How long until this awful moon face goes away??

[Goldyukr]

I don’t have lupus, but other autoimmune disorders. But this is the most active site and I know that many of you have been on the same medications as me. I’ve been on prednisone now for three years. My neurologist finally agreed to add an immunosuppressant (Imuran) and gave me the green light to come off of prednisone. Of course, I’ve had to go really slow since I’ve been on it so long. My question is - I’ve been at 10 mg and below (just came down to 6 mg) for over a month now. When will the moon face start to go away??

[PMRpro]

No answer I'm afraid - everyone is different, some don't until they stop pred altogether.

Mine went away while I was still on 10-15mg - but I cut carbs drastically and lost 35+lbs in weight which does help. It is possible to lose weight while on pred - but you do have to work on it.

[Goldyukr in reply to PMRpro]

I was hoping it would happen at 10. My mom says I look better but I don’t see it yet.

[PMRpro in reply to Goldyukr]

You'll get there - don't worry

[GlasgowHen]

When I was on a 5 mg maintenance dose it disappeared. On 10mg I developed one but as I’m very thin it didn’t look too bad. I’m on a reducing dose heading back to 5 mg and currently on 8. I can see it is starting to reduce

[Goldyukr in reply to GlasgowHen]

That’s great news. I’ll be on 5 soon. Just went down to 6 yesterday. I was also very thin my whole life. I’m dying to look like myself again.

[GlasgowHen in reply to Goldyukr]

The rounded face has been a bit of a blessing for me. I have lost loads of weight and I’m way too thin. The moon face gives the impression I’m not so scrawny so I’ve avoided all the comments people seem to make. I know what you mean though, difficult looking at yourself in the mirror and seeing a different person! Hope the reduction is going ok and you have been advised to go slowly

[Goldyukr in reply to GlasgowHen]

Interesting. I didn’t think about it maybe being a hidden blessing for some. I didn’t have it for a long time but once it came, it really came - and big puffy eyes too. The neurologist told me to drop 5 mg at a time and could do it quickly. I knew better than that from all of the good reading on sites like this but even then I guess I was going to fast (1 mg a week). The joint pain has been horrible. Finally got in to see a rheumatologist and he recommended 1 mg/month - especially now that I’m below 10.

[GlasgowHen in reply to Goldyukr]

Wow, 5mg?? Way too big a drop especially below 10mg. I’m coming down 1 mg a month. As I drop I also get terrible pain and fatigue for a few days. If the pain continues just watch that your underlying inflammatory process isn’t flaring. Are they going to keep you on a maintenance dose or come right off and then start the new medication. I usually stop the reduction if the pain continues for more than about 10 days and go up a mg and then try again. Not to say that’s right for you, worth checking with your dr

[Goldyukr in reply to GlasgowHen]

Thank you. Very nice tip. He wants me to try and come off completely as the Imuran is controlling my muscle weakness now. We will see if it’s possible.

[Treetop33]

When I started on Pred I divorced carbs (bar a few root veggies). I still got a slight moon face. Down to 6mg and it's still not going away. It takes time, I think.

[Goldyukr in reply to Treetop33]

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this too but thank you for telling me that I’m not along. Last night my husband told me he sees a real difference. Maybe I’m just expecting too much too fast.

[Treetop33 in reply to Goldyukr]

You definitely need patience. It's about weaning without setting off your inflammation. That's the goal. The face is a sidebar!

[Goldyukr]

I’ve been on 20-25 mg for 3 years so it’s leftover from that. Now I’m trying to come off of it. I guess it may take longer as it’s been so long.

[Bake34]

My face started to get back to normal when I was on 5mg pred, it does take a while though