Side Effect Of Taking Steroid (Prednisolone)

[chanel5]

I wondered if anyone has experience of taking high dose cortico-steroid Prednisolone.

I have been on 50 mg for some months and have now started to reduce the dose gradually. One of the side effects of taking the steroid has been that my face has changed shape. i have lost my cheekbones (which are usually quite pronounced) and my face has become chubby and round, although i haven't really put on much weight (just two pounds).

Has this happened to anyone else, and did your face go back to its normal shape when the dose was reduced? i hate having a chubby face.

[237SJ]

No but I`ve heard about it. They call it Moonface (sorry) and it's an effect of taking steroids.

[Sqad]

That seems a modest dose of steroids.
Swelling of the face (oedema) is a recognised side effect, but not usually on such a modest dose.
if you facial problem is a result if steroid therapy ( to which i have my doubts) then it will return to normal on cessation of steroid treatment.

[chanel5]

Many thanks for the speedy answers. Interesting that 50 mg is considered a modest dose (I looked on Google and you are right, Sqad, 50 is considered middle-of-the-road). My GP was jumping up and down about my having to go up as high as 50 mg - he wasn't happy at all.

I can't think of anything else that would have had the shape changing effect on my face. I am also on calcium supplements to counteract negative effects of steroid but that is hardly likely to cause it.

But it is reassuring to know that it will eventually go back to normal. I can't wait.

[chanel5]

Sqad, if you are still around I have another related question that you may be able to answer - the steroids are to treat temporal (giant cell) arteritis. Do you think that the condition itself could cause a change in face shape - unlikely, isn't it?

[Sqad]

chanel, I did wonder for what reason that you are taking them.
Swollen face is not a recognised symptom of Temporal Arteritis,

[Sqad]

Been thinking,,,"Face change?"
With G. C. A. one get swelling of the temples ( the site of the artery) but not over the cheeks as you have described in your OP.

[ethandron]

I was on 40mg of prednisolone for five months and then started tapering off.
I developed moon face, the buffalo hump on my back, a change in shape of my abdomen, and regularly experienced heavy legs. All these well known side effects disappeared gradually and were gone completely a few months after I took the last dose.
However I also developed steroid induced type 2 diabetes requiring two nights in hospital hooked up to an insulin pump. It’s just something else to be aware of when taking steroids as it’s not uncommon.
Best of luck, I hated taking steroids but needs must.

[FrillyPancake]

I was on steroids for the best part of 18 months (on and off), and only really stopped them last August, they are horrid things. I lost my hair (it thinned incredibly badly), to the point I now have baby hairs coming through ten-fold, only in recent weeks which I'm delighted about :-)
Other than this, I also put on about a stone, I was swollen all over, felt really lousy, and the WORST thing ever was they made me unable to sleep (I'm normally a really heavy sleeper), this was honestly the worst, I was up for nights on end, and even now I take the odd Zopiclone on a Sunday to ensure that I get a decent nights sleep....
Good luck with them - they as I say are horrid drugs, but they helped clear my condition up along with taking immunosuppressant's alongside.
Instead of taking 32 tablets daily, I now only take 19 :-)))))))))

[chanel5]

Thanks everyone, it is reassuring to know that the side effects disappear when the dose is reduced. Here's hoping.

[Sqad]

Oh! dear......surely that list needs some explaining and possible removing.
it is unhelpful and frightening in the context of this thread.

[Scarlett]

I used to take steroids for ulcerative colitis when it got out of hand, and yes, always developed moon face, pretty much as soon as I started to take them. I believe it's water retention? Correct me if I'm wrong. It's not fat. It will vanish as soon as the steroids are out of your system.

[ethandron]

It’s partly due to fluid retention but also the way steroids redistribute fat around the body.