Does the length of time you are on pred predict your weight gain, eg the longer you are taking the pred the more weight you will gain?

[geater16393]

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Not really - it is probably more dose-related although there is to be research looking more closely at pred side-effects. Some people never gain weight, others even lose weight.

I've been on 3 different sorts of pred at similar doses: with the first I didn't gain much weight, the weight I had gained previously due to being inactive redistributed itself to my waist region, with the second I put on quite a bit of weight all over and with the last version of pred I have steadily lost weight and now weigh about what I did in the early days of PMR (no pred). There is no real "golden rule".

[geater16393 in reply to PMRpro]

I did not know there were different versions of pred?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to geater16393]

There is prednisone which is processed by the liver to make prednisolone and is often used in the USA. Then there is straight prednisolone which is what is usually used in the UK. Another newer form is methyl prednisolone (often called Medrol) which is used in Europe, Canada and the USA. They all do much the same thing but are slightly different structures - like coffee, chocolate and plain sponge cakes are all cakes but still a bit different. Medrol didn't agree with me at all but for lots of people it works well. We're all different.

[dillydally1 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi

What version of prednisolone do you use, I have put lots of weight on.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to dillydally1]

I take a form called Lodotra which has been developed to take at night so it releases at 2am which has been found to be the best time to avoid morning stiffness. It was initially aimed at rheumatoid arthritis and is already approved for that in the UK but is used in Germany for PMR too. There is eventually to be a trial in the UK for using it for PMR but to be honest I doubt it will get a look in - it is a very expensive form and they already get iffy about using enteric coated pred in the UK because it is a bit more expensive than the ordinary white tablets. I live in Italy so there aren't the same restrictions and it is the only alternative here to Medrol which made me very ill. Mind you - I think it is brilliant!

[Angela123 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi. Is the Medrol which made you ill the same as 'Depo Medrol' which I sometimes have by way of injection? Thanks Angela

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Angela123]

The substance being used is the same, yes. I only had oral medrol for the PMR but when I needed a higher dose as an infusion a severe acute back problem I was given the injectable form a couple of times. Mostly I have had cortisone jabs otherwise.