Prednison symptoms and conditions

I was prescribed generic Wellbutrin two weeks ago today. I took it for 10 days with no problems except mild headache, mostly pressure. I felt great even after only 10 days and had tons of energy. I know it usually takes 3-6 weeks for the full effects but I was already happy after only 10 days. I thought this was a miracle drug. On the 11th day I had a few hives on my inner thighs and on my chest but I didn't think too much of it. On the 12th morning I had tons on my thighs, entire torso from abdomen to chest, shoulders upper arms, neck and back. I even took pictures to show my doc of the ones of my back. I tried to get in touch with my doc which was this past Wednesday 5/27/09 but his office closed early that day. I then called my pharmacist. He told me to go to the ER immediately. He asked if I was having shortness of breath and I told him I couldn't tell if it was related to meds because I am prone it anxiety and I was a bit anxious about the hives all over. I went to the ER and they gave me a shot of Solu-Medrol (a steroid) in the hip and but me on a steroid (prednisone) pack for 6 days. I only took the prednisone that Wednesday night. Yesterday (Thursday the hives were visible but soo much better, and today (Friday) they are completely gone. I am so disappointed that I had this reaction because I loved taking buporion (generic wellbutrin). I wonder if it's just the generic that does it because I read someone else say that the name brand didn't give them hives but the generic did. I will have to check in to that. The ER doc told me to stop taking so my last does was Wednesday morning. (ohhh by the way I was on 150mg once in morning and once at night, so 300mg/day and I was on the wellbutrin SR kind)

My husband was stung by a wasp. He had a major reaction of hives and fainting spells. Naturally we went to emergency where the doctor prescribed.. you guessed it.. PREDNISONE !! sigh. He was told to take it only the next morning of his attack as the prednisone would make him too irritable to sleep. He woke up the next morning and all his rash was gone and he was feeling like a million bucks. NO more side effects from the wasp sting. We were always wondering WHY he needed to take prednisone for a wasp sting but wanting to listen to our knowledgeable and GOOD doctors, my husband took the prednisone. He was told to take 10 5mg pills in one shot, therefore, 50 mg. per day and then eventually wean himself off. Well, he took but the first 10 and within the 1/2 hour he developed an even greater reaction to hives than the day before. He became very agitated and moody... We drove back to the hosp. only to see the same doctor who'd tell us that he didn't HAVE to take the prednison if he didn't want to and that he was SURE that the prednisone had not caused this latest and worse reaction !!
For crying out loud. This is the year 2008. Couldn't the doctor have told us ahead of time that if the symptoms disappeared before even filling in the prescription ( which is what happened in this case ), THAT He should never have taken any drug? Prednisone is a killer. I know.. My mom DIED because of this darn drug only to find out that they were treating her for a disease that she probably didn't have after years of using PREDNISONE. These poor older people think that the doctors are GOD and that they have to listen to their every word. My husband, on the other hand, has thrown the drug away after just ONE USE. PLEASE, people, find other doctors and solutions and get second opinions.

have had most of the side effects from taking this drug for only 10 days but has anyone out there ever had an awful metalic taste in their mouth

had 12 days of prednisone for poison ivy starting out on 60 mg tapering down posion ivy started to spread again and was started on hexadrol x13 days have moon face shortness of breath changes in ekg did echo and chemical indused treadmill every thing good that way but i feel like i am losing what little mind i have left am a home health nurse and some times even with directions am fuzzy headed and also blew migraines into full force after finishin doseage severe joint pains fatigue very moody irritable and you know the rest never full when will this get out of my system can any one help also peri menopasal been married only 8months he is a saint

I was given prednisone for extreme posion ivy at 4years old. I ended up getting posion ivy at least 6 times a year until I was 12 years old. I had posion ivy so bad that my doctor would give me a predisone shot and the pill form along with something to stop the itching. By the time I was 6 years old I noticed my clitours had enlarged, and I was able to have mutilple orgasm's, at that age I didn't understand what was going on but I didn't care. I started to notice I was the fastest and strongest child in my school. I became very muscular and a little agressive. These side affects got even more extreme as I got older. I wasn't sure why I was the way I was, I just assumed that it was normal, but I knew I was different then the other girls. I ended up having over 100 shots of prednison by the time I was 12 years old. I stoped getting posion ivy when I was 13 and stoped taking predinsone. I became real tried and wanted to sleep all day, were before I had so much energy. It got to a point where I lost all sexual feeling and I became very depressed and frustrated. I just spirled down from that point not knowing why. I had sex for the first time when I was 16 and it was painfull, that's when I knew something was reeally wrong. I started looking for answers and found that taking prednisone had made me feel great when I was taking it but once I stoped I didn't even feel like a person anymore. I got posion ivy again when I was 21 and was given prednisone again. I started to notice that not only did my posion ivy go away but I got my energy back and sexual feeling for about 2 months, I was a whole new person. That's when I really relized what had happend. I went to a doctor and told them what I had experianced. They checked my hormone levels, and found out that my body wasn't making enough testosterone or estrogen, explaining why I lost energy and sexual feeling. I started taking depo testosterone and it has changed my life. The doctor's were hesitant to give it to me, but when they saw the changes in my hormonem levels and the changes with me mentaly, we decided to keep taking it. I ended up having to find my own answer's because no doctor understood why I was feeling that way. I will have to have hormone therapy for the rest of my life. Doctor's told me before I started taking testosterone that I had the hormone levels of an 80 year old women, and I was only 21. Now I am 25 and have been on hormone therapy for 4 years, I am only half way there hormonally, I hope I get to feel like a noraml 25 year old, but I might not be where I need to be until I'm 30. I lost so much of myself and my life to this drug predinsone. If I could re-du it I would have never taken it.

I have been off and on prednisone my entire life as well for asthma and poison ivy. About 5 years ago I was put on it for 3 months due to finding out i had chron's disease. It is the worst drug ever!!! I gained 30 lbs in two weeks, I had severe night sweats and nightmares. My knees hurt constantly and still do to this day. Right now I am sick again with asthma and they want me to take prednisone and I am refusing. I want an alternative. Help me find one please someone!!

I am a long time sufferer of brain chemistry disorder and have been on LEXAPRO for three years, which has been very effective for my condition. 11 March 2007 I placed on PREDNISONE beginning with 80mg 4xdaily and tapering every four days by 20mg for 4 day periods. This was given to help my immune system.
NEGATIVE: The PREDNISONE seemed to over ride the LEXAPRO, and I became very paranoid & suicidal. Experienced racing flash thoughts, was unable to sleep, extremely irritable and had major problems with thought processing. My condition mental condition became worse than it has ever been.
I WAS NOT WARNED this might happen and was not given any type of medication to offset this.
I strongly URGE ANYONE WHO IS ON ANY TYPE OF MOOD MANAGEMENT MEDICATION should talk with their doctor about this kind of side effect before taking PREDNISON.

I get really depressed and moody. I've had muscle pain in neck, shoulders. Kinda nervous and restless at time.
I've had a small area in the middle of my vision that's noticable when something moves quickly in front. It sometimes leaves an after image.
Anybody else get that?

I have been on prednison since l980. I was told I had steroid dependent asthma. I briefly had moon face. I was very organized. I even typed my honey do list for my spouse. I was "driven" to get tasks done. I had difficulty sleeping, muscle cramps, frequent night time urination. easily bruised on my forearms when I bumped into things, lots of 3 corner skin tears and recently had a bone density test and now I have to take Boniva. I did not gain weight. Over the last two years I went from 140 to 120. I did experience two very serious illnesses (Throtoxic with Thyroid Storm and a spinal tumor and surgery.) I finally weaned off about 3 weeks ago. I went from 10 to 5 to 2.5 to 1.25 then 1.25 every other day - very slowly. No asthma symptoms yet. At this time I fatigue very easily. I have lost subcutaneous fat in my forearms, feet and face. I still have some muscle cramps in my feet and somethings deep in legs. I am sleeping much better. I am wondering if the loss of fat has anything to do with the long term use of prednisone. Has anyone experienced or heard of this connection to Prednisone?

To "jules777"

NO Placebo effect here......It appears that unlike you, most of us come to this site after we are going through Prednisone's terrible side effects. Only because you felt the side effects by reading these statements, doesn't mean that's happenning to the rest of us. Yeah, to have your family telling you Oh dear, how can you have gained 20 lbs in 1 month, oh look at your face, what's wrong? IS NOT A PLACEBO EFFECT. As well as the terrible night sweats, facial hair that now needs to be shaved..NOBODY tells herself to grow facial hair and voilá she grows hair. Do us a favor and read a little more about Prednison and EDUCATE yourself before you dare to write that it maight be all in our heads.

can anyone please can tell me how is the fastest safer way to decrease prednison away. i started yesterday on 30mg. it doesnt seems to be a good idea..thanx.

prednison is an evil drug but even that i have most of the side effects i still needed... i cant function without it. if i try to stop even reducing the dose order by the doc all the problems start. headaches, dizzines, swelling on arms, legs, ankles, shoulders and knees. i have been on prednasone since april 19,2005. i think im addicted to it, thanks god for this site i know now that im not alone and all of you have the same problems i have. now i hope all of u can cope with these med.
these side effects are not easy to deal with it but if the med is working hang in there. i try to quit just like that when i was on 60mg but believe me is not a good choice. god bless all of you and i wish you the best, by the way i dont know if the side effects are from the pred or the other 10 med i have to take daily, plaquenil, pred, methotraxate, folic acid, hydrocordone, prevacid, percoset, sulivanc, albuterol, etc... i dont wish my desease to no one... asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus....be patience and good luck.
nora from las vegas

I was put on Prednison a little over 2 months ago to treat an unexpected backpain & red rush that appeared all over my legs. And YES, it has been quite a traumatic experience! I've always been health and body conscious and worked out to maintain a healthy balance. Consequently, it was hard for me to bear with seing my body deforming & fat, my face ballooning up, my legs swollen, etc
My Doses:
100 mg 2 weeks
80 mg 2 weeks
60 mg 2 weeks
40 mg 2 weeks
20 mg 1 week
10 mg 1 week
At 100 mgs "the good overweigth the bad." GOOD: got rid of my excruciating backache, got rid of most of my leg rush and even some breakouts, it gave me a lot of energy and I was always on-the-go!! BAD: had sleeping problems, started to retain liquids; my legs, face and belly inflated a great deal after the very FIRST week of being on this Steroid.
AT 80 mg, everything remained the same but in addition I experienced HOT flashes, my feet and palms felt very hot, terrible night sweats, I also became constipated, had heart burn, short of breath and rapid heart bits....I was worried at this stage and made an appointment with my Doctor who prescribed me Bentyl for the stomach. He said the rapid heart bits and shortness of breath were due to my belly being so big (as I said, I'm of petite frame and in a matter of only 3 weeks I looked as if I were 5 months pregnant!) I began to SWIM at this stage to help me with the heart. Swimming is good because is a low-impact exercise.
At 60 mg (week 5), I've gained 15 pounds but look fatter than that due to the retention of liquids & a triple chin I've developed over the weeks (looked like Mumps).
At 40 mg, everything remains the same but my belly feels a bit better (due to medication). I'm also experiencing fatigue and tremendous growth of facial hair, yikes!
At 20 mg, by week 9, No more night sweats. I've gained a total of 20 lbs and see some dark marks on my legs (not red like they were before) Dr. said they were a product of withdrawal from the Steroid dosage and to hang in there. I had a CT scan done, and the results were overall good but for my liver that was found to contain "fat" (Steroid's fault) and with time could take a turn for the worst. I'm also experiencing some light backache, bloatness, tiredness, muscle ache, teeth sensitivity, insomnia and body tingling (feels weird). I feel like I can't take it anymore, so decided to try a Natural and Organic juice I've heard so much about, especially from my grandmother and friends. Well, let me tell ya, it works!! I feel more energetic, I can actually go to the bathroom (what a relief) and the dark rushes on my legs are fading away. I also started taking Calcium+Vit D for the bones, Apple Cider Vinegar (it helped me big time with my bloatedness), Enzymes for digestion, Fish Oil with Omega 3 & 6 to help me w/my Inmune Syst. and Milk Thistle for the liver. Let me tell ya, these Natural products have worked like a charm for me! :)
At 10 ms, Oh boy, am I so glad to be finally down to 10 mg! At this stage I'm losing my appetite, have not gained any more wight but have not lost any either. The puffiness in my face is starting to go dowm a bit, no more triple chin but a double chin. No more swollen legs. The Organic juice has done wonders for me, like I said I feel so up-beat, no aches or pains. I'm Not going thru typical withdrwal effects like headaches, muscle aches, vomitting, etc.

Ok guys I've pretty much shared with ya my life on Prednison with plenty of detail. I hope this has helped you somehow to understand you are not alone....know that what is happening to you is "expected." The experience may not go away (it's quite unique) but the physical effects will soon go away... it'll only get better ;)

21 pills a day consisting of mestinon, imuran, prednison, ranitidine, over the past 5 years i am only on 25 mg of immuran... i missed my pills for 3 days now i have double vision, now i dont knw what to do. I have Myasthenia Gravis and before I was a vegtable.

Melissa

I took Advair about for 2 years. Hoping, that it would help to breath easier. I did not feel significant changes in my breathing. But I started coughing.Bedly. At work my collegues
kept bigger distance from me, they did not want to be infected
from me. They did not know, it was not contagious. I have sinus infection, dry mouth, respiratory problems, since I was
using Advair. Now, on my own, I stopped to take it. I had enough. Taking medicines for the side effect of the medicines. Maybe I never had asthma, only the doctors irresponsible decisions made me belive, I had it. I already suffered from the side effects of prednison. (joint surgery) The doctors used to give to me, in large dose. Now, after several years, I was told, maybe I never had asthma. How can we trust doctors?

My husband was put on 80 mg Prednison last Thursday - I was out of town for the weekend. When I returned on Sunday, he had shaved off his beard and was in a manic state. His MD is beginning to wean him - he is now on 40 mg/day, but he continues to be manic, sleeps only a couple hours/night, believes he and God are having non-stop conversations and God is telling him what to do, is organizing various committees in our community - and about twice a day, breaks into tears! How long will this last? Anybody have any idea?

my daughter was put on prednison at the age of 19mnths
she is on 15mg/5ml,15ml dayly and now she is on 7.5ml
a day for 10 days and then im suppose to just quit it and poeple have told me not to just stop it im suppose to gradually take her off of it .Im getting a second oppinion
today but if you have any suggestions please email me.

heather

Wow! I've just read through this whole horrible list with relief. Relief that every single symptom I had catalogued for my former neurologist, and was informed was all 'in my head' or 'just depression' is listed here by other people who were on much lower doses than I was. I am 41, have MG, am 5 years post-thymectomy on 300mg daily Immuran, 60mg Q/4 Mestinon, and prednisone of 15mg for break-through symptoms. My highest dosage of prednisone was 90mg every other day for 18 months, before being tapered down to 60mg for another year. Between the MG and the prednisone I have gaines 60 pounds in 5 years and have had deliriously bad experiences trying to get it off at Weight Watchers (forget them if you have a non-diebetic medical problem unless you enjoy emotional flogging). My quirky, upbeat personality vanished after 3 months at 90mg. doses, and odd sweating, fragmented sleep patterns, bloated face, crying jags and clinical depression set in. Neurologist said it wasn't drug related. I became suicidal (hello! I am a former university professor, a real people person, funny, bright, just trying to get this recently diagnosed MG under control) and finally checked myself into a psych ward because I knew something was so, so wrong with me. Much blood work, and many therapy groups later I've discovered that I was at toxic levels! That such high sustained dosages can actually cause psychotic 'breaks' (no, I didn't have one, just severe depression). It never occured to my Neurologist that I probably needed anti-depressives to counteract the poison he was pouring into me. Am now a patient at the MD Clinic at U of C Hospitals, which specialize in MG, and are looking for an alternative (like my recent IV/IG) treatments for breakthrough symptoms. Don't get me wrong, prednison is the BEST, BAD drug at Walgreens, but if you start to get mood swings and need to take this long-term, (or chronically) GET BACK TO YOUR DOCTOR right away and let him/her know that you need mood stablizing medication. If you are living with a chronic disease you need to direct you own 'quality of life' care, and for better or worse, prednisone is a drug that many of us cannot function without.