PredniSONE and appetite

I'm a 56 year old male. I'm taking pred as a trial therapy for CIDP, which can be described as MS "lite". The treatment has been three days of one gram per day methylprednisolone infusion, followed, for the rest of the month, by 20 mg prednisone a day. Then another three days of infusions, etc. It's called "pulse treatment." Side effects have been a bit of insomnia, mainly during the three-day period of infusions, feeling a little hyper, slightly hoarse voice, huge appetite. I seem to be able to control these rather well, and haven't gained weight, so far. I'm told I look a little flushed, but don't have a Barry Bonds face, noy yet anyway. The two side effects that have been problematic: Flatulence. Ever read Confederacy of Dunces? I feel like Ignatius O'Reilly. The most problematic has been the urge to pee, which is most intense a couple of days after the infusions are complete. It's really intense for two or three days, then subsides a bit, but still makes me get up in the middle of the night, something that I've only rarely experienced before. Tests for urinary tract infection are negative. Will do this treatment for a few more months and then get spinal tap and EMG test to see if there's an improvement. Haven't noticed any so far, but that's expected.

I was put on 20 ml prednisone a day for PMR . My doctor said with such a low dose I shouldn't experience many side effects. WRONG! The first month was great. No pain and I felt better than I'd felt in years. Then the side effects started...every known side effect hit me. After being on the drug for two months I told my doctor I couldn't stand the side effects any more and to please ween me off. Two weeks ago which was end of third month I was completely weened off the drug. I still have blurred vision so bad I can't function...I can't work, I can't drive, I can't read. I can barely see at all. My question is will my vision improve? So far its seems to be getting worse and my vision was great before prednisone.

Depression was bad when I was on drug but seems to be even worse now that I'm off.

The only side effects that have diminished are appetite even though I haven't lost one oz of 40 lb weight gain while I was on prednisone and muscle cramps are not quite as bad. I am sleeping a little better and hot flashes aren't as bad..

I used prednisone for sinus inflammation and it gave me bad side effects such as: irregular heartbeat and stomach upset and anxiety. It actually did help with the inflammation but I stopped using it because of the side effects. It made my lip puff out too, which i did not mind because i have small lips and i looked better with a bigger lip, lol! I am thin so if it made me swollen i did not care because i need to gain weight, i am only 105 lbs. I just started taking methylprednisolone tablets packet and they seem to work better and if it causes increased appetite that would be good for me because i lost so much weight because of my teeth and sinus pain i had everyday for four months. So far it is working but i just started it and will keep you posted. It does seem milder than plain prednisone I suggest you switch to this if the prednisone is not working for you. It sounds like most people are on too high of a dosage and take with food and a lot of water. Hope everyone feels better soon.

My neurologist put me on Prednisone for cluster migraines. I started with 80 mg for 2 days, 60 mg/2, 40mg/2,20mg/2. It was so effective at keeping the cluster attacks from coming. I was so thankful to finally have something to stop the attacks. I have suffered with CH for 20 years and other than pain medication to abort an attack I never had anything that worked as a preventative. After taking the prescribed dosage I stopped taking the Prednisone. My neurologist warned me that this drug can be very effective short term but I would not want to have prolonged use because of the side effects. Unfortunately, when I stopped taking it my cluster migraines came back full force. So I went back on taking 20 mg daily. That was a BIG mistake. At first I was euphoric, on a constant high. I had so much energy even though I would only get about 4 hours sleep because my mind was racing from 2:00 am into the early morning hours. I would wake up with night sweats and needing to urinate 3 times per night. My face got puffy, I had terrible heartburn, increased thirst and a decreased appetite. My family was watching me wizz around like the Tazmanian Devil wondering why I was acting so bizarre. I thought I was seeing things so amazingly clear! The worse part of all is the itchy, red rash that started on my elbows, then knee caps. It has now spread up and down both arms and legs. I went to see my GP and I told him that I have never had any skin rash like this before. Could it be the Prednisone causing it? He of course said it was unlikely because Prednisone is used to clear up skin problems. Now having stumbled on to this site I realize that it must be the Prednisone doing this to me. I am unfortunately going to have to suck up the pain of the migraines and let them run their course until they leave me for a few years. I'm so disappointed that Prednisone isn't going to be the cure after all.

I just learned that you can develop Cushing's Syndrome from taking prednisone, and that the doctor that has you on this should warn you that you could develop this. 10 mg a day usually worked for my pain, but I eventually got up to 20 mg a day, and that's when my problems really started. Of course I had already gained enough weight, which caused severe depression, but then I started gaining like crazy, and this is really weird, I was eating less, and had no appetite, but still gaining weight. I started feeling too tired to do anything, I have severe lower back pain, and get short of breath from any little bit of activity I do. I can't even take a shower without sitting on the side of the tub to rest. I also started having restless leg syndrome at night and would wake up several times. I sweat profusely without doing anything. I can just be sitting on the couch watching tv and sweat will start pouring down my face. I keep a towel with me at all times to wipe the sweat off. I definitely have moon face, and I also have sores all over my legs and face. I wish I would wake up and it was all a bad dream, but not so. I feel for everyone that has had these experiences. I am seeing an endocrinologist next week to see if I have Cushing's Syndrome. I don't even know if there is anything to do for it? Has anyone else who has used prednisone been diagnosed with Cushing's Sydrome?

I have been on prednisone for 8 weeks, the first two at 40 mg., then 30. I have sarcoidosis and had a cough for several years, then shortness of breath, a fever for three weeks, very low energy, headaches every day, vision problems, mental fuzziness, fatigue, leg cramps, weight loss, a host of symptoms that were impacting my life. With the prednisone, I have had some jitteriness and occasional insomnia, though not bad. I have had increased energy, clearer mind, no cough, the sarcoid symptoms have almost disappeared. I do have increased appetite and have gained maybe 5 pounds. I occasionally have a day when I have low energy and am depressed, but most often, my energy is a lot better since taking the prednisone. So, for me, prednisone is most definitely NOT a devil drug. In fact, I believe that thinking of it this way is very harmful both to the person thinking that way and to others who come to this site looking for help. It is helpful to know that there are other people having similar problems to yours. But focusing on all the negatives without acknowleging the vast array of positives can only hurt. When I take the pills, I remind myself to be grateful that there is something that can help me fight the sarcoid. When I start being fearful of the side effects (from reading these internet sites), I remind myself of all the many people who have taken prednisone and gotten better and lived a long, good life as a result. My sister-in-law took it years ago for Crohns and loved it. My friend's daughter took it and had a few side effects, primarily the moon face, but it helped her and she now is as thin as ever and doing well. Focus on the positives, people! Where your mind goes, your body will follow. Be aware of the possible effects and work to offset them. Exercise, eat less, find reasons to laugh and be with people. It sucks to have any disease that would cause you to have to be on prednisone, but we are lucky to have medicine and people to help us. Be thankful for what is good in your lives.

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 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 have been on Prednisone for 3 months for PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica)and so far the pros have far outweighed the cons. PMR is an extremely painful condition that affects the shoulders and hips especially at night and early morning, I spent all of December and January sitting upright in a chair trying to sleep, untill I was diagnosed and prescribed Prednisone and oxycodone. I started at 25 mg and I'm now down to 15mg. The side effects that I do have are weight gain (about 10 pounds), mild mood swings and insomnia.I am an avid bicycle rider (25-35 training miles per day on week days a lot more over the weekend),I am 60 years old and now back on the bike. The strange thing is after about one month back in training I am much stronger this year than last even with the added weight. Last year, a solo, 30 mile hard ride I would average about 17 mph this week I went out on my same training ride at 19.4 mph, over 2 mph faster. Everything I read about Prednisone says that it wastes muscles,but I have become stronger. Is it possible that it's the Prednisone?

My Doctor put me on prednisone 10mg for inflammation in my neck. I did 5 first day 5 second day 4 fourth day and when it was time for day 3 he took me off my upper body from waist to neck hurt so bad if anyone would touch me, blotchy to touch no visible rash stomach cramping nausea and I described sitting down as if I had a very bad sunburn, hunched over. I called his office and they said doesn't sound like a sided effect to stop taking well that night Thurs. I was in the ER for a what they are calling an "allergic reaction" gave me benadryl and sent me home next day very groggy, body still hurt not stomach and slept all day. Saturday night back at the ER bad headache and neck and face felt tingly very weird after a million test sent home. Sunday felt the same. Monday went to doctor's office with abdominal cramping nausea and tingling face/headache had an scan of head and more test gave me anxiety pills (I think they think I'm nuts now). Tuesday back at his office feeling worse more test everything so far is normal gave me something for headache (it worked!) and sent me to see a specialist to make sure it was not my appendix which it's not. I'm Still having stomach cramps upper stomach above belly button no more headache occasional tingly of face and no appetite having a stomach ultra sound today. I'm just wondering now if anyone has had the same symptoms? Starting to think maybe I am crazy. I wasn't on it very long so I'm sooo confused. I was also told at my 2nd ER trip that they didn't believe I could have an allergic reaction very impossible.

I'm 16 years old, and in November of 2008 i was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, or FSGS. i started taking the preds starting at 60mg, and last month i started weaning off. i'm at 20 mg right now. i noticed that i started getting the common moon face right after i started taking the meds. and i hate it so much. also, i've had so much trouble falling asleep at night, but then when i do, i sleep for so long. i've also had the dreadful hair growth, REALLY bad mood swings, headaches, and for sure, increase in appetite. i've gained 30lbs since ive been on the preds and even when i exercise daily, i still cant loose a single pound. normally im a really fit girl, i ran track and i was a dancer. im just really worried that all this "fat" wont go away. i really hope it does. it just feels like prednisone really ruined my sophomore year of high school. and i just don't feel like doing anything anymore. i just wanna wear swearpants, curl up in a ball and lay in my bed and wait until this nightmare is over. But im just glad to know that there are a lot of other people out there that know how i feel.

I was admitted through the ER in sept. i had previously taken Bactrim for a bug bite on my foot three months prior. I had been severely bruising and had some lab work done. I got a call from my Dr. around midnight to go to ER immediately. My platelet count was at 11,000 a normal being 100,000-400,000. I went to ER and was admitted for 5 days. After running test after test there was no conclusion to what had caused this low platelet count but I was diagnosed with ITP. From here they put me on 50 mg/day of Prednisone for 1 month. I have now started to taper 40/ 2 weeks. 30/2 weeks. But then the side- effects started to come so fast. At first it was just sweating, minor anxiety, mood swings, and slight increase of appetite. Now that I had tapered my adrenal gland is suppressed much more and I am going through withdrawal. I am 21 years old I am 5'7" and I weighed 118 two weeks ago, since I have gained 12lbs of water weight. I am working out daily and eating healthy, although it is more than I used to eat. I have some family friends that work at Stanford University and they are ITP specialists. They told me their regimen for Prednisone is a 5mg/wk taper instead of 10/ 2 weeks. So the past two weeks I have been going down by 5. Today was my second day at 20 mg. I have gone through all of the mentioned side- effects except the back hump. I am hoping and praying that these symptoms will clear asap. And to everyone else out there your not alone.

Started with a Pred pak for a sinus infection. Made my heart race and had tach and early heartbeat, which kept me from sleeping. Went to Cardiologist. Several doctors denied that the Pred would cause the rapid heartbeat. Then the Cardiologist did an echo and found a pericardial effusion and some weird spots on my lungs. They suspected lung cancer which may cause the effusion, so I had surgery to do a pericardial window and a lung biopsy. Then a pulmonologist decided to put me on Pred again...steady dosage...because she didn't know what else to do. (Didn't have lung cancer) I didn't have any more funny heartbeats, so maybe the pred didn't cause it after all. But I've gained 40 pounds. My hair has grown faster, and I've gotten some facial hair (not supposed to have that, being a female)...which I call fur. Moon face with cheeks that are hard, muscle cramps, can't sleep, but once I do go to sleep, I can't wake up. Tired all the time, headaches, joint pain-sometimes severe, dry skin, generally bad attitude, with very little patience, low potassium levels which add to my muscle cramping problems, difficulty swallowing, indigestion which I've never had, with painful and burning reflux. And occasionally when I eat, I have the rapid heartbeat again. I go in search of food like I'm going to store it in my thighs for winter. Anything you eat will turn to fat, including protein. Can't wait to get off this stuff which will take until June of next year. Then my doctor says it will be 3 months before all these effects wear off. No one told me I would get fur.

I have Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA), was diagnosed in Feb. 2008. Have been ill for several years and finally it came to a head in Feb. I had a blood transfusion and then in the hospital 6 days later with a hgb of 4.0. I was so toxic and my blood so screwed up I nearly died. I was given another transfusion then (total of 5 pints of packed red blood cells) and started on Prednisone. For 3 days given liquid Pred injections, starting at 1000mg, tapering down to 250mg., then on the pill form at 100mg. Sweat poured off of me dosing down. I was off work for 2 months. I am still tapering but am now at 1mg. DR. added another drug, Danazol, after getting to about 10mg because my blood started going crazy again. My side affects with Prednisone have been, Euphoria, no depression, LOTS of hyper brain activity, thoughts running a 100 miles an hour but body at slow speed.Visual problems and a feeling of being highly drugged. 2 to 3 hours of sleep each night, compulsive behaviors and a lot of pacing back and forth. Couldn't hold my concentration because my mind wandered so much. Extreme Tremors in my back, hands and head. Wanted to talk constantly, if no one was around I talked to my Chihuahua or the TV. My cheeks puffed up and became hard and had a fat pocket puffed up on left side of my neck. My dog thought I was crazy, she was tired of the lights being on at 3 or 4 in the morning. Legs looked skinny but didn't gain weight until I got to about 60mg. Gained 25 lbs total. Tapering caused bad spasms in my calves, feet and hands. Thigh muscles would get extremely weak each time I went down a dose. At 50mg I started getting sleepy and could hardly stay awake. Went back to work at 35mg and couldn't remember how to sign on to my computer. Some memory problems since I was in the hospital, couldn't remember how to spell words I knew as a young girl. Started having hip pain about 3 months into the Pred, that hasn't stopped. At 10mg feet, knees, shoulders hurt deep in the sockets, muscles below my neck knot up, may take a while to totally get off this. Read on a couple of blogs where people cut a 1mg tab into 4 pieces to taper off the Pred. because of side effects. Had thrush in the beginning and break outs of shingles. I hope to God I never have to get back on this drug again, it is so HARD on the body but it did do what it was given for, to repress my immune systems. My next step is Spleen surgery, hope this is a cure for me, am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Wouldn't advise anyone to take Pred unless it's a life or death situation. It's prescribed too liberally and people have multiple problems, worse than I have experienced. I've probably forgotten some things, but there's enough I've mentioned to give you an Idea it's not good, but if Pred is all you have then you do what you gotta do!! My puffy cheeks have went down though, now my hair has become curly but at least I have hair and my chihuahua stills loves me!!!

Hi All,

I was diagnosed with dermatologists when I was 14 years old and put on very high dosage of prednisone to get my disease under control (40 mg a day at the beginning). My muscle enzymes were out of control (CPK was almost 8,500 when it should be less than 215) and I was barely mobile, huge amounts of weight loss, alopecia, Raynaud's, etc. That was 11 years ago and I am now almost 100% better. Prednisone saved my life, but the side-effects were TERRIBLE! Especially for a girl going through puberty. Kids at school don't understand you're sick, and they can be extremely cruel. Luckily for me a large number of my family members are in the medical profession all over the world and my parents were able to pool knowledge to find the best treatment for me without all the horrible side effects. An uncle in Germany suggested I take a Prednisone alternative widely available in Europe called Diflazacort. This medicine is not available in the states apparently because the FDA thought it was exactly like Prednisone so was unnecessary. I'm sure this is some pharmaceutical company lobbying to preserve Prednisone's monopoly on inflammatory diseases, but regardless it makes finding Diflazacort difficult for Americans. This is a HUGE shame since this medicine gave me ALL of the benefits of Prednisone with NONE of the side effects. My mood swings, water retention, increased appetite, hazy brain, thinning skin, etc etc etc ALL stopped with Diflazacort. This wasn't only true for me either. A family friend had been diagnosed with Crohn's at the time and he was put on Diflazacort from the beginning of his treatment after seeing how I reacted to it and NEVER had any of the negative side effects I had to deal with. Really this drug was like a miracle for me. Prednisone prevented my sure death, but Diflazacort gave me my life back in its entirety. I've now been off of any steroid for 7 years and my muscles are fully back to normal. Some of the fat deposits Predinose caused still linger, but to most people's eyes I'm totally back to normal. I wish I could find everyone having problems with Prednisone side-effects and tell them about Diflazacort. Even though it isn't available in the states (although I heard recently they are trying to get it approved again since a number of studies showed Diflazacort is much more effective treating Crohn's than Prednisone is) you can get it on the internet or if you have doctor friends abroad as I did. I'm always wary of buying drugs over the internet since there's no control so I would suggest contacting doctors in Europe or Asia directly or through your doctor here in the states. Anyways, I wanted everyone to know that some people do get better and I wish you all the best of luck!

Hi All,

I was diagnosed with dermatologists when I was 14 years old and put on very high dosage of prednisone to get my disease under control (40 mg a day at the beginning). My muscle enzymes were out of control (CPK was almost 8,500 when it should be s no control so I would suggest contacting doctors in Europe or Asia directly or through your doctor here in the states. Anyways, I wanted everyone to know that some people do get better and I wish you all the best of luck!

hi everyone, i'm a 36 y.o. male and have been on and off of prednisone for 25 yrs. my experience has always been more positive than negative with taking this drug. it has helped me to breath better and has made me to feel extra healthy and even physically stronger. but i have my suspicions about this drug also. it has given me a false since of good health and i feel like i want to keep taking it just to feel better. i have only taken the drug after an asthma attack for about 5-7 days. early on the only side effect was increased appetite and occasional insomnia. but the last time i took this drug the doctor increased the milligrams and a VERY UNUSUAL side effect occurred that never happened before. I HAD HALLUCINATIONS! i have never had these side effects before and on the leaflet of possible side effects that came from the pharmacist for the very first time i saw hallucinations listed as a possible side effect. the hallucinations were damn near demonic in nature. the experience went like this... i woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and on my way to the bathroom i passed my dresser mirror and in the mirror was writing on the mirror in a mist! just like it would be when you get out of the shower and take your finger and write on the mirror. THERE WERE LEGIBLE WORDS ON MY MIRROR! mind you this is in my bedroom and the shower was off! at that point i refused to read what i saw in the mirror! it was weird enough what i saw i didn't need to read it. i refused to be fearful at that point cause i realized i was hallucinating and not getting a haunting. when i woke up later i went back to the mirror and of course no writing in the mirror. IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PLEASE TELL ME YOUR STORY PERSONALLY! MY EMAIL IS ******! i would like to know that i'm not alone in this. to make it easier for me to see your response please type prednisone in the subject box on the email cause i receive a ton of emails and spam. and i would really like to hear other stories and experiences of taking this drug with very weird side effects!

I have had trouble with eczema/psoriasis for several years and it has spread to most of my body. Hands, arms, elbows, back, chest and stomach, hips, back-side of my thighs, knees, bottoms of my feet, scalp, inside my ears, forehead, what haven't I mentioned? So far, Prednisone is the only medication I can take that clears it up. Trouble is, the doc won't let me take it long enough to completely clear the rash before I'm tapered off. After reading some of the other posts, I've got to say that I've never noticed any adverse reaction. My appetite is up a little, but my energy level is also up and I burn off any extra calories. I sleep better (no itching) and for longer periods, wake feeling better, have a better outlook for the day and am ready to go. I'm a salesman, so my mental attitude is important, and my wife and family all agree that I'm less moody and in a generally better frame of mind while taking Prednisone. I've noticed no stomach or bowel distress except for being a little less regular than normal. But no constipation and no diarrhea. I'm 61 so a few muscular aches and pains and joint stiffness are to be expected, but I've noticed no unusual incidents. While I don't advocate taking large doses (define large doses???) for long periods, I've read that taking Prednisone on an every-other-day basis can be effective while greatly reducing the risk of side-effects. I think Prednisone has been a real "miracle drug" for me and just wish there was something as effective without the side-effects.

Hi

I just started taking 20mg of Prednisone for a shoulder injury. So far I have all but loss my appetite, which sounds strange to me since my doctor told me to expect to gain weight very quickly. I have also loss my need to sleep. I was up from Saturday 11:15 am morning the first day I began Prednisone and wasn't able to get to sleep until Sunday night around 10:00pm. I'm sweating like I'm constantly being rained on, it is so darn annoying. I also started to lose my voice last night and then again today, is that normal with is drug? I'm so full of energy all I do is clean our house, work out in my flower beds, etc. I'm kinda of scare of this drug and I'm glad I will be off of it next Tuesday unless my shoulder isn't better when I start physical therapy tomorrow. I wish you all the best while you are taking this drug.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Marlene

Hi All - I have been off prednisone for one week and I am not doing as well as I thought I would be at this stage. My symptoms are not flaring, which is a very good thing but I am so tired and feeling very depressed and low energy. I thought I'd feel great once I was off the evil prednisone but so far I am feeling almost as bad as when I was on it. My moon face has not started to go away, which sucks, but I guess I have to be patient. I am so tired of this situation as it feels never ending. Part of the problem is I have continued to work throughout my ordeal, and it's been very hard at times to carry on like a normal person who is not sick. I have been sick since last November (with an autoimmune disorder) and I had really hoped by this time that I'd be on my way to being better :( Prednisone saved my life but the side effects are horrendous, as are the after affects of it. Good luck to all who are taking it. I share your pain and frustration.

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.

Hi. I was diagnosed yesterday with Bells Palsy, (the entire right side of my face is completely paralyzed) and given prednisone, a tapering dosage. I started my first dose of only 20 mgs last night and went to 60 mgs today, will keep on that dose tomorrow as well as one more day, taper down to 40 mg for two days, then 20 mgs for two days. My heart feels like it's going to beat out of my chest! I can feel it it's beating so hard and I can also hear it when lying down .Very freaky. My blood pressure today was 164/107. My normal bp is 110/70. I take medication for high blood pressure but it's not doing much good. I am also a diabetic and my sugar is whack! Had to increase my Metformin. I'm assuming since no one has died from taking this HORRIFIC medicine, we'll all live through it but at times, I feel like I am going to have a frigging massive panic attack! I have to calm myself down, listen to music, meditate. That does help some but not enough .I will be sooooooooo glad when I'm done taking this SH*T! Another thing I've noticed is I am bone weary weak, like I've run the Boston Marathon, competed in the 1000 meter butterfly medley and then played 3 sets of tennis on top of that! GOOD GRIEF, HE INVENTED THIS CRAPOLA?

I am glad that I found this website! I have been trying to find out how long it takes for my moon face to go away. I was prescribed 60mgs daily of Prednisone while 35 weeks pregnant for 3 weeks. When pregnant, I developed a condition called Thyromocypenia (my white blood cells die off during my pregnancies). In order for my OB to not have to put me under again for a repeat c-section, she referred me to a hematologist who put me on this drug. I asked him about side effects and he stated that the most common is increased appetite, which did not affect me. Even though I was pregnant at the time, my appetite did not change, but what did change was my face after I stopped taking the Prednisone. While in the hospital after the birth of my son, they did taper the dosage for 3 days and at the point of discharge, I was completely off the drug. I left the hospital on a Wednesday and overnight my face had swollen so strangely that I went back to the hospital on Friday. I had no idea that there was such a thing as this moon face syndrome. The nurse that attended to me in the emergency room told me about it. She said that she had taken Prednisone before for asthma and it took her face 3 weeks to return to normal.

I just had my son on 5/4, and my face has been swollen exactly a week today. I can see where some areas are reducing, but it is still not back to normal. My face did not swell at all during my pregnancy and I only gained 18lbs, so this was really startling for me to have been through 9 months looking great and after giving birth sitting up with a pie face, swollen nose, swollen lips, a swollen neck, and swollen shoulders. I also experienced a couple of migraines that nearly took me out. I hope to never have to take this drug again!

On Prednisone for Asthma (have an infection) I have taken Prednisone before and the only side effect was increased appetite (which I could do with out as I am already overweight) this time however I have the worse heartburn I can literly feel my insides burning from the back of my throat down to the bottom of my stomach. I have also been experiencing increase sweating -fun wow. I feel bad for those of you who have to take this ongoing.

I started taking Prednisone in late November for inflammation of my lungs, a complication of influenza A. I started at 50 mg daily, then went to 75, then was hospitalized and went to 160 intravenously. After about a week, I was reduced to 120 then 75 by mouth a few days later. After 15 days in the hospital, I was released only to come back two days later with internal bleeding. I was released two days later and my doctor knocked several days off my withdrawal plan. About midway through all this, I started having a constant mild headache. After my second release, the headache started to get worse. The headache became debilitating and I spent some time in the ER where codeine helped. (I'm allergic to morphine which would have been their choice). The codeine helped for a day or two, but when I got to 60mg of codeine with no effect I gave up on the pills. My doctor gave me some sort of anti-inflammatory shot which helped.

I've been off Prednisone now for over a week and still have a constant headache, but most of the time it's not bad and only moderate at times. On average I see a gradual improvement.

I have had increased appetite and energy (in the beginning) followed by face and neck swelling, headache, nausea, blurred vision, internal bleeding and large muscle weakness.

I know that I needed something to stop my lung inflammation, but the cure has been worse than the disease at this point.

After bith my childrens births I have experienced a enigmatic skin disease / disorder which has been unclassified by dermatologists and specialists. First I experienced blisters on my torso, which crusted over and followed with severe urticaria-like wheels all over my body. Doctors placed me on Prednisone 5mg tablets ( 40mg daily) for 4 months, in which time the symptoms subsided , but the side -effects for this Mother was terrible!!! I experienced a 12kg weight-gain, uncontrollable appetite, excessive sweating, dizziness , shortness of breath and extreme hairloss. My skin thinned and OI bruised very quickly. No diagnosis could be made. After the induced -birth of my second child now, I have the same episode and had been placed on Prednisone for the second time just to cope with the swelling.

I am currently in my 7th week of using 10mg - 15mg daily with an anti-histamine. I hate the re-occuring side-effects and am very scared of all the long-term damage. Does anyone have any idea how to boost your own natural immune-defence system while being bombarded witha immuno-suppressant like Prednisone??!!!!

I believe that your own body ws made to heal itself or be healed by natural means... but how and what?? I am desperate, and have been following a anti-candida like diet ( no yeast + sugars + preserved foods) Thus far I have not been able to kick the symptoms. Any help out there would be much appreciated. Have someone experienced the same sort of symptoms???

Prednisone is evil. I realize it can be helpful for some people, the only time it should ever be used (in my opinion) is for life-threatening situations. It should not be used for anything that is not expected to cause loss of life, limb of function. I am a 46 year old female with asthma. This drug has been prescribed for me many time over the past 25 years and every time I take it, the side effects are worse and take longer to go away. While this drug may initially help with an asthma exacerbation (and I have my doubts about that), I believe, that with time, it can cause difficultly breathing.

I feel like my body is a toxic dump! I often wonder how many people this drug has killed and how many people may have killed themselves while using (or coming off of) this garbage...YES PREDNISONE IS THAT BAD! Please, if you are being asked to take this drug for something you can live with (minor pain, inflammation, allergies etc.) then weigh your options very carefully. IMHO the risks associated with taking this drug are usually not worth it!