Yes. Prednisone is one of several medications known to cause weight gain. This is usually more likely to happen with long-term use or higher doses.
Any body fat you gained on prednisone won't automatically go away once you reduce your dose or stop taking the drug. As with any weight loss, it may help to have a healthful eating plan and get regular exercise.
Sudden weight gain -- 2-3 pounds in a day or more than 5 pounds a week -- could mean it's getting worse. You also might have swollen feet and ankles, a faster pulse, heavy breathing, high blood pressure, memory loss, and confusion. You might want to track these symptoms so you can tell your doctor about abrupt changes.
This may be due to menstruation, heart or kidney failure, preeclampsia, or medicines you take. A rapid weight gain may be a sign of dangerous fluid retention. If you quit smoking, you might gain weight. Most people who quit smoking gain 4 to 10 pounds (2 to 4.5 kilograms) in the first 6 months after quitting.
The majority of patients who take steroids long-term will experience weight gain, even as early as six months into treatment.
Common side effects
If you have to take prednisolone for more than a few weeks, it's likely that you'll put on weight. Prednisolone can make you hungrier and also can make you retain more water in your body. Try to eat well without increasing your portion sizes.
These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took the brand-name version of prednisone (Rayos) in clinical trials: edema (swelling due to excess fluid) muscle weakness. bloating (swelling due to excess fluid or gas, often in the abdomen)
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.
How long does cortisone stay in your system? Generally, any cortisone injection will affect the body. However, this effect is small and lasts only 3-4 weeks.
“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.
For many patients, the one side effects that causes the most discomfort is weight gain. Weight gain from prednisone is usually caused by water retention and an increased appetite.
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 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.
Can steroids make you gain weight? 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.
Generally speaking, a high dose of steroid medication taken for a longer duration will more than likely increase the chances of weight gain from increased appetite along with water weight gain. Keep in mind that weight gain is not a common side effect of short-term steroid treatment.
However, other studies show that while consuming 1,000 calories a day may result in significant weight loss, most people cannot sustain it and often experience significant weight regain . The reasons include regaining lost muscle mass and increased appetite. Also worth noting is that the human body can adapt.
There are many reasons why people gain belly fat, including poor diet, lack of exercise, and stress. Improving nutrition, increasing activity, and making other lifestyle changes can help people lose belly fat. Belly fat refers to fat around the abdomen.