PredniSONE side effects

I am 18, and used to be sooo healthy. In August 2009, I left home to go to school, I met new friends, and felt like I was starting my own life and becoming independent. Sometime in October 2009 I started to feel weird symptoms, mostly just being really tired all the time. The week of Thankgiving 2009, I was hospitalized and diagnosed with having Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia (the warm kind, I can't find the difference between the cold and the warm kind). I had a blood transfusion, and the doctors started me on 80mg of the prednisone a day. Now I am coming off the predisone, and currently taking 5mg a day. Tapering off of this drug has been hell not just for me, but for my family as well. My whole life I have always been a happy easy going kid, and in December 2009 the side effects started to take over. I didn't have any energy to do things, sometimes all I could do in a day was shower. I had trouble sleeping, developed a very pale moon face with the darkest circles, couldn't concentrate (I couldn't return to school this semester or drive for two months), my mind felt like it was going at a million miles an hour, felt anxious all the time, I had the worse mood swings, swelling in my ankels, a sort of "dry rash" began to develop on my legs, the "peach fuzz" on my cheeks got darker, I had shakes in my hands for a while, I lost my sense of humor and started to feel depressed, which really scared my family. They thought I might become suicidal and wanted me to take anit-depressents. I found an alternative. When my side effects were really bad, caffeine calmed me down when I was having mood swings, but that made my shakes worse, so sometimes I took anti-anxiety pills, which really mellowed me out. I would reccomend taking anit-anxiety meds to help calm yourself, but those did tire me out a lot. Recently (and I know this will sound cheesy), I have found that playing video games has helped me a lot, it gives me something to concentrate on, and I have noticed an incredible decrease in my mood swings. These side effects are still somewhat present, but have become much more mild. I am starting to feel a little bit normal, but I have started to loose more hair than I usually do. I have always seemed to "shed" but now it is getting rediculous. I was wondering if that goes away after getting off the prednisone. I cannot wait to get off of this drug and back to living like a young adult. Before reading the other posts, I felt like I was alone, going crazy and never thought I would ever be the same person I was before I became sick. Now, I know that I will be alright, and I would like to thank everyone who has shared their story on this site. As far as the prednisone goes, I would NEVER ever recommend it to anyone unless their life depended on it!! The side effects are terrible and not worth the trouble. And anyone that is taking it and is stuck at home for months at a time, I feel for you. It is going to be rough, but you will get through it!

i am a 63 yo male and was given dexamesone {i am told 5 times stronger than pred. for severe arititis have been on it for 2 years and my life is gone i gained 100lbs and cant pass up sweets.my legs are exreemely weak and i have shortness of breath.for breathing priblem was prescribed albuterol of course with steroids.

took it for a week to reduce sinus swelling...felt like i wanted to go on a killing spree,argue with everyone,get into physical altercations.....this stuff is dangerous!!!

I have a 13 year old boy that was diagnosed with Ulcerated Colitis in December 2009 in January was in hospital for 1.5 weeks. My son is on prednisone, aceacole and imuran. Next week I start weaning him off prednisone, was wondering what to expect. Also is anyone familuar with imuran. This has been a long haul and know it will continue for a while. If anyone has only advise I would appreciate it.

My major side effects include:

• Feeling ill.
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Itching (When hot or cold) Tube travel unbearable and feel like tearing skin off.
• Urine fluctuating in colour.
• Exhaustion
• Pain in upper right hand quadrant of abdomen
• Severe pain in legs when walking/standing Can’t walk without crutches most of the time.
• Pain in joints – especially knees and hips. Exacerbated by standing for periods of time.
• Muscle cramps/spasms
• Severe Exhaustion/Sleeping 18 hours a day
• Spots/acne/pus filled lumps in intimate areas and behind ears increasing
• Peeing lots
• Hair loss – hair very thin now
• Cholestatic
• Sharp stabbing pain in liver and can’t breathe sometimes (usually once daily)
• Diarrhoea
• Feel very weak
• Skin comes off when scratching
• Memory loss/confused – forget whether I’ve eaten or taken medication.
• Problems focusing
• Emotional
• Paranoid/Depressed/Miserable

I'm going to be on it for the rest of my life.

HAS ANYONE EVERY EXPERIENCED "TREMORS" OR ANYTHING SIMILAR FORM THIS DRUG? I WAS ON IT FOR ONLY A WEEK AND HAVE SINCE BEEN HAVING TREMOR SENASATIONS THROUGHOUT MY BODY...MOSTLY MY NECK/HEAD? CAN ANYONE REALATE?

PLEASE never ever take this drug unless you are dying on your deathbed. My story is this. I have an allergic throat condition called EE, not life threatening just a gi condition with a lot of burning and throat issues. I went to a lecture and went to a supposed "expert " for this at ma general, Initials are C.H. and he is a GI guy. He was such a jerk to me and carelessly said to go on HIGH dose of 60mg for three and a half months! well, by two and a half weeks, I had cushings syndrome(huge head and hump in back), and knees became literally crippled. I called the jerk and said I feel awful what do i do. He claims that he "never heard of such things" tells me to drop to forty. Well, four days later I am in the ER with a pulmonary embolism and lung damage, then they hospitalized me three more times , one visit was TEN days. Turns out i had/have steroid myopathy , totally numb in legs and arms, SEVERE , bone crushing pain. It has been 8 months now, and I am still suffering and in physical therapy three times a week. Now, they are finding Avascular Necrosis all over my bones. This stuff ruins lives, please don't make the mistake I made of believing that doctors are god. They dont care what they do to do, you can be just a lab rat to them sometimes. I have lost all quality of life due to this drug and doctor, and no doctor will tell me that I will ever recover. I limp around with a cane for the last eight months and cry daily from the pain, despite painkillers. This stuff is NO JOKE. I was healthy and in the gym, NEVER had joint pain. Please , please take this warning as a gift. This stuff is pure poison. I even asked the "dr" , "isnt this a really high dose and shouldnt you only take a short time" Well, he blew off that question like I was an idiot,and now this is the result. Trust your gut instincts on this one please. I felt horrible from day two on, and I only stayed on because this ass said, "im not even going to look at your throat until youve been on it for two full months. Other doctors are horrified at what he did to a healthy vibrant young woman. I will spend the rest of my life warning people. I could have died from this drug.. I always thought people were a bit cooky that wrote these types of things, but now, after having lived through a nightmare, I can see why people are so charged up about this stuff. arrghh!

I am a newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma (cancer) patient. After each of my chemo cycles, I am sent home on 100mg/day Prednisone, taken mornings. Prednisone has a cytotoxic effect, causing some cancer cells to 'commit suicide'. It's probably also prescribed for my other anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea reasons, but it's a b**tch! I dread taking it over each of the 5 days. My heart races uncontrollably. I go into what I call 'panic attacks' easily. The anxiety is almost uncontrollable. I can't sleep. I have nightmares. I loose my temper alot and will be crying the next minute. This is serious. I consulted a psychiatrist. I had actually been drivine to visiting the Hemlock Society's assisted suicide website, reserving the option to take myself out peacefully if it just became intolerable. The worst thing is the deep depression I fall into as I crash in the days after discontinuing the Prednisone. No tapering on short term doses I guess. A rescue med was prescribed, Atavan, a benzodiazapine, but it just knocks me out, is habit forming (psych says uncommon times call for uncommon measures) and I suffer from retrograde amnesia when taking it (can't remember a thing that happened during the eight-ish hours I'm on it). What a ride this stuff.

My side effects are pretty much the same as everyone else. I started at 60mg, then to 20mg and now finally down to 2mg per day. I have temporal arteritis (a swelling of the arteries in my head). Without prednisone I would have gone blind or had a stroke. Depended on what my SED rate is the doctor lowers my dosage 1mg per month and weaning this way has been very easy. It's a great drug but a horrible drug at the same time! Can't wait for a good nights sleep and weight loss. There is a light at the end of the tunnel...for me though tapering off slowly has been the best way to go.

I went into the Dr because I had a rash in my mouth like an allergic reaction to something. My tongue and throat were slightly swollen. He game me a shot of sterois called Methylprednisolone sodium succinate 125mg that hurt SOOOO MUCH! I COULDN'T STAND OR SIT FOR AN HR! Then he prescribed a 5 day dose of Prednisone at 60mg a day. First day I was in pain...my legs hurted sooo much! Now my second day they STILL HURT! LIKE A RAN A MARATHON!!!! I'm afraid of what my 3rd 4th and 5th day will look like at this point....I've never felt like this before...I have a dry mouth all the time! and ON my first night I already had trouble staying asleep but in the morning I slept alll day! I'm gng to go see my personal physician tomorrow as the Dr that gave me this stuff wsn't even my Dr, he was the only one in the ER at the time...I'm scared...hearing everyones side effects to this medication makes me think twice about taking it...if only I knew what I was gettin myself into.

I am a 67 Yr old male post heart transplant. I am on Prograf, Cellcept and Prednisone for anit-rejection, plus Zetia for Cholesteral issues. I also take numerous vitamins and diruetic because of the prednisone. I have experienced most of the above listed symptoms and have had no idea what caused them all. I also have quite a problem with cramping of feet and legs at night and hands and arms during the day. both are very intermittent. I have suffered from very severe hand tremors, mood swings, all the others. I have wondered and spoken to my Dr.s' @ Duke University MC about the tooth pain issue but no one has ever offered any reason why. Now I see. I have tried different sensitivity toothpastes, all have the same ingredients, only difference is cost. I even went to my dentist and got a special tooth gel to use with my tooth paste which helps. The issue is now after 2 1/2 years the tooth pain has come back in full force. It only seems to effect the rear teeth not my incisors. I am only now taking 2.5mg of Prednisone daily but was wondering why the sensitivity returned so badly recently. It now seems worse than when I was first on the Prednisone after my transplant when the amounts I was taking were around 100mg per day and then started to lower weekly except when I had rejection issues and I had to go on 400 mg per day for several days. You will really experience severe mood swings, anger issues, hot flashes. Full PMS and menopause symptoms. I now appreciate what women go through.

I went to the Dr. yesterday, since I have thrush in my mouth, and my second cold in less than a month--much worse than the first one. It was good to hear the Dr. actually say that both are caused by the Prednisone messing up my immune system. I am taking lozenges 5 times/day for 2 weeks for the thrush.
A few months ago, I had all the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, and the Dr. feels that was due to the Prednisone too. He said it increases the frequency of urination. So, Ann, perhaps Prednisone is what is causing your problems.

taking this for polymylagia & notice that if i drink wine i get a funny feeling in my waterworks a bit like cystitis, go to wee a lot & eating chocolate seems to affect me & gives me the runs.
Are these caused by the taking of these tablets. i have been on them as treatment for polymylagia for nearly a year

I am deeply looking into taking an offensive role with all of this. Can anyone suggest things to detoxify this crap out of my system?

I took prednisone for a month at a time every two years from 1999 to 2004 for cluster headaches. It was the only thing that would control the pain. Started with 60mg/day for 5 days and start the tapering process by reducing by 20mg per taper. If the headache pain returned I would up it again to 60 mg for 5 days. Once the pain stops I would taper by 20mg day for 5 days at a time and eventually taper down to nothing. Move ahead 4 years. I decided to get myself in shape and start distance running. Now as I am exercising consistently the side-effects of prednisone are manifesting themselves. These include severely increased appetite, abdominal bloating, mania, irritability, mood swings, weight gain, constipation, dizziness, muscle cramps, fatigue. All blood tests come back normal. This is what I think happened. Prednisone is very harsh on one's liver. What the liver can't process it traps in fat molecules and deposits it somewhere on the body. When I exercise, specifically if I run more than a 5K and go into fat burning mode, I release the predinose that was stored in the fat for years back into my system via the burned fat molecules for fuel and it throws me for a loop over the next few days. I also experience this when I do a fast. Once I reach ketosis, the side effects manifest themselves once again and a lot worse than from the running fat burn. Muscle cramps are the worst because they hinder me from running. The others are just uncomfortable. I took the prednisone to keep from blowing my brains out from the cluster headache pain. I never knew it could effect me years latter. Luckily I have had no more headaches since 2004. I did a 10 day master cleanse fast and I think that purged whatever was in my system that was causing them.

I am the person who was put on Prednisone by a pharmacy med error. I did the tapering, and have been off it a week. I had a bad cold earlier in the month, was over it for a week, and now have another bad cold, worse than the first one. I am still exhausted, and have been having headaches off and on since I got off the med. At least the severe night sweats, insomnia, dizziness, swollen ankles, and painful joints have stopped. The weight gain is still with me though. I was such a healthy person before all this started. Now I feel like a very sick person. My heart goes out to all of you who have to take the Prednisone, and are experiencing so many side effects.

my 12 year old has been on and off prednisone since he was 3 months old ro severe asthma. i noticed that it made him really angry and out of control, but the doctors said "Do you want him to breath or not?" well 2 days ago after bein put on 60mg twice a day my son punched me in my eye so hard that he broke the bone around my eye and I may have permanet vision loss.

I am taking my last does of Prednisone tomorrow and I cant wait to get off. Since I have been on it I have had rapid or flutter heart beat, insomina and numbness in my arms and legs, and even in my face! I have read all the post here and wonder if anyone else has had the tingly "asleep feeling" limbs. I am terrified bc I am now having the signs of MS, I am hoping these are just side effects of this nasty hormone and will go away once I am weaned off of them... Anyone out there who can relate or add input?

Started with 60 mg three weeks - 30 mg for three weeks - 15 mg for three weeks and now off. Prescribed for severe RA. Worked very well at the beginning of the therapy, considerably reducing symptoms but most of the symtoms came back as the dose was tapered. Midway through this regimen, developed irregular and fast heat beat. One time went to ER. Also, extreme fatigue and irritability. During all this time, was also on an intense natural product protocol. Now relying totally on a natural product protocols, with decent results. The RA is manageable but until there is a product/therapy that restores the immune system to its pre RA status, any therapy will attempt to keep the inflammation at joint pay at bay. Prednisone, Demards and Biologicals will not restore the immune system

My MD friend told me, in general, for those that have been on a relatively high dose (40 mg and above) and eventually tapered, once totally withdrawn, the side effects can last for at least 45 days. I have had a very rapid heart rate, had to go the ER once. Had taken prednisone for RA, but now on a intense natural product regimen, still have some inflamation and joint pain, but nothing like the worst symptoms I have had and now are manageable. Until there is a product/therapy that restores the immune system to its prior to RA status, I and everyone else will have to deal with trying to reduce inflammation and joint pain. Prednisone, Dmards and Biologicals do not restore the immune system.

I'm a recent kidney transplant patient and currently on 5mg of Prednisone daily which I guess is the lowest dose. I started out on a much higher dose. At first I didn't really notice the side effects. I attributed my weight gain to lack of physical activity during my surgery recovery and the acne was minimal but strangely enough it seems that as they have lowered my dose the acne seems to be more pronounced and I continue to gain weight. I haven't expereinced any of the psychological effects people have described. I really want to get off the medication because of the acne and weight gain but I probably will have to take it the rest of my life.

My mother has been on prednisone but 9 years now but ever since my mom is never been her self she looks like she is more sick then ever she had mood changes she always with pain she always tiered and she just killing her self she crys when she don't have this pill it like she relly needs it i think she is adicti to it but i relly don't know how to help her i think she is going to kill her self so day with this pill.

google prednisone adrenals ... it shuts down your adrenals causing all sorts of problems (including screwing up your thyroid and other monthly hormones). I posted my story on the kenalog page. Since my reaction to the Kenalog shot and prednisone pills this past week, I have been reading a lot of scary things. I have had a shot of cortisone for sinus infections over the years. This is the first time I had such a reaction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prednisone

Adrenal suppression will occur if prednisone is taken for longer than 7 days. This will cause the body to lose the ability to synthesize natural corticosteroids, resulting in dependence on prednisone. For this reason, prednisone should not be abruptly stopped if taken for more than seven days, and instead, the dosage should be gradually reduced.

I'm going to go to a naturopath next week to see if I can get tested and repair my adrenals.

I went to the ER lastnight do to a reaction to something that we are not really sure what but I broke out with a very itchy rash on my lower legs then move up to the top part then to my sides but it seems to only be on the front of my body...The doctor put me on Prednisone 20 mg tablets I am to take 3 tables at once 60 mg by mouth for 5 days I have 15 tablets. they gave me a shot at the hospital and I did not feel anything but very tired cause they also shot me with a double dose of Benad. I was just wondering If anyone could tell me what to expect taking 60 mg for 5 day?? No they are not weening me off.

I just got done taking all my prednisone for bronchitis two days ago. I was taking 60mg for five days. Anywho, I woke up yesterday hurting every where. I mean pain all down my back, legs, stomach, every where. So I called the Doc today and she tells me that the pain is normal, that those pills will make you feel pain like that, even after you have already finished them all off. She said it takes a few days to get out of your system. Does anyone know how long it takes for this pain to go away? If you have ever had a bad sun burn then you know what I am feeling. That is the best way to explain my pain, my skin hurts just when I touch it, like a sun burn would hurt if touched.

I,m 35, and recently was on amoxicillin- clavicular acid (amoxi-Clav) for a Ear & sinus Infection. On day 6 of the Antibiotic, I started getting a few hives on my face, which by 10 hourselater had turned to sever reaction of my throat closing, and my entire face, chest, and scalp covered in Hives. I went to emerg early in the morning to be started on a iv, and IV Steroids, with Benadryl IV. Apprently now very allergic to Penicillin, (never had a reaction before.)
The steroids gave me a racing heart, and insomnia, and a jittery weak body, at times feeling so dizzy i could not stand, or walk. I am home now, and clear, afeter bieng in/ out of the emerg room, and admitted twice over 6 days. I,m currently on 40mg. day of Prednizone, and still am having a hard time functioning. I,m very weak, shaky, racing heart, Insomnia, Heartburn, foggy vision. and generally feeling like I ,m only existing in this body. not always a part of it. im wondering if the side effects will east off with time. I have 8 more days to go at 40mg, and was not prescribed a decrease to ween off of them. What should I expect to feel? The Allergic reaction has come to a stand, and that is good. as I was definately afraid of the outcome of that. However, now I,m concerned about the lack of sleep, and how this will affect me.and Whether My heart can continue to run at these speeds?????

I have been prescribed prednisone about 1 - 2 times a year to help with asthma for as long as I can remember. I admit, might be a case of inconsistant use of preventitive medication. Usually get bronchitis after a cold and the prednison clears up my lungs almost immediately. My dose is usually 3 days at 60 mg, 3 days at 40 mg and 20 mg for 3 days. I have been trying to do research on positive side effects of the drug. I feel great when I am on prednisone. I have more energy, am more focused, and have decreased appetite. I am much more productive at work and home. I find that I am more organized and am able to complete tasks when usually I feel like I suffer from adhd. Although I am usually only on a short term dose, I have never experienced weight gain, fluid retention. I will say that I have trouble sleeping and my heart does race on the higher dose. But the benefits far outweigh the side effects. A friend in the medical field said that she has heard of people being on low doses (5mg) on a long term daily basis to help them feel more energetic. I can't seem to find any research on positive effects and why the prednisone is helping me stay focused. Can anyone give any insight on how prednisone helps me feel better when all I have been able to find is the negative side effects.

I am the 43 woman with UC who posted my story in late December. This week, I am now down to 30 mg of Prednisone. I started at 60 mg and had horrible side effects. Most of the side effects have subsided at 30 mg except for the weak muscles and blurry vision. It is still hard to walk up stairs. But I am sleeping better at night and feeling better over-all.
I feel that Prednisone did help my UC with relieving the severe cramping and diarrhea. Now, it is probably a combination of the Prednisone and Remicade (second infusion last week). Prednisone is nasty but I was hospitalized and very sick before going on Prednisone. In my opinion, this drug has helped me get on the path to healing so thus far, the side-effects are worth it. I did not have a lot of options as Asacol, Rowasa and steroid suppositories stopped working.
Good luck and good helath everyone!

I was diagnosed with UC about 2 years ago after I came back from Mexico. Thought at first it was just the side effects of the country, but didn't go away so my medical dr. had me see a gastroenterologist. He started me on Prednisone, about 40 mg a day but had a difficult time with that so went to 30 mg. and also was doing the Rowasa enemas. Within weeks, I was feeling better and started weening off the pred. I was put on Balsalazide to help stay in remission. This involves taking 9 capsules a day, then I went to 6 on my own and stayed in remission for about 7 months. Then I got a resp. infection and the UC was back and has been since. We have tried a few low doses of Pred. but didn't work. Also tried the Rowasa enemas, they help some but didn't put it in remission. Still not in remission, and now I have an anal fissure, a tear in the anoderm of the anal canal. This is the most painful thing I have ever had. Since the diarhea has been pretty bad, it can't have time to heal and they don't want to do surgery until I get the colitis back on track. I get by each day by taking Extra strength tylenol and some advil, I also have stomach problems for which I take protonox. I am going back to Cancun in less than two weeks, so to get things under control, the Dr. has prescribed 40 mg. a day again of Prednisone. I really don't want to go back to it but see what some of the side effects of the other drugs are and since I am in a lot of pain, I am willing to try and go through it all again. The worse effects for me are the moon face, usually about 10 extra pounds, and facial hair (which I just use a little electric hair remover right over the top to help the appearance). With the UC, I had a lot of joint pain so I have started taking fish oil pills daily 2-4 a day, and that has really helped. I am also going through menopause now and take Black Cohesh Extract for that, which has pretty well stopped the hot flashes. I will be on 9 Balsalazide a day and the Prednisone, with some Rowasa on hand, but am willing to do it so the fissure can heal or I can have the surgery, that is truly the worst part of this right now. I have tried to start eating less roughage, smaller meals, more bananas and yogart and also am taking a probiotox which was recommended by the pharmacist. I know what Prednisone can do to a person, but what I am going through it, the pain right now is far worse. I hope to have some relief so I can enjoy myself on vacation, will be very careful what I eat and drink while there but am determined to have a good time. I also take xanex at night, .25 mgs. is all, had trouble years ago with panic attacks and this drug is great for helping you calm down. If needed, I increase it to two a night but hope this helps with the insomnia which will come with the Prednisone. Awful drug, but am willing to try anything at this point.

i had used prednisolone ten years back for arithiritis and asthama which gained about 15lbs.within 2 months.but now im going through hyperdontia(case in which extra tooths occur abnormally)i got 8 extra teeths with in the span of two years. when i consult orthodontist and maxillo facial surgeon they says it is due to predinosolone or steriods which hav been given to me long back.and they say that they will growth of some more tooths if the steroids affect still effecting.in this case i can't stop erupting my teeths.and should be removed as even the teeths formation is felt or pain occurs.... so far i've been treated for 6 surgeries within d span of 1year 6 months.

I have been off my month long prednisone trip for ten days now. the dr said it could take a month to get rid of it in my system. I still have a bit of shakiness but each day after stopping it was getting better. Some odd days tho i get the thumb aches. Weird symptom I got right away when I started it but did not put the two together. My body tingles has backed off a lot too. This is one weird drug, Do not take it unless you absolutely have to. The chronic ear inflammation and pain I took it for is gradually getting better but not sure if it is the drug or because I have been gargling with anti bacterial mouth wash each night and sitting with heat on it each day. I also have had some jaw pain but I feel quite confident that this will all go away eventually. Good luck to the rest of you too,

I am on a relatively low dose of prednisone (10mg) but am having vision problems. After 15-30 minutes of computer work or accounting work (I am a CPA), I am unable to focus with or without glasses. My rheumatologist blames the prednisone and is trying to reduce the dosage gradually, but I have sarcoidosis which is atypical and causes great pain in all of my joints. When I reduce the dosage very much, the pain returns. The only other problem I have had is with my weight; I have gained 20 pounds so far.

I was prescribed a course of Prednisone to combat an Avelox rash (after 3 doses - Avelox discontinued) for 10 days:

Prednisone:
Day 1-2 - 40 mg AM; 10 mg PM;
Day 3-4 - 30 mg AM; 10 mg PM;
Day 5-6 - 20 mg AM; 10 mg PM;
Day 7-8 - 20 mg AM; 0 mg PM;
Day 9-10 - 10 mg AM; 0 mg PM.

Today would be Day 10, but my doctor gave me a pass on it because it's been messing with my system so bad, so I didn't take the last dose.

The side effects are insomnia, severe muscleand joint aches and pains (it hurts to move sometimes - hurts even just sitting here), depression (That's understandable - this stuff stinks!), indigestion. The rest I can deal with (leather skin, and my nose looks like I have the "gin blossoms" or something - and I don't drink alcohol at all).

I know everybody is different and has different body systems, but in regards to my dosage and the 10 day course time, approximately how long will the Prednisone stay in my system and when will the side effects begin to subside? What is the half life of Prednisone? The bad side effects only really began around Day 7-8. Withdraw maybe? But I was only on it for 9 days? My GP said I should start feeling better in as soon as 1-2 days....

I'd appreciate any and all help with these questions - thank you! And good luck to you fellow sufferers.

God Bless!

I am the person who was put on Prednisone by mistake--a med error by the pharmacist. I am tapering off the Prednisone and am down to 5 mg for 5 days. I have experienced so many bad side effects from this med, and for nothing!! I am still not feeling my best, am very tired, have come down with a bad cold with a sore throat every morning, have gained 10 lbs, and get an ache in my shoulder every evening. I have previously listed the side effects I experienced on the 20 mg dose, but I forgot to mention severe night sweats. My Dr. says to wait a month after I am off it, and then to have a blood test to check my thyroid, and blood sugar. I do hope I have no permanent effects from this horrible drug!!!

I was put on Prednisone 40mg for 4 days, then 30mg for 4 day, then 20 mg for 4 days and finally 10 mg for 4 days for eczema. My skin looked beautiful while I was on the medication, then after 3 days of stopping, my skin started to get little hives again. After the 4th day, my face was red and swollen worst then before. After the 5th day of stopping, I developed the moon face. Talking about horrible side effect. I suddenly had uncontrollable headaches, weight gain in my abdomen and constipation. I felt horrible. It has been 7 days since I have been off the medication and I still have the moon face, and redness to my face. Can someone please tell me if this will ever go away? I will never ever go on this drug again. The side effects are too much to bear and my skin look worst than before.

I'm finishing up a 10 day course of Prednisone following a severe reaction to Avelox (Immediately after the third dose of Avelox: rash, racing thoughts, anxiety, chest pains - THAT was fun...Stopped the Avelox immediately after). I have a couple of days to go on the Prednisone, weening myself off of it as prescribed by my doctor. I've noticed more cramping and aches lately than when I first started. Ankles, knees, thumbs even, calfs, neck and back sometimes. When will these side effects subside? I've taken it before - usually for poison ivy, but this is a rough bout. I'm 45, live in Indiana and it's 9 degrees out side - could that be it as well?

I also have had hair growth on my face. I used to take pride that at 52 years old and female, I did not have facial hair. After being diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis, I was prescribed with 40 mgs.a day for about 3 wks, then went down to 30mgs. for 2 wks, 20mgs, for 2 wks, now at 10mgs for 2 then hopefully getting off! The prednisone side effects have been similar to all above. OCD like crazy, moon face, heart palps., leg cramps (actually ankle cramps), blurry vision, and now this white downy hair on my chin and side burns. I have not had any depression, insomnia or weight gain for some reason. My mid life hot flashes have also gone away since being on prednisone.

I went to the ENT doctor today for a ear problem that started with a cold. I was given a prednisone shot.in his office at 4:00pm EST. By 8:00pm, i was having severe leg,foot, toe, hand, and thumb cramping. Much worse when I tried to recline. I also have pain in my left jaw, which is the same side as the worst ear problem. The cramps subside a little if I stand or sit, but my legs feel tingly like they have poor circulation. I read that Prednisone deletes your potassium level, but wonder how quickly does this happen? I am worried that I could have a heart attack due to low potassium levels.

Update...32 y/o Female, 145 lbs, 5'6". Side effect: None really - I was jittery on the first day, but nothing now, not even insomnia, which I usually have. I've taken four doses of Prednisone and my breathing isn't any better, but I don't have any side effects either, so it's a wash at this point. My next visit is to an ENT, then probably allergy testing to get to the bottom of what is going on.

headaches, jaw pain, severe heartburn, angry/agitated.
i'm only on a one week course, but after reading this i am afraid to take any more.
the rash is better than what might happen.
doctors never mentioned any possible side effects (thanks!!) i thought more was wrong with me and was worried about the causes.
is it better to stop right away or go through the tapering off?
i want to find a herbalist and get some of that post-steroid tea.

I started taking prednisone (this is day 3) of a 10 day, gradually weaning off, course. This is the first time I have ever taken it. I have an autoimmune disease where my body attacks my thyroid. Sometimes, when my thyroid level is off, I get achy all over. I started taking pregnisone for what my doctor thought to be sciatica in my right leg. Now, day 3, I ache all over, feel stiff all over and my back is really hurting. I'm wondering if this medication is causing me to get worse and maybe the sciatica is not sciatica but some other nerve problem.

headache, heartburn so bad i can feel it in my mouth, jaw pain, angry/agitated. hate prednisone, no warnings about the side effects from the doctors. thanks! i was afraid something els was happening to me! some else said it before here, the rash would have been easier to deal with than the steroid.

I forgot to mention I also had, and still have insomnia. I have never had it until I started the Prednisone!

I was given Prednisone by mistake by my pharmacist! I have been taking 20mg/day for 2 months. I just found out I am not even supposed to be on it!! Now I am doing the tapering, and after only 2 days, I have gained 5 lbs, am exhausted, my ankles are swollen, and my knees and ankles ache. After 2 weeks on Prednisone, I had what seemed like a UTI. I went to my Dr. {not the one who I thought had prescribed the Prednisone} and found out it wasn`t a UTI. I recently was having very bad dizzy spells, and headaches also. Does anyone know if I will have permanent damage from taking this drug, especially when there was no medical reason to take it?

32 y/o Female, 145 lbs, 5'6". Side effect: jitters. I had asthma as a kid and I think something in my new house has triggered an asthma episode. I have chronic anxiety and panic as well. After taking Xanax a few times and ruling out that it was indeed an asthma episode and not panic, I went to the doctor and was prescribed Symbicort and Prednisone for trouble taking a deep breath and shortness of breath. I asked the doc for a low dose of Prednisone, so she gave me 40mg a day for five days (children's dosage level). It's my first day on it and I'm feeling jittery and I feel like I took a shot of speed and I could do the old Micro-Machines commercial, but other than that, no side effects, so far...

My 12 year old son was given prednisone 2 and 1/2 years ago when he had a reaction to a bee sting. Almost immediately upon taking the drug he developed stomach problems and was out of school for almost a week with what we thought was the flu. He developed an anxiety of eating and became hypersensitive to food. We did not make a connection to prednisone, as our doctors did not indicate any. We just thought he had a stomach bug. Well for over 2 years now it has been one thing after another including nausea, headaches, dizziness, feeling weird/not himself and now it has accelerated to full blown panic attacks. It is completely interfering with his life. He has attacks at school and during all the activities that he enjoys. We just saw a psychiatrist a week ago that identified prednisone as the possible cause to these 2+ years of craziness. I want to take the correct next steps. He is currently prescribed an anti anxiety med to deal with the panic, just so he can function. What I want to know is how I can medically correct the damage that was done to his adrenal system or anything else that has become imbalanced. I don't want to just treat the symptoms. We need to get to the root of what has happened to him chemically that has caused such a drastic change his mood and how he thinks. The kid is riddled with anxiety about everything. It is out of control and very scary.

I am a 55 year old woman and have been on Prednisone for 14 months. My Adrenal glands shut down last year and I amost died. They put me on prednisone. Started with 50mgs for 4 days 40mg for 4days keep going down to 5mg in the a.m. and 2.5 mg p.m. I have no really bad side effect. Just the weight gain. When I don't have them I get really bad leg pains

I have been on Prednison for 14 months now for adrenal insuffinacy. I hate the weight gain. But if I don't have it 5mg. I hate the effects worse. I can't seam to think or do anything. I slow down to a crawl. Run out once won't do that again.

I am a 40 year old female with a lifelong history of ulcerative colitis. I've only had 4 or 5 major flares in my life however this most recent one comes after a perfect 2 year hiatus or remission. 2 years ago I was bedridden for close to 7 months after getting C Diff after a routine colonoscopy and the medication used to combat the infection in my colon set of an extreme colitis flare leaving me almost debilitated. I also suffered with the systemic outbreak of erthyma nodosum on my shins and even at the most extreme pain refused to go onto steroids for all the reasons mentioned on these boards and as a result took almost 7 months to heal.

Last week on the 12th day of a bad UC flare, having simultaneous spasms, diahrrea, vomiting and high fever (all at once and terrible all over body systemic pain) I decided I would voluntarily accept the course of prednisone. I was put on a low dose pack - 4 mg starting at 24 mg and tapering off over 6 days. I felt great immediately (hours later) and after 2 days all my violent symptoms returned. I requested being maintained on 20mg and after 2 days realized this dosage was not yielding any results. My doctor upped me to 40 mg 2 days ago and since I have so far only suffered some mild headaches and intense fatigue, night time insomnia (though sleep intermittently throughout the day) however despite my appetite increase, I have not yet gained any weight (I weigh 130 lbs after going through a rigorous 25 pound weight loss where I was eating far less when battling my weight.).

I'm told I will be on 40 mg for at least 3 wks taper off and most likely be on steroids for about 6 weeks. I opted for this course because I do not want to lose another 6 or 7 months of life. I was terrified to go onto prednisone this flare because of the fact that I was extremely depressed and fatigued a few weeks ago which in my opinion caused the flare in the first place, but to be honest I really don't feel any worse emotionally - perhaps this illness gave me the excuse to get the sleep I so badly needed.

I am afraid however that the symptoms that everyone describes will set in but the question I pose is: after the first week of being on prednisone have anyone's symptoms radically changed rather than moderately intensified? I live alone and the have had more restless nights (usually when depression sets in) but I have been taking valium at night to ensure at least 4-5 hours of complete shut down - unless of course my bowels awaken me throughout the night. The jury's out on this process but has anyone had an experience where they'd say that the short term effects were worth the trade off for better health for the symptoms for which they are actually being treated?

I have been using Prednisone to treat Meniere's Syndrome for a little over a month now. I starrted on 60mg per day for 2 weeks, then 40mg for 3 days - 20mg for 3 days - 10mg for 3 days and am on my second of 3 daily doses at 5mg. The side effects at 60mg included increased appitite (keep veggie and fruits ready for snacking) Mania (made everyone around me well aware of this so they understood the abrupt personality change), insomnia (I couldn't sleep but stayed laying in bed,so my body got some rest), Constipation ( lots lots of water and juice), and I was prescribed a water pill for the water retention. Between the 20 and 10mg I started to bloat (just had to live with that one :) Fatigue (find an opportunity to nap), another increase in hunger, 'Moon face' and 'Hunchback' another just have to live with it. Mania had gone, and I could sleep :) Constipation was no longer an issue. At 5mg I am tired, have very little drive, seem a little lost and foggy. Acne has appeared on my chest, and my appitite has decreased significantly. ,Moon face, is going, but 'hunch back, seems more pronounced. I am looking forward to being done, but until there is an alternative I will use it again as soon as my symptoms re-appear again.