Asthma/Steroid inhaler/Water retention?

I got the cold from hell in January, then got it again, and ended up with what turned out to be reactive airway issues, AKA asthma.  I hadn't had problems with asthma in several years.  Albuterol didn't work, so last week the doctor put me on a steroid inhaler.  The dosage was 2 puffs twice a day for 5 days, then 1 puff twice a day for another 5 days.  I've got 2 more days to go on the step down treatment.

Over the last several days, my weight has increased every day from 183 to (ACK!) 189 this morning. My legs in particular feel VERY swollen.

I know that steroids can cause weight gain, presumably from water retention.  But I don't know if that is true for inhaled steroids, which should act locally, not systemicallly.  I'm looking for input from folks who use steroid inhalers from time to time to tell me whether they get swollen or water retention from them?  Or is it more likely to be something else?

I am pretty much post menopausal (2 periods in the last 16 months), and even when I was still getting my periods, I didn't really retain water, so I'm pretty sure it isn't that. Any comments or advice?  If it IS from the steroids, will the weight go away as soon as I finish the course of treatment?

Yes they can cause weight gain, and increase your hunger.  If you are only on them short term the weight should come right back off when you stop, but the longer you are on them the harder it is to get the weight off.

Hi Diana i had asthma when i was growing up. and i gained weight from using a steroid inhaler. once i got off of it....i notice i started to lose my weight If it is from the steroids....... then yes ....  i am pretty sure the weight will go away as soon as you finish the treatment and get off of the medicine. i would ask your Dr to make sure and conform this answer. best wishes to you hugss Lizzy

hmmm.. just thought id give my 2 cents LOL I was on a steriod inhaler MANY times in my life.. but never gained weight... that was just ME though.. I know that certain steroids (pills) make you gain weight.. not too sure on the inhaler.. Im sure if you google it youll find some good answers.. good luck

I've often wondered about this.  Now I know that you cannot gain a pound of fat unless you eat 3500 calories over and above what you need.  Taking steroids cannot cause weight gain.  But then, so many do gain.  I have a cousin who had a kidney transplant 12 years ago.  She's been on steroids all that time...she is really heavy now and puffy.  She also eats a lot........(and is now a drug induced insulin dependent diabetic).  But we're talking hard core prednisone by mouth for 12 years. What I wonder is, maybe the steriods cause the body to stop metabolizing food correctly and stores almost everything as fat.  I would think even an inhaler would cause the steroids to enter the bloodstream. I learned something a long time ago from our Miss Dolly.  When I'm retaining water, I load up on lemon water.  Lots of fresh lemon juice in plain water.  It 'drains' the retention pond.  Maybe give it try for one day and see what happens.  Can't hurt. I don't know the answer, I've never had to use an inhaler.  Hopefully others who have will respond with something positive. Hugs Charlie

While long-term oral steroid use can cause true weight gain--i.e., FAT, short-term oral steroid use is only associated with a degree of sodium and water retention which dissipates once the steroid is discontinued.  Different steroids are more notorious in causing water retention than others: cortisone and hydrocortisone are the worst (don't worry about Cortaid cream--it's not absorbed!), prednisone and prednisolone are in the middle of the pack, and some fluorinated steroids have very little mineralocorticoid effects.  (That's the 50-cent word for "steroid causing salt and water retention by the kidneys"). The systemic exposure to inhaled steroids is much much lower than when taking them orally, and even then, the steroids used in most inhalers are ones with high glucocorticoid (anti-inflammatory) activity and low mineralocorticoid activity.  Furthermore, some of the newest inhaled steroids are designed to be metabolized to weaker or inactive metabolites right in the lungs so that even less gets into the general circulation.  But that doesn't mean that your weight gain might not be due to an effect of the inhaler. I don't think you have much to worry about; once you stop the inhaler, the excess water weight should disappear very quickly. /Steve

Weight gain from inhaled steroids depends on age and sex:

 

 

 

Hi Diana, I hope you are feeling better soon.  I have been on an off steroid inhalers most of my life for asthma.  I have never had weight gain from the inhaled steriods.  I have had weight gain from the oral steroids though.  When I finished the oral steroids the weight would drop after a few weeks.  Everyone is different.  I understand how frustrating it is to have unexpected weight gain.  Hopefully, things will even out when your off the meds and feeling better.  Good luck.  Julie