Face acne symptoms and conditions

I'm 15 years old and i've been taking prednisone for a few months, and from what i've read i'm on a really high dose. i was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and another autoimmune disorder concerning my muscles at the same time. my doctor told me prednisone was my only choice; it was either that or i would lose the ability to walk. he told me there'd be side effects, but i had no idea it'd turn out like this or i would have fought harder for another course of action. i started out on 30mg twice a day, and since then was weaned down to 20mg twice a day and now i'm down to 30mg once a day. i've been looking up a bunch of information trying to figure out if there's a way to lessen the side effects or any hope at all that they will get better. apparently there isn't much. after reading a bunch of these stories i gotta say i'm not feeling great about this. i totally understand everything everyone is going through. i'm sure you can imagine what it's like being smack in the middle of high school with a huge puffy face, acne so bad on my face, chest, back, neck, and shoulders that wearing a bra could put me in tears, and mood swings so bad i've lost friends over it. everyone knows how brutal high school can be, where appearance and attitude are everything. and i try to tell my doctor about it and he literally looks at me like i'm a whiny teenager and says "you're just going to have to deal with it." and people like my mom and my closest friends don't get it either. nobody understands how beyond frustrating it is. i'll get into the worst moods and not have a reason for it, but i'll stay angry for hours or burst into tears over someone looking at me the wrong way. it'll get to the point where i have to isolate myself from other people because the abrubt mood changes get so bad. as bad as i hate to admit it, the pain from the arthritis is gone now and supposedly my muscles are doing better too. developing arthritis caused me to have to quit cheerleading, something i've loved doing for 6 years, because the pain got to the point where i couldn't get my arms above my head or bend my knees. however, i'd almost rather deal with the horrible joint pain than deal with the side effects of prednisone. if your doctor gives you and alternative method, take it. i've always been confident in the way i look and really outgoing and happy and now i sometimes catch myself thinking about suicide. that's shocking to me because i've got so much going for me, but this medicine makes me miserable. and when i complain about it, anyone i'm talking to just looks at me like i'm being a cry baby. my mom does too, she'll say things like "you just have to do this. i know it's not what you want but to be honest i'm sick of hearing you bitch about it."
i feel a little better knowing other people feel the same way - like nobody gets whats going on with them. the prednisone does give me days of really great euphoria and days when i feel like i could run a marathon, but waking up in the morning to the acne and huge face puts me to tears every day. i have to pee all the time, usually getting up at 2 or 3 am. i don't sleep well anymore and i do sweat all the time. which also sucks being a teenage girl. i'm always hungry, and when i eat i never feel full so i don't know when to stop. my neck and face have put on so much weight that when people see me in the halls or out and about they ask me what happened. mind you these are people i don't talk to, just ones i know from classes or whatever. and it's pretty bad when teenage boys i've never really talked to ask what happened to your face. kind of a blow to the ego, or whatever is left of it at this point.
i'd like to know if, as my dosage gets lowered, the side effects will diminish and when i'm off the prednisone completely if they will disappear altogether. any help there?
or if there is any way to help the acne or puffy face

my doctor just put me on something called methotrexate or something like that to help wean me off the prednisone, and does anyone know what those side effects will do? or if they'll affect the prednisone side effects?
i'm constantly obsessing over gaining weight and what my skin looks like and what i eat and how heavy my face feels and the occasional pressure in my eyes to the point where i just want to be put out of my misery.
and after reading other people's stories i really don't understand why this drug is still given out as freely as it is. but maybe all doctors are like mine, they just don't get it.
best of luck to anyone who's on prednisone, my heart goes out to you; i'm right there with you
sorry this became like a book it wasn't meant to be this long

I haven't had ANY problems taking Aviane. I've been on it for almost 4 months now. I don't know why everyone else is having so many problems with it? Aviane has actually decreased my appetite of sweets, which has made me lose about 10lbs. My Period only last about 3 days, and it's way lighter than what it was w/o BC. Also, Aviane helped my face acne A LOT! I was on a different BC before this and it made me EXTREMELY crabby/mood swings and it didn't help with the bleeding..it made it worse. I'm satisfied with Aviane and recommend it to anyone.

im 22. was diagnosed with dermatologist in November. its an auto immune disease...inflammation of the skin and muscles..been dealing with this for like 8 months now. been on prednisone through all of this the whole time. seems like it might have made my muscles better but does nothing for my rash really. i hate being on steroids. i never know how im gonna feel everyday. major mood mood swings. i was on 60mg ive moved down to 20mg a day now. i still have all the stupid side effects. hair on side of face, arms and back..swollen face..acne..and i now have stretch marks..i hate it and cant wait to get off of it. wish i was never on it.

I started taking 60mg of Prednisone two months ago and one week ago it was lowered to 40mg a day. I have gained 10lbs in that time, have the moon face, acne on face and chest. My face has grown black fur on it. My mood swings are terrible. I feel like a time bomb waiting to go off. I feel like I am always angry. My anxiety level feels like I am about to jump out of my skin. My doctor has agreed to start tapering me off of the Prednisone as now I am also on Imuran, Cytoxan and Methotrexate. Does anyone know how long does it take for these side effects to go away after you are off the Prednisone??? Do any of them lessen with a lower dose???

moon face,acne,redness on the face

In June I found out I had actue renal failure. One of the many medications I was given was prednisone. After a few weeks I grew so weak, tired and in a lot of pain. I even had to take a medical leave from work(4 months).
I was told to expect the moon face, hunchback, the acne..However, my sypmptoms worsened to point I didn't want to eat(lost 30 lbs) could hardly move and had to be hospitalized(almost went on dialysis). They flushed me out for a week at the hospital and avoided dialysis.
Once out of the hospital I proceeded to keep the weight off, but the side effects just mounted. I had thrush in the mouth(the worst feeling), sleeplessness, I had every side effect listed and I mean all with the exception of hallucinations and depression. The miracle was that what I was expecting weight gain, moon face did not happen.
Around September my doctor started weaning me off prednisone b/c I told him I cant take it anymore. Wouldn't you know it the minute I started getting weaned off the medication I got the moon face and acne. I cant beleive how much acne I have and the moon face and extra chin that came along with it are not cute. In 3 days I gained 10lbs and feel like I'm gainiing everyday. This might bring on the depression that has yet to occur. Why is this happening now that I'm being weaned. I started at 80mg a day and now I'm down to 30mg and next week down to 20mg.
I know this drug did its job and I pray that I dont have to be on it at all once the weaning process is over, but this is hell. I really feel doctors should tell you everything that you can expect. I didnt know enough about this drug(I know there is the internet I should have used it) and had I known then what I know now I seriously might have asked for some alternatives. This drug may be a miracle in the medical community, but for those of us who have to take it, its hell. Does anyone know how long it will take for the moon face, acne, and weight gain to go away?

Hi. I am 13 years old and have been constantly on and off prednisone. I was diagnosed with a kidney disease when I was about 7 years old, and ever since, i have been having much trouble. Prednisone reduces the swelling in my kidneys, but provides me with the worst side-effects. Such as, moon face, acne, moodswings, not being able to sleep, increased apetit, and much much more. I have gained over 20 pounds, and you know how hard that is when at this age its the goal to be small. I used to be very small, and now i feel as if i will never be the same. I have been through this before, and if you are wondering, you always end up losing the weight, and go down even lower than your starting weight. I may be young, but trust me, I've had a lot of painful expeirences with this drug. Lets only hope my side effects go away this time.

Well where do I begin!!! I have been taking this drug for over three months now. I have mood swings, gained 30 pounds, have a moon face, acne on my face and chest, cannot sleep at night or very restless, I have the sweats, increased appetite, sore throat, shaky, depression. I thought medicine was to help you feel better. Right now I feel worse. I wish I had never been given this prescription for the treatment of Chrohn's Disease. Next time just cut out my intestine....

Extreme mood changes
depression
bloating
millia on face
acne
listless
anger at the professor at Royal Brisbane Hospital for not disclosing known side effects.

I was put on iv prednisone of 1000mg for 12 days while in the hospital. After the iv the doctors put me on 80mg this was back in Feb. '05 and i am now down to 5mg. I have had all the side effects. Gained 30 pounds of water weight, a huge moon face, acne on face and chest, muscle aches and pains (especially in my lung and rib area), sleeplessness, and insane mood swings and depression. I am hoping through my continued use of acupuncture to relieve these symptoms as soon a I am totally off the pednisone. It has been a long road, and I still have aways to go.

I have had weight gain, moon face, acne, sweating, facial hair growth, heartburn, etc. How long after I go off this drug will my body go back to normal.

I AM GLAD I AM NOT ALONE..... THERE IS NOTHING MORE FEARFUL THAN BEING ON THIS DRUG. WHILE IN THE (ARMY) SERVICE I WAS BITTEN BY AN INSECT AND HAD A SEVRE REACTION TO IT WITH OUT ANY TEST OR BLOOD WORK BEING DONE THEY PUT ME ON THIS WONDER DRUG. 3 HOURS AFTER TAKING THE DRUG MY AIR WAY WAS TIGHTENING UP MY SKIN COVERED HEAD TO TOE IN A RASH THAT BURNED WORSE THAN A SEVRE SUNBURN AND WHEN SPEAKING TO THE DRILL SARGENT HE TOLD ME TO GO TO BED. DISOBEYING I JUMPED INTO A COLD SHOWER TO GET SOME RELIF FROM THE PAIN. THE NEXT DAY I WENT BACK TO THE TMC (TROOP MEDICAL CLINIC) WERE MY DOSE WAS HIKED UP FORM 20MGS 3 TIME A DAY TO 50MGS 4 TIMES A DAY. NOT BEING TESTED AGAIN I WAS SENT BACK TO MY COMPANY. 3 DAYS LATER I WAS SENT TO THE NAVAL CLINIC WHERE THE DR. HAD ME TAKE 20MGS 3 TIME A DAY ALONG WITH THE 50MGS 4 TIMES A DAY SO A TOTAL OF 260MGS A DAY. 3 HOURS AFTER MY FIRST 260MGS I WAS BEING DRUG BY MY BUNK BUDDIES TO GET HELP I HAD LOST CONSIOUSNESS AND I COULDN'T BREATH. I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL IN AMBULANCE B/C MY AIRWAY WAS CLOSING OFF. FOR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE MY LIPS HAD TURNED PURPLE, I HAD MOON FACE, ACNE WHICH I NEVER HAD, VISION PROBLEMS, SEVERE HEADACHES, FELLINGS OF BEING LOST OR OUT OF IT, EXTREME FATIGUE, AND THE BURNING RASH STILL HADN'T GONE AWAY, HAIR LOSS, THE WORSE THING EVER FOR AN ARMY RECRUIT IN TRANING WAS THE ADDED 40LBS , AND THE EXTREME JOINT PAIN WHICH I HAD TO LIVE WITH FOR 6 MONTHS. DURING MY PHYSICAL TEST AND TRAINING I CRIED LIKE A LITTLE GIRL WHO HAD HER FAVORITE DOLLIN TAKEN AWAY. BECAUSE OF THE PAIN. EACH DAY BECAME HARDER AND HARDER EMOTIONALLY(I WAS WANTING MY LIFE BACK MY DREAM OF BEING IN THE ARMY WAS SLOWLY DISAPATING ALL B/C OF A DRUG), PHYSICALLY( TOLD BY MY COMMAND SGT. MAJOR I WAS FAT AND WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT UNLESS THOSE ADDED LBS. CAME OFF) AND MENTALLY(BECOMING MANIC). I WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITALINSTRUCTED TO ONLY TAKE 20MGS OF PREDNISONE A DAY. NEEDLESS TO SAY WITHOUT BEING TAPPERED OFF . I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 3 DAYS. ONLY OUT FOR 3 HOURS AND ALREADY HAVING ANOTHER INCIDENT. I WAS IN AND OUT OF CONSIOUSNESS AND REMEBER ALL OF MY SARGENTS TRYING TO HELP ME AGAIN FROM DYING A 2ND TIME. THIS TIME MY AIR WAY WAS COMPLETLY OBSTRUCTED AND NOT EVEN THE O2 MASK WAS HALPING THE AIR WAS PUSHING OUT THE SIDES OF THE MASK. WHEN THE AMBLUANCE ARRIVED THEY WANTED TO DO AN EMERGANCY TRACH. SO I COULD GET AIR.. i WOULDN'T LET THEM THAT LEAVES A HORRIBLE SCAR. i HAD ALREADY BEGAN PREPARING MYSELF FOR DEATH BECAUSE OF MY SITUATION AND HOW CLOSE I WAS WITH ALL MY SYMPTOMS. I KNOW NOT A VERY POSITIVE WAY OF THINKING BUT WITH THIS DRUG IT'S TO BE EXPECTED WITH THE IMPROPER USE OF IT LIKE MY CASE. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FROM OCT TO DECEMBER. ONLY TO BE TREATED FOR MANIC DEPRESSION AND SEVRE OBISIETY. I WAS CURRENTLY ON THE PSHYCIATRIC WARD IN VIRGINIA AND I WAS A COUNTRY GIRL FROM DOOR COUNTY WISCONSIN WHAT I WAS SEEING WAS NOT GREAT AT ALL MY CAPTIN AND 1ST SGT. VISITED ME AND THEY BOTH AGREED THAT THIS WASN'T THE PLACE FOR ME. I STRONGLY AGREED WITH THEM. I WAS FINALLY DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL ONLY TO FIND MY SELF BEING DISCHARGED TOTALLY OUT OF THE ARMY...TALK ABOUT CRUSHED AT THIS POINT YA I DID FEEL LIKE I HAD NOTHING TO LIVE FOR MY DREAM OF BEING IN THE ARMY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE WAS GONE AND EVERYONE AT HOME WOULD LOOK AT ME AS A FAILURE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HACK IT IN THE SERVICE. WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE AT ALL I LOVED IT. I'VE BEEN HOME KNOW FOR 7 YEARS I HAVE NO ARMY BENIFITS NO COMPENSATION AND MOST OF ALL NO FUTURE IN THE ARMY. AFTER 7 YEARS I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOSE ALL THE WEIGHT GAINED. I AM SICK ALL THE TIME KNOW B/C OF THE TOLL PREDNISONE DID ON ME. I HAVE HEART PROPLEM, VISION PROBLEM AND REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEM ALL WHICH HAPPENED AFTER PREDNISONE. I AM CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH MORE TEST. MY QUESTION IS I WAS ON PREDNISONE FOR 6 MONTHS BEINGING YO-YO'D UP AND DOWN....AND WITH ALL THE TEST GOING ON IS THEIR ANYTHING ELSE FOR ME TO EXPECT FROM THIS DRUG THAT HAS TAKEN EVERYTHING AWAY FROM ME... I LIKE TO TRY AND MOVE ON BUT NEW PROBLEMS KEEP ARISING THAT PREVENT ME.. OH AND ON A LEGAL ASPECTED IF ANYONE HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS PLEASE PLEASE HELP IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECHIATED.

THANKS
PREDNISONE TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME AND 7 YEARS LATER IT'S STILL GOING ON..

Been on Prednisone about 6 weeks. I've had muscle fatigue, especially when its hot out (walking through a parking lot on a 100 degree day takes a little longer than I'd like). One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is that I have lost lean body mass. I had been having my body fat tested by a personal trainer (pinch calipers) before and after I started (30 mg/day for lung restriction (62%)/inflamation/collagen vascular disease/immune mediated lung disease/likely Mixed Connective Tissue Disease/autoimmune disorder). After 1 month on prednisone, despite the fact that I have continued to work out (cardio and resistance), I lost 3 lbs of Lean Body Mass. 3 weeks later I had lost another 3 LBM, and gained 1 lb fat mass. I'm glad to have kept my overall weight down, and my circumference measurements haven't gone up, but there is definately a redistribution of fat.

Other side effects moon face, acne, depression, energy swings (up/down). Heart burn, went from 8 hours sleep to 5 1/2 - 6 average, and facial hair growth. The overwhelming hunger (not just being hungary, but eating a full meal and not feeling satiated at all) has subsided for the most part. The drug is not fun. My doctor is now having me start imuran with the hope of lowering/eliminating the prednisone, but imuran has its own side effects.

The hardest part is that the doctors don't know what will work, its guess and check...When the side effects overshaddow the initial symptoms, is it worth it?

Hi, I read that you were diagnosed with Dermatomyositis-inflamation of the muscles. I have Juvenile Dermatomyositis, I am 14. This is strange that I've come across you, as the disease is so rare. I got so weak I had to spend 2 months in the hospital for my muscles to recover. I take 50 mg of prednisone and am scheduled to taper down to 10 mg in two months, a reduction of 10 mgs every two weeks. Since then, side effects that bother me most are the moon face, acne, and depression. But all the cushing's syndrome side effects go away at 10 mgs. I was wondering how long it takes for these side effects to go away once I go from 20 mgs to 10 mgs?

I have been on prednisone for 3 months to treat ITP. I started out on 60 mg and have been able to reduce to 20mgs. I am experencing all of common side effects (weight gain, moon face, acne, mood swings, NIGHT SWEATS, insomnia). I have also noticed that my teeth are very sensitive to cold. I have not seen this listed as a possible side effect anywhere. Has anyone elso noticed this?

It's been about two months since the last of my three epidural injections. And, although all of my back pain and sciattica, related to my two herniated discs is gone, I am left with moon face, acne, irregular periods and a bloated stomach. One dr told me the symptoms would go away a few weeks after the last injection. They only seem to be getting worse. Any one else with a similar situation?

Hello,
I have been on Yasmin for 7 months now and have experienced weight gain,yeast infections(which I never had until Yasmin), severe mood swings, vaginal dryness, loss of sex drive, continued headaches,a feeling of being tired all the time, spotting between periods,random abdominal cramps not related to PMS, breast tenderness and an increase of at least a cup size, face acne and feeling thirsty all the time. I have taken BCP's for 6 years now (including Loestrin) and never experienced the above side effects until I took Yasmin. I knew these pills were bad for my body when it turned this very happy woman into a crying, hurting, spotting mess. I'm so glad that this message board exists so that we can all share the good and bad effects of this pill.