Prednisone Weight Gain

[rocketman42]

Hi All -

I've been dealing with PMR for about 4 years now. I've put on weight during this time and am anxious to loose it. I recently dropped to 10mg prednisone (started at 15 and have been as high as 20 ) and was wondering at what dosage does body weight start to normalize again ? I know that diet and exercise will help but I'm curious about the dosage that the side effect of prednisone weight gain starts to resolve.

Thanks and Happy Holiday !

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There will be a chorus asking if you have tried low carb eating? By doing that I lost 35lbs of PMR and pred associated pred while between 10 and 15mg. And minimal exercise as I was on crutches at the time for achilles tendon problems! I have gained some back in the last 6 years, mostly the last 2+ for various reasons stopping me doing exercise, but it isn't Cushingoid in any way, just fat ...

[rocketman42 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I know that low carb will be helpful but I'm wondering at what dose will weight be more reflective of pre-prednisone weight while maintaining healthy but not necessarily low carb diet. ( same diet as pre-prednisone ). In other words, is there a dose that the weight gain side effect finally dissipates or do you have to be off of it completely ?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to rocketman42]

No answer except how long is a piece of string! Some people lose as the pred dose goes down, others don't lose an ounce until they are off pred - and some don't even lose then without putting in some effect. jinasc tells the story of not losing any weight even at 1mg pred - and then a few months later lost her skirt in a shop as it descended because there was no longer enough to hold it up! It had just melted away! As soon as I started low carb the fat around my midriff started to go but I didn't notice until the trousers I had with me for my daughter's wedding wouldn't stay up!

[SnazzyD in reply to rocketman42]

I had to watch my diet carefully until I got to 3mg and after that carbs were still quite limited as in no routine padding carbs on my plate. My tendency to have fat round the middle went only after stopping Pred. Now I have roughly equivalent of a medium potato a day and two bits of chocolate and two pieces of fruit at a guess.

[fmkkm]

I did not gain weight for the past 5 years. Now, however, I have put on the Covid 10. I can assume then my body needs physical exercise as well as controlled eating to lose weight. My activity level has decreased the past 10 months. I am trying to increase exercise and decrease the “stuck in the house” comfort food.

[Triumph650]

I don’t know if prednisone causes weight gain, I found myself picking when I was house bound since exercise and reducing meals with out picking I am losing weight at a rate I am happy with

[Daffodilia]

I stay steady on low fat diet (for gallstones) means you cut some carbs too

[Whitner]

Hi Rocketman42! I know I've put on a few pounds, not enough so that my clothes don't fit so that's good! I do try to watch my diet, limit carbs, eat brown rice instead of white, whole wheat pasta, etc. lots of veggies and I try to walk outside everyday and do some form of exercise. The weight I have gained seems to be in the middle and back which is really attractive (not!). I have been on prednisone for a little over a year and am currently at 12 mg. I agree with what others have said, watch your diet and get exercise!

[rocketman42]

Just for the record I bike 10 miles outdoors 5-6 days per week ( weather permitting).Feeling pretty good at 10 mg and have regained some strength and stamina but the weight persists. Guess I will have to try to watch my diet even more closely.