Are corticosteroids fattening?

I use a nasal spray for hay fever and a puffer for asthma. I also get eye drops. All three contain a corticosteroid. I’ve gained more and more and it won’t come off, no matter what I do. Will these medicines make me fat and can I stop?

Answer:

In itself it is not strange to use different agents with corticosteroids (adrenal cortex hormones). People with asthma also often have problems with their upper airways (nose, throat). Because they are administered directly to the place where they are supposed to work, the dosage is low and the risk of side effects is small. However, there are sometimes effects on the rest of the body. Weight gain is such a side effect. It is therefore true that corticosteroids can make you fat via inhalation or as a nasal spray. You could discuss with your doctor whether lowering the dose or (temporarily) stopping is possible, so that you can lose weight more effectively. Tip: after using the eye drops, it is best to close the tear duct for one minute, so that the liquid does not flow into the throat.

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