“When the patient stops taking the prednisone, fat distribution goes back to normal and moon face disappears after a few weeks,” Dr. Galligan says. And, again, this kind of swelling isn't harmful, so moon face is actually a relatively minor potential side effect of prednisone.
If your moon face is caused by corticosteroids, it will resolve when you stop taking the medication (which should only be done under the guidance of your prescriber). If it's caused by a health condition, your face should gradually return to normal with proper treatment of the condition.
The appearance of moon face can start to fade when you stop taking steroids, but it may take several weeks or even months for your face to return to normal. To prevent steroid withdrawal, do not suddenly stop taking them.
Moon face is not permanent and usually gets better when its cause is treated. “If corticosteroids are to blame, gradually tapering off them can help with weight loss and facial swelling,” Dr. Guo said. “You'll take less and less until your body adjusts, and you might be able to safely stop the steroid.
The fluid retention and increased appetite from prednisone often go away once the medication is stopped or reduced to less than 10 mg/day.
You can prevent or reverse weight gain from prednisone through lifestyle changes. This includes eating a healthy diet, exercising, and avoiding longer courses of prednisone. Other side effects of prednisone include feeling irritable, trouble sleeping, and stomach ulcers.
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.
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.
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.
These symptoms usually go away once a person stops treatment. A lower dosage of steroids may also reduce the symptoms. Although moon face can affect a person's self-esteem, it is important to take steroid medication as a doctor has prescribed it.
If your face has gradually swollen into a rounded shape, you may have moon facies. Also called moon face, this is usually not serious. But it may make you feel self-conscious.
"Whether you swear by cold spoons or chilled cucumbers, the key here is cold compresses constrict blood vessels and reduce inflammation, diminishing the appearance of puffiness," explains Viscusi. "Any form of a cold compress or cooling applicator is a game-changer."
Dr. Rogers advises that it will be easier to lose any excess weight 6–12 months after long-term steroid use has been discontinued and the body has readjusted. The best strategy in the short-term is to take measures to prevent or minimize weight gain as much as possible: Eat healthy and stay active.
The short-term treatment skin atrophy can be reversed, while the long-term one, which results in striae development is indeed permanent damage.
Common side effects of prednisone tend to be mild, especially with lower doses and short-term use. They may last a few days to a few weeks. If side effects persist or worsen, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Most short-term prednisone side effects, like headaches, nausea, and weight gain, go away once the dose is lowered or the steroid is stopped altogether. Other potential side effects—like vision problems and osteoporosis —may be permanent.
Your face may be swollen and bruised. It may take 5 to 7 days for the swelling to go down, and 10 to 14 days for the bruising to fade.
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.
The most common side effects of prednisone withdrawals are:
Body aches. Joint pain. Lightheadedness.
If you stop prednisone or taper too quickly, your body won't have enough of the steroid it needs. Your withdrawal symptoms are due to that sudden steroid shortage.
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.
Prednisone can change where your body stores fat. Fat can be deposited in undesirable areas in the body, such as the face (moon face), abdomen and upper back (buffalo hump). General guidelines on how to manage fat redistribution: Fat redistribution will only go away after tapering off prednisone.
In addition to causing weight gain, prednisone leads to a redistribution of body fat to places that are undesirable, particularly the face, back of the neck, and abdomen. Pictured below is an example of redistribution of body fat to the back of the neck.
Steroids affect your metabolism and how your body deposits fat. This can increase your appetite, leading to weight gain, and in particular lead to extra deposits of fat in your abdomen. Self-care tips: Watch your calories and exercise regularly to try to prevent excessive weight gain.