weight gain from predinisolone

I live in a developing country in West Africa.  I had a kidney transplant in May 2006 and have been on predinisolone since then. At the moment I am on 5mg daily.  I have developed moon face and a lot of fat around my stomach.  This worries me too much.  Sometimes I feel the fat in the stomach is not much but at times I feel terrible.  Am afraid it might get out of hand.  Am mostly worried about the stomach fat and I have no idea how to get rid of it.  I have been on the 5mg doses for more than 2 years now.  I hate the fat in my stomach. What can I do?

Thank you.

B

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, the major side effects seen with corticosteroids (prednisalone) are redistribution of fat.  Cushingoid features (truncal obesity, buffalo hump, moon face, and weight gain) are quite troubling to patients. This occurs almost exclusively at doses above the physiologic range (greater than 7.5 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent). The Cushingoid appearance may occur rapidly.

- Moon face- due to accumulation of fat in cheeks.
- Buffalo hump - accumulation in back side of neck region.
- Retroorbital fat deposition can even cause protrusion of eye ball.

This is a major concern with long term therapy. With vigorous exercise and activity, there will be no weight gain but still there will be abnormal fat distribution. The peripheral fat decreases and central fat increases. The abnormal fat distribution will take a long time to wear off completely esp. the thigh and abdominal fat. I suggest you to consult your physician for more information. Take care and regards.

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, the major side effects seen with corticosteroids (prednisalone) are redistribution of fat.  Cushingoid features (truncal obesity, buffalo hump, moon face, and weight gain) are quite troubling to patients. This occurs almost exclusively at doses above the physiologic range (greater than 7.5 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent). The Cushingoid appearance may occur rapidly.

- Moon face- due to accumulation of fat in cheeks.
- Buffalo hump - accumulation in back side of neck region.
- Retroorbital fat deposition can even cause protrusion of eye ball.

This is a major concern with long term therapy. With vigorous exercise and activity, there will be no weight gain but still there will be abnormal fat distribution. The peripheral fat decreases and central fat increases. The abnormal fat distribution will take a long time to wear off completely esp. the thigh and abdominal fat. I suggest you to consult your physician for more information. Take care and regards.