PredniSONE side effects

My 17 yr old son was perscribed Prednisone along with Accutane for Acne. His two older brothers had undergone accutane treatment when they were each 17 ish, with no major side effects - no mental disorders at all. They did not have Prednisone along with the accutane. I questioned why my youngest sone should go on the prednisone but was assured by my trusted dr. of 35 years that his very low dose of 20mg a day would be no problem. We continued the dosage for 3 months and then tapered off for 3 weeks. That's when my son's trouble began. He felt a change immediately - things didn't seem 'real', he has a hard time describing the feelings. At two weeks after discontinuing the prednisone his symptoms really began to be very frightening. He is athletic and was vomiting for extended periods - probably due to the stress of what was going on in his head. We then saw 2 GPs, his Dermatologist and I contacted a Psychiatrist, His father and I didn't want him to progress to antidepressants and he does seem to be improving - nothing like some of the other stories contained here. I just wish we had NEVER gone on this - even at 20mg - for something like acne. NOT life threatening - I should have listened to my gut and just stuck with the Accutane.

Hi I am 31, have been put on prednisone for a pinched nerve in my shoulder blade. Iv taken two pills of 10 mil. For two days. one pill a day for two days. I'm stopping now. I feel so tired weak and unable to exercise. My chest is so heavy and heart flutters. I'm a smoker so it seems worse after a cigarette. I also have a few glasses of wine a day. I'm so frightened at these feelings. My tummy is now bigger in just that short of time. I really wish I knew all this first. Can any one tell me how long before I'm normal from the short usage. Please this really sucks and very scary. Also the smoking and alcohol how does it effect this? Please

I am taking prednisone and probably will for the rest of my life due to a rare lung disorder. I am down to 5 mg every day. When I first was put on it, I was taking 20 mg which wasn't too bad. The Dr. increased it to 80 mg. That was a living nightmare. My eyes hurt so bad from the pressure. My pressure in my eyes were very high. The Doctors did cut it down to 5 mg which isn't a good idea as you should taper off of it slowly. I still have some hip pain but it's not to bad. I do try to keep busy and that does help. It does make one's period irregular if you are a woman. I feel for those high school students taking this stuff. Also, it can make your sugar high so get tested for diabetes. This drug does suck but it also can be a lifesaver.

I love prednisone, at least so far. I have a rash that occurs only on the back of my upper arms and shoulder blades in the deep of winter...then reoccurs EVERY SUMMER as soon as I get in the pool. In summer though, it's all over my arms, my hands, my thighs and my upper back, even my neck a bit. It starts out as a medium tingle (like pins on my skin), lots of itching..which scratching definitely makes things worse. I apply sunscreen 70 and no help. I use anti itch cream which helps to keep me from scratching...but I can't bathe in it! If I don't scratch, the little bumps are still there, but they of course get red when I scratch.

I tried meds for hot tub foliculitis...no help. I start the prednisone and VOILA! It's gone within a day or two..or quickly disappearing. Two days after the last pill, I get in the pool..and the itching starts.

I have never noticed trouble with breathing or any kind of anger / rage issues...I do wonder if those are other folks symptoms of something else. I would really look into that before blaming prednisone and not addressing the real issue.

I have been on prednisone (tapering from 5 tabs a day to one over time) and it's the ONLY thing that helps with this rash and it's cleared the rash one hundred percent of the time. LOVE prednisone, came here to see if I could be on it all summer. I have three kids, no babysitter and my pool is my only true pleasure....I live for it all year as I hate winter and fall...I'm a summer girl!

I have been on Prednisone, off and on, for many years as I'm a severe asthmatic. Lately though, I've been dizzy - I mean the sometimes can't stand up, room spinning when your eyes are closed, dizzy - tomorrow will start the 5th week of being "off kilter." I have been anxious, don't sleep well, bruise like crazy, my stomach hurts all the time, and a dozen other symptoms. But, I have to say, I'm used to "not" breathing well, but being dizzy - that is starting to take its toll. This occurred, I believe, because of 60mg a day for over 3 weeks, and then I started tapering. Every time I have a terrible reaction to this drug, I think I will "never take it again." But, whenever I'm at death's door, I change my mind because with all its horror, Prednisone can be a lifesaver for people like me. I just don't remember ever feeling like this before. I feel as though I'm about to come out of my own skin, and fly off into space.

I broke out in hives because of food poisoning. At Kaiser, they gave me an injection of Prednisone. They gave me 10 mg. of Prednisone to take 4 10 mg. for 3 days, then, 3 10 mg. pills for 3 days. Since it was making me sick, the nurse instructed me to take only 2 10 mg. pills, and the following day, to take only 1 10 mg. pill. I took the last pill on Thursday. It's now Saturday, and I have the worst pain in my chest, my head and throat hurt. Can anyone tell me how long until this wears off? Is this normal?

Took Prednisone for lung infection. Have become very moody and depressed. Doctor also gave me cough syrup with Codeine. I think I've become an addict. I've stopped taking the Prednisone just recently even though I'm still congested, it's not worth all the moodiness and aggravation. I hope my chest will still clear up without it.

Was on Prednisone for 11 days for an injury to my neck. I knew nothing about the drug except what my doctor told me that it would reduce inflammation in my neck and help with pain.

Well, it did nothing for the injury and pain in my neck. BUT.... I had HORRIBLE menstrual cramps and got my period 8 days early. I've had my period for 9 days now AND terrible pain in my upper left leg. I thought the pain was related to my leg and as the days went by I realized it was in my left hip! It's so bad I can't lift my leg without extreme pain. I KNOW IT'S FROM this awful drug.

I've been off of it for 4 days and the pain is still with me. I called my family dr. and was told Prednisone doesn't do that. BULL!! The paperwork I got with it from the pharmacy show "Changes in menstrual periods" "muscle/joint pain" "bone pain".

I wish I knew this BEFORE I ever took it.

Does anyone know if these symptoms and problems will go away after stopping it? I called the pharmacy and was told it will take 2-3 weeks for it to get out of my system!!

Has anyone had problems that eventually went away after stopping the drug?

Thanks and I hope everyone else is okay soon! This drug should be off the market. I received no help for my neck pain at all!!

I had an asthma attack went to the er and got a breathing treatment and they gave me prednisone (not sure what dosage was) but they said it was a very high dose. After some other tests they sent me home. Got home at 830 that night and went to bed. Woke up around 1100 pm, with skin feeling like it was on fire and heart racing, chest heaviness. Couldn't sleep all night. Went to drs office next morning said I was having a reaction to prednisone. Oh by the way I was feeling very anxious as well all night pacing the floor. That was Friday night, it is Sunday night and still feeling a little anxious, heart racing, coughing, diarrhea, chest heaviness and can't sleep. All this from one dose of prednisone and a breathing treatment. I am sure that it is the prednisone because I did take it one other time about a year a go and had some of the same issues.

I WENT TO MY DOCTOR FOR AN EAR INFECTION. HE PRESCRIBED ME SOME ANTIBIOTICS LIKE USUAL AND THEN ADDED "PREDNISONE". THIS PILL IS THE WORST PILL EVER!! I WAS TAKING 40MGS A DAY AND BY THE 3RD DAY THE SIDE EFFECTS REALLY HIT ME. I FELT SO UNEASY SO NERVOUS AND VERY PANICKY(YEA I KNOW I CANT SPELL) N E WAYS. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME I THOUGHT I WAS GOING INSANE I COULDN'T KEEP MY THOUGHTS TOGETHER MY HEART WAS RACING, I EVEN BURST INTO TEARS THAT NIGHT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MADE ME THINK TO READ ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS BUT AS SOON AS I DID I STOPPED TAKING THEM. I HAVE BEEN OFF THEM GOING ON 4 DAYS NOW AND IM BARELY GETTING BACK TO NORMAL. IM STILL A LITTLE ANXIOUS AND VERY TIRED THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND I DON'T EAT. I STILL CANT SLEEP THAT WELL BUT I GUESS I JUST HAVE TO RIDE IT OUT. IM NEVER GOING TO TAKE THAT DEMON DRUG EVER AGAIN IN MY LIFE. ITS A HORRIBLE DRUG THAT CAN CHANGE A PERSON FOR THE WORST.

Constant weight gain. Just had a kidney transplant Dec 2008, started off with 60mg prednisone now I am done to 5mg but I will gain 5 pounds and will stay at that weight for several months then go up another 5 pounds. I am eating healthy and exercising. I need help and advice!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a cortisone injection into my left knee on Friday, June 5th and immediately started to react. Within an hour, I had extreme redness and heat in my face, neck and upper chest. Wheezing, hives in throat and mouth and behind my ears. Extreme headache that came on suddenly and started in the back of my head and stretched to the front. Dizziness, chest discomfort. I went to the ER and was given a nebulizer treatment, benadryl IV and prednisone because the doctors at the ER felt that I must have had an allergic reaction to some medication that was mixed with the cortisone injection, because they said that to be allergic to cortisone is very rare. About 20 minutes after they gave me 60mg of oral prednisone, they started my benadryl IV. I felt such a hot rush to my face, my ears were burning. Eventually, the reaction calmed down and they sent me home with a prednisone taper and benadryl every 4 to 6 hrs. Sunday morning, I took 60mg of the prednisone and within 20 minutes I knew that I was in trouble so I took 50mg of benadryl and on the advice of my doctor, called an ambulance. In the ambulance, I was given oxygen, a nebulizer and more benadryl IV. After that morning, I knew that my problem was the steroid. I hadn't had any sleep since Thursday, I had been nauseous ands been battling chest discomfort and a very bad headache. I spoke with my doctor on Monday and he wanted me to take Atarax,25mg, every 3 to 4 hours. I saw him on Tuesday and I went to an allergist on Wednesday. She started me on 50 mg of zyrtec twica a day and 25mg of Atarax at night to see if this would help the reaction that I continue to have. She said that it could be several weeks, at least, that I will continue to react, until the injectable steroid is out of my system. It had been 13 days, and Im still reacting.

I'm 15 years old and i've been taking prednisone for a few months, and from what i've read i'm on a really high dose. i was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and another autoimmune disorder concerning my muscles at the same time. my doctor told me prednisone was my only choice; it was either that or i would lose the ability to walk. he told me there'd be side effects, but i had no idea it'd turn out like this or i would have fought harder for another course of action. i started out on 30mg twice a day, and since then was weaned down to 20mg twice a day and now i'm down to 30mg once a day. i've been looking up a bunch of information trying to figure out if there's a way to lessen the side effects or any hope at all that they will get better. apparently there isn't much. after reading a bunch of these stories i gotta say i'm not feeling great about this. i totally understand everything everyone is going through. i'm sure you can imagine what it's like being smack in the middle of high school with a huge puffy face, acne so bad on my face, chest, back, neck, and shoulders that wearing a bra could put me in tears, and mood swings so bad i've lost friends over it. everyone knows how brutal high school can be, where appearance and attitude are everything. and i try to tell my doctor about it and he literally looks at me like i'm a whiny teenager and says "you're just going to have to deal with it." and people like my mom and my closest friends don't get it either. nobody understands how beyond frustrating it is. i'll get into the worst moods and not have a reason for it, but i'll stay angry for hours or burst into tears over someone looking at me the wrong way. it'll get to the point where i have to isolate myself from other people because the abrubt mood changes get so bad. as bad as i hate to admit it, the pain from the arthritis is gone now and supposedly my muscles are doing better too. developing arthritis caused me to have to quit cheerleading, something i've loved doing for 6 years, because the pain got to the point where i couldn't get my arms above my head or bend my knees. however, i'd almost rather deal with the horrible joint pain than deal with the side effects of prednisone. if your doctor gives you and alternative method, take it. i've always been confident in the way i look and really outgoing and happy and now i sometimes catch myself thinking about suicide. that's shocking to me because i've got so much going for me, but this medicine makes me miserable. and when i complain about it, anyone i'm talking to just looks at me like i'm being a cry baby. my mom does too, she'll say things like "you just have to do this. i know it's not what you want but to be honest i'm sick of hearing you bitch about it."
i feel a little better knowing other people feel the same way - like nobody gets whats going on with them. the prednisone does give me days of really great euphoria and days when i feel like i could run a marathon, but waking up in the morning to the acne and huge face puts me to tears every day. i have to pee all the time, usually getting up at 2 or 3 am. i don't sleep well anymore and i do sweat all the time. which also sucks being a teenage girl. i'm always hungry, and when i eat i never feel full so i don't know when to stop. my neck and face have put on so much weight that when people see me in the halls or out and about they ask me what happened. mind you these are people i don't talk to, just ones i know from classes or whatever. and it's pretty bad when teenage boys i've never really talked to ask what happened to your face. kind of a blow to the ego, or whatever is left of it at this point.
i'd like to know if, as my dosage gets lowered, the side effects will diminish and when i'm off the prednisone completely if they will disappear altogether. any help there?
or if there is any way to help the acne or puffy face

my doctor just put me on something called methotrexate or something like that to help wean me off the prednisone, and does anyone know what those side effects will do? or if they'll affect the prednisone side effects?
i'm constantly obsessing over gaining weight and what my skin looks like and what i eat and how heavy my face feels and the occasional pressure in my eyes to the point where i just want to be put out of my misery.
and after reading other people's stories i really don't understand why this drug is still given out as freely as it is. but maybe all doctors are like mine, they just don't get it.
best of luck to anyone who's on prednisone, my heart goes out to you; i'm right there with you
sorry this became like a book it wasn't meant to be this long

22 years old i have had Coltis for 5 years,flair ups pretty much the whole time, i have been on Prednisone a lot this last time has been the WORSE!!! All i can say is i hate it!! i was put in hospital the 4th time steroid thou the iv for 5 days sent home got worse again back to hospital then to try Cyclosporin thou the iv and also the steroid thou the iv. Ten days later they sent me home on prednisone coming off the iv was hard the pain in my legs was unbelievable!!! finally i was sent home on prednisone,coliform anemas,salfak anemas,and salfak granuls,i thought the worst was over but it was far from it... I turned in to a complete loony,crazy women i don't even know myself anymore my poor partner and kids. Having to deal with the pain and everything eles that comes with having a flair up but then also going though the side effects of the prednisone and the coliform was unbearable, i just wanted to die! My flair up was not getting much better and i hated myself as i felt i did not know myself with the mood swings, the crazy flip outs,crying all the time.My partner has been great having to pick me up off the ground and turn the crying reck into someone half normal. I hate the moon face,weight gain, im hungry ALL the time,night sweats,sleepless nights sore teeth,I have come off it now its been 4 days, so now all i need to stop its the coliform then i will be steroid FREE!!!!! i cannot wait!! For my face to go down and to be normal and back to the good old me! I forget what shes like... Coming off the Prednisone has been hard with the leg pain,muscle aches,head aches,mood swings,nausea. Its just hard as no one around me understands what im going though or what it feels like so i just sound like a sookie cry baby or a raving loony. does anyone know how long it takes for moon face to go away??? I wish everyone luck with there battles with Prednisone, its one of the hardest things i have had to deal with. =) your not alone. stay strong and be positive even throu your lowest times.

I'm sorry if someone has covered this already... my grandmother is actually the one on Prednisone because she was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy about a year and a half ago and I believe they recommended it to help her strengthen her muscles so she could walk. It has really taken a terrible toll as she is now unable to walk, and even using a walker can be stressful and difficult. Once she was put on Prednisone they continued to increase her dosage and because of it she now has terrible tremors. It kills me to watch her go through this and wish that I could fight the illness for her. I just want her to be able to eat without feeling so stressed out because her hands aren't steady. The doctor did say that the medication is causing her tremors, and we were relieved to find out that it wasn't Parkinson's, and now they are beginning to wean her off of the medication but she is still taking it at the moment. If anyone has finally tapered off from the medication, who originally had tremors, did you find that your tremors did go away once you were off the medication? How long before the shaking stopped and you felt better? I just want to give her hope that after she is off the medication there will be some relief. I feel awful knowing there is nothing I can really do but support and be there for her, and do some research. If anyone could help me with my questions it would be greatly appreciated. I'm sad to hear other people's terrible issues with this medication and as far as I know I have only heard negative responses to this drug, so it's unfortunate that in this day and age they haven't found something safer that has the same effect that doctors are looking for in a medication. I wish everyone a safe and happy recovery.

I on it for ms and it was iv and i went off it last Thursday i have numb lips numb belly sore legs sore back legs feel like they are on fire all the time tired all the time do not want to get hoping it leaves my system soon

Another update:
It has been 16 days off the prednisone and I still have the puffy face and the hives have returned. The Dr. said they could not send me for allergy testing because the prednisone would interfere with the tests for a month or 2. Wow, I had no idea this stuff can stay in your system for such a long time and I only took it for 7 days, so my heart goes out to all of you who have been on this drug for months or years. I can't even imagine what you must be going through. I was put on this drug for hives, but some of you are on it for far more serious conditions so I have no idea if it would be wise or unwise to discontinue this drug for those of you in that situation. Talk with your doctors tell them you want off and to advise another alternative to at least try. I see that the prednisone is no cure for hives it just treats the symptoms and as soon as the prednisone was stopped the hives were still there. In my case the chance of this drug damaging my body for just a moments relief from hives was not worth it. How wonderful for those who are able to tolerate this drug but for most people it seems to have horrible effects on the body. May God help you all to make the right decisions.

I was started on prednisone for Dressler's Syndrome.. a heart inflammation. I have been taking 20mg daily, now 10.. I am having severe muscles cramps and rippling in my legs.. achy all over ,sweating, peeing all the time.. I am miserable. Why do doctor's dole out this stuff with out a thought???

A year ago I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis and began taking 50mg Prednisone per day. The worst side effects in the beginning were weight gain, moon face, facial hair, hump-back neck, bruising (for example, just by my knees being together while I sleep,) excruciating joint pain and water retention to the point I felt my skin would split open. And poor vision which could have led to glaucoma, but an eye specialist put me on eye drops to reduce the pressure to normal levels. I've felt horrified and embarrassed by the change in my appearance but relieved that my sarcoid was being treated.
I feel confident in my case that Prednisone was the necessary treatment. My pulmonologist, opthamologist and regular doctor all agreed on a course of treatment. But I really advise people to get a second or third opinion before they take it. A friend of mine was prescribed a weeks course of Prednisone for a severe sinus infection. Luckily she didn't have any side effects but I really question if it was necessary. I'd also like to stress that if you're on Prednisone and experience worsening vision, please see an opthamologist who is a glaucoma specialist because it can lead to blindness if not treated.
And lastly, sorry this became a novel! I have been tapering off and I'm down to 20mg. But recently I've noticed my hair is thinning so much. I lose a ton when I brush it and it clogs the drain when I shower. Also my skin is shedding. When I shower and use a loofah sponge like I've always done and I lose layers of skin like a snake. I would really like to know if my hair will start to grow back when I'm finally off the Prednisone or am I going to lose it completely??

I am on a 6 day treatment of PredniSONE 4mg for a foot injury that caused massive swelling. The swelling was gone after the first day of the treatment, but the side effects started the second day for me. I freaked out yesterday thinking that I was having a heart attack. I even asked the doctor if there were any weird side effects and told him that I have anxiety about taking medicine. He said it's harmless, and not to worry. I felt safe taking it the first day but now I've been experiencing increased heart rate, flushed face, pain in my muscles, left arm, and chest, tingling and itching, I can't sleep, when I do sleep in the morning I wake up tense and frustrated, I've lost my appetite, it's hard to go to the bathroom and I can't seem to get my thoughts together. I had an anxiety disorder before and had I known the side effects of this medicine I would not have taken it. Today I decided to skip a day by only taking three pills today and two tomorrow. I just want OFF THIS STUFF!!! and I never want to take it again. I can't believe its on the market and doctors are soo shady about it! And all this from the lowest dose... 4mg.

I'm sitting here in tears reading all of your posts because I've also been on prednisone and have horrible side effects. I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in my lungs in June of 2002 and, after starting at 60 mg/day then, I have been on 20 mg/day for years now. The very first posting that I read mentioned problems with the femur bone. Besides all of the other problems associated with this devastating drug, in December, 2007, I broke a bone in my left foot with no known cause for it. Then I started experiencing pain standing or walking in my left leg and was diagnosed with a fractured femur bone and after several months of trying to get it to heal (including an ultrasonic bone healing system), it just kept getting worse until an orthopedic surgeon recommended that I have a 16 inch rod put into my leg which I did and it ended up to be one of the worst decisions that I have ever made. After experiencing all of the prednisone side effects for almost seven years including depression, severe fatigue, weight gain, moon face, thin skin, cataract surgery on both eyes, hump on my back, mood swings, etc., the pain and suffering that were caused by that operation brought me to seriously consider suicide. I was also diagnosed with chemical neuropathy in both of my legs also which makes my legs so weak that I have to crawl up any steps and have trouble just standing. I actually have an appointment for this evening to have an x-ray done to see what is wrong with my knees and did not realize that this also is yet another side effect. I never make it through the night without waking up in pain and getting a pain pill and then getting up in the morning is almost unbearable with that "burning" pain. I am now on Cymbalta for depression, Xanax for anxiety, Percocet for pain, and of course 20 mg of Prednisone. I was told that I would have to remain on Prednisone for the rest of my life because of the lung scarring and COPD. After reading all of your comments, I have decided that I would rather put up with any breathing problems (and I don't even know how slight they may be at this point) than to remain on the Prednisone. I have tried weaning off several times but get so fatigued that I can't move and that's dropping one mg every week. I'm affected by the decrease but it gets out of hand when I get to 14 mg and I get so frustrated and depressed at not being able to do anything that I just go back up to the 20 mg/day. If you have been able to wean off of it, would you please let me know how you did it and what you had to go through? I'm 65 years old now but I have two wonderful granddaughters (ages 4 and 6) who I can't do any normal "Grammy" things with anymore at this point and I have to change this condition for them and for me. Obviously, the doctors don't recognize the severity of the drug because they just keep prescribing it and out of a regular doctor, an oncologist, an orthopedic surgeon and a neurologist, they can't seem to get together to come up with a solution. I have to say that I haven't considered suicide lately but I do wish that I would just die and be out of this pain. My family and definitely my granddaughters and wanting to see them grow up are the only things that keep me going. There are probably things that I'm forgetting but I'm sure that one of you have covered it in our posting. Although my family is so supportive, no one and I really mean not one of them, realizes knows what we all go through because of this drug. How could they know that something that is supposed to help you could cause these problems? My life is a living hell, all because a pulmonary doctor prescribed prednisone seven years ago and I trusted him to only do what was right without informing me of what was to come. I more than sympathasize with all of you. I sincerely appreciate the time that you took to post to this site and so thankful to know now that this knee pain is not something new that I have but another side effect of the prednisone. I wouldn't have known that if it wasn't for this site because I'd be willing to bet that after I would have had this x-ray done, one of my doctors would have just prescribed another medication to take. Please feel free to contact me directly with any comments or especially any help that you can give me. I know that all of you are going through the same thing so if I can do anything for you, even just listen and understand, please contact me also. Sometimes that's the only thing that people can do is to listen and someone who is in the same situation can always understand. I'm here for anyone who needs a hug for the day.

I HAVE BEEN ON PREDNISONE FOR 10 YRS. I AM ON 5 MG FOR 4 YRS. I AM HAVING SEVERE PAIN IN RIGHT HIP. I CAN'T LAY ON RIGHT SIDE AT ALL. WHEN I WALK OR BEND ITS FINE. BUT TO LAY ON BACK OR SIT OR RIGHT SIDE I HAVE SEVERE PAIN. I SAW THE DR TODAY HE SAID THE TOP OF THE FEMUR IS SOMETIMES EFFECTED BY PREDNISONE. LIKE BLEEDING OR OSTEOARTHRITIS. HE GAVE ME NAPORSIN. DOESN'T WORK STILL HAVE SEVERE PAIN. I HAVE POLYMYOSITIS. THE PAIN IS SO BAD IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE OVER 6 MONTHS. GOING FOR XRAYS. I AM A NURSE AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT.

I have been on various doses of prednisone on and off for 9 years for a kidney disease. The doses have varied from 70mg to 5mg. I have just about had enough. I cannot describe how debilitating this drug is. Every side effect on here I think I have had except excessive energy. Here is a small list:
Moon Face
Buffalo Hump
shaking like Parkinson
body aches
EXTREME weakness
heart palpitations constantly
joint pain
something would go on with my knees in the morning....it felt like something was boiling. It would be my guess as to what the "Bends" must feel like....it feels like someone is stabbing you in the knees with a knife.
Sleeping at least 16 hours a day
I could barely make everyday at work. It was so miserable to not be able to wake up, I would push myself in 15 minute increments....
You cannot know what it is like to be bed ridden for weeks and to have no doctor understand or believe what is happening to you. You just seem fat and lazy.

I am emotionally scarred by this medicine, there is not a day that goes by that I'm not terrified of having to take a large dose of this again. I just can't.
There is no quality of life at all. You can't do anything.
On top of that, there is no one to talk to, not even a doctor that understands what you are going through.
God help anyone that has to go through this. I understand.

UPDATE: This is my third day being off the prednisone, I still have the puffy face and neck and whenever I try to do anything I experience the heaviness and chest discomfort and just a funny feeling in my head. I have to stop and rest and let my heart slow down. This is the weekend so I am going to try and wait this out for a week and if no better then back to the Dr.
How are all of you?

I was diagnosed with Chrohn's in February. I am 25 years old. I was put on prednisone and asacol to control my systems. I was on 40mg then down to 20mg and finally last Friday 5/22 after weening off I was off the drug completely. I also had EN (a complication of Chrohn's) with severe pain, swelling and bruising in the feet and legs. In fact that was the only reason I went to the doctor, I was just dealing with everything for years. With Prednisone I experienced a slight moon face but also a huge bloated, pregnant like belly, it's awful. I have to hide it with baggy shirts. I also gained about 20 lbs, I have abdomen pain, hair on my upper lip, my ear clogs and clicks, insomnia, insane amount of energy. Oddly though people have been saying they are moody, the good thing the drug did was put me in an excellent mood all the time and took away my acne.

My Question: When do these side effects go away, I have been off for a week. Primarily the bloated stomach and weight gain. I know it takes a while, but how long???

I have been on prednisone since I was two years old (I am now sixteen) because I have Autoimmune Hepatitis IIa. I would like to point out that there is still a life worth living being on prednisone, maybe I say this because I do not know life without it, but at least we're alive! Last year I had a flare up of the AIH and had to 6x my dose of prednisone. It sent me into a spiraling depression of constant sleep, crying, hopelessness etc....but I made it through. Just PLEASE keep hope that things would get better, because I know what it's like being on the dreaded drug better than most.

I began prednisone May 20th for hives from a reaction to an antibiotic. After taking it for a few days I started having ringing in the ears, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and sweating, dry mouth, puffy face and just a strange feeling like my blood pressure is up. I took it for 7 days out of the nine because the nurse told me to stop it after I called in about how I have been feeling. Today is the first day of not taking it but I see hardly no improvements. My husband tells me to drink a lot to flush this medication out of my system. Today I am experiencing some chest discomfort with slight aching. I feel the same as all of you. I wished I knew of this drug beforehand, and I hope to never see this drug again. I just hope it didn't cause much damage. I will be praying for all of you. No one knows any more what can happen after taking such medication. If you are on this call your Dr. to be taken off. This is not good, I have no idea why this is still on the market. Hope you all recover from your symptoms after taking this drug!

STARTED TAKING PREDNISONE ON SAT. 3 PILLS A DAY FOR COUGH, SWEAT ALL DAY AND NIGHT. WILL THIS EVER GO AWAY.

I have gained 40 pounds, I have blurred vision, I am loosing my hair especially in the groin it is almost all gone, legs it is all gone and under arms it is all gone, mood swings crying and broken heart over every little thing, craving salt, water retention and more.

increased dosage from 2.5mg to 40mg ran up my blood pressure; my blood pressure has always been perfect. my head feels rather numb,ann my ears feel as though they are stopped up, and I feel lightheaded and dizzy.

They think that I have either crohns or ulcerative colitis. I have tried antibiotics, lialda, mesalamine enemas, with no improvement. After another colonoscopy they put me on prednisone at 40mgs, 30, 20, 10, then 5 decreasing weekly. Well the first week was okay. I had some of the side affects, insomnia, extreme hunger, and crazy. I could deal with that. But then when I decreased down to 30mg, my body flipped. I awoke from the middle of the night with burning pain in the knees. So bad I took 4 ibuprofen and threw myself in the tub with epsom salt. I thought okay that was weird because I have never had a joint pain in my life. I saw the gastroenterologist that day bc I was still having abdominal pain. He totally blew off the knee pain and said he had no idea what that was. I thought okay maybe it will go away. A few days went by and nothing. 3 days later and I awoke one morning crying in pain because of my legs. I called the on call doctor who also said he had no idea and go to the er. So I went crying hysterically for 4 hours. Even after 3 rounds of dilaudid I was still in pain. They suggested a Rheumatologist. So I went to one a week later who said I was going through steroid withdrawals. And there is nothing we can do but treat the symptoms of pain. I am now down to 10mgs have been out of work for 2 weeks and am absolutely miserable with severe leg pain, muscle weakness and fatigue. He also adjusted the drop down increments to 5 instead of 10. Anyway I will never take this drug again and I think they rushed to this one. Just wanted to share. I am glad I found this website because I went from a fully functioning physically fit 28 year old to a crippled crying crazy person. I think I was scaring my husband, honestly, until we both read some of your postings which were similar.

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis at the end of 2007 and have been on prednisone since then. I started on about 105mg a week and am currently trying to reduce it but it is really hard as the moment the dosage goes down I lose all mobility and cannot even get out of bed. I am only 23 years old and really feeling the disease to the extent that I cannot even cope with my life. The prednisone has really taken its toll on me and the side effects are crazy! I just want to go back to my old self as I am finding it sooo hard to get through a single day. My side effects include:

Insomnia, tooth sensitivity, depression, anxiety, mood swings, moon face (my face is so swollen that I cant stand looking in the mirror anymore, dizziness, temper, feelings of uselessness, nightmares, night sweats, water retention, and to top it all off the arthritis is getting worse and I am in constant pain. Is there anything anyone can suggest then please help me!

The purpose of prednisone for sinus sufferers is to open up the sinuses. Now, I have found that 40-50mg a day is usually QUITE sufficient to do that. (For me – everybody is different) And, as I get better, I taper off each day to 30mg, then 20 as needed. What doctors forget is that people react very differently to medications. Why take more when all it does is make the side effects worse? The doctor doesn't know how you feel, YOU know how you feel. Don't blindly take this dangerous medication, LISTEN to your body.

If you have taken 40 mg, your sinuses are completely open, and your heart is starting to race, do NOT take any more that day! Or, at the very least, wait till it stops and then take 10 mg or even 5 to see how you do. I advise never taking all your prednisone in one dose - try to space them out over the day so you can see how you react. Never take any later than dinner so you can give the side effects time to wind down if you experience them.

In summary: I have found that taking unneeded prednisone after you have achieved the needed relief will not do much good, if any. However, the lack of sleep will be very detrimental.

One final tip: I have found that after I start to get better, 20mg prednisone taken with a couple Sudafed is about as affective as 40mg prednisone. However, be VERY careful combining medications if you get fast heartbeat! Two examples are cough medicines and (especially) Sudafed! I advise trying a half dose of Sudafed (1 pill or half a 12hr pill - 12hr pills are great for nighttime) first if you are on prednisone. You can always take more, but you can't un-take a pill.

Disclaimer: I've taken prednisone many times, but I'm not a doctor, yada yada...

my boyfriend has been on prednisone for 4 years and he is terribly snappy and aggravated all the time and short tempered and does not think that he is... i love him so i deal with it but its getting harder because he dosnt feel this is correct every time i ask him something he bites my head off and almost everything i do irritates him gets on his nerves the mood swings are out of this world sometimes and he totally thinks im being a lala in his words...will someone respond to this so i can show him and he will know im not just saying these things
all this

I started taking prednisone when I was only 12 years old and I was on it for about a year and a half. At the age of 10, I was diagnosed with glaucoma, uveitis and cataracts and for about 10 years now I have had all these illnesses. My experience with prednisone had been HORRIBLE. Within two months alone, I gained 50 pounds, my skin started to get really really thin, I started to develop stretch marks ALL over my body with the only exception of my face and hands. I started to get the chipmuk cheeks to the point that my family was afraid that I was going to literally explode. My liver was damaged. My kidney was damaged. The vertebrates in my spine where being chipped away. There was a point in that year and a half where the doctors told me that there was a 70% chance of me going blind. The bottom line was that PREDNISONE WAS BRINGING NOTHING FOR ME EXCEPT RUIN. On top of that, I was constantly depressed. Kids at school would point at laugh hysterically at me. And if people weren't laughing, they were struck by fear and were trying to figure out what exactly I was. I remember this one instance in my school cafeteria where one girl stood up on the lunch table, pointed at me and screamed SHE'S AN ALIEN!!

I was and still am scarred physically and emotionally. My arms and stomach are really saggy because the skin is soo thin. As I said my entire body is scarred with stretch marks. I can't show the slightest bit of my body to anyone because I am so ashamed, embarrassed and afraid of peoples judgments. I am afraid that no one will ever want to be in a relationship with me.

All I can tell you is that though I stopped using it about six and a half years ago, this dreaded drug has truly ruined my life from the very start of my childhood.

I suffer from gout... this was the first time I took Prednisone, and, in terms of foot swelling / pain , it worked well.

However... 20-30 minutes after taking 20mg of prednisone, I experienced eye problems. I began seeing "floaters." I experienced significant eye "pressure?" for 24 hours. 48 hours later the pain went away. It's difficult to explain. I'm not a doctor. My eyes felt "big." "Intra-ocular eye pressure" might be the correct term.

I don't know how to explain it... it really messed with my eyes. Neither my doctor nor my pharmacist could confirm this as a side effect.

Has anyone experienced this? Thank you.

I had ankle surgery in March 2009. After several weeks of pain and inflammation, my doctor prescribed a Prednisone dose-pak to "settle everything down." Yesterday, day 1, I took 2 pills before breakfast, 1 after lunch, and 1 after supper. About 4 - 4 1/2 hours after taking my supper dose, I developed SEVERE abdominal pain (akin to labor pains) and diarrhea that lasted for several hours. The pain abated during the night and today I have had very sore abdominal muscles and a little bit of an upset stomach. I never took the bedtime dose

I don't care how much pain I have had in my ankle...nothing compares to the pain I experienced last night. I will never take this medicine again. According to all the information I have read about side effects, nothing indicated I would experience pain like this.

I am hopeful that now the stomach/abdominal pain "settles down."

I have been on prednisone for 11+ years due to having had a heart transplant. The prednisone keeps my heart from rejecting.
I have not taken it for 2 days and I am in the process of passive suicide.
I am driving out west into the desserts to sit and die. I can no longer
be around people for I am afraid I may kill someone or at least significantly hurt them. I have been homicidal and suicidal for 11 years due to this med. I would enjoy killing everyone and everything. I hate myself and I want to die.
Prednisone made me become "Evil"; Hell incarnated. I don't want to live
in a mental institution and my doctor will only give me Seroquel thinking this will help me. I tell him it doesn't help me but he thinks it does. Stupid fucking doctor. My transplant docotrs won't even listen to me when I talk about "mental" issues. Everything pisses me off. It is raining outside and this makes me so mad and stressed.
I have been in this psychotically angry and agitated state of mind for 11 years. I have punched myself many times in the head and banged my
head against walls trying to get homicidal and suicidal thoughts out of my mind to no avail.
I would like to try ECT (electro-convulsive-therapy) but I won't even
mention this to my doctor because he will literally laugh at me and make me so god dam mad that I would enjoy killing him right then and there. I'm sick and tired of living in hell everyday.
Do not take prednisone no matter what, unless your life depends on it. And then what type of life will you have? Maybe a life full of hate, rage, anger, homicidal and suicidal thougts even when you dream.
Fuck life!
Arthur X 1968-2009

I was just put on prednisone due to a very strong sinus infection. I took 4 pills today of 10 mg each,and so far I have been feeling good,except of course of the normal discomfort of the sinuses dripping in my ears and shortness of breath. The Dr. also prescribed Amoxicillin, and so far so good. However I get really nervous when I hear what other people post about what has happened to them because I suffer from anxieties and don't wanna have another one of those EVER! I am 50 years old and have always been very healthy but as soon as I turn 50 booom! the next morning,aches and pains and irrational thoughts and fears and you name it! It is really awful:)

Due to chest infection I was on bottle after bottle of prednisone for 3 months.
I had the nerves of full blown menopause with no relief!! Thank god for a caring family. They could have walked out, no one could have blamed them. Anyway, I went on vacation for one week 9 months later, and came home with my 5th, yes 5th bladder infection, Dr. put a test strip, and low and behold...I have diabetics and (my number was 495 a1c was 10+), steroid induced he told me. 2 years later I do not eat sugar at all, (numbers are 120+ aic is still 7.5+) I still have diabetics and cataract in right eye. No one in my family has it, just me. Better make sure the cure for one is worth a lifelong battle with the other. There must be a better way to fix lung infections!!! I also had a heart attack since then, don't know when it just showed up on my last physical, I was clear on the physical prior to chest infection. I now have a DNR tatto on my right wrist...I don't have insurance and I'll be damned if the medical profession ends up with what little I have to leave to my family. As I said, make sure the cure is worth what it may cost you!!!

I hate predisone. I took it for 5 days, 40mg a day because of my bronchitis. After my last day of taking it, I became really emotional. I was crying for no reason. My heart was beating really fast, I was dizzy and insomnia is the worst. My legs also ache really bad and they are so weak.

I've been off of prednisone for 4 days and im starting to feel a little better but I still can't sleep.

Does anyone know how long the insomnia will last?

I am allergic to Prednisone. My primary Dr. does not believe me nor does most of the medical profession. The arrogance and assumptions that Dr.'s make has me at my wits end as I am allergic to many things. The 2 main things are any form of Ibuprofen and Prednisone.
I had an LAVH and oophorectomy performed last Tuesday.
To make a long story short, after surgery the attending Dr. ordered Motrin. I went into anaphylactic shock and was aware that I was in serious trouble but didn't know why. I thought I had developed a new allergy as all my known allergies were clearly listed on my chart. As they were moving me to ICU he stated he was going to give me Prednisone and my family told him no, you cannot give her that, she is allergic to it. Once inside ICU I became aware that I was in a fight for my life as they were going to keep experimenting on me like a guinea pig until they killed me. The Dr. came to me and said he was going to give me Prednisone and I fought back. I told him l would NOT take the Prednisone. I told him I did not want him or anyone else there to administer one more thing to me. I would not take anything except Benadryl and I demanded to be discharged. (IV/Oxygen/Catheter/everything still hooked up to me) Luckily, my surgeon showed back up at that point and took charge of the situation, immediately administered the Benadryl I had been asking for and I did indeed leave the hospital later that night with her blessing.
I believe in my heart that had they given me the Prednisone there is a good probability it would have turned tragic.
You have to fight for yourself because sometimes the Dr.'s think they know more than you do about your own body.

I was on Prednisolone for 6 weeks and finished them 2 weeks ago....I gained 18lbs in weight, which I still haven't lost..The swelling in my face has started to decrease...My stomach is so bloated, I look about 6 months pregnant and cannot get into any of my Jeans..I suffer permanent indigestion and constipation, plus discomfort and aching in my chest and around my heart..I have booked to see my GP again this week as I feel so uncomfortable.

I was on it for 6 weeks as I had a severe chest infection...I had a highly increased appetite (which has now reduced)..I put on 18lbs, which I can't lose..I am still feeling a lot of discomfort due to my stomach being bloated..I look about 6 months pregnant and can't get into any of my Jeans,
I have constant Indigestion and reflux, plus discomfort and aching in my chest, especially around my heart...I have book to see my GP again this week.

I was on prednisone in 2005 first time ever. It completely ruined my life. I was before the prednisone (for just 10 days) a very calm happy person. After seven days I started having terrible mood swings, blurred and darkened vision, savage anxiety all the time, and the deepest depression i have ever known. I lost a business, a marriage, half my family, my sanity, composure, and ability to work. The doctor better hope to hell I never catch her out and about. Anyway after four years of pure hell I am finally able to work again and feel pretty normal most of the time. This drug does much more harm than good. I had a simple yet severe allergic reaction and was prescribed this terrible drug. Words cannot describe the personal hell I have been through. I think that most if not all doctors should be put out of their misery. I for one have started a movement to take out the doctors before they take us out. This is war and Im not going away that easy. If your life has been destroyed by prednisone do not do anything drastic. Just remember that just because your doctor poisoned you that it does not last forever. You will eventually feel better. It might be after your sanity has been tested to the limits and you lose everything you ever worked for but eventually you will come around. As for me I am starting my plan very soon. I absolutely believe that their is a movement in this country to take out or cripple as many trusting people as they can. The fda, cdc, ama, and others are evil.

OMG...I can't stand it anymore!! My legs are killing me!!...I am almost weaned off of it...tomorrow I take one 10 mg pill....and then the next day, I take 5 mg....and I'm done. Thank God!! I pray that I have no bad side effects from weaning off of it. I worry that I won't be able to breath again. Then what??...I will not take prednisone ever again!!...I think I would rather die then live on this horrible drug....If only I knew what it was before I started taking it.

I had a kidney transplant feb08. I was put on prednisone as a rejection med. So far, i have gained 50 lbs, my hair has fallen out, had mood swings when first put on it. Haven't noticed them lately, have little bumps under my skin, not acne, have started noticing slight breathing problems, when trying to walk to lose the weight. Yesterday I was diagnosed with cataract. Eye doctor said that it is another side effect of the med. I am under the impression that, I am on this for rest of my life. Whats next?

Prednisone side effects, for the most part, are horrible. The confusion, racing heart, anxiety, etc... are awful.
The fact that it caused me to become hung like a horse and have the stamina of a rabbit gives reason to believe the side effects even themselves out and are quite worth it.

Lumps under the skin all over my body and severe pain that feels like it is under my skin--like I've been skinned and the skin just laid back down raw and bruised feeling. I have to take time-released morphine for this pain and no doctor can explain the lumps other than to say it might be a side effect of the prednisone. I have never heard of anyone else having these lumps and skin pain, though. One post I read said their tongue was sore, which mine also gets when I take it.

One thing I want to emphasize is that the last time I read the printout that comes with an unopened new bottle of prednisone and that the pharmacists don't give you unless you ask, it said that the newest research suggests that you take the prednisone only EVERY OTHER DAY. Some symptoms may become a bit worse on the day off, but unless you are dealing with a potentially lethal disease, this keeps your body on its regular rhythm of making its own form of prednisone and thus prevents many of the side effects. I have been back on prednisone for 3 months now with the new one day on, one day off schedule, prescribed by my pulmonologist, and have much less of the side effects--no ravenous appetite and thus no weight gain, no swelling, no "moon face" and my lungs are still functioning much much better.
Please ask your doc about this or get the info sheet from the pharmacist (it is the very long one on tissue paper, not the one-page info sheet they are now giving us with each Rx.)

I started taking prednisone along with Cytoxan, a chemotherapy drug 15 years ago when I was diagnosed with an undifferentiated connective tissue disorder that led to symptoms like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. After a couple of years, the inflammation cooled off and I no longer had increasing scar tissue in my lungs (IPF is almost always terminal) so I was glad of that. However, sometime in that first year or so I developed hardish lumps under my skin and severe pain that felt like it was "under my skin" but not my muscles, as in fibromyalgia. The lumps are even more painful, and the skin feels as if someone tried to "skin" me and then just llay the skin back down.
I have had to be on timed-release morphine for years in order to function with this pain, as it is especially painful if I brush up against something or sitting or lying down pressure is intense. Also the skin on my tongue gets so tender I have to use kids' toothpaste or it burns terribly.
After 15 years some of the lumps have gone away, but I've recently had to go back on the prednisone for my lung inflammation.
The last time I got a new prescription for prednisone I read the tissue-paper printout (not the short one you get with every Rx, the one written for professionals which includes all the new data, tests, side effects, etc.) What I want to point out, as I've not read one person saying this, is that to avoid a lot of the side effects and the harm to the glands which produce our own natural steroids, is that they are now recommending that it is taken only EVERY OTHER DAY. They say there may be some slight increase in symptoms on the "off" day, but that this keeps the natural cycle in place in bodies subjected to this drug and therefore reduces symptoms.
This is what my last pulmonologist prescribed for me and so far I have had minimal side effects--no ravenous appetite and weight gain, no "moon face" and it has still helped my symptoms.
Please ask your pharmacist for the flyer that comes with the new package and read this for yourself and then take it to your doctor. It may not work for those in dire need of the prednisone but could perhaps be tapered to this once the first lethal symptoms die down. ASK YOUR DOC--I cannot believe I have not heard more about this as it's right on the flyer--but docs are so busy, it's understandable. I'm grateful my doctor is up on the new research because I don't mind taking the prednisone this time, and I used to HATE it!
Good living to all and I wish you all the healthiest life possible.