For a short, 5-day course of corticosteroids (like prednisone), any potential weight gain is likely to be minimal and primarily due to temporary water retention, not fat accumulation.
Prednisone may cause gastrointestinal symptoms like: Nausea. Vomiting. Diarrhea.
When taking prednisone, you may notice that your face, hands, or feet feel a little puffier than normal. And this may lead to temporary weight gain for some people. This swelling (edema) is more likely to be a problem for people with heart failure or kidney disease.
Key takeaways:
Examples of medications that can cause excessive sweating include prednisone (Rayos, Prednisone Intensol) and escitalopram (Lexapro). OTC pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), are also a potential culprit. Talk to your prescriber about your options.
Common side effects
There are many possible reasons for waking up drenched in sweat at night. You could be suffering from anxiety and stress, or you could have a medical condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or sleep apnoea. If you are a woman in your 40s or 50s, you may be going through the menopause.
Moon face is often caused by long-term use of steroid medications like prednisone. To reduce swelling, drink more water, get enough sleep, and reduce salt intake. Don't stop taking corticosteroids abruptly; taper off under a health care provider's guidance.
Experts recommend taking a mild and safe over-the-counter sleep aid such as melatonin or chamomile if prednisone is causing sleep disruption or sleep deprivation. Many patients find that this helps to reset their sleep patterns and relieves insomnia. It is also a good idea to practice good sleep hygiene.
Many people enjoy the benefits of prednisone and other corticosteroids which are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can reduce pain and discomfort related to allergic reactions, arthritis, autoimmune conditions and more. In some cases, they even elevate mood, creating a sense of euphoria and excessive energy.
However, it can affect the digestive system, particularly bowel movements. A notable side effect is constipation, which occurs because prednisone may slow down the intestines, leading to a slower movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract.
Below are a few tips for controlling the amount of calories and the quality of nutrients you eat:
Stay hydrated: Drinking lots of water and fluids helps support your kidneys as they flush out prednisone. Exercise: Physical activity helps support your metabolism and blood circulation. This helps your body process and eliminate drugs efficiently.
If you develop a puffy face while taking steroids, you might wonder how long moon face lasts. 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.
In a research study over a two-year period, this usage caused patients to gain between 4-8% of their baseline body weight (Da Silva et al., 2006). So, when it comes to oral steroids, there is evidence to suggest that weight gain is a possible side effect.
Side effects of oral corticosteroids: short-term use
Short-term use of OCS (about 3-5 days) can cause the following side effects: Weight gain, particularly in abdomen, face or neck. Eye problems. Muscle weakness.
7 ways to cope with prednisone-induced anxiety
If you're taking prednisone to treat an acute condition or illness, you'll likely only need to take the medication for a few days or weeks. This is considered to be a short-term course. For chronic conditions, long-term use (30 days or longer) may be more appropriate.
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 fluid retention and increased appetite from prednisone often go away once the medication is stopped or reduced to less than 10 mg/day. However, you should never lower your dose or stop taking prednisone without your healthcare provider's okay.
It's no myth that weight gain can be more pronounced in the face for some people, and several factors contribute to this. Genetics, hormonal changes, and water retention can all make the face appear fuller, even if the rest of the body doesn't. Some individuals are predisposed to store fat more visibly in their face.
Because cortisone is involved in regulating the body's balance of water, sodium, and other electrolytes, using these drugs can promote fluid retention and sometimes cause or worsen high blood pressure. Self-care tips: Watch for swelling of your ankles, and report this to your doctor.
If you are sweating enough that you have to get up and change your nightclothes or the sheets because they are wet, that is more significant. It may indicate a side effect of a medication, such as antidepressants or hormone therapy, or the existence of an underlying illness. Night sweats can be related to infection.
Night sweats can be attributed to a wide range of factors, from completely harmless to potentially serious. The most common causes include hormonal imbalances or disorders, medications, infections, and anxiety and stress. Menopause is one of the most common conditions in which night sweats are associated with.
Studies in midlife women have shown that nocturnal hot flashes were most likely to occur during stage N2 sleep and are commonly linked with an awakening.