Why does prednisone cause weight gain

We're providing tips on how to take better care of your gut. Lakhan SE, Kirchgessner A. Neuroinflammation in inflammatory bowel disease. J Neuroinflammation. John Hopkins Medicine. J Physiol Lond. Dietary sodium and health: more than just blood pressure. J Am Coll Cardiol.

A practical guide to the monitoring and management of the complications of systemic corticosteroid therapy. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. Lupus Foundation of America.

Finding the treatment approach for you. Updated July 25, ILD nutrition manual: Prednisone and weight Gain. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

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Pictured below is a example of redistribution of body fat to the back of the neck. High blood sugar, or steroid—induced diabetes. This usually resolves when the steroids are decreased or discontinued. The higher the steroid dose and the longer the duration of therapy, the greater the risk of infection. The risk is also increased when patients receive combinations of immunosuppressive medications, such as cyclophosphamide cytoxan and prednisone.

The risk of some infections can be greatly reduced by taking specific types of antibiotics prophylactically. Pictured below is woman under treatment with prednisone and methotrexate for vasculitis and a concurrent neurologic condition myasthenia gravis developed painful vesicles in her mouth. The vesicles were confirmed by culture to be caused by re—activation of a Herpes simplex infection, and responded to treatment with acyclovir. Prednisone may cause thinning of the bones even in people who are not usually at high risk for osteoporosis for example: males, young people.

In people susceptible to osteoporosis, prednisone may accelerate the process of bone loss. Fortunately, in the past few years, excellent treatments and preventive measures have become available for osteoporosis. All patients on prednisone for prolonged periods are candidates for these medicines. Patients on moderate to high doses of prednisone often notice that they bruise easily, even with only slight trauma.

You should never stop taking medicine on your own. According to the Hospital for Special Surgery , rapid withdrawal of steroids may cause fatigue, joint pain, muscle stiffness, or fever.

Your doctor may be able to prescribe a different corticosteroid , like budenoside. Additional reporting by Jordan M. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics.