Anyone lose their appetite on low dose prednisone?

[mrtmeo]

My mom's appetite has dwindled since coming down to 9mg prednisone.
Anyone have this problem while waiting for remission?

[Pete]

Mine went from ravenous to healthy as I got to lower doses. At high doses, I couldn't get enough to eat. Now, at 3 mg/day, my appetite is normal. All joking aside, your Mom's appetite should be less. I hope she's hungry enough to get adequate nutrition.

[daystarr8]

Like Pete said the hunger can be so great at higher dose but when you taper it should be less. Is it possible it's just normal now compared to at a higher dose and it just feels like she is eating less????

[JeanMarie]

I don't mean to sound flippant, but boy do I wish my appetite would go away!!

[annekat]

I'd agree with the above, her appetite is less on less pred. If her appetite isn't enough for healthful eating, it could be related to depression, anxiety, or the disease itself making her not feel good. I don't know what effect, if any, kidney issues affect appetite.

[mrtmeo]

While on the mofetil and it was working to stop the blood in the urine, her appetite was normal and she gained weight.
Now, her appetite is less than healthy.
I am using BCAA's (Branch Chained Amino Acids) because it has been proven to improve nutritional status for those on dialysis that are anorexic.
B1 will help her appetite a little.
High prednisone will give her a great appetite but it causes high bp and bs and everything else.
The prednisone doesn't help her in any other way.
She doesn't find the relief that all the Weg's folks find with pred.

For those who have the ravenous appetite, eating a low carb,high fat diet can allow you lots of food to eat without the extra weight as long as you don't over eat the proteins.

[cjhnsn29]

Yes as the Dr's lowered my dose my appetite was just about gone.

[annekat]

Yes as the Dr's lowered my dose my appetite was just about gone. Lack of appetite is supposed to be a sign of significant disease activity, so that could make sense if the tapering is leading to a bit of a flare... or maybe that just happens with you either way. It can be a pretty big contrast between the ravenous Wegs appetite and the lowered one. I have certainly noticed it, though I wouldn't say my appetite has come close to disappearing unless I am really not feeling well. This can also be for reasons of stress or upset for me.

[mrtmeo]

I agree with anne that appetite loss is an indication that the disease is still active.
My mom is still anca positive and has not reached remission, yet.
I started her on very low dose Mofetil 250mg per day and it is working.
1,000mg was way too high a dose and she couldn't tolerate it.
Her appetite is back and on the same prednisone dose.

[MikeG-2012]

My mom's appetite has dwindled since coming down to 9mg prednisone. Anyone have this problem while waiting for remission?

Um, YES! I've lost 35 pounds since getting off the pred. (Mostly because I don't have a the appetite of a ravenous teenager requiring 3,000-4,000 calories a day! I'm pretty much hurting every day dealing with the prednisone myopathy, so loss of weight isn't because of exercise--it is definitely less caloric intake. (and for those of you who might kick into "mother" or "health" modes: Yes, I've worked with a dietitian and I am eating the right kind of calories now that I've lost the weight)

[mrtmeo]

Um, YES! I've lost 35 pounds since getting off the pred. (Mostly because I don't have a the appetite of a ravenous teenager requiring 3,000-4,000 calories a day! I'm pretty much hurting every day dealing with the prednisone myopathy, so loss of weight isn't because of exercise--it is definitely less caloric intake. (and for those of you who might kick into "mother" or "health" modes: Yes, I've worked with a dietitian and I am eating the right kind of calories now that I've lost the weight)

Hi Mike,
Are you on any maintenance immune suppressant?
Are you anemic or have kidney failure?

[MikeG-2012]

Hi Mike,
Are you on any maintenance immune suppressant?

Aszan/Azathioprine/Imuran



Are you anemic or have kidney failure?

Nope, neither.

[gilders]

I think appetite is quite a personal thing. I have a large appetite even when completely off Pred. So even a lowish dose such as what your mum is on, I would have a good appetite.
It is a slight joke with my family that they know I'm REALLY ill when I don't feel hungry. This happened a couple of weeks ago and lasted a week (most likely norovirus).
I'm now back to my usual hungry self.

As others have said (Anne?) lack of appetite can be a sign of WG activity. But don't rule out other illnesses that can cause lack of appetite.

[mrtmeo]

I think appetite is quite a personal thing. I have a large appetite even when completely off Pred. So even a lowish dose such as what your mum is on, I would have a good appetite.
It is a slight joke with my family that they know I'm REALLY ill when I don't feel hungry. This happened a couple of weeks ago and lasted a week (most likely norovirus).
I'm now back to my usual hungry self.

As others have said (Anne?) lack of appetite can be a sign of WG activity. But don't rule out other illnesses that can cause lack of appetite.

I guess I should have mentioned that my mom is also, tapering valium (benzodiazepine), so that adds to the misery.
However, she keeps having all kinds of issues like herpes virus attacks on her nerves that stop her appetite, but high dose vitamin C resolves it in a few days.
These setbacks are bad because she doesn't have much lean body mass left and needs all the protein she can get.
Her kidneys are now, dumping more protein than ever and no one seems to know why.