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

[Shevlyn]

Ugggh... I hate my face too! I'm bloated and I have a moonface because of my staroid. I'm only eleven and I get made fun of. I have chrons and small bowl disease and I wish I didn't. I guess I have to live with this. Chrons is we're you don't absorb any nutrition my body need so I'm tiny... Meaning 45 pounds for my age! When I got on the staroid I grew one inch and im 80 pounds. I went to a size 7 to size 10/12 in jeans. Every time I look at myself I want to cry. I used to be pritty but now I feel fat. I know it's not forever but I am on such a high dose. 15mL's  aday. At least I get to decrease my dosage in 5 months. Any advise? My loose clothes don't even work.

[Mindy006]

I also have a rare disease called Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis.   I have been on prednisone for this for over 7 years.   I think I was dying before I started the prednisone.   I agree-----love,hate relationship.    Anyone else have this disease?

[Mindy006]

I have been on 5 mg. for 7 years and am now starting to get the moonface.

[razma]

Hi Guys, I am 27 , I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata 8 months before, it's a disease where u shed your hair on your head in a  very short time which doesn't give u pain but leaves a Mark on your looks , your self respect, it was a worse condition for me because I am an actor , and this disease hit me when I was at the peak of my career , i was doing a television series and by Gods grace I got my 1st movie , but suddenly in the middle of this I got this rare disease Alopecia Areata , in a span of 20 days I lost almost all my hair on head ! I was clueless as I had to face the camera , I then resorted to wigs and started with steroids I was doing fine with wigs but slowly my face bloated up, puffiness increased , every who saw after some days asked me what have u done to your face,i never knew it was because of steroids, I looked like a pig, I was the hero of my series but I looked like a bloated , swelled up man ! But slowly I got to know about the after effects of steroids ! I drastically reduced my diet, cut off fats and carbs, included proteins and fruits , and started lot of cardio exercises daily, I reduced my steroid intake to 60 mg a week ! I am doing better , moon face has reduced but it's not completely gone , but I am sure once I leave steroids and with all the hard work and self control , I will be winning over this disease ! If Lance ArmStrong with Level 3 cancer can win the biggest cycling tournament in the world,  this is just dealing with after effects ! Be hope ful and be positive ! God will give u much more he has taken from u !

[JAR70]

Hi, my daughter is also 7.5 years old and has been diagnosed with Wegener's Granulomatosis only 2 weeks ago.  She's on 40mg prednisone and already has face and body swelling.. She hasn't been able to return to school yet but am trying to prepare her for any comments she will probably receive.  This disease is also auto immune and can affect any organ but predominately the lungs and kidneys.  Poor little girls :(

[JAR70]

Hi, my daughter is also 7.5 years old and has been diagnosed with Wegener's Granulomatosis only 2 weeks ago.  She's on 40mg prednisone and already has significant face and body swelling.. She hasn't been able to return to school yet but am trying to prepare her for any comments she will probably receive.  This disease is also auto immune and can affect any organ but predominately the lungs and kidneys.  Poor little girls :(