Prednisone and weight gain

[Guest guest]

" All About Prednisone "

Weight gain

Usually the most dreaded of prednisone's side-effects, increased

appetite and weight gain are seen to some degree by nearly all patients.

The amount of weight gain varies from individual to individual. In

addition to causing weight gain, prednisone also tends to redistribute

body fat to places that are undesirable, particularly the face (moon

face), back of the neck (buffalo hump), and abdomen. The higher the dose

and the longer the treatment, the greater the effect. To some extent

these changes can be minimized by exercise and the dietary changes

described below. If you find this confusing, a consultation with a

registered dietitian or nutritionist may be helpful. Ask your doctor for

a recommendation.

Avoid salt

Most of us consume much more salt (sodium chloride) than our body

needs. Normally, our kidneys keep our body in balance any excess salt is

excreted in the urine. Prednisone causes sodium retention and potassium

loss which may lead to fluid retention, weight gain, bloating and low

blood potassium levels. In some patients, this can cause high blood

pressure or worsen a pre-existing condition. We suggest a no-added salt

diet and avoidance of highly salted pre-packaged convenience foods. Use

fresh herbs whenever possible. Read food labels. Don't add salt to

cooking and remove the salt shaker from your table. Instead use low-salt

spices to add flavor to your meals. Ask your doctor about using

salt-substitutes which are helpful since they contain extra potassium.

It may be helpful to add high potassium foods such as bananas, citrus

fruits, melons, and tomatoes to your diet. Be sure that your blood

pressure and blood tests are checked regularly.

Avoid fat

Most Americans also eat too much fat. Fat has over twice the calories

per gram than proteins and carbohydrates. By limiting the fat in your

diet, you automatically reduce the calories and may lower your blood

cholesterol at the same time. With the new food labels, it is easy these

days to find low-fat items in your supermarket.

Avoid simple carbohydrates

Most foods contain some fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Carbohydrates

(sugars and starches) can be either simple molecules or complex

molecules. Avoid simple carbohydrates which are digested too quickly and

leave you hungry. Complex carbohydrates are more satisfying since they

must be broken down by the digestive process and are absorbed more

slowly into your system. Simple carbohydrates are foods like candy,

cakes, pies, white bread Complexwould include whole wheat bread, rice,

beans, sweet potatoes, high fiber cereals, sugar-free candies.

Small frequent feedings

To combat increased hunger, snack frequently on low-calorie foods such

as fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products, low salt rice cakes, and

sugar free candies. Instead of three large meals, eat smaller more

frequent meals.

Eating out

When eating out, tell the waiter what you need. Don't be embarrassed

or apologetic. Just ask directly for what you want. In our health

conscious culture, most restaurants are used to special requests - just

tip accordingly. When flying, call the airlines and request a low-fat

low-salt meal in advance. They are quite prepared to help you. If you

are in a situation where a special meal is not possible, don't panic.

Eating salty high fat or sugary foods occasionally is not going to make

much difference. Just enjoy them in moderation and be more careful the

next day.

Source:

gihealth.com

" All About Prednisone " :

http://www.gihealth.com/html/education/drugs/prednisone.html

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[Guest guest]

Thanks, . This is so basic but provides a great chart...check list for

those of us who are on pred. It is one of those things I will post on the

fridge.

BTW - no reason to behave - especially on the MAN issue- and yes " immunity " is

given to ghe guys on the list.

Hugs,

> " All About Prednisone "

>

> Weight gain

>

> Usually the most dreaded of prednisone's side-effects, increased

> appetite and weight gain are seen to some degree by nearly all patients.

> The amount of weight gain varies from individual to individual. In

> addition to causing weight gain, prednisone also tends to redistribute

> body fat to places that are undesirable, particularly the face (moon

> face), back of the neck (buffalo hump), and abdomen. The higher the dose

> and the longer the treatment, the greater the effect. To some extent

> these changes can be minimized by exercise and the dietary changes

> described below. If you find this confusing, a consultation with a

> registered dietitian or nutritionist may be helpful. Ask your doctor for

> a recommendation.

>

>

> Avoid salt

>

> Most of us consume much more salt (sodium chloride) than our body

> needs. Normally, our kidneys keep our body in balance any excess salt is

> excreted in the urine. Prednisone causes sodium retention and potassium

> loss which may lead to fluid retention, weight gain, bloating and low

> blood potassium levels. In some patients, this can cause high blood

> pressure or worsen a pre-existing condition. We suggest a no-added salt

> diet and avoidance of highly salted pre-packaged convenience foods. Use

> fresh herbs whenever possible. Read food labels. Don't add salt to

> cooking and remove the salt shaker from your table. Instead use low-salt

> spices to add flavor to your meals. Ask your doctor about using

> salt-substitutes which are helpful since they contain extra potassium.

> It may be helpful to add high potassium foods such as bananas, citrus

> fruits, melons, and tomatoes to your diet. Be sure that your blood

> pressure and blood tests are checked regularly.

>

>

> Avoid fat

>

> Most Americans also eat too much fat. Fat has over twice the calories

> per gram than proteins and carbohydrates. By limiting the fat in your

> diet, you automatically reduce the calories and may lower your blood

> cholesterol at the same time. With the new food labels, it is easy these

> days to find low-fat items in your supermarket.

>

>

> Avoid simple carbohydrates

>

> Most foods contain some fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Carbohydrates

> (sugars and starches) can be either simple molecules or complex

> molecules. Avoid simple carbohydrates which are digested too quickly and

> leave you hungry. Complex carbohydrates are more satisfying since they

> must be broken down by the digestive process and are absorbed more

> slowly into your system. Simple carbohydrates are foods like candy,

> cakes, pies, white bread Complexwould include whole wheat bread, rice,

> beans, sweet potatoes, high fiber cereals, sugar-free candies.

>

>

> Small frequent feedings

>

> To combat increased hunger, snack frequently on low-calorie foods such

> as fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products, low salt rice cakes, and

> sugar free candies. Instead of three large meals, eat smaller more

> frequent meals.

>

>

> Eating out

>

> When eating out, tell the waiter what you need. Don't be embarrassed

> or apologetic. Just ask directly for what you want. In our health

> conscious culture, most restaurants are used to special requests - just

> tip accordingly. When flying, call the airlines and request a low-fat

> low-salt meal in advance. They are quite prepared to help you. If you

> are in a situation where a special meal is not possible, don't panic.

> Eating salty high fat or sugary foods occasionally is not going to make

> much difference. Just enjoy them in moderation and be more careful the

> next day.

>

>

> Source:

>

> gihealth.com

> " All About Prednisone " :

> http://www.gihealth.com/html/education/drugs/prednisone.html

>

>

>

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm probably not the best person to know about that anyway (although

my mom's experience was consistent with what I said below), since I

have had involuntary weight loss as an RA symptom. The only thing I

have found to keep from loosing weight (my lowest was 92 lbs, and I

was about 125 when RA symptoms first started)... is to over eat and

exercise. The weight lifting I started in January is the first thing

that has actually stablized my weight (at 100 lbs now).

Thanks for clarifying the weight loss symptoms of prednisone. I know

my situation is not the norm.

Jennie

> Jennie, while it's true that prednisone can and often does cause an

> increase in appetite, weight gain can and commonly occurs without

> overeating.

>

>

>

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>

>

> ----- Original Message -----

>

> > --- In , " xponder70 " <xponder70@y...>

wrote:

> > Ok, some of that was gross. But I do suspect the guy with the

> > striae did not have a cute belly button before the prednisone

anyway.

> >

> > Here is an appropriate quote I can share. It is from a

> > rheumatologist to my uncle, " We have the cure for arthritis, it's

> > prednisone. The only problem is the cure will kill you faster

than

> > the disease. "

> >

> > One thing I think is inaccurate on the site is regarding weight

> > gain. My understanding (and what I and my mother have been told

> > from doctors) is that prednisone causes increases in appetite,

which

> > leads to weight gain if you then over eat. When my mom started

> > prednisone she gained a lot of weight and when she went to her

> > doctor later, she told the nurse how hungry she was all the time.

> > The nurse said their office had models who take prednisone. She

> > said, it makes you more hungry, you have to ignore it and eat

> > appropriate amounts regardless.

> >

> > While side effects are usually with those on high doses or long

> > periods of time, I've been on a very low dose (3-5 mgs) for just

> > about a year and I already have significant bone loss. I'm 33 and

> > had a bone density test before the prednisone so I am sure that is

> > the cause. Being caucasion and petite are also risk factors, so we

> > should have seen it coming I guess. Ah, that hindsight sure seems

> > clear.

> >

> > Jennie