Dexacortin Bad for Weight Gain

Weight Gain Medication Safe?


Dear Doctor,
I’m a regular reader of your health line. I really appreciate the way you tackle health problems. May God bless you real good. My problem is that as a girl of 25 yrs of age. I’m supposed to have all the necessary curves on the different parts of the body. Rather it is the reverse. A friend (nurse) prescribed dexacortin tabs for me which I’m presently taking. Doctor, the fact is that since I started taking these tabs, I feel better because it stimulates my appetite and I’m beginning to add weight. Dr. please I want you to tell me more about what you know of these meds, should I continue or discontinue with it, is there any adverse effect of it, please I want to know everything about it or if there is any other alternative to put me to the right shape I’ll love to know all. Thanks
WORRIED GIRL, CALABAR.



Dear Worried Girl,
Dexacortin is a very dangerous drug that should be available only by prescription and not to every Tom, Dick and Harry. It belongs to a special, distinguished class of drugs known and referred to as steroids and cortico-steroids. They are made in the gland above the kidneys called the adrenals and can have very bad side effects if mishandled or abused which, I'm afraid, is what you are doing. All the good effects you say you are seeing are false- very false. That is they are happening not because you are now getting fatter or shapelier but because you are now developing a drug induced condition triggered by the drug you are using called Cushing syndrome that causes the false fatness you are seeing hypertension and amenorrhea menses stops the face goes rounded false curves as if you put on true weight but a sign of disease which is characteristic of this disease; we call it moon facies (the face goes rounded like the moon). Please stop the drug at once (and never use drugs not prescribed by doctors any more, ever) or risk these further side effects burning, itching, dryness, irritation, pimple-like rashes, skin thinning, marks on the skin, boils, increased skin pigmentation and increased hair growth. Also you risk all forms of secondary infection occurring. Think twice.
Cheers



Drugs to gain weight?

Dear Doctor,
I am a regular reader of your column in The Sun paper (tabloid) and I came across this topic that you treated.
I am a victim of these drugs to gain weight, I used it some years ago and it was introduced to me by a friend who was also skinny as at that time that I was.
My problem now is that I have not been seeing my menses and I don’t know whether it has led to secondary infertility. Doctor please advice me for I am married for three years and no issue, no menses.
Is there any remedy or any drugs I can take to regain my menses and also to get pregnant? My husband is worried though I have told him of my involvement with the said drugs.
Please reply and advice me.
Worried Woman,

Kano.


Dear Worried Woman,
Your type of case is what we really like to help tackle to get results of pregnancy within the shortest possible time --so never give up hope; okay? Yes, the abuse of this drug can be the root cause of your infertility and lost menses.
Be that as it may--go now and see a very good doctor/gynecologist/reproductory endocrinologist-- the Teaching Hospital of the Bayero University or the Specialist Hospital will be your best bet--with your hubby of course and tell the doctor exactly what happened.
It's a great pity you used that drug the way you did. That's the bad news. The good news, of course, is that it has been found that half of the cases of infertility in our African couples are due to usually reversible cases of hormonal imbalance which, very likely, is the cause of your amenorrhea and infertility like we said that drug, when abused can cause.
The reproductory endocrinologist/gynecologist/doctor is what you need who will thoroughly investigate you by examination and laboratory investigations that must be thorough enough to include hormonal assays to detect what damage the abuse of the drugs have done and what is left undamaged. He will need to check your husband properly too.
Please do not sit at home and bemoan your fate but both of you should take the bull by the horns and take charge of your life and health and go together to see the gynecologist; okay? And you do not have to go overseas or come to Lagos or go to Abuja at the National Hospital for this. I'm glad to tell you Kano is big enough to give you the best professionals you need; okay?
Also, do not forget to ask God's help to get the best results.
Let me have feedback on phone or by e mail.
Cheers


Danger in Steroidal Drugs For Weight Gain




Dear Dr. Bibbi Oluranti,
I thank God for the knowledge and wisdom He gave you, and the way you utilize it wisely. I am a regular reader of your column. My problem started when I was desperate to add weight last (2) two years ago.
I went to many dealers (chemists). Finally, I was recommended Dexacortin which I used --two and half bottles-- and it worked. After 8 months, I realized that there are strange pimples, dryness, skin thinning and irritation on my face and body. I went to a dermatologist who prescribed some drugs for me but I still noticed small amount of pimples and skin thinning while I weigh 80kg as of this month. Please doctor, help me for I have no other person to complain to; you are God's gift-- I believe your solution is final--I have the faith.
Thanks
F.J, Owerri; Imo



Dear F J
Like all the above has said it is true that the drug Dexacortin and other steroids can be abused in the manner you did. One of the commonest reasons why people do this is because they believe it will help them gain weight.--and it does!! Sportsmen abuse steroids because they are looking for stamina and increased muscle mass. But this is diseased weight--not normal at all.
The way to get rid of the evil side effects of the drug is to stop early and gradually. Where gradual withdrawal --using less and less amounts per time--is not possible or has not been done, the only thing is to give the body time to adjust and come back to its former balance--may take up to a year or more. Side effects like lowered sperm production in men and reduced size of testis--testicular atrophy-- and can be reversed while baldness and gynecomastia-- development of breast --cannot be reversed in men. In women, side effects include virilisation--making the woman more like a man-- no menses, more developed clitoris deepening voice decreased breast size and so on. Of course, the other side effects you mentioned must not be forgotten-- thinning hair, and so on. Again the more prolonged the use, the greater the likelihood that the results will become irreversible; so let me warn anyone abusing steroids (or any drugs for that matter) again--stop it-- IT IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU.
One other lesson we must not forget to teach is --beware self medication; beware chemists, nurses and other paramedics’ (not specifically mentioned in these letters) treatment -- always insist on seeing a doctor.
You can call the help lines and ask for help to resolve lingering side effects
Cheers
Dr Caleb Bibbi Oluranti