analyst's Profile

My Side Effect Posts

PredniSONE 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?