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In June I found out I had actue renal failure. One of the many m...

Posted at 5:29 AM on Oct 19, 2007 by mrfun4, #24413
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?
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Reply over 2 years ago on Oct 20, 2007 by paperworkfairy, #2480

HI,
I was on prednisone for ten years and have been off it for three years.
I went through absolute hell when i was coming off it.
I had severe mood swings, my face would puff up, my stomach would puff up, a lot of my hair had already fallen out so i had to get hair extensions, my joints became very sore.
Basically what is happening to you is that your body is trying to produce its own cortisone. When you get on the prednisone it shuts down your adrenal glands so that your body is not producing its own cortisone anymore.

Be prepared this is not going to be an easy ride. Your body is going to go through adrenal crisis as it tries to work out how much cortisone to produce. This is why you are getting the moon face etc.

When I first started to go through it, I started throwing up and could not keep anything down. It was awful.

By the way the drug is not a miracle cure, it is a big farce by the medical community as far as i am concerned :)

I am still suffering from the effects of being on it but the effects are much less now. It took me about two years for my puffy face to go completely but sometimes i still look weird in photos like i did on the prednisone.

I got through it by natural means. If you want to know more then email me at paperworkfairy@gmail.com

Hang in there,

it does get better,

see you

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