Hi- I hope someone may help- about 18 months ago I started putting on weight at 3 pound a day- it went onto half stone then 1 and 2 and now 3 stone later. It is not food related. I know calories well and try to eat balanced diet. I have been on long term steroids going up and down but generally about 8mg a day. I had no problems with prednisolone for some time but then out of the blue this weight went on and i cannot get it off.
I am walking cycling eating little but to no avail. After this weight gain some months later I became adrenal insufficient, so tried hydrocortisone- same problem there- I look cushingoid but of course I am only on 3mg of pred a day. Any ideas as to what may have happened? I am profusely sweating (not menopause nor weather related) because my autoimmune problem is not controlled by 3mg of pred and 15mg of methotrexate. Sweating and very very thirsty. Urinate once a day and have sjorens and hypothyroid.
I thought I would ask on here as I know many of you are familiar with prednisolone and its problems.
Many thanks
Written by
friz42
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I found I gained weight with methotrexate - I was permanently hungry, something I never have suffered with just steroids but in a month on mtx I gained a good 2 lbs, not in your realm but I stopped the mtx and I could not get that weight off. I too had become Cushingoid on one form of steroid, methyl prednisolone, but by switching to another form of steroid (prednisone) and cutting carbs drastically I lost 35lbs or more in 18 months. In fact the early loss of fat around my middle with the diet, the first place it went from, was while I was still on methyl pred - so due to low carbs not different drug.
Some people don't lose weight while on any pred. jinasc found that and she had gained a LOT. Some people lose it as they reduce the pred dose and some people have to work on it - everyone is different. Often a good and apparently healthy diet still has too much carbohydrate to lose weight because of the pred effect which alters the way your body processes carbs, A couple of us here manage to maintain weight relatively easily but have to be down to a very low level of carbs to actually lose weight.
Is your hypothyroidism well managed? Pred suppresses TSH levels - which may mask poor thyroid function as the body wants to increase the TSH but the pred hides it.
Hi- Yes that is checked very often. In the early days before I was diagnosed with any other condition other than hypothyroid I did a lot of research in this area as my symptons were not controlled by levothyroxine at all. I had tried it all T3, Armour, had Tsh all over- low higher middle made no difference. Then went on to find auto antibodies suggesting vasculitis. Bit of a nightmare which still continues. I do not respond that well to meds and symptons only better on higher doses of prednisolone. My TSH levels have been pretty level and on same dose for some years now. I don't think its that.
I am going to see when I started methotrexate and see if any connection near weight gain In July 2018. It may be around that time.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2009 and weight gain was not an issue for me until 2018 out of the blue.
I do not feel hungry at all on prednisolone/methotrexate whereas before I always had burning hunger pangs and ate little and often watching my weight.
Has your doctor looked into steroid induced diabetes? The thirst is very characteristic. I also wondered about water retention and like PMRPro the hypothyroidism . What a nightmare! I sincerely hope they sort this out for you. Personally, my suspicious eye would be looking at Methotrexate.
My daughter has Type 1 diabetes. I remember her thirst and night time visits to the toilet many times. I am sweating so badly I mean drenching clothes which again is unusual to be so bad I drink because so thirsty but don't need to urinate because I am forever trying to keep up with the water lost with sweating. I am concerned this cannot be good long term for the kidneys. I may have some water retention but unfortunately I have a consultant who rarely listens looks or examines but a great reputation.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Losing weight whilst tapering
How can I avoid weight gain this time?
aches and pains on 3mg pred
Weight gain and osteoporosis
Weight gain and tapering
