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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> steroids and weight?
        
(Message started by: lincolnowl69 on Sep 16^th, 2006, 9:05am)

Title: steroids and weight?
Post by lincolnowl69 on Sep 16^th, 2006, 9:05am

hi,
been using the vera[pamil and pred taper for the last 2 days and havent had an attack after 6 hours aof taking them, but am worried about the weight gain thing, being a bit of a hunk(in my eyes anyway) dont really want to put the weight on, does it work the same as other steroids where you can actually work out harder on them, cheers, stu

Title: Re: steroids and weight?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Sep 16^th, 2006, 12:44pm

When used to curb clusters the short time of use does not carry much, if any, risk for weight gain. You get this side effect when taking them for weeks/months. (A quick search in the medical literature pulled up one study which showed no problem of weight gain even after one-year of use. While there is always the issue of variation between people on their response to a drug, don't believe you need be concerned, given your brief use.)

Title: Re: steroids and weight?
Post by lincolnowl69 on Sep 16^th, 2006, 12:52pm

thanks bob, didnt want to balloon over night!
stu

Title: Re: steroids and weight?
Post by BB on Sep 16^th, 2006, 6:28pm

Steroid causes fluid retention so the weight gain is just that.

If you use steroid for short term, ie 2 weeks or less then tapering it off slowly then its ok, any extra fluid will get out as extra urine or sweat.

Good luck with everything and painfree wishes to you.

Take care

Annette

Title: Re: steroids and weight?
Post by taraann on Sep 16^th, 2006, 9:07pm

I've done many 10 pred tapers. Everytime I gain 5-10 lbs but as long as I'm careful not to really overeat and I push fluids on myself I can get those 5-10lbs off right away. And in my case the gain is usually from fluid retention, but I know I do get very hungry while on it so I watch myself that I don't gorge myself unneccasarily.

Title: Re: steroids and weight?
Post by unsolved1 on Sep 16^th, 2006, 11:39pm

Steroids will cause weight gain. Whatever study that says it won't, has to be only monitoring steroid use that is of a very low dose. The doses we need will put on weight in most of us, most of the time.

Goodluck

UNsolved

Edited to add: You're not going to be able to work out & build any muscle up faster than the weight it'll put on you ... escpecially if you use it very much or in high doses.

Title: Re: steroids and weight?
Post by lincolnowl69 on Sep 17^th, 2006, 6:03am

thanks guys, think i can live with a few pounds especially as iv not even got a shadow this morning and its my second PFN, not bad after 6 weeks of attacks every 2 hours and i havent had to use an injection or zomig either-only problem is looks like ill have to go back to work!!!
stu

Title: Re: steroids and weight?
Post by chewy on Sep 17^th, 2006, 8:38am

The key to remaining PF after the taper is the dosage of verapamil.

What dosage are you at?

Title: Re: steroids and weight?
Post by unsolved1 on Sep 17^th, 2006, 11:19am

on 09/17/06 at 08:38:59, chewy wrote:

The key to remaining PF after the taper is the dosage of verapamil.

What dosage are you at?

LOL Chewy ! Sure Verapamil is going to help some of us...but it never helped me at any dose !!

Goodluck

UNsolved

Title: Re: steroids and weight?
Post by chewy on Sep 17^th, 2006, 11:36am

Quote:

Sure Verapamil is going to help some of us

I think MOST of us that use it.

Title: Re: steroids and weight?
Post by unsolved1 on Sep 19^th, 2006, 9:57pm

I've just finished 2 Medrol Dose Paks back to back and only gained 6 lbs :) Pretty good I think ! It works great ! I took the last dose today ... which means the HA's will start @ anytime now :-/ It was a GREAT break while it's lasted though !! I definately don't regret using the stuff. :)

UNsolved

Gotta do what ya gotta do

Title: Re: steroids and weight?
Post by clavers on Sep 20^th, 2006, 8:38am

I have done prednisone tapers a couple of times and each time I gained about 20 lbs. I never felt better, nothing hurt, I felt 20 years younger. My life was one of constant feasting. The best part of the day was second breakfast. Anyone getting between me and food stood a chance of serious injury. I think that this can be controlled through strong effort, but it isn't easy.

Title: Re: steroids and weight?
Post by BigCoffinHunter on Sep 20^th, 2006, 9:16am

Personally, I've done prednisone and dexamethasone. I never had any weight gain that was noticable. The fact that I can't drink may have offset that weight gain, as I was no longer taking in beer calories.

Title: Re: steroids and weight?
Post by Richr8 on Sep 20^th, 2006, 1:02pm

on 09/16/06 at 21:07:46, taraann wrote:

5-10 lbs but as long as I'm careful not to really overeat and I push fluids on myself I can get those 5-10lbs off right away. And in my case the gain is usually from fluid retention, but I know I do get very hungry while on it so I watch myself that I don't gorge myself unneccasarily.

Make that 10 to 20 lbs and I'll call that ditto. You really need to watch what you eat, and I don't mean from hand to mouth.