Steroid related weight gain

Steroids taken for a long time can also cause your muscles to become weaker, and they might occasionally affect periods in women. Steroids are taken in different ways, and the dosage may vary depending on the condition you have. The table below gives an idea of how often you might need to take steroids. Please read this information sheet from GOSH alongside the patient information leaflet (PIL) provided by the manufacturer.

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of commonly used painkillers.
  • Exercise does help, even if it is only 10 minutes of walking – some days that may be all you will feel like.
  • So it is possible to trick ourselves into consuming less energy, without feeling hungrier, by eating foods with a low energy density (low calorie content per gram of food).

They shouldn’t be used if you have an ongoing widespread infection. However, you should continue to take corticosteroids if you develop an infection whilst taking them. Always tell other doctors, nurses, pharmacists or dentists that you’re having this treatment. For example, if you need treatment for anything else, including teeth problems.

Side effects of cancer drugs

Steroids might affect some medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart or blood pressure problems, or mental health issues. If you have any of these conditions, the person treating you will need to make sure the steroids aren’t making the condition worse. Some of the more common side effects of long-term steroid administration are listed in Table 2.

  • A study by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) found that burgers, for example, have doubled in size since 1980.
  • There’s no evidence to suggest that using a steroid inhaler during pregnancy increases the risk of problems like birth defects.
  • TA also responds well to steroids but the starting dose is much higher (60mg) than for PMR.
  • You may gain weight, or your face, ankles and legs may swell.

Regular cardiovascular activity will increase levels of serotonin, improving your mood. Improved mood and reduced stress will help you make wiser food choices. By the end of this period, there were no differences in weight between patients and liver function ceased to be significantly different from baseline.

Stopping your medication

Eat slowly and you’ll have a better chance of avoiding that over-stuffed feeling. At home, serve yourself a smaller portion and think about whether you really want a second helping. Not surprisingly, research shows that when we’re given a larger portion, we tend to eat more.

Steroid tablets

To prevent stress from sabotaging your efforts to lose or maintain weight, find ways to cope with stressful situations that don’t involve food, e.g. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of commonly used painkillers. Anticonvulsants are medicines used to prevent seizures (fits).

The chronic, unpredictable nature of MS makes it difficult to manage. It is understandable that you won’t always have a willingness to take part in physical activity but consider exercise as part of an overall management plan. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Irritation to stomach lining

You are more likely to have a serious side effect if you take a higher dose of prednisolone or if you have been taking it for more than a few weeks. If symptoms carry on, ask your doctor if you may benefit from taking an additional medicine to protect your stomach. Some side effects, such as stomach upset or mood changes, can happen straight away.

With your appropriate medication and relevant nutrition you will be optimising your management of the situation. It’s always best, of course, not to develop the stitch in the first place. Improving your fitness level – in particular, strengthening the core muscles – will help.

Nine medical reasons for putting on weight

You might also be given a drug called a proton pump inhibitor or another medicine to protect your stomach. This page is about steroids that can be taken as tablets, liquids, creams and eye drops and ointments. Information about buy anabolic steroids steroid injections is covered on a different page. Older medicines may have been used effectively for many years in children without problems but the manufacturer has not been required to collect data and amend the licence.

Corticosteroids

Skin thinning is an uncommon, temporary side-effect of steroids, but when combined with weight gain, it can result in stretchmarks. With long-term use of steroids, your legs and shoulder muscles may feel weaker. If you have to use steroids for a long time, it can lead to increased pressure in the eyes (known as ocular hypertension). This high pressure can damage parts of the eye that are vital for vision, such as the optic nerve.

Medicines that can interact with corticosteroids

Please take time to read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine. However, they’re not usually recommended unless the potential benefits outweigh the risks. Corticosteroids are mainly used to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system.