
“You can also get swelling in the legs and midsection.” What you can do: “Prednisone alters how the body processes salt, so staying on a low-salt diet can help to some degree,” he says. “And exercise can help keep excess weight off.”
Fluid retention can cause weight gain but as steroids are reduced, fluids will usually reduce as well, along with some of the weight gain. Drinking plenty of water and exercising can help with fluid retention.
Because prednisone may also increase blood sugar levels, you should avoid foods with simple carbohydrates and concentrated sweets, such as cakes, pies, cookies, jams, honey, and candy.
A person taking prednisone may want to avoid alcohol until they finish the treatment. Alcohol can worsen some side effects of prednisone, such as immune system suppression, bone weakening, and weight gain.
You can reduce the risk of certain side effects like insomnia by taking the drug earlier in the day. Other side effects like weight gain, mood swings, and osteoporosis may be reduced with lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and improved sleep habits.
But, although moon face is common, it's temporary. “When the patient stops taking the prednisone, fat distribution goes back to normal and moon face disappears after a few weeks,” Dr. Galligan says.
When your moon face is caused by prednisone or another steroid, the simplest treatment is often to reduce your dosage. Your doctor can put you on a lower dose. Over time, being on a lower dose will reduce the appearance of moon face.
Lean protein can also help promote weigh loss for patients on prednisone. Following a diet where approximately 34% of the calories come protein resulted in people feeling less hungry and promoted weight loss when compared to people on a high-carbohydrate diet.
Prednisone is a steroid-type drug. When a person stops taking prednisone or other steroids abruptly, they may notice symptoms similar to adrenal insufficiency. These include lethargy, low appetite, weight loss, and a general feeling of being unwell.
Steroid drugs, such as prednisone, can cause weight gain in the face. They can make a person's face look swollen, puffy, and round. These symptoms usually go away once a person stops treatment. A lower dosage of steroids may also reduce the symptoms.
The most serious prednisone side effects usually include allergic reactions, infections, gastrointestinal issues and elevated blood sugar. These may occur when people take larger doses or take the medication for long-term treatment.
Prednisone affects areas of the brain that manage the regulation of different neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine — the “feel-good” hormones. Feeling happy is a great side effect some people feel with prednisone. Other responses are more menacing, especially if you don't know what to expect.
If a person experiences insomnia while taking prednisone, taking the medication in the morning may help minimize the disruption to the sleep-wake cycle. Alternatively, a doctor may suggest splitting the dose between morning and night.
Prednisone can make you feel different than normal. But there are steps you can take to decrease the risk of unwanted side effects. Things to avoid (or cut back on) while taking prednisone include: Caffeine: Caffeine can add to the unwanted stimulant effects of prednisone.
You might be wondering if you can still have a glass of wine or a beer with supper while taking prednisone. In general, if your dose is moderate and you're not using prednisone to treat a chronic illness like RA or adrenal insufficiency on a long-term basis, a drink or two per day should be OK.
This depends on your health problem or condition. You may only need a short course of prednisolone for up to 1 week. You may need to take it for longer, even for many years or the rest of your life.
My advice is to limit your food to whole foods: Vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, eggs, fish, meat and a limited amount of whole fresh fruits, healthy fats (such as avocado, olive oil), plain yogurt, kefir and cheeses and whole grains like oats (unsweetened oatmeal) and quinoa.