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What Causes Lack Of Appetite And Bloating After Discontinuing Prednisone?m
Question: I came off prednisone about four week ago 5 mg small dose. For quite some time six months I have no appetite and my stomach is very bloated. I eat very little over the course of a day week and am not losing any weight. At present I am over weight by 12 lbs and it feels like 25 lbs.
Brief Answer:
Prednisone
Detailed Answer:
Taking prednisone 5 mg for a period of more than 3 weeks, and suddenly stopping it can result in 'adrenal insufficiency'. This means that there is a likelihood of the body's own cortisol production from the adrenal gland can be suppressed to low levels. This can cause symptoms of cortisol deficiency, some of which you have.
There is a screening test to look for this problem. It is called an early morning (8 am) serum cortisol blood test. Fasting is not necessary for this test and it can be done even if other medications are taken the same morning, although I see that you are on none.
There are specific cut-offs of blood cortisol levels that endocrinologists go by to determine if you have adrenal insufficiency or not.
In general when I see a patient like you in my practice, I also order the following tests in addition to a thorough physical examination:
1 CBC
2 CMP
3 TSH
4 Free T4
5 Vitamin D, 25 hydroxy
6 Early morning serum cortisol
7 HbA1c
Prednisone
Detailed Answer:
Taking prednisone 5 mg for a period of more than 3 weeks, and suddenly stopping it can result in 'adrenal insufficiency'. This means that there is a likelihood of the body's own cortisol production from the adrenal gland can be suppressed to low levels. This can cause symptoms of cortisol deficiency, some of which you have.
There is a screening test to look for this problem. It is called an early morning (8 am) serum cortisol blood test. Fasting is not necessary for this test and it can be done even if other medications are taken the same morning, although I see that you are on none.
There are specific cut-offs of blood cortisol levels that endocrinologists go by to determine if you have adrenal insufficiency or not.
In general when I see a patient like you in my practice, I also order the following tests in addition to a thorough physical examination:
1 CBC
2 CMP
3 TSH
4 Free T4
5 Vitamin D, 25 hydroxy
6 Early morning serum cortisol
7 HbA1c
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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