PredniSONE and acne

I was prescribed Prednisone along with an H2 Blocker and an Antihistamine for a severe chemical reaction to using old lotion in a tanning bed. I only laid 2x, but I am severely paying for it now. I was only prescribed Prednisone for a 9 day treatment. By the 3rd day I had the acne. I suffered with Acne all of my life until I was 18 (I am 27 now) ... and haven't looked back at that terrible part of my life since... well, now I am faced to stare right back at it. Literally. I have only been off of the prednisone for 2 days, but I can not WAIT to get my life back. If I could take back the last 2 weeks over something so stupid and cosmetic as tanning, I certainly would. I have never had any previous problems with any of this, and this is the first time I have really had an allergic reaction to anything.... typically, Benadryl would have cured me. Although this time incurable with Benadryl and Cortisone, I regret the Prednisone. Severely. I hope this goes away within at least three weeks.. as my husband is coming home from Iraq and that is not the welcome home I want him to have (even if he is much less superficial about it then I am). Sigh.

hi all. thanks for writing your comments here. it has helped me today, another HORRIBLE day of prednisone hell. i have been seriously ill for 8 months been told ever other week I'm likely going to die from lung disease (i'm 35) and after a painful lung biopsy have been told my lung problems are almost all reversible... after a year on high dose prednisone. i was on 40mg a day for a month a while back and was so out of control from rage and crying and insomnia and panic/suicidality, ravenous appetite, that they lowered me to 30. then after biopsy they said i should be on 100mg to cure me, we settled at 60mg. it's been 24 days. The moon face started about one week in. i've gained 8 lbs. i am an emotional wreck. i have at least one rage filled attack per day where i am screaming and want to kill somebody or destroy something. some days i am so filled with hopelessness and worry i just want to die. my body changes (after just losing 30 lbs and being a work out fanatic my shortness of breath makes it impossible to walk up 2 flights of stairs without resting) face changes, acne, excess body hair (oh my god please make it stop i'm like a chia pet and i'm so afraid it is going to get worse) double chin, puffy eyes and cheeks, absolutely uncontrollable emotions and mood swings, inability to be logical or reasonable. i don't want to leave the house, i'm panicked and scared all the time. i never sleep. ambian gives me minimal relief (just started taking it) i feel like i'm losing everything, except my lung functioning is returning and i'm not going to die from this illness (they assure me THIS week) i understand light at the end of the tunnel, but living like this is unbearable most days, almost impossible the rest of the time. am i alone with the severity of this? or are all the others like me too busy hiding the sharps and crying in a corner to write on this board? thanks for listening :)

figures, forgot to mention what HELPS. no eating after 8 (7pm is better) no salt, no sugar, exercise, even just a walk every day, anything physical, i walk like a grandma on the treadmill but i still do it, sometimes it is the only thing that stops my crying. no alcohol, support and understanding from loved ones, it's not you, its the drugs. good luck.
figures, forgot to mention what HELPS. no eating after 8 (7pm is better) no salt, no sugar, exercise, even just a walk every day, anything physical, i walk like a grandma on the treadmill but i still do it, sometimes it is the only thing that stops my crying. no alcohol, support and understanding from loved ones, it's not you, its the drugs. good luck.

Following a deadly allergic reaction to Celebrex, I was given an injection of prednizone, and prescribed 60 mgs. of Prednizone per day for a week. By the third day, my anxiety and what they call "steroid psychosis" was so bad I thought I was going mad. I suffered horrible insomnia, crying attacks, paranoia, fear...you name it. On the fourth day, my knee swelled up horribly and walking was nearly impossible. I stopped taking Prednizone cold turkey on the fourth day (which you are NOT supposed to do, but my doctor didn't tell me that). It has been over 6 weeks since the episode and I am still suffering knee and joint pain, gained 26 pounds and have a red face and horrible acne. My knee has a horrific bulge still. I had an MRI on the knee, and they say that I have fluid buildup on the joint. I have no idea how long it will take to get this drug out of my system, but I would caution anyone to seriously reconsider taking it unless it is life threatening. I believe my allergic reaction could have been treated with just benadryl alone.

im 22. was diagnosed with dermatologist in November. its an auto immune disease...inflammation of the skin and muscles..been dealing with this for like 8 months now. been on prednisone through all of this the whole time. seems like it might have made my muscles better but does nothing for my rash really. i hate being on steroids. i never know how im gonna feel everyday. major mood mood swings. i was on 60mg ive moved down to 20mg a day now. i still have all the stupid side effects. hair on side of face, arms and back..swollen face..acne..and i now have stretch marks..i hate it and cant wait to get off of it. wish i was never on it.

Hi my name is Jessica an I was diagnosed with Chrohn's on 3/4/08. I started with the Entcort for two weeks and that did nothing for all the pain and suffering that I had been going through since November. The put me on Prednisone at 40mg a day. I have been on it for about 3 weeks. After 3 day I noticed the moon face because I had lost so much weight because of being so sick for so long. I still hardly eat and am still losing weight. I can't sleep more then 3 hours at a time unless I take something to strong enough to help me fall asleep and if I sleep for more then 5 hours I will be up for the next 20 before I can even try to lay down. I have OCD which I have never had and cant stop cleaning when I feel up to it (kinda like this side affect). I have been haveing awful leg cramps and walking into stuff all the time. I forget what Im doing or were Im going. BUT the WORST PART is the ACNE... I am an Esthetician and I never had anything like this. I mean I have breakouts during the normal times ect... But this is bad an everyday there are more of them. I use really good stuff on my face to begin with an the things I would use on a client are not the same for treating acne that is caused from this drug so those things are not helping either. Right now my makeup covers it ok, but Im going to be on Prednisone for 3 more months before they will start weening me off and then going on 6-MP drug. I cant go 3 more months if this is going to get worst. PLEASE IS THERE ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHAT TO USE TO CONTROL THIS ACNE ????

Been on Prednisone for 3 years now for ulcerative colitis. At first tolerated the drug quite well. But after a few months started to gain weight, acne. After 3 years of yo-yoing between large and low doses, each increase in dose made me feel worse. I am now at a state of osteopenia and of extreme tiredness and brain fog. I see 80yo with more energy than I. I cant walk up 10 sets of stairs without feeling tired out. I need to sleep 3-5 hours a day just in order to function. As mentioned before brain fog is amazingly bad. I'm a scientific researcher which can no longer work.

Prednisone has introduced to me what panic attacks are, mood swings, joint pain and swelling, extreme muscle fatigue and wasting, blurry vision, in habitual eating habits, depression.

This drug has ruined my life. I would have preferred having surgery to remove the colon and going to the toilet 10 times a day rather than not living as brain fog and tiredness that makes my life a dream-state nightmare.

Hello everyone,

My name is Tina and I am a mother of 5 children and I was diagnosed with a very rare disorder called "VKH" It is a rare eye disorder that only strikes like 1 in 1,000,000,000 people. I was put on Prednisone to help with this condition and to reduce the swelling in my eyes. I was put on 70mg initially and was tapered down to 40mg. then things did not go as well as to be expected and I was bumped back up to 60mg. I am so happy to read these stories but also saddened at the same time. I have been on Prednisone for 5 months and have gained 20 pounds and have the moon face, the acne, the hair growth and the horrible mood swings. My husband and I had our 10 year anniversary last week and I spent it all alone because of my moods.......
It has destroyed my relationships and my self esteem. I don't like leaving the house barely because I hate how I look and I am so depressed I am not the same person as before. I cry all the time because sometimes I wonder if taking this drug is worth it!!! What makes things worse is I wonder if things will ever go back to normal for me or my family again.................

I started taking 60mg of Prednisone two months ago and one week ago it was lowered to 40mg a day. I have gained 10lbs in that time, have the moon face, acne on face and chest. My face has grown black fur on it. My mood swings are terrible. I feel like a time bomb waiting to go off. I feel like I am always angry. My anxiety level feels like I am about to jump out of my skin. My doctor has agreed to start tapering me off of the Prednisone as now I am also on Imuran, Cytoxan and Methotrexate. Does anyone know how long does it take for these side effects to go away after you are off the Prednisone??? Do any of them lessen with a lower dose???

moon face,acne,redness on the face

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

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

I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in July. I had my colonoscopy/endoscopy the day before 4th of July. Got sick with what I thought was the flu on June 26th. That's when I first landed in the hospital (dehydrated & sick). After the diagnosis I was first put on Entocort and Pentasa (Pentasa is supposed to be a remission drug - keep you from having flare-ups). Entocort didn't work so they switched me to Prednisone. I've been on Prednisone for about 6 months now. Going from 20 mg to 40 mg and then I'm finally weaned down to 5 mg. I get to go completely off of it Jan. 13th. Scared of what other side effects might occur from coming off the drug. While on it I've had emotional problems, acne(never had a problem with it before), moon face, gained 30 pounds, joint pain (I was in therapy for as long as insurance covered. - I recommend water therapy, it helps for some people as it did me), trouble sleeping (haven't slept a full night since I got sick), certain days I'm really really thirsty, I've had sort of what I'd call restless leg (I had this before I was on this medicine but it has gotten significantly worse - mostly at night or when lying down), and dry skin.I have to say though that the WORST side effect is the FOG. It's horrible. I enjoy learning and using my brain and when I'm on this I can't think, I mix up words, and it feels like my brain is covered in cobwebs.I had to drop a calc 2 class and that got me off the track I'd set with my academics. My inflammation rate is down where it's supposed to be as of the last blood test a couple weeks ago. So I guess the Prednisone and Remicade are doing what they are supposed to - but I still don't feel as if the pain (not associated with Prednisone - caused by the disease) has gone completely away even if the inflammation has gone down. And Prednisone's effects are just horrible. Some nights I feel depressed and just want to cry and cry. The past months have been trying because of several hospital stays, switching to many different doctors (gastrointernologists, nephrologist, urologist (kidney stones), primary doctor - and they think maybe I should see a rheumatologist), and Pentasa (it began shutting my kidneys down). I just hope that when I come off the Prednisone the side effects will fade (hopefully quickly but lets be realistic - ill just be happy if they go away sometime in the next few months) and I won't flare up again. Anyone know the best way to get rid of the weight? I'm already drinking lots of water and I go walking and do exercises everyday.

QUESTION: When tapering Prednisone does anyone have a place(s) on their stomach that are sunken in and feels dry compared to the skin around it?

Anyways, I hope that everyone overcomes their difficulties, whatever they might be or concern. It's hard to have a life when you are constantly fighting your own body to stay healthy.There are plenty of situations in life that are already hard enough to deal with without medical issues of your own. Best of luck to all!

I had a kidney transplant a year and half ago, and had to take Prednisone as one of my post-transplant med's. I was on it for about 2 months and I went through a lot of the same side effects mentioned by other people, increased appetite and weight gain in odd places, sleeplessness, and acne. Then recently I had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic and was again prescribed prednisone for three weeks, but this time the acne is so bad it looks like a rash, and it's all over my back, chest, neck especially, and on my face. I can deal with it because I realize it's what I need to do, and I am grateful that there is a drug that can treat the symptoms from the allergy, but I am wondering how long it will take for the acne to clear up once I finish the 3 weeks? Does anyone know how long it takes when you've been on it for that amount of time? Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks.
Megan

My 12-year old son has been high dose prednisone for his asthma flare ups. I know that the "moon face" is common. However, since using this prednisone, he has bad acne breakouts on his forehead, cheeks, chin and even in his head. He also has broken out in a rash on his neck. Common or uncommon? There seems to be nothing to help with the acne, either.

I've been on Predisone for about 5 months for severe allergies. I now have excessive acne on my cheeks. I never had a single acne outbreak in my entire life. I stopped the meds for 3 weeks and my face cleared up. As soon as I started the meds again the acne came back. I also, have experienced swollen ankles but that was very temporary.

I am a 34 year old male. I have been on 80mg of Prednisone 7 days a week for 2 months now. I will be getting my dosage lowered to 60mg tomorrow but am having a difficult time dealing with the Moon face, eye bags, acne, and sleepless nights. I go to the gym 4 times a week and am in shape other than this freak fake head it looks like I have now. Has anyone been able to find a way to make the effects not so noticable..as in diurex or diet pills. I would like to try anything but want to be safe at the same time. Thanks for any help and god bless. David

Hi, I was on Prednisone for a little over a month for Crohn's disease. I had minor side effects while taking it: couldn't sleep, no patience, dehydrated, dry eyes. It is the side effects from AFTER stopping prednisone that concern me. I''ve been off Prednisone for 3 weeks and I think I am losing my hair and getting acne-that I didn't have before or during taking Prednisone. Anyone experience side effects that started after stopping the med?

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

I am currently on Prednisone for Minimal Change Kidney Disease. I started at 60mg a day and my symptoms from the Kidney issues (swelling in my ankles and legs) went away within about two weeks. I had a lot of energy at first on Prednisone and trouble sleeping. I actually enjoyed the added energy. I also got headaches those first couple weeks and jaw pain. I wasn't really upset about the drugs until my face started getting puffy at about 4 weeks. I was reduced to 40mg at that time. I definitely noticed an increase in appetite and have just recently started counting calories to avoid potential weight gain. My weight so far has only fluxated about 5lbs. I am currently on 30mgs of Prednisone and can not wait to be off. I do have some slight acne on my upper back and notice a little extra weight there (maybe that camel hump thing someone mentioned). I am nervous these things will only get worse so I'm hoping my doctor will reduce the meds more rapidly after my next appointment. Overall it seems the Prednisone has done its job, but I'd still like to be off. I have been on a total of about 2 months now.

While coming off I have noticed heartburn (severe at times), mild depression, loss of energy, and I've been very bloated throughout the process.

I would only take Prednisone if absolutely necessary and get off it as fast as possible. Good luck to you all.

For optic neuritis, and arm and shoulder pain: I had a combo of 3 days of Solu-Medrol infusion (steroid via IV) and then went on the following regimen of Prednisone: 5 days 60 mg; 3 days 40 mg; 2 days 20 mg.
Side effects have been terrible with the WORSE CASE OF FACIAL ACNE I have ever had. I'm 28 - I have my 10th high school reunion, weddings, and more -- and it may sound vain, but if you saw this acne (hundreds of tiny pimples all over my cheeks; sides; chin; and upper neck) you'd feel my pain. Also, got shoulder, arm, back, and chest acne -- which I can take b/c I can find ways to cover that up. But face! It's terrible. I'm using Pro-Activ and see minimal improvement. The #2 problem has been SEVERE heartburn during the tapering off phase. I have never felt that much pain and it only went away after I completely went off the drug - I treated this with ginger drink (a hot tea sold in international food stores) and Pepcid AC. Also, due to my original symptoms I can do virtually no exercise when I used to exercise 6 days/week. I'm really worried about weight gain which I already see in my arms and face. My appetite has been through the roof. Irritability was the worst but I forewarned my family. My original symptoms have greatly improved, but I'd honestly rather fight through that original pain than endure the craziness that is prednisone.

Hello- I was Dx with Sarcoidosis in February, 2007. My lung specialist put me on 20mg Prednisone, increasing to 40mg within two weeks. My Sarcoid symptoms were from enlarged lymph- extreme trouble breathing, middle and lower back pain, kidney pain. Within a week of being at the 40mg level my heart rate and BP became so erratic that he had to start weaning me down. Initially I had extreme energy which felt good after suffering from fatigue but was short lived due to the cardiac problems.

The Prednisone has resolved much of my inflammation for the Sarcoid but I will not go on this again. I have been weaning now for over three weeks. Down under 5mg of Prednisone and it is almost unbearable. Each time I took a drop my mental symptoms became intolerable. Anxiety, extreme fatigue with extreme weakness, irrational thoughts, blurred vision. Within the last couple of days I could hardly get myself out of bed. My weight has increased steadily, bloating stomach, stiff joints, skin rash.

My biggest complaint is that doctors are not giving us enough information as to how this will affect from a negative side. Yes, it takes care of the inflammation but no one prepared me for these awful side effects and withdrawal symptoms. I feel like a nut case most of the time with no coping skills.

I took Prednisone for a cough (yes, just a normal virus!) for two weeks. I have been off of it for 5 days now, but I'm still having effects such as rapid heart rate (I'm seeing a cardiologist next week), acne, moodswings, and restlessness. I weighed 100 pounds when I started the pills and now I'm 106- that's a big gain for someone as small as me. I will never take this medication again.

Hi, I'm taking prednisone for 2 months already. I am not sure anymore if this pred is doing me more good than harm. I gained 20 pounds with a moon face filled with acne... It is so depressing because I never had problems with my skin and with my weight until I start taking pred for allergies. If I stop or wean down the dosage, then my allergies (hives) breaks out .Now, I feel so miserable and just want to stay home specially now that my students are noticing these horrible changes. I don't know how will I ever get back to normal again.

I have been on Prednisone since May 2005 starting at 60mg. In the beginning my appetite was out of control and I was going 100 mph. I find that I cut myself easily, experienced significant weight gain, even though i work out 5 days a week. The acne on my back is also making me crazy, and like others I have noticed mood swings and I lose it easily. I am by nature a very quiet calm person. I am now down to 10mg, hoping to drop to 5mg. I can only hope that the acne and the weight gain start to diminish.

I've been on prednisone for a few months now for severe ulcerative colitis, I'm 18 years old now, and the disease started when I was fourteen. So far, it's the only thing that seems to work. I've experinced increased acne, and occasional soreness in my shoulders in back. But the worst thing is that lately I've been just explosively angry. I raise my voice to the point that I am screaming my lungs out (which I rarely did before). I feel like I'm losing the ability to see what's going on when I get angry. I hate depending on other people to know when I'm out of control, but I'm beginning to think I can no longer tell. Does anyone else feel this way? Thanks.

I was in for poison ivy and was given prednisone. I was to start with 60 mg a day and taper off to 10 mg after 11 days. Well, I'm only five days into it and I have extreme acne all over my face and neck. My heart races at times and I've been moody. I'm not sure what "moon face" is. I'm just glad to know that I haven't gone nuts. Will I go back to normal after the meds are gone?

I have MS and was put on this medication for an episode I was having, severe vertigo. The veritgo would hit while driving on the freeway or at any other time of the day or night; therefore, the doctor felt the best action would be to take massive doses of Prednisone in hopes it would stop the vertigo. With all the side-effects I had from taking this drug it may have been better dealing with the vertigo!

I was NOT informed to check my blood sugars, I am a Type-2 diabetic, but was instructed to eat every 4 hours with each dose I took. I ended up in the emergency room with blood sugars over 600. My vision was effected to the point I didn't need my prescription lenses to see. I had insomnia. Couldn't stop drinking water, nor going to the bathroom (not sure if that was blood suger related, the drug, or both). I was delusional (and not normally so). I had the acid/reflux so bad that it was difficult to swallow food every 4 hours which lead to early tappering off the drug. I developed acne over my face and chest. I ached everywhere and felt like I would die.

The positive experiences I got from my Prednisone was the bond I developed through sharing my side-effects with another person who had also had bad experiences with the drug. I could see the leaves on the trees yards away without my glasses. My sight returned to "normal" about 2 weeks to a month after the treatment ended. The vertigo stopped and the loss of the use in my right hand and arm (MS related) came back 100%. I appreciate the life I have been given and am greatful for my health.

I was prescribed prednisone for a severe case of poison ivy. 60mg for 10 days, then tapering over 2 more weeks. Side effects were dizziness, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, slow healing, pent up energy, acne, etc. My doctor also prescribed Ranitidine 300mg 2x day because it's a histamine blocker, and that helped with the all-over itching. Ranitidine is normally prescribed as a stomach aid (for ulcers/acid reflux I think), so that may have helped prevent any of the stomach/digestive side effects. I also tried to follow the recommended dietary suggestions that I learned about. I focused on potassium, calcium, protein, zinc rich foods, lots of healthy vegetables, vitamin E, etc. Try searching the internet for "prednisone diet" or "prednisone nutrition". I think all that helped! Good luck.

I am athirtysomething yr old female. I was given high dosages of predisone in an out the hospital for two years. The predisone was used for treatment of asthma. While using the drug I experienced rapid heart rate, nervousness/anxiety and my shoulder dislocated every time I used prednisone,(the shoulder had been previously dislocated due to an injury). I also am plagued with acne on my face, back and chest. Molre recently I have been diagnosed with Grave's Disease. I am wondering if my predisone usage is in anyway related to my present diagnoses.

Diagnosed with an ANCA positive small vessel vasculitis, I have been on prednisone for 8 weeks, (after decadron). Here are some good news, sideeffects are minimal, I feel great! The dissapering of all the vasculitis simptoms have made me a new person...I love it! No acne, very little swelling, but I do not consume any salt at all, I exercise, I enjoy life and I am sure that our attitude plays a great role here as well. The combination I was perscribed with, is Gabapentin 300mg per day...could that make a dference?

I have been on Prednisone for over a year to treat my Chrohn's. I am finally done to half a pill. The side effects I have or have experinced are.sweats, no sleep, increased appetite, mood swings, feelings of being stoned, hyperactive, shaky, acne on face and chest, flushed face and hot flashes, sore eyes, weak skin, sore muscles, sore elbows (not knees or hips), unable to concentrate for long periods, skatterbrain, forgettfullness, anything else I am forgetting. I am a 32 year old female. hate this drug, once I am off will never go back. I would rather have a colostromy then go on this drug again. Oh and did I mention the depression. Very suicidale at times...crazy drug! Anyone can tell me when the moon face and acne side effects will go away?? All the best to everyone on this drug.

I noticed some definite puffiness in my face and soreness in my breasts, as well as a bit of an acne outbreak on my face. My breast size actually increased a whole cup size...and I'm past the age at which you hit puberty.

The puffiness in my face started a day AFTER I finished the prednisone. (I was on it to control poison ivy...I then had an allergic reaction to the topical medicine given to me and was put on prednisone again to counteract the allergic reaction. I had the 6 day dosage pack (4mg?) 3 times and finished the pack this past Sunday.

The breast stuff occured after my 2nd pack. I'm assuming that may be the "fat redistribution" I've read about.... My stomach had a little bit of fat added to it...nothing major, however the weird thing is that my weight has been about the same.

The thing I'm majorly stressing about is the "moon face" thing and I want to know how long this will last and/or what I can do to counteract it!

Any help/information would be greatly appreciated.

I've been taking prednisone for about a year, started with solu-medrol infusions of 1000mg for 3 days with a prednisone taper of 180mg a day for 7 and down from there, I have had 4 of these this year and now am taking 20mg a day, I've had many symptoms of taking so much pred, but it helps keep my vision normal and keeps the headaches away, weight gain, sleepless nights, now acne and just feeling bloated all the time are my main complaints, I am going to see another specialist to get me off prednisone, and will try another immunosupressant drug that dosent have near the side effects of pred, but all I can say is it works, but who knows what will happen to me down the road, I'm a 37 yr old male who feels like I've aged twice that.

I was on 116mg. prednisone for 7 days then to 80mg. for 6 days 20mg for 2 days then 10mg. for 2 more days and my side affects have been weight gain, dizziness, swolen face, restlesness, shakes, major acne and extreme shooting pain in the knees, knees very jello like.

I thought when coming off prednisone the side effects were suppose to be less severe or go away but some seem to be getting worse as my dose is lowered. The acne is getting worse and so is the swelling in my face and mid-section. When can I expect to be back to normal?

I started taking prednisone in September at 90 mgs a day and I gained 30 lbs in three weeks and was hospitalized for five days. The weight, which was all fluid, came off leaving nice stretch marks on my stomach and my dose was reduced to 50 mg a day. I'm now taking 30 mg a day and will be down to 20mg/day in 9 days. As you can tell, i'm counting the days until I no longer have to take this stuff. My side effects include hair loss (legs), hair gain (face), swollen face, legs & feet, headaches, muscle pain/weakness, increased appetite, hand tremor, rapid heatbeat/pulse, and acne. I think that's everything. That's enough. I use to suffer from insominia but my doctor told me to take my prednisone in the morning rather than the evening and it seems to be helping.

I have been on prednisone for 3 weeks to get rid of a severe allergic reaction to an adhesive and then an antibiotic. I have been having a lot of trouble getting to sleep and then waking up in the morning. Additionally, I have just begun to develop several areas of pimples around my chin and by my hairline...it is very abnormal for me to have acne.

Hi. I have been on prednisone twice and am getting ready for my third go at it. The first time was when I was 15, second time, 26, now 3rd time, 30 years old. Both previous times I experienced several side effects, including increased appetite, sodium retention, moon face (big time), acne, weight gain, significant mood swings, et al. The moon face was my biggest problem as I was in high school. However, it did go completely away eventually, and I actually lost more weight once off the med than when I started, the first time. The second time, the moon face went away but not all the weight, probably the age. Now, at 30, I am starting again, but plan to diet and exercise better to alleviate some of the side effects of this helpful but serious medication.

Hi i had been on Predisone since Jan and it has been a total nightmare. It was given as to help with Pulmonary Sarcoidosis that i have. I have suffered from numerous side effects
- night sweats
- frequent urination
- acne breakout
- upset stomach
- body cramps and muscle weakness
- hair loss
- mood swings
- weight gain almost 50 lbs
- lack of sleep
I have now been off of the Predisone for 15 day and is still dealing with a few sides affects and withdrawl effects....i have notices...since the i have a very bad trembling affect to my hands

Now listen I get so depressed , yes it helped my acne heal up and as I also have been diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstrustive Pulmonary Disease) where my asthma that I had as a child came back , I have gone off the Prednisone as of Monday this week (8 Aug 2005) I was on it for 2 weeks and was on 8 tablets each morning to clear up the acute Bronchitis I had that brought on the COPD.

Its now Thursday and I feel dizzy, nauseous and have a mean mean headache, but I realise this.... that putting foreign things like Prednisone into my body is going to ensure that once I am off it, my body tries to naturally get rid of it, so these side effects are just my body's way of getting rid of the extra cortisone. I am not overly worried. I don't want to gain weight because I have spent a long time losing over 25 kg's and I don't want it back. So I walk every day, I quit smoking and life is getting better and better.

I look to Lance Armstrong and his fight with cancer, it was a a physical disease and he survived he fought it with his MIND!!
Any disease that you have can make you feel depressed, unresponsive and as if you have no way out of the seemingly endless array of side effects from drugs etc.

You choose how you feel , its your mind that is the most powerful healer of all. So I may have COPD but its not going to stop me from living and make me wake up every single day with a strength that I never knew I had before.

I won't quit, if I feel depressed I will do something that will make me feel better and I will choose to be happy and make changes that will make me happy.

Disease is not the thing that makes you feel like a victim, You choose to be a victim by the thoughts you think.

Life is what you make it.

Keep strong, LIVE STRONG
Bronchitis 27 (Di)

It shocks me to read all of the issues with this drug. I have only been taking it for two days and it is the best thing I have ever taken (so far). My acne, which I have had since I was 12 and now I am 30, is gone; I have completely shed all of my depression and I feel like a whole different person. My husband loves it! The only side effects that I have noticed that are negative, again I have only been taking it for two days, is sleeplessness and occational headaches. I am able to concentrate, and stay awake in class/at work. I was perscribed this med because I have an allergy to something and broke out into hives. I will only be on the med for five days, but I like the fact that I feel alive.

I'm 42, female and I understand the acne part of taking pred. Mine is getting better. I've got 3 or 4 sizes of clothes due to taking pred. for the 4 yrs. I'm slowly getting into the smaller ones. I'm finally down to large and medium. Takes a while. Plain ole' ivory soap is great for the acne. Dries it up and clears it faster. God Bless...........

Thanks for the encouragement. I guess I'm starting to panic a little because school is about to begin (I'm a teacher) and none of my pants will fit, LOL.
I also wanted to address the person a few posts back who was experiencing feet and ankle swelling and another who was getting acne. My ankles looked like softballs for a while, but are no longer swelling up and I'm still fighting the acne (hello, I'm in my 40s with zits? Good greif!) I think that is also a symptom of the Prednisone.
You know, I was coughing myself stupid (after trying three dif antibiotics) and two days into the Prednisone, I felt so much better. Even so, I don't think I will ever take it again. There has got to be something else out there...something that does the good without all the evil side effects.

I've had extreme swelling in my hands. Every morning when I wake up my hands are so swollen I can't bend my fingers. I've gotten to the point that before I go to bed, I take my wedding rings off. I have to. It's getting better. Ivygirl, it will take some time but it will go away, don't panic if the acne doesn't go away when you want it to. It will go away, just wait it out. Good luck : )

So Jules, 5 mg a day for a few weks and you're the expert ?

You need to read the posts here a little closer. Some of us had aninitial dose of 1000 mg.. then anything from 30 to over 100 mg per day. There are side effects ! As one other said: we sought out the information AFTER the side effects were noted. Perhaps some are convenient like the voracious appetite (oh voracious means unstoppable just in case you needed to know.)

The point is the majority of side effects are known, are not psychosomatic (that means imaginary), and certainly NOT for you to criticize. That you had little or none you can thank a higher being. To criticize those who are suffering ... that is beyond cruel.

(I for one like the extra facial hair!!)

Fact is, so many feeling so badly can't be so wrong. There's smoke you can be sure there's fire.

BY THE WAY. To continue my tale of pred !!

I've been on 5 mgs per day since early July and nearly all of the effects have diminished. The fatty deposits are nearly gone (finally) the buffalao hump is just about gone. The sugar is better, blood pressure is down, the appetite is under control and the acne is different .. but better. Truly different than just a few weeks ago. Perhaps not as obvious to others but I certainly knew that it wasn't my face staring back at me. The old one is now back !!

There is hope !!!

I was taking the Prednisone pack for a servere case of Poison Ivy. This stuff works EXCELLENT to kill of the posion. I was covered in it, from my face and eyes to my feet. Along side of clearing up the posion ivy, the side effects sucked. Felt very weak. Couldnt maintain an erection. I didnt have an appitiete and lost weight. After i was off the Prednisone, i broke out with acne on my face and back. I gained my appitite back but have been drinking alot more water. I feel like i have my strength back also.

I started out at 10 mg but it later increased to 60mg but has decresed since may down to 10 mg. in the morning and 10mg at night. i have gotten the acne on the forehead, the puffy checks, also facial hair and a bad appetite. I have not gained weigh. Hopefully by christmas i will be off of the prednisone the doctors have me on methotrexate so i can. I am 16 years old have been on prednisone since oct 2004

I was perscribed Prednisone after getting a monster case of poison ivy. As I was finishing the course at the end of one month, I got poison ivy again (stupid!) and started a second month. Dosage started at 60 mg and dropped 10 mg every five days.

The first symptoms were insomnia and anxiety. Then heartburn and pressure in my chest. In the second month. I began feeling pain in my knees and tingling in my arms. After 6 weeks, I got the facial hair, moon face, and mild acne.

As the dosage has decreased, the heartburn has gone away. The anxiety has also improved.

If there's a next time for the poison ivy (Heaven forbid), I think I'll suffer through the skin rash. It was all over my face and my eyes were swollen almost shut, but it would have gone away on its own.

I don't have a new side affect just a comment about how uninformed some of our health care professionals are. I called and spoke to my docs nurse today to ask about the acne that has formed on my forehead and back, just to find out how long this might take to go away she stated that this was not a side effect from pred........ WHAT! I can't believe she said that. I love this board, if i had not found it i would be in total worry right now thinking what could be causing this acne, but by reading all the info provided by actual users, it has much more meaning to me as to what is a side effect by all the people that have exper this.

I've posted before.. so this is a continuing story. Hope it helps some of you. And I REALLY hope some of you will put your thots down so we can all learn.

I've been on 10 mg a day for almost a month now.. tapered off from 30mg/day for a month to 25mg/day for a month and then tapered it down to 10 for the last 4+ weeks. There is some reduction in side-effects but trust me I still have plenty. Anyone care to join me ? Id be happy to share.

I occasionally get nasty leg cramps that wake me in the middle of the night and occasionally cramps in my hands and just about anywhere else I 'stretch' weirdly.. No clue why.

I have lost quite a bit of the moon face (not all). I can't tell if I've lost some of the buffalo hump or gotten used to it. Hope it's smaller !!

My appetite is still ravenous BUT I can control it. Therefore my weight is staying under control (a really good thing even though we're only alking 3-5 lbs from normal).

Most of the other side effects are still there.. fat deposits, somewhat moody, tingly feeling, and pimples/acne. The good news.. they are (to me) obviously diminished !

There is hope !!

If things continue well with the post transplant tests the pred will be reduced in 2 weeks to 7.5/day ! Cross those fingers ! :)

Not sure what happened: I had made a post several days ago. I thot it showed up..oh well.

They've reduced my dosage from 25mg/day to 10mg/day, it's been about 2 weeks. Some of the moon face has disappeared not a lot but some. The muscle cramps still creep up once in a while in the legs and sometimes the hands and even one in the neck but they pass more quickly now.

Eating is less of a problem. First of all, I was able to eat mounds of food. As mentioned by someone earlier, eating or not eating doesnt seem directly related to my weight but I did gain 4-5 pounds in 3 weeks and some days my weight would rocket 10 lbs right before bed. (Any weights taken outside the normal consistent time really don't count.. but they're interesting. Weight should be taken the same time under the same conditions every time to make any sense.) It wasn't just the eating it was the rationalization. "Oh I can eat just onemore helping.. about 5 lbs .. of potato salad". And it actually made sense. Probably related to the psychotic episodes others have mentioned. Now, at 10 mg, it IS easier to control. My weight has drifted back a bit to just 2 lbs over what I was when I started the pred.

Other side effects are still around: puffiness in the face (though it is diminished), buffalo hump, swollen belly, some acne (improves with phisohex), general movement of fat stores to all sorts of weird places. It is difficult to tell on a daily basis if that's changing only incomparison week over week (or more).

More later 'As the Prednisone turns'