Prednisolone side effects.

[Mrbojangles]

Morning campers,

I have been on Prednisolone for a month now and pleased to report an improvement in my breathlessness and chest discomfort.

One thing my family have noticed though is i have turned into a food monster and they have resorted to hiding tins of biscuits and cakes in washing machines and laundry baskets.

I think i have put on at least half a stone but cannot verify as the scales are broken.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

[Bevvy]

That and not sleeping properly are side affects from steroid tablets. They do help but are YUK!

[madonbrew]

Oh yes!!! I gained so much weight on steroids! Are you on them long term? There can potentially be lots of things to look out for... the not sleeping, the munchies, changes in mood, ...if you’re on them long term make sure they keep an eye on your blood glucose levels for diabetes and your bones!

They can be great for lungs 🫁 and reducing inflammation but unfortunately do have lots of dodgy side effects! 🙃

Glad you’re starting to feel better though!!m

[Hidden]

Predisolone (oral steroids) are renowned for weight gain if on for any length of time as a result of the munchies although even without the munchies. When I was on them for over a month I had the typical moon face.

The information leaflet that comes with the med explains.

As madonbrew mentions they can also affect blood glucose levels as well as bone health, chat with your doctor if you are going to be on these for any length of time so that other health issues can be monitored.

[Annie31]

I haven't experienced it myself but was witness to it with my youngest daughter as a child/teenager with Ulcerative Colitis. All the side effects as mentioned above, but unfortunately those were the only times she looked halfway to healthy and friends and family used to comment on how well she looked. I used to think if only you knew!😢

[Hidden]

Perfectly ‘normal’ for pred, unfortunately. I’ve taken it myself for rheumatoid disease with a similar impact (usually at doses of 15mg or above, not found it so bad below that), and the child has had courses for her chest. The most horrendous experience I ever had with her in hospital was when she was nil by mouth to go to theatre and had been on 40mg pred a day for a week - she was practically foaming at the mouth because she wasn’t allowed to eat when that’s all she wanted to do. You don’t know hangry until you’ve experienced that! 🙈😂 As someone who has had past issues with food (previously morbidly obese), and struggles with weight gain anyway due to metabolic problems, the easiest solution regardless of hunger/craving cause is to not buy unhealthy or problematic foods. Won’t stop you from feeling hungry, but at least you won’t be eating an entire packet of biscuits or a whole cake when you do get the munchies - from experience, needing to cook something makes it a lot less likely that I’ll give in to the steroid monster.

[Annie31 in reply to Hidden]

How right you are!

[corriena]

Yes steroids increase my appetite and make me grumpy 🤷‍♀️

[Annie31 in reply to corriena]

Oh yes, I remember the grumpiness well! It was the only times when my girl was anywhere approaching difficult to raise, given all she was suffering with. At least after the first time we knew what to expect!

[MoyB]

I've been on Prednisolone quite a few times but only last time did I experience the true munchies!

I went from having a very small appetite (I had lost 2 stone in weight over the past two years) to eating for England. Boy, did I enjoy my food!! The trouble was I would wake in the middle of the night and raid the cupboards for anything not nailed down. If I didn't eat and have a cup of tea, I couldn't get back to sleep at all, and even then would be up for two or three hours reading.

Once off the Preds, my appetite became more manageable but, guess what? Since September I've regained nearly all of the 2 stones I previously lost.

Now all the Christmas chocs and goodies are out of the way, I'm trying to get back to sensible eating as I am overweight and being 2 stone lighter made a positive difference to how well I managed my daily activities.

They don't call them the Devil's Tic Tacs for nothing!

xx Moy

[Hidden]

I'm really appreciating your sense of humour. Have had a similar experience with another medication. A month or two ago. Now it is Lent it is a no go for biscuits! All the best. Keep us smiling and hope we can do the same for you too. 😍👍