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.
Taking high doses of steroids for more than a few weeks can start to affect how the body works. The body holds on to fluid, creating the 'moon face' look and change in body shape. Blood pressure can start to raise due to changes in your cardiovascular system.
How Long Does Moon Face Last? Once you stop taking corticosteroids, extra weight, water retention, and the puffiness of moon face will begin to go away. It can take about a year, though, for your body and face to return to their pre-corticosteroid states.
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.
Moon facies may cause the face to gradually become round, full, or puffy. The sides of your face may become so round from the buildup of fat that the ears can't be seen from the front of your face. Fat deposits in the sides of the skull can also make the face look rounder.
The majority of patients who take steroids long-term will experience weight gain, even as early as six months into treatment.
A gradual reduction in prednisone dosage gives your adrenal glands time to resume their usual function. The amount of time it takes to taper off prednisone depends on the disease being treated, the dose and duration of use, and other medical considerations. A full recovery can take a week to several months.
Prednisone has a tendency to raise the level of glucose, or sugar, in the blood, which can cause increased body fat or diabetes in some people. It is important to avoid "simple" carbohydrates and concentrated sweets, such as cakes, pies, cookies, jams, honey, chips, breads, candy and other highly processed foods.
Peak plasma concentrations reach 1 to 2 hours after oral administration. Distribution of prednisolone is dependent on its protein-binding properties. Prednisolone binds reversibly to albumin as well as to a specific α1-glycoprotein named transcortin (corticosteroid-binding globulin).
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.
The answer to improved lymph flow is literally at your fingertips. The next time you wake up puffy, try stimulating your facial lymph vessels with this gentle and soothing massage technique. It helps excess lymph to drain, reducing swelling in the face and eye area.
Cold compresses: Cooling the area lessens inflammation and swelling by reducing blood flow. You can place anything cold, such as an ice pack, frozen bag of vegetables, chilled cucumber slices or refrigerated spoons, over closed eyes for a few minutes.
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.
Prednisone Withdrawal Cold Turkey
Stopping prednisone “cold turkey” is not recommended. Ideally, a doctor would taper the patient by prescribing a dose that slowly reduces the amount of prednisone consumed to give the adrenal glands time to adjust production of cortisol. This process helps to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
This involves gradually reducing the dose over days, weeks, or months. Some typical recommendations for prednisone tapering include: Dosages above 40 milligrams (mg) per day: Decrease by 5 mg at a time until you reach 20 mg per day. Dosages of 20 mg: Decrease in 2.5-mg increments until you reach 10 mg per day.
You can prevent weight gain from prednisone by focusing on healthy lifestyle behaviors. These include exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding alcohol. Shorter treatment courses are less likely to cause weight gain.
Gaining weight while on prednisone is commonly caused by fluid retention. One way to limit the amount of water you retain, is to eat a low sodium diet. Sodium binds to water inside of the body and helps maintain the balance of fluid inside and outside of cells.
Things to avoid (or cut back on) while taking prednisone include: Caffeine: Caffeine can add to the unwanted stimulant effects of prednisone. Combining caffeine with steroids can keep you awake at night or make you feel jittery and anxious.
Fluid retention is one of prednisone's most famous side effects. “'Moon face' is common, which is swelling in the face that can occur after you've been on steroids for a long time,” Dr. Ford notes.
Lemon water can help with digestion
To relieve bloating, gas, and constipation, drink a cup of lemon water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Lemon contains minerals that promote healthy digestion, alleviate heartburn, and stimulate healthy bowel function by reducing bloat and stimulating bowel movements.
Drink a cup of hot water and lemon as soon as you wake up. This will help kick start and aid in your body's natural detoxification process. Applying a cool, damp compress over your face and leaving it for 10 minutes or so will also work. The colder the compress the better so I recommend using ice water.