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

[Teri001]

Hi, found this site looking for answers to Prednisone side effects.  I was diagnosed with SLE Lupus in January of 2012 and was put on 20 mg of Prednisone because of low blood platelets.  I had lost about 20 lbs I guess because of the Lupus but was happy with the weight loss. Anyway my RA upped my dose of Prednisone to 40 mgs then to 60 mgs with out telling me any side effects to look for and over the past 4 months I too developed hair loss on my scalp and break outs on my skin as well as moon face (which I call a bloated chipmunk), gained 20 lbs in a month, shaky hands, sleep loss, confusion, nails split and peel, facial hair and to boot it is not working to bring up my platelets.  My RA did not think any of these issues were note worthy although I feel worse than I did before I started any therapy.  He also added Imuran to the mix and now I sun burn in about 5 minutes and have light induced headaches (another story)
Bottom line, I am going to another RA and along with my oncologist's help I am tapering off the Prednisone and am down to 25 mg from the 60 mg and will keep on going as far as I can.  The side effects are horrible especially when there are no results that are helping so I hope that they will go away when I can wean on down but I am am also praying for a plan B to put my Lupus into some type of remission.  Good luck everyone and hang in there!

[redhead1976]

I have been on 7.5 mg Pred for 11 yrs. for Poly Myalgia. I have the Chipmonk face, buffalo hump & big belly.  Thanks for the steroids.  Doc never told me about these wonderful side effects.  I'm trying to wean off & stop. Can anyone tell me if the Moon face, etc. will ever go away?

[KarinaErizka]

I also have experience like you, I'm now in treatment of autoimmune hepatitis, and consuming prednisone. I don't gain weight although I eat much more than usual. My face now is getting rounder and chubbier, I feel bad for myself, I look uglyy :( so sad :( I hope my face will be back to normal soon.

[marguerite293]

Hi Rich,
I was diagnosed with Pemphigus Vulgaris in Jan 2012. I had never heard of it. I also have moonface due to Prednisone. How are you doing now?
Please let me know.
Best Wishes
Marguerite

[ill13632]

I've been on prednisone for a while 3 years now for asthma but off and on.  does prednisone destroy neurons in your hippocampus and cause memory problems?
does it destroy your pancreas cells?  I read this on a forum.  I'm developing diabetes after being on prednisone and take metformin

[Tracy110]

Yup, have had all kinds of side effects.  Hair on the face, moon face, weight gain, stretch marks on tummy and upper, swollen feet and ankles, huge appetite until we decreased meds, high blood pressure, bumps on my hands, and skin tags are swarming.  Eeeesh I hate those things.  Allergies and arthritis went away so that was nice but they'll be back.  When I decreased my steroids I was very very tired because I'd started on 80 mg per day.  When I decreased again I broke out in a rash all over.  It wasn't too itchy tho and only lasted a few days.  I decreased again and now I'm getting twitches in my legs all night.  UGH.  Already depressed enough and now less sleep!  
Hopefully my face and neck will shrink quickly and I'll start losing weight again.  Had lost 15 lbs before all of this started.  Anyway, luckily I haven't had to be on the steroids that long for my poor kidneys.  I went from taking only 1 medication to taking 11.  Ack.  My budget is groaning.  The weight gain and moon face didn't stop me from going places though because I still have a life to live and friends and family want to see me so...But it's summer now and the extra swelling and weight make it very difficult to get around and do every day things.  Plus I have a hard time catching my breath.  I do feel lucky that the treatment is working and that I won't have to do this much longer.  Oh and I told everyone that would hold still long enough why my face and neck are so swollen.  I felt like sharing...no it's not cause I'm fat!  Lol  Anyway, hang in there.  One day at a time.