Side effects of prednisone symptoms and conditions

I HAD THE USUALLY SIDE EFFECTS OF PREDNISONE-WEIGHT GAIN, CONSTANT HEAD ACHE, BLURRED VISION AND AFTER SOME MONTHS RAPID HEART BEAT WHEN I LAID DOWN AND EXTREME FATIGUE. WELL, IT TURNS OUT THE RAPID HEART BEAT AND FATIGUE WERE NOT FROM PREDNISONE AND I ENDED UP HAVING A HEART ATTACK AND NEEDED BYPASS SURGERY. MY DOCTOR HAD DONE AN EKG DONE PRIOR TO THE HEART ATTACK AND THE RESULTS WERE FINE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSED ECHOCARDIOGRAM WHICH WOULD HAVE SHOWN PROBLEM WITH MY HEART AND COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE HEART ATTACK. I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WITH "RACING HEART BEAT" TO GET IT CHECKED OUT.

AM

I have been weaning off Prednisone for sometime, from 50mg down to 5mg in two week steps, 5mg at a time. I've had quite a few of the physical side effects of Prednisone, though none so severe that I would have considered not taking the drug, as it is helping the neuropathy that it was described for. When I hit the 5mg dose, I really seemed to be having trouble with my mental state. I seemed to switch back and forth from knowing what was going on to wondering if I was starting to go insane or losing touch with reality. Hard one to explain. It seems to occur later in the day when I am fairly tired. Back on 10 mg for the last three days and seem to be tired but not so mentally confused. Don't know if this is all from the Prednisone, though. Has anyone out there had any seemingly similar mental things happen on this drug. Thanks in advance for answering if you have had these experiences, they are scary and am hoping that it is the drug and not something else.

hello, im 25 and was diagnosed with lupus nephritis 4 years ago, among other meds i was taking 60mg of pred for about 8 months with chemo for my damaged kidneys. in three years my dose went up and down between 60mg and 15mg. the side effects i had were at first extreme water retention, my skin was like play doe, swollen vulva, swollen leaky breasts, hamster cheeks, extra chin, i had extreme hunger cravings , wanted to eat every thing in sight but my husband helped me to maintain a proper diet and i did not gain any weight except for my face and breasts and water retention for around 5 months after diagnosis. i also had all the other effects like racing heart, chest pain , breathlessness, tiredness, excitement, bad mood swings. now after 5 years i have CAREFULLY weaned MYSELF down to 5mgs a days the moon face has gone down but i have the fatty deposit at the top of my back at my neck that happens with long term use, but only i can really notice it, i get nose bleeds cause skin is thin up my nose, i use glycolic moisturiser and have glycolic peels on my face to help with skin renewal keeping ageing at bay and also have factor 50 sunscreen on prescription, take zinc for my hair loss (prescription 220mgs) has helped a lot with hair loss, use pure glycerin on my body to keep the skin soft and less delicate( glycerin can be quite gloopy and stickes on the skin for a good hour before soaking in but does wonders and is in most mosturising creams, use mouth wash for gum desies to keep the bleeding at bay and keep the teeth strong, i buy probiotic yogurt dring and pills for digestive system to get rid of the gas bloating and constipation/diarrhea, take meds to prevent bone problems, drink a pint of full fat milk with some nesquick mixed in every day, i get bad headaches after eating sweet things sometimes that can last all day, i just live with them. don't take pain killers, they just go after ive slept
im constantly finding new ways to cope with the preds, and am now 3 and half months pregnant with my first baby, doc told me 4 days ago that he wants to start putting up my steroids to protect baby and me, so im panicking a bit about the moon man coming back, and hair loss has started again big time also cause of pregnancy. once ive had the baby im going to start back on my routine. perdnisolone is a nasty drug but also a life line for many people who cant get off it and need if for the foreseeable future until something can take its place, so im jus trying to stay 1 step ahead of the drug, the only thing i struggle with is exercise , starting to loose my memory more often, and eye sight is playing up, keep going cross eyed!!! gonna try that mangasteen stuff, worth a shot...
thanks for reading, sorry bout spelling.
love l.

Hi everyone,

i need to tell you about what just happened to me, because it seems most people are definitely not informed of all the possible side effects of prednisone - not only just relating to the dose of prednisone you take but also for how long.

I have been using prednisone for almost 14 years now, the doctors all tell me i'm unlikely to ever get off prednisone now because i've been on it too long. I know all about it's usual side effects (water retention, mood swings, thinning of all tissues including blood, acne, anemia, etc etc).

One side effect i was not advised of, not even in any educational material about prednisone either, was that long-term dependence can lead to Acute Adrenal Crisis. Which is deadly if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Thus i nearly died two weeks ago. I became rapidly ill with vague symptoms that i now know are symptoms of acute adrenal crisis. *THE ONLY REASON THE ACUTE ADRENAL CRISIS OCCURRED WAS BECAUSE OF LONG-TERM USE OF PREDNISONE*. Not many doctors will warn patients in advance of this. It is however, very very important that people are aware that long-term use of prednisone needs to be very carefully weighed with the benefits of using prednisone (i was started on prednisone in 1995 to treat severe Crohn's Disease).

Acute adrenal crisis can happen over weeks, months or years - in other words, it can come on so slowly that by the time you know there's something wrong you're already very very ill and in great danger.

I am very glad to have found this website and i hope you will all refer anyone who has any experience with prednisone to this site - education and knowledge is power - the power to stay alive.

(by the way, the treatment for acute adrenal crisis is to load up on prednisone - seems i'll probably never be free of this drug unless i can get my adrenal glands to begin working again (as prednisone "takes over" for the adrenal glands and they effectively go to sleep, and this is especially true for long-term use)).

My sympathies to everyone who has to go through the many nasty experiences with prednisone, especially the young children (I had to start it when i was 16). It really does mess with your body and mind, and in my case, became lethal.

Please pass on all your information relating to use of prednisone to everyone you can - it really is that important and seems to be the only way to avoid most of the disasters related to prednisone use.

take care everyone,
Linda
(Australia)

Cushings Disease is another side effect of Prednisone. The test for Cushings Disease can only be done once you are off Prednisone. I forgot to add this to my prior list of side effects. I learnt about this illness while serarching for side effects of prednisone. Your can learn more about it and see pictures of it if you type the words "Cushings Disease" .

I was put on Prednisonsone for Uveitis, inflammation of the eye. He started me on 20mg at 9 pills a day, then each week it was lowered to 6 pills then now i'm on 3 pills and then next week it will be 1 1/2 pill and i'll be off. I got the puffy face, my feet swelled, everytime i hate my stomach bloated and hurt, my face and neck turns red, i stayed hungry although i fought the temptation of eating for not wanting to gain a lot of weight, which I don't think I've gained any. But now I wake up in the middle of the night and severe knee pain, it feels like my knees they are in some kind of device that is crushing my bones they hurt so bad. i caught a bad cough and it's been around now for about 2 weeks and won't go away, i told the nurse about it and she says, i probably just got what everyone else has gotten, just a bad cough, well what's if it's some kind of infection? I look like a chipmunk, my face is so puffy. When i get off these prednisone in another week I WON'T BE going back on them, no matter what the case. I'm in more pain being on them and have more side effects while on them than the problem i was having with uveitis. I think some co workers thank I'm over reacting, but they're not here they don't see all the pain and frustration i'm going through while on this drug. The leg pain just started this weekend and i Know i can't deal with waking up everynight like this in severe pain. Everyone just makes me feel like i'm over reactin and it's nice to know that somebody out there is going through the same thing. Any comments will be great.

I was given 20 mg of Prednisone for 10 days for a rash and joint pain.
The pain went away and I felt great the rash got a little better. Two days ago I took my last pill. I woke up that night and my knees gave out. By morning I was great! Next night I woke with knee problem again had to slide down the stairs to the living room. I got to wondering if the knee thing could be associated with the Prednisone. I got on line and read all this terrible stuff. I am so Horrified! Today I am in pain like my body is bruised and my face is swollen a little. I have acid reflux as well. Non of this is typical for me. My knee thing is ok again, but I am just appalled! I have no MED insurance. I hope this isn't the beginning of worse things I am not taking that drug now. The Dr. didn't say I needed to taper...

I hope I have not damaged myself by taking this drug! My heart goes out to all of you! My question is - Why are the Dr.'s prescribing this terrible drug?

Hi guys,

I have written several replies to people on the side effects of Prednisone.

Mainly I have dealt with how long it takes for your body to go back to normal after being on it. This is because i was on it for ten years and have been off it for three and have dealt with side effects and adrenal insufficiency.

I am trying to create awareness for what people go through on Prednisone and also trying to create some support for people out there.

So I have recently created a group on Facebook called Survivors of Prednisone. For those of you who are on Facebook you might be interested enough to have a look and maybe find other people who you can share things with and know that you are not alone. Also I can answer questions if you want to ask me things.

good luck and hope to see you there,

Anne

Hello EveryOne out there...OK OK....

Now Why have I been out of touch since Sept 14th.... 2007???

I have been VERY VERY ill.....

Y'See, I went to see this new Doctor (Quack) for continued pain in my chest (sternum) area....that I have been having trouble with all Summer. (Severe Costochondritis/Fibromyalgia) By Sept 14th, this Quack who claims to be a Doctor had given me this prescription for Prednisone pills (20 mg each)....with orders to take mega doses of this toxic poison in order to combat the pain I was suffering. I was so desperate to get out of pain that I went ahead and filled the prescription and started taking the pills that eventful Friday night. I made the fatal mistake of trusting this Doctor!!!

If I had any sense God gave green apples I would have researched this a little before taking this medicine!! I would have run like all heck in the opposite direction!

I had been taking these reccomended large doses for approx two weeks back then per Doctor 'Quack's' order.... I have been hooked after the first week....and now currently desperately trying to get off of it with only marginal success!!

I have been on this Prednisone crap for some 49 days, currently and desperately trying to get off of it....with terrible side effects!! I have experienced every side effect known to the Devil himself and even discovered some new ones that I never knew was possible!? Case in point! I can't sleep night after night without terrible withdrawals all night long!!! I am forced to contend with them every night here. Not to mention I fight the withdrawals all days long too. I have this inept doctor and I am sorry I even went to him in the first place...!

The withdrawals I am now getting are harder to deal with than the original chest pain itself!!! Not to mention even eating the so-called 'wrong' foods sets off even more withdrawals almost immediately. I am now extremely sensitive to light and the sun~ not to mention.....noise....and stress....

I am much sicker from this Quack Doctor's so-called "HELP" than I ever was before....

I don't mind saying his name and trying to steer everyone away from this jerk Doctor here in Las Vegas who takes advantage of people in pain when they are desperate by feeding them toxic poisons and passing the poison off as something harmless thats gonna help them??? Just ask me who he is and I will tell you. I have no qualms about it....

Bottom line is I have spent this last month trying to get off this crap and I just found out that the withdrawals may bother me up to a YEAR after I take my last dose of this crap poison!! I have been going thru H***!!! A nightmare I would LOVE to pass onto this Quack who pretends to be a doctor!

I am down to about 7.5 mg per day now from about 180 mg that he gave me originally Sept 14 2007. Believe me this was not easy thing for me to do. I went "Toxic" on this drug weeks ago and it has affected my ability to process, think and reason properly. I feel like part of my mind is now missing or went on permanent vacation!! Dizziness,feeling like I'm gonna pass out, Brain Fog and Mass Confusion is the order for the day~depending on the time of day???

"The side effects of prednisone include adrenal suppression, which can occur with periods of prednisone use to surpass seven days. Adrenal suppression refers to the body’s inability to synthesize natural corticosteroids, resulting in a dependency on the prednisone taken by the patient. This is why doctors do not recommend the cessation of prednisone when the patient has taken it for longer than seven days. They reduce the dose gradually over a few days in the case of short-term prednisone use, and over weeks or months in the case of long-term treatment. Stopping prednisone treatment abruptly can cause the life-threatening Addison’s disease, in which in the body no longer produces sufficient amounts of adrenal steroid hormones"

I want to SUE this Doctor for making me this sick!!!!!

SDR

GRRRRRRRRRrrrrr!!!!!!!

Hello, I was put on Prednisone for 12 days and made it through 11. It's been about 11 days since I've taken it and I'm still having symptoms. I have such bad anxiety and depression, mostly after dinner. My heart rate and blood pressure shoot up, and I have to pee every 15 mins. I had gone to the ER on the last day I was on it because I was having evil thoughts and crying uncontrollably. They told me it was probably steroidal psychosis and sent me to a shrink who now has me on Ativan until the Paxil she also prescribed me kicks in. Does ANYONE know how long this drug will be in my system? I took a tappered 12-day dose starting at 60mg. This drug may save lives, but it's really put hard times in mine. Any response is*****

My Mother was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis 30 years ago. She has been on prednisone at low doses since then. About 3 years ago she started imagining things, and hallusinations. About 2 years ago her prednisone dose went up to 60mg a day due to a stroke of the optic eye nerve. She has since been tapering down, now at 15mg a day. But tapering down makes her arthritis more painful. She has developed diabetes, loss of sleep, loss of apetite, loss of muscle tone. When she gets bumped, it's a big opened gash, rather than just a bruise. With the higher dose she was more moody & would get angry easier. The hallucinations & paranoia continue & are making me more & more concerned. I haven't read about this in any of the stories. Has anyone else experienced this side effect? I spoke with her Rheumatologist who suggest a psychiatrist to prescribe anti-psychotic drugs. She's already on 11 pills a day, does she need another?
Please let me know if anyone has experienced this as well.
Thank you.

I am a 19-year-old female pre-med student who has been taking this nasty drug for exacly 1 year now.... The amount I am on continues to change, for my disease keeps returning and leaving remission. I finally get down to 10mg from 40mg, and have to go back up when symptoms return!!! This is SO discouraging. The worst part is, no one understands the physical and emotional agony this drug brings on. I'm 19 and feel like I'm 90. My body aches, my weight is constantly fluctuating, I bruise from simply being poked (being a clumsy person, I look like I am beat!!), my bones feel as if they are about to break, and I am SEVERELY despressed. Being in college and taking rigorous classes, this is just too much for me to handle anymore... My 5-year relationship with the love of my life/best friend is falling apart because of my horrible mood swings.. don't blame him for leaving. I feel as if this drug has ruined my life more than the disease itself...Does ANYONE know if one's body and mind returns to "normal" after FINALLY being off this drug??? I pray to God the answer is yes... I would appreciate someone's reply and/or insight, because my Dr. fails to tell me about ANY side effects until I mention something. PLEASE REPLY!!!

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

Hello everyone. Thank you for sharing your stories. I no longer feel so confused as to what I am experiencing while on Prednisone. I was prescribed this medication for my back (I have a ruptured disc). I am 24 years old. I took a short five day treatment of prednisone about three weeks ago. I was very foggy and forgetful. I was tired and bloated. The worst side effect I have noticed is ACNE! Oh my gosh, I haven't ever experienced a breakout like this before. This breakout is a continuous side effect long after I stopped taking the drug. I went to the doctor again yesterday for a check up on the status of my back injury. He has prescribed a THIRTY day treatment and even more aggressive approach with prednisone!!!! I am so scared to start this treatment because of what I have already experienced. HELP! Does anyone know if the acne will clear up? Will it scar? Does anyone have any tips on this?
Thanks.

I started with 60 mg per day for polymyalgia rheumatica and now after two years have weaned myself down to 5 mg per day. I have a side effect that I have not read anyone else having. It has effected my taste buds. Many foods that I loved in the past, have a foreign taste to me. I am 66, male and have tried to drop down to 2 1/2 mg but the pain is too intense to remain at that level, so had to return to 5 mg. I have lots of pain in the feet and especially toes. I can tell that I am getting better and am very anxious to get off of Prednisone.

First off, it is NOT smart to come of high doses of prednisone as some people here are doing. If you come off from a high dose, you can develope something called adrenal insufficency--which can put you in serious danger, and the side effects will double.

I'm on prednisone, 80mg a day (and i'm only 110 pounds), and the side effects are awful. However, if you don't like the side effects of prednisone, or how you're doctor is handling it--change doctors. Prednisone is not a drug to play around with. Please be careful.

After being hospitalized for 10 days back in November, I was finally diagnosed with a fairly rare autoimmune disease. Treatment included 60mg Prednisone daily along with weekly infusions and other meds. I am now down to 20mg daily and dosage for other meds remain at the same levels as in November.

I am uncertain if the following were side effects of Prednisone or because I had lost over 25 pounds and was totally exhausted before going into the hospital.

While I was on the 60mg dosage, however, I was unable to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes. I was extremely forgetful. It was often good for a hearty laught, but sentances and words constantly came out of my mouth backwards or made no sense (like I'd say "Didn't that happen tomorrow?"). I had frequent headaches. I was tired most of the time and slept a l-o-t, but when extremely tired, I'd break down in tears over nothing at all. I developed severe stomach problems, but that was alleviated by taking Nexium twice daily.

Now on the current lower dosage and after gaining back half the weight I had lost, the "side effects" noted above have either disappeared or occur far less frequently and I've not developed any "new" ones, except that my face has besome puffy within the past week or so. My ability to think and concentrate for long periods has greatly improved, but I'm still not as alert and do not react as fast as before I was hospitalized.

Hopefully, these, too, will be back to normal once I'm off all the meds. I'm uncertain just when that is expected to occur but I'm sure that depends on whether I experience any flare-ups or not.

I'm also curious - Does anyone know if any side effects can occur several months or years after Prednisone has been discontinued?

My 73 year old Mother has been on prednizone since Sept 2006, the reason is she's being treated for temporal artritis. It has stopped the headaches but has set her disbetes out of control. She now has to monitor her blood sugar every 2 hours. If I had known the side effects of prednisone first, I would have asked about other options.

Hello everyone!

Just let me start by saying thank you to everyone who is writing in about the side effects of Prednisone.

I was put in the hospital for an ear infection which rapidly turned into a swollen inflamed ear which was 4 times it's normal size. I was placed on an IV of antibiotics and Darvoset for the pain. The swelling in my ear diminished and after5 days i was released from the hospital. I went home and noticed my head was slightly off as i was having some vertigo and nausea. I notified my doctor during my follow up from my release and she gave me some mecclazine and a asked that i stay on the antibiotics (Doxycylcine & Levaquin). The most confusing part to me was that the doctor never had anything to culture as far as what caused te original ear infection. She nevere visited me while in the hospital bed as i felt she should and since she never had a complete picture as to what caused the infection i felt she may have been just inadvertantly prescribing the biotics as a precaution.

Now the fun starts for me. Every evening during my stay and after my release my ear would feel flush and semi hot and i would wake up in the morning drenched in sweat as though my body was fighting something. I have a feeeling (but cant prove it) that i was given a steroid through IV while in the hospital. After explaining to the specialist assigned to my case that i was having this type of trouble, she immediately prescribed Prednisone on a 12 day decreased dosage plan.

Since taking it i have had increased swelling in my neck, face and at the back of my neck like others have mentioned. I am also irritable and moody (depressed). I am a very happy person normally and i am struggling to stay calm and cool but finding it difficult to keep things in check at times. I also am having trouble speaking on the phone. This makes it hard for me to perform customer service on the telephone.
There is a swollen part of my neck( almost like a lump near my gland which has gradually gotten more pronounced since the hospital stay). I am not sure if this is a possible side effect from the Prednisone either.

Anyway - the ENT specialist has decided i have Relapsing Perichondritis (Polychondritis) which may or may not be true. How does one go from an ear ache to this?

Can anyone shed some light on what they think may be happening?

Sorry for rambling.. i do this when i am nervous... another side effect. :(

Tom -44 yr old male.

I am 24 years old and have suffered from Irritable Bowel Disease for 22 years. I have taken prednisone 4 times in my life, but I always had to take high dosages for a very long period of time and then the weaning period lasted for months. In 2004 I had such a bad flare-up of Crohn's that I almost didn't make it. So I say Prednisone is my necessary EVIL.
I gained 40 pounds and was a MONSTER with my mood swings. The lasting side effects have been hard for me to handle.
The Prednisone cut off blood to some of my bones which now are dead and very painful as a result. I am having major knee surgery in a week and a half because of this (which is called Avascular Necrosis). I have AVN in both of my ankles, both knees, and most likely in both wrists. I will most likely need a Total Knee Replacement, but because I'm so young my doctors are trying every other type of treatment first (otherwise I would probably end up in a wheelchair by my 50s) I am in constant pain. I had never even heard of this as a side-effect until 2004 and after I was already on a high dose for a month.
I also have cataracts from taking steriods.
I feel MUCH older than I am. I have battled a disease for 22 years but the side effects of Prednisone are harder for me to deal with.
Although prednisone essentially saved my life, I wish I would have been more informed of ALL the possible side effects.

I am interested to learn more about the emotional or psychological side effects of prednisone. I have read or heard about the following: depression, anxiety, mood swings, hallucinations, moral or ethical misjudgment (e.g., proneness to disregard good judgment regarding alcohol, drug use, sexual behavior, etc.), suicidal ideation. Has anyone any anecdotal information regarding these side effects and at what dosage did they manifest themselves?

gypsi
This is Angela again I desided to join this sight and see if maybe through others help I can live through the side effects of prednisone.
You asked how long I have been on prednisone I have been on it for 2 years every day but on and off for 15 years.
I too was skinny before starting this drug. I do not want to lose all the weight I have gained but I would like to lose some of it. I was told if I want to walk and see I will be on this the rest of my life.
They do not know even what is wrong with me but prednisone has slowed down how quickly I am losing use of things. Maybe if they figure out what is wrong I can come of it. I have given up hope.
Thanks for writing
Angela

I was put on high doses of prednisone for three months. It was to controll envoluntary leg spasms (pain was
severe) As soon as prednisone was stoped, the spasms were back, and muscle tone in both legs seem to be gone- my legs feel like rubber. I have asked the Drs. if it is due to the prednisone, but I dont get any strait answers.
Have seen three nurosurgeons-believing the problem is due to "disc problems" CAT scan was done while still ON prednisone, so only "stenosis" showed up. Wish I had a Dr. that knew more about effects of prednisone on leg muscles.l

I sat down tonight to look up the side effects of Prednisone and an hour later am sitting her feeling both reassured and in disbelief. What a crazy drug! I have a side effect that no one else mentioned - maybe it's not the Prednisone? I had a sever respiratory infection that caused my Asthma to spin out of control. By the time I saw the doctor I was pretty sick and once again, he doled out the Pred. I've only been on it (this time) for 6 days and the taste in my mouth is unbearable. My tongue feels swolen (along with the rest of my body) and hairy! What's that? No one else mentioned this. My mouth constantly tastes like "morning breath" or like I've been eating trash. What do I do to try to get rid of it? I EAT and EAT and EAT!

This drug is so powerful. I'd rather use an inhaler every 3 hours than feel this FAT and have this taste in my mouth. Will the swolen weight gain feeling go away on it's own or will I have to turn into a workout freak? Someone let me know!

Dec. 9, 2004 - earlier this week (2-3 days ago) I wrote an item about my side effects of prednisone. I think I failed to give my e-mail address which is ******. I wrote regarding rying to get off and about the burning I have around my rib cage and breasts. I guess I will have to try and rewrite it. Sorry about this. Barb ***