Moon-face caused by Prednisone

[JTD]

Hi,
I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I am 25 & am on Prednisone(60mg),salasapyrin(500mg)& Plaquenil(200mg) per day. I have developed a large moon shaped face. I am swollen in the face & neck & hate what it is doing to my face. Will this swelling & fluid go away when I come off the steroids in five weeks? It is causing me to be depressed & family have noticed the change in my face & are worried for my health. I have heard some scary things about these drugs, prednisone in particular. Please is there anything that can stop the Moon face & would I benefit from taking a dieretic too?? P.s I have had an eye twitch every day for the last 3 dys in my left eye, lasting for approx 20secs & about every 10 mins? Could this b another side effect & should I worry about it as it is annoying & starting to get sore?
Thanks

[sueanne21]

I too have been put on Presnisdone for U Colitis after 18days in hospital with my very first bad flare.  Yes my face is starting to balloon, Im feeling very tearful and full of hopelessness and I cant sleep at night and hate going out at the moment. I have a raging appetite also, I could eat 24/7.  Im hoping that as soon as im off of the steriods I will be back to the bubbly happy me.  The doctors in the hospital never explained any side effects to me so Im so pleased I found this chat and forum site.
There are lots of us in the same boat and I feel for you all, especially the younger people on here, Im in my 40s and I feel embarrassed so it must be very difficult for all your younger people on steriods.
Nothing much else to say other than hang in there and lets hope we can get rid of our negative feelings and moonface - urrggghhh when we are eventually off the medication.

[JaYnUGA]

My name is Jay, I'm 26 years old and well i always thought i was healthy as a horse. Never took any Meds before then in February of 2011 I went for a checkup and my Blood pressure was high. The next week i had another check on my Bp it was high again so blood work was done. I then was told i needed to see a Kidney specialist that my numbers was off. I did the following day and was admitted right away into Hospital. I had no pain nor sick nothing then the doctor says i only have 30% of my Kidney function. I was shocked and in disbelief at this point. Well i did the Biopsy and it came back "IGA nephropathy" told no know causes or cure.
So i was put on Cytoxan chemo 500Mg Infusions 1x a Month, 100MG of Prednisone daily,4000Mg Omega3 a day,2000Mg calcium Vitamin C/D daily,40mg Lisinopril Daily for Bp and Protein help,Fosomax 1x week for spinecare cause so much steroids and 35mg Cholesterol pill. Thats a big change from not needing or taking Meds to taking a handfull a day :(
NOW update its been 7 months Cytoxan infusion was replaced with 100Mg of Emuran daily and Predisone has been tampered down every month to right now 20Mg or Predisone. I have huge Moon face,Buffalo hump,Severe Ache and major joint/Muscle/Back pains.
I started Moonface 3 weeks into Steroids and have been depressed but happy my numbers are doing great. Now im just ready for it to go away and i pray t god so does the Back pain and muscle aches. If anyone wants to talk or can relate with these issues i'm here for you my email is ***@****

[rich71]

I've yet to find one individual with my autoimmuned disorder. I was diagnosed with pemphigus vulgaris. The doctor put me on 60mgs of prednisone for 2 weeks and now I'm down to 40mgs. As a result of the reduced dosage, I'm feeling more tired more often. I've developed that moonface and hate it. I understand that another side effect is weight gain which I have not yet experienced and hopefully won't. In fact, I'm eating like a pig and my weight is holding stable.
Pemphigus vulgaris I understand is one of the more uncommon of the disorders. Anyone out there have this autoimmuned disorder? Share your experience.

[Erika104]

Hey, I have Wegener's too. I was diagnosed in Dec. 2007. I am still on Prednisone, but a low dose. I have gained a lot of weight which is depressing and I still have a round face and somewhat of a "buffalo hump." Anyway, I know what it's like to have a huge moon face when you are on a lot of Prednisone. You are not alone:)

[smithy07]

after two years, i am 18 now. i am off my medication and have i made a full recovery. my face is about 98% normal. well i am just happy i am alive. like i said when i first heard that i would be put on prednisone.. "id rather be fat alive and healthy than deathly skinny and on my deathbed." and here i am, alive and happy. :)

[JWorm]

I have Wegeners Granulomatosis...a rear autoimmune disease....I' ve never even heard of it until a Rhematologist diagnosed me with it in April 2011.  I have been on high dose prednisone on and off since December 2010. In April 2011, I started on 100 mg for 3 days and tapered down 20 mg every two weeks.  I am now on 40 mg and I have developed a huge moon face!  I feel embarressed because in addition to the moon face I have a horrible acne problem from the prednisone!  The side effects are terrible but the flare up from the disease are terrible too!  I am glad I found this thread because it feels like the people around me do not understand my illness or the treatment of this illness (prednisone).