Health practitioner symptoms and conditions

I was giving prednisone for only 5 days (not sure about dose, but it tapered to one pill on the last day) for a bronchitis induced severe asthma attack. I have only had asthma twice in my 50 years, both times associated with a bad case of bronchitis. The "doc in the box" reduced his original dosage due to the 3 corisone injections I recently had in my spine. After reading these posts I feel grateful I wasn't on a higher, longer term dose. I have some of the same side effects listed here including uncontrollable appetite, fat gain around the middle, water weight gain, constantly having to urinate, superhuman energy, heart palpitations, and approximately two weeks after finishing, I began to get a mustache (hairs that were previously white became brown over a two week period). I have read on the internet and been told by my pharmacist that this is temporary. I have also read and been told that the 2mg estradiol I take every day since my hysterectomy causes the body to retain and not rid itself of the steroids as it normally would (estrogen is actually listed as drug interaction with prednisone). The doctor in the box apparently just ignored this interaction and prescribed it anyway. However the main reason I am posting is a very strange possible side effect that occurred approximately 1 week after my final dose. I was awakened in the middle of the night with SEVERE pain (felt like bone pain, not muscle) in my right knee that lasted until morning. By mid morning it was gone. The next night I had the same experience but in both knees. It lasted about 5 more days, gradually tapering in intensity, and then just went away. I do have severe arthritis in my lumbar and cervical spine, having had surgeries to repair injuries from a snowmobiling accident. I have normal arthritis elsewhere for a 50 year old, but have NEVER had issues with my knees. Has anyone had this strange symptom? None of my doctors (internist, rheumatologist, physiatrist - who gave me the injections and prescribed physical therapy for my spine) had any explanation. The only explanation I have is the prednisone because I had taken the Z-pac (antibiotic) with no side effects several times in the past. Weird!

Incidentally, I am off the prednisone for about 5 weeks, am still hungry all the time, still fat, still bloated. Unfortunately the extra energy is gone. Best of luck to everyone on this strange drug. My heart sincerely goes out to all of you on long term therapy. God bless.

Lately my wife has been experiencing of depression, lack of energy, muscle cramps, nausea, enlarged and soar breasts (nipples are hot also), headaches, insomnia, vaginal discomfort and sourness with and without physical contact, constipation, and other symptoms, which I cannot as a male, properly describe. Is this accumulation of symptoms normal or should we look in another direction for birth control (besides condoms)? A concerned husband, Kenny...

I spent nearly 3 years on and off prednisone which were the absolute worst in my entire life. I know the drug saved my life, but the quality of my life was so miserable I didn't know how to cope.

I suffer from life threatening allergies, which were causing insane hives (internal and external), anaphlaxis and asthma. After spending three weekends in the emergency room and having to get benadryl/adrenaline shots while trying to get allergy tests my doctors determined the only way to treat this was with aggressive doses of prednisone.

The side effects were so severe at times that I was nearly incapable of functioning. The dosage went as high as 80mg. I would rarely go for more than 2 weeks without having to ramp up and down on the dosage.

I suffered from night sweats (this still persists), "moon" face, weight gain (I'm still trying to lose this), night terrors (this was the most horrible), memory loss (I'd forget my husband's name), panic attacks (unbelievably frightening) with disorientation, acne (not fun), horrendous mood swings and inexplicable bursts of energy (I became a crazed Bob Vila).

The long term effects are that it wreaked havoc on my stomach, I now take prevacid daily. The night sweats, terrors and panic attacks have lessened, but still persist.

During the time I was taking the medication I thought I was having a nervous breakdown and entered into therapy due to the mood swings. I was so depressed due to the medication that I was temporarily put on Ativan (not fun).

I know this stuff works, but it is a rough ride. I am grateful for it, but it's a steep price to pay.