Moon face often resolves as its cause is treated. When corticosteroids are to blame, moon face typically resolve when you stop the medication. Other causes may require medication or, sometimes, surgery.
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 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.
However, it may take up to six months to a year for the body and face to return to their pre-corticosteroid states. Moon face is one of the symptoms; it usually goes away with proper treatment.
Some treatment options can also reduce moon face in people undergoing steroid treatment. These include: switching to a different steroid under the guidance of a doctor. using a lower dosage of a prescribed steroid under the guidance of a doctor.
This can also be related to a health condition like Cushing's syndrome or hypothyroidism, as well as weight gain. 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).
“'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. “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.
The fluid retention and increased appetite from prednisone often go away once the medication is stopped or reduced to less than 10 mg/day.
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 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.
You could expect a dose of prednisone to stay in your system for 16.5 to 22 hours. The elimination half life of prednisone is around 3 to 4 hours. This is the time it takes for your body to reduce the plasma levels by half. It usually takes around 5.5 half lives for a drug to be completely eliminated from your system.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In the early stages of dehydration, your body tries to hold on to fluid causing water retention. Water is drawn into the blood vessels, causing them to swell. This leads to areas of the body, especially the face, becoming bloated and puffy looking.
The most common side effects of prednisone withdrawals are:
Body aches. Joint pain. Lightheadedness.
There's no official definition. But over 30 days is generally considered long-term steroid use. Most often, oral corticosteroids are prescribed for roughly 1 to 2 weeks — and only for very severe symptoms. But for certain chronic health conditions, corticosteroids may be necessary for months or even years.
At this point, the adrenal glands need to be producing natural cortisol, as the Prednisone is no longer providing enough corticosteroid to keep the body functioning properly. At 5mg per day, it is usually advisable to reduce by only ½ mg at a time.
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.
Mild side effects that have been reported with prednisone include: edema (swelling due to excess fluid) muscle weakness. bloating (swelling due to excess fluid or gas, often in the abdomen) thin skin.
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.
"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."
Some side effects, such as stomach upset or mood changes, can happen straight away. Others, such as getting a rounder face, happen after weeks or months.