PredniSONE and anxiety

This is an evil drug, far more dangerous than most illegal drugs. It ruined my life. I wish I had never been put on it. It was the first drug I, a teenager, was put on, having just been diagnosed with my disease.

I hadn't tried other drugs or other treatments; medical guidelines, I know now, say not to use this drug unless the disease is both severe and other treatments have failed. Well, I hadn't tried other treatments yet, so I shouldn't have been put on this drug. And yet the doctor I was assigned, Dr. Anne Sullivan at the University of Iowa's hospital, thought I needed to be on it, told me it was safe, that it didn't have any side effects, and that I would be completely healthy again in a few weeks.

If I had been told about the side effects, as doctors are supposed to do, according to both legal and medical standards, if my doctor had honestly answered my questions about side effects, I never would've taken it. And I'd advise others to never take this terrible drug. I would rather die than take this drug again.

It did nothing for my disease, but it did give me quite a few side effects, some which, according to the doctors I've subsequently went to, are permanent and long-lasting and there's nothing you can do about them; they're just permanent.

People don't talk about the psychological effects of steroids, but they should; they're serious. And, no, they don't just go away when you stop taking the drug. If the drug makes you bipolar, you're not just going to just go back to being you're regular self. Bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, these things don't just go away on their own.

I had no problem with mental illness before taking this drug, and yet I'm still severely depressed to this day, part of that, perhaps, is from what the drug did to me, that is, the physical side effects, but part of, I suspect, is just that it changed my personality, like it changed my brain chemistry.

Go here-******to learn about the psychiatric effects of prednisone.

Excerpts:

"Although a powerful therapeutic option, corticosteroids are associated with serious adverse effects, both physiologic and psychiatric. While the somatic adverse effects of corticosteroid therapy (Table 1) have been extensively researched and widely described, the neuropsychiatric adverse effects have received less attention."

"In our literature review, we found that the potential psychiatric adverse effects of corticosteroids span a symptom spectrum from subtle mood changes to full-blown affective syndromes and frank psychosis."

"The most commonly reported corticosteroid-induced psychiatric disturbances are affective, including mania, depression, or mixed states."

"Cognitive deficits, particularly declarative or verbal memory deficits, have been well documented during both long- and short-term corticosteroid therapy."

"More severe cognitive impairment consistent with delirium or dementia has also been described."

"In a case-control study of 20 patients receiving long-term low-dose corticosteroid therapy (prednisone, 7.5 mg/d for >6 months) and 14 volunteers with similar illnesses who were not receiving corticosteroid therapy, Bolanos et al9 found a 60% lifetime risk of corticosteroid-induced mood or anxiety disorder."

"The corticosteroid dosage is the most important risk factor for the development of psychiatric symptoms."

"Psychiatric disturbances can occur at any point during corticosteroid treatment, including almost immediately after initiation and even after cessation of treatment."

"Corticosteroid-induced psychiatric disturbances are common and include mania, depression, psychotic or mixed affective states, cognitive deficits, and minor psychiatric disturbances (irritability, insomnia, anxiety, labile mood)."

"It is important that clinicians in all specialties become aware of the potential psychiatric adverse effects associated with corticosteroids and explain these effects to their patients."

"Which patients will experience corticosteroid-induced psychiatric disturbances cannot be predicted. Dosage is the most important risk factor for the development of adverse effects, with patients receiving less than 40 mg/d at minimal risk, those taking 40 to 80 mg/d at moderate risk, and patients receiving more than 80 mg/d at high risk. Most patients will develop symptoms during the first week of treatment, and more than 90% will develop symptoms by 6 weeks."

Side effects: mixed bipolar disorder/manic-depression, suicidal ideation, cystic acne, scars on my face, panic attacks, severe anxiety, rage, euphoria, sadness, impulsiveness, confusion, memory loss, hard to concentrate and remember, thin skin, delayed healing ability, bruises, premature aging, rapid heart beat, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, higher cholesterol, thyroid disease, sweating all over, itching all over, joint pain, increased appetite, massive weight gain, stretch marks, hormones out of balance now, dry eyes, so dry my eyelids stick to my eyes, so dry I can't wear contacts any more, permanent red eyes, blurry vision, vision worsened, eye pain, eyes sensitive to light, migraines, and yellow skin.

My husband initially took Prednisone after getting strange lesions, severe joint pain, severe fatigue and severe stomach cramps/nausea. It worked great he was tapered off and no problems for about 18 months. Then he go sick again (2/08) and has been up and down on Prednisone for 7 months- currently taking 60 mg. daily. Some doctors think he has Wegener's, but testing is inconclusive (Wegener's starts with upper respiratory stuff, which he also had). His mood swings are severe and he's a different person, twitching, hand trembling, muscle spams, malaise, anxiety/depression, very fatigued, insomnia, severe stomach cramps/vomiting. How do you tell which symptoms are the Prednisone and which are the disease process? They want to taper him to make him sick enough to get some test results that show organ damage or something, but everyone chickens out and he ends up getting increased. How long should he be on Prednisone and not be put on something stronger?

You people are freaking me out. I just started today with my first dose of prednisone for my first bronchitis diagnosis. I've been sick for 3 months and thought this would be a good med for me to rid the coughing. I'm starting to reconsider taking any more if all I can expect is long term adverse effects. I took this once before years ago for a severe skin allergy. I got the psychosis initially but then adjusted the dose. Then, I would get euphoric and full of energy, like being on a stimulant. I had no idea the round face thing was due to this, I thought I just ate too much while I was home sick for 2 months. I think I'll try the herbal alternative route. If it works, I'll write again and let y'all know. Thanks for all the comments.

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.

I went on Prednisone for only 3 days as treatment to a bad allergic reaction to antibiotics. I ended up in the ER for treatment of the allergic reaction and they gave me a pred IV. They put me on 80 mg tablets, which I was supposed to take for 5 days, but there was no tapering off called for by the doc. I only took it for 3 days and started bad abdominal cramps and a bad taste in my mouth. Everything tasted extremely salty--and still does almost a week later. After I was off the drug for a day or two I started bad cramping in my chest, trouble breathing even though they said my lungs were clear, and really bad anxiety, which I've never had before. I freaked out while I was driving and had to pull into a parking lot for over an hour, and still had bad anxiety trying to drive home. I felt like I was drowning and had labored breathing. It's been almost a week and I still have muscle cramping in my chest, but it's starting to subside if I stay calm. I now have headaches and am weak generally, but am starting to come out of it, I think. I don't think the docs wanted to admit that lot of this was due to the pred; it is a serious drug that should not be taken lightly. I never knew there could be such extreme side effects to a drug. I am sorry to hear that many of you have had similar experiences, but it does give me some comfort to know that these effects were real and not due to some psychosomatic problem.

I have taken Prednisone several times for allergic reactions.The main side effects I have encountered are 1.Shakiness 2. mood swings 3. anxiety-mild depression 4.upset stomach 5 rapid heartbeat.6.insominia. To counteract the anxiety, moodines, insomnia I take benadryl. I talked to my pharmacist and she said Benadryl is ok to take with Prednisone- you should still talk to your Doctor or Pharmacist. The Benadryl takes some of the edge off of the prednisone. As for the upset stomach I just make sure I eat before I take the Prednisone.

I felt so powerful at times and then useless within a couple hours. Crying and bouncing with joy. Anxiety, insomnia, depression. scary feeling, but felt no physical pain and was able to recover from illness.

I was on Entocort and I have such bad anxiety, racing heart, that the doctor has put me on anti-anxiety medicine just so I can function and had to stop Entocort cold turkey due to side effects. Also they took me off Entocort because colonoscopy showed no crohns or colitis.

My mother was put on Prednisone 3 weeks ago because of severe muscle pain (15 mg at first and increased to 60 mg). After she starting taking it she began to have weakness in her muscles/joints and was unable to walk by the end of the week. She also had severe water retention and could not catch her breath. Most of all she was very weak all the time and could not seem to sleep at all. She wound up in the hospital and was classified with a type of Congestive Heart Failure due to the excessive dosage given by a pain doctor. She had to be admitted to a Rehabilitation Center where they have now cut her down to 10 mg a day and she is trying to take Physical Therapy to walk again. She is fighting with depression and overwhelming feelings of anxiety. She still cannot sleep and wonders if she will ever by back to normal again. Just a month ago she was living a normal life and because of the pain, was given this medication. I wonder if the benefits outweigh the horrible side effects she has experienced. After reading some of the responses above I see others are having similar side effects.
Any encouragement from someone with a positive long term outcome would be beneficial at this time to her. She feels very helpless in her situation.

Survivors Of Prednisone
Type: Common Interest - Health & Wellness
Description: Many of those with auto-immune diseases such as Crohn's Disease are forced to go on a prescribed steroid known as Prednisone. The effects of Prednisone are terrible. Prednisone creates water retention (puffiness) in your face and torso. It causes severe mood swings. It also causes your hair to fall out. And that is just going on the Prednisone. Once you get off the Prednisone, you then have to deal with the adrenal insufficiency as Prednisone can shut down your adrenal glands.

There seems to be little support for people who have been on Prednisone. They seem to be left alone to deal with the side effects and the confusion and fear that it causes.

This is what this group aims to do:
***
Provide awareness of how Prednisone can and has affected lives.

So if you are feeling down or suffering from crazy mood swings or can't handle looking in the mirror anymore then come and let it all out !

Hello EveryOne out there...OK OK....

Now Why have I been out of touch since Sept 14th.... 2007???

I have been VERY VERY ill.....

Y'See, I went to see this new Doctor (Quack) for continued pain in my chest (sternum) area....that I have been having trouble with all Summer. (Severe Costochondritis/Fibromyalgia) By Sept 14th, this Quack who claims to be a Doctor had given me this prescription for Prednisone pills (20 mg each)....with orders to take mega doses of this toxic poison in order to combat the pain I was suffering. I was so desperate to get out of pain that I went ahead and filled the prescription and started taking the pills that eventful Friday night. I made the fatal mistake of trusting this Doctor!!!

If I had any sense God gave green apples I would have researched this a little before taking this medicine!! I would have run like all heck in the opposite direction!

I had been taking these reccomended large doses for approx two weeks back then per Doctor 'Quack's' order.... I have been hooked after the first week....and now currently desperately trying to get off of it with only marginal success!!

I have been on this Prednisone crap for some 49 days, currently and desperately trying to get off of it....with terrible side effects!! I have experienced every side effect known to the Devil himself and even discovered some new ones that I never knew was possible!? Case in point! I can't sleep night after night without terrible withdrawals all night long!!! I am forced to contend with them every night here. Not to mention I fight the withdrawals all days long too. I have this inept doctor and I am sorry I even went to him in the first place...!

The withdrawals I am now getting are harder to deal with than the original chest pain itself!!! Not to mention even eating the so-called 'wrong' foods sets off even more withdrawals almost immediately. I am now extremely sensitive to light and the sun~ not to mention.....noise....and stress....

I am much sicker from this Quack Doctor's so-called "HELP" than I ever was before....

I don't mind saying his name and trying to steer everyone away from this jerk Doctor here in Las Vegas who takes advantage of people in pain when they are desperate by feeding them toxic poisons and passing the poison off as something harmless thats gonna help them??? Just ask me who he is and I will tell you. I have no qualms about it....

Bottom line is I have spent this last month trying to get off this crap and I just found out that the withdrawals may bother me up to a YEAR after I take my last dose of this crap poison!! I have been going thru H***!!! A nightmare I would LOVE to pass onto this Quack who pretends to be a doctor!

I am down to about 7.5 mg per day now from about 180 mg that he gave me originally Sept 14 2007. Believe me this was not easy thing for me to do. I went "Toxic" on this drug weeks ago and it has affected my ability to process, think and reason properly. I feel like part of my mind is now missing or went on permanent vacation!! Dizziness,feeling like I'm gonna pass out, Brain Fog and Mass Confusion is the order for the day~depending on the time of day???

"The side effects of prednisone include adrenal suppression, which can occur with periods of prednisone use to surpass seven days. Adrenal suppression refers to the body’s inability to synthesize natural corticosteroids, resulting in a dependency on the prednisone taken by the patient. This is why doctors do not recommend the cessation of prednisone when the patient has taken it for longer than seven days. They reduce the dose gradually over a few days in the case of short-term prednisone use, and over weeks or months in the case of long-term treatment. Stopping prednisone treatment abruptly can cause the life-threatening Addison’s disease, in which in the body no longer produces sufficient amounts of adrenal steroid hormones"

I want to SUE this Doctor for making me this sick!!!!!

SDR

GRRRRRRRRRrrrrr!!!!!!!

Hello, I was put on Prednisone for 12 days and made it through 11. It's been about 11 days since I've taken it and I'm still having symptoms. I have such bad anxiety and depression, mostly after dinner. My heart rate and blood pressure shoot up, and I have to pee every 15 mins. I had gone to the ER on the last day I was on it because I was having evil thoughts and crying uncontrollably. They told me it was probably steroidal psychosis and sent me to a shrink who now has me on Ativan until the Paxil she also prescribed me kicks in. Does ANYONE know how long this drug will be in my system? I took a tappered 12-day dose starting at 60mg. This drug may save lives, but it's really put hard times in mine. Any response is*****

In January I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis). I was put on 60 mg prednisone and an array of other meds to help with pain, inflammation, water retention, and stomach problems from everything. I've lost some vision from the TA. I've experienced the weight gain, the moon face, stomach problems, depression, fatigue, muscle weakness, lack of memory and concentration, and generally feel miserable. The brain fog is awful! I don't trust myself doing much of anything these days!

When I was first put on the prednisone it completely took away all my TA and PMR symptoms. I could walk and get up and down again, didn't have the headaches, and didn't hurt all over.
My doctor tried to taper my dosage about 6 weeks ago and all my symptoms returned and increased as I went down on the prednisone. He upped me back to 60. That time the symptoms didn't go away. They lessened but were still there.

He's trying to taper again, and I'm down to 30 mg now and feel worse and worse. My sed rate has been normal, so the doctor thinks it's from the prednisone. Does it mimic all the TA and PMR symptoms? I also am having a lot of hand and feet cramping.

Does anyone else have these two illnesses? I would be interested in your experience. I want off these meds! Anyone found an alternative approach that's helped?

God bless!

after 6 days of 50mg prednisone, have developed severe muscle aches, horrible constant headache, bad depression, extreme fatigue . Am still feeling this way a week after stopping the prednisone. While on prednisone for 6 days, felt euphoric and no pains, wonderful mood. Then crashed second day off the prednisone. When will these symptoms I am left with go away?

I'm 17 years old, and I have Ulcerative Colitis. I was diagnosed at 15, and was put on Prednisone then for three months. I didn't gain much weight in my tummy that time, but my face swelled to huge proportions, and while ON the drug, my hair grew like crazy but was very dull and lifeless at the same time. The minute I stopped the drug, my hair started falling out. Within a month, I had lost 40% of my hair.

Well, I'm on it again, and this time it's worse. I started out at 40mg back in October, and am down to 20mg now, but it's just as bad as when I started. I'm VERY moody and snap at my best friends, who I am usually the calmest around. I often find myself just wanting to hit and yell at something. Before I started Pred, I weighed 138. I weighed myself yesterday... 150.2. This is very disheartening. I have a moon face, the makings of a double chin, unhealthy hair, I wake up about 5 times every night because I'm restless or I have to pee, I can't focus in school, my knees hurt, etcetera. I'm miserable.

I work out 6-7 times a week because I'm so concerned about my weight. I do 30-45 minutes of the treadmill and/or elliptical, and do all the happy little toning machines, in hopes that my tummy can be a bit more toned. But no. It's a useless blob. None of my favorite jeans or shirts fit me anymore, and this - not the drug itself, but the side effects - make me very, very unhappy.

For those who become increased in thirst and urinating after taking Prednisone, you might want to check for your sugar level in your urine or blood.

I was recently on Prednisone for 2 days with 60 mg per day (3 pills of 20 mg) and I started to have severe lower backpain. I went back to see my doctor and found out that my sugar (or glucose) level was high in my urine (and the sugar level was same to that of a person with diabeties) and I stopped the medicine right away. I have been monitoring my sugar level for 5 days now and it is still high now especially 1 hour after meal (i.e >200 whereas a normal sugar level should ~ 80-110).

As some of you, I had anxiety, sleepless, swollen face after taking the medicine for 4 days but now these have stopped. However, the high sugar level still remains the problem of concern.

Do any of you know whether the high sugar level is temperoray problem AND how long the sugar level will come back to normal (being thirsty, blurred vision or sensitive to light can be the results of high sugar level).

Please advise.

I went to the doctor for trouble breathing. I also wanted to take a physical cause I have never taken one. So he just checked me and prescribed me prednisone 10mg 1pill every antibiotics, and an Inhaler.

The side effect was swollen face and neck within the week of taking it. I would take one a day or sometimes I wouldnt take it and vise versa. But It was supposed to be for 5 day wich would be 10 pills and since. The doctor said yeah keep taking it. So this past week has been 6 more.

16pills in total through a period of three weeks and what I feel is
Pain in my left shoulder. Like muscle pain. My breathing problem once in a while. When I dont have anxiety. My face is not swollen, cause when it did get swollen I would feel it.
Well the doctor said after my X-ray exam that I had bronchitis and previous imflammatory disease. but still I dont know what was the problem in the first place.

For this amount of prednisone how Much effect is it going to do?

Because its been 2 days that I dont take it.

I am a 52 yr old female. Just finished my 6 day supply of 20mg prednisone. I have shoulder impingement in both shoulders. Prednisone is a NIGHTMARE MEDICATION! I had several of the side effects mentioned. It lessened the pain in my shoulders, but the side effects were far worse. I had difficulty sleeping (bad dreams), anxiety, depression, severe hot flashes,sensitivity to light, heart beating rapidly. I felt like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde. I didn't recognize myself in the mirror. There was this old wretched looking person looking back at me. Now after the medication is gone the pain is back.Whoopdedo. 6 days of misery and torment for that! Never again!

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.

Anyone had this problem? I was on prednisone for only 6 days (30mg tapering -5mg per day). I had total insomnia while on it and after stopping it I now have anxiety/fast heart rate and continued severe insomnia.

This has continued for 2.5 months and my doctor is baffled- he just keeps prescribing me sleeping pills. I just went without any sleeping pills for 5 days and still didn't sleep at all-

HELP!!!

I have insomnia, sweating, and anxiety. Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

All these feelings u r having come from the pred. Trembling in the hands or shaking, hunger, weight gain, anxiety, insomnia, etc., r a part of the pred. Everyone here who has been on pred. has gone thru all of the side effects. It's very hard to go thru. Don't think u r crazy, it's the pred. I've been off of it since June 10th and still have insomnia, and sometimes my hands tremble. I was on it for 4 yrs. Watch out for high carb foods and high sugar content foods or u will be in the bathroom alot. Hang in there and God Bless all of u.

Shortness ofbreath(heavy lungs),paranoia,anxiety,depression,(relieved by drugs) , weight gain...cushingoid appearance..buffalo hump and all,hunger,foggy, strange gluey feelings in my toes,afeeling of bouncing when I walk,knee swelling peptic ulcer diareahea,neck and face swelling

I have been on prednisone for two weeks due to a bad case of pneumonia. So far, the side effects are: Diarrhea if I eat salads, insomnia, sweats, anxiety, frequent urination, and horrible acid reflux. The good news is: I am so miserable with these side effects that I didn't even notice the effects of PMS this month. Guess there's a good side to everything....

Guest, #12572
"Some patients who have weaned from prednisone report that they continue to experience the side effects of steroid therapy, such as anxiety, depression and irritability for weeks or months following treatment so give yourself time to adjust."

Bronchitis27: Bravo!! Great attitude!!! Wishing you all the best!!!

I am an asthmatic and have taken high does of pred. I have just gotten off 2 months worth....have been off 1 month now and still feel some of the anxiety. I have to agree with jules on everything. Pred. is a nasty drug...docs dont like to put you on it unless they find it necessary.....HOWEVER.....the drug benefits definitely out weigh the side effects (and this is coming from someone with panic disorder) all drugs have benefits and side effects...even asprin! You should all make sure you have a GREAT doctor and educate yourself about your meds BEFORE you take them! And try to ward off some of the side effects ahead of time....it can be done. You do not need to gain loads of weight while on pred...that is an excuse, like a woman who is pregnant and gains 80lbs Some you cant help but the ones you can try to count act with....healthy foods to munch on....drink plenty of water.....take xanx if the anxiety is too bad etc.......

Late in January 05 I was admitted to the hospital for severe ITP (low platelet count). They first gave me prednisone in my IV, then each day after 80mgs. I returned home 14 days later on a daily 80mgs for three months. I had isomnia and had no strength at all and just felt like a totaly different person. My platelets stabilized around 190 thousand for a few months. I was weaned off it completely. Then my platelets started to go down again. My Dr. put me back on 30mgs of prednisone. The second time around with a smaller amount is worse than the first time with the larger amount. I'm now down to 20 mgs and I have a deprresion now with low physical strength and can barely get throgh 8 hours of work. I feel an inner anxiety that I hate with no appetite. Prednisone probably helped me with my platelet count but who knows, they gave me other things, but I really hate prednisone and can't wait to get off it so I can begin to feel like a normal person. I'll tell you it's impossible to feel right when your on prednisone.

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 started taking prednisone for 6 days, starting with 24 mg, 6 tablets, then 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. I'm on an anti-depressant and mood stabilizer and thought I was going insane. I needed to take it because I'm having sinus surgery. Does anyone know how long it takes for this crazy drug to get out of your system? My med doctor told me its the worse drug to take when your on anti-depressants our any other drug for depression or anxiety.

Yeah ... great I'll take the Rx pain killers over depot medrol. People wonder why Paula Abdul acts so punchy... she's totally strung out on weekly depot medrol shots DUH! Well good for her if the people around her can stand it. Wait till the Ms Hyde side shows up. Side -effect ? anxiety; easy agitation & anger; hyper activity.

i am so glad i found this site. i thought i was losing my mind,i have and am having almost all side affects listed. starting at the top and working down i will list the affects it has had on me:headaches, neck pain, eyesight blurriness, lump on back of my neck,shoulder pain, stomach pain, hip pain, muscle weakness, racing pulse, feeling of anxiety,skin tenderness,unable to process thoughts and sentences,mood swings, severe sweating,the feeling of having a hangover. these are not all of them but had i known what this drug could do to your body i would have never agreed to the injections. most days i feel like dying. i never sleep it seems. and iam so tired of the way i am having to live. cannot work, or do the things i would normally do. thanks for listening
tami

i am also a diabetic,I was given prednisone for itp started at 100 mg am now at present weaned down to 5 mgs every day still have 3 months on this drug the devil created, moon face bloating, hair loss depresson, anxiety etc

Was given prednisone for an allergic reaction (to Wellbutrin, we think) -- 5 mg 2X daily. Didn't seem to work, so they put on 20mg 3X daily for several days, and gradually decreasing. It's been since Christmas eve with a rash on my arms and legs and it's better, but not completely gone yet. I still wake up scratching. I've been finished with the treatment for 2 days.

The side effects I've experienced are sweating profusely, anxiety (rapid heart rate, etc), night sweats, strange dreams, insomnia and CRAZY APPETITE. I just keep eating and eating and nothing tastes right. It took me two weeks to figure out that it was the drug making me eat. I've also experience pretty severe gas that disrupts my work day and home life (my poor husband had to leave the room!)

I'll be so glad when this is over!

I'm so glad I found this site. Was put on tapering Prednisone dose for sinus infection. Wasn't much, starting out with 24 mg, then 20 mg, 16 mg, 12 mg, 8 mg, lastly 4 mg then stop. Oh my goodness!! The first 3 days I thought I was literally going to die of something! I felt so anxious, almost panicky. I couldn't sleep at night-really irritating with 2 little kids waking you up when you do fall asleep. I also had muscle twitching. I had a lot of heartburn, which is now subsiding with the smaller tapered doses. As a RN for 23 years, I can't tell you how many times I have given this stuff, aware of the side effects, but it really feels real when you take it yourself. There were some good things...I haven't had an allergy attack in 5 days, and I haven't breathed this well in months. The anxiety is gone. My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have to take this stuff. It is a very good drug, especially in such severe illnesses, but it is very potent. Most doctors do give careful consideration when prescribing this.
Gail ***
Overland Park Ks

I started taking prednisone 16 days ago for systemic poison oak. I should never have started. It made me feel awful in many ways and I couldn't wait to decrease my dosage and be finished with it. Today was the last day. And then I again started having "really bad heartburn" like I'd been having since I started it...but then the "heartburn" changed and I realized I was having severe chest pains. I ended up fainting once and almost fainting again on the way out to the car to emergency with my husband and son's help. During the short car ride I thought I could be having a heart attack...it was very scary. My fingers and toes started tingling and then vibrating strongly. I didn't know what was happening. They got me to emergency where I felt taken care of almost immediately. They were almost certain I was in fact having a reaction to the prednisone. They see this quite a bit! They took all sorts of tests to make sure it wasn't my heart, etc and they started me on an anti- anxiety IV which started helping fairly soon. They sent me home with more of this medication in case I start feeling bad again in the next few days. Hopefully this will be the end of it....and I know I will NEVER go on prednisone again in my life!

Have tapered from 40 mg to 10 overnight in order to have a test for my thyroid. This is causing severe itching all over my body. Other side effects: weight gain (6 lbs in 5 days), bloating in stomach, moon face, sleeplessness, anxiety. I just want to be normal again! I'm taking it to combat Graves Eye Disease.