PredniSONE and asthma

HI there I took Prednisone for most of my life till 19 because of Asthma. I am now 33. At 22 I had Osteoporosis in my my back and leg. I have not been on prednisone for many years and have been asthma attack free for 10 yrs. I am now trying my best to get my bones in shape. I am fairly healthy despite depression, anxiety and low thyroid my weight is a slim 120lbs at 5'7. I don't regret taking prednisone from a child as I needed it. I do get dressed that my body is tired and aches but who knows if this is from prednisone or not. It saved my life many times.

I was on Prednisone a couple years ago and it gave me severe insomnia, I ended up tapering as quickly as possible, I was so wired I couldn't function. My son was started on it today, and I was a bit worried about letting him take it, he has asthma and is in the middle of a flare up that started 5 days ago and isn't getting much better. So we started the Prednisone tonight, and within an hour he almost had an accident with diarrhea which is not like him at all, he is a 30 minute on the toilet taking his time kind of boy. Now I'm worried it's going to be a long night, and worry that tomorrow nights dose will be worse?

i was put on prednisone 3 days ago due to asthmatic bronchitis. i was put on 60 milligrams a day. which to my understanding is a really high dosage.
long story short my cat would not stop meowning and it made me so darn angry that i wanted to throw him around the room and kept chasing him around screaming at him to shut the bleep up and tearing him out of the window every time he tried to get up in the window. i love my cat dearly and he is like my child. i have never EVER treated him badly. he gets more love and affection than most people give their children. he was crying and scared to the point of defecating all over my room. this had no affect on me. it just made me more angry. normally when an animal is scared or hurt i am incredibly empathetic.
on top of it i have had severe nose bleeds, and severe heart palpitations. this is after only being on it for three days.
i know this product is good for its purpose but as far as the side effects go, i think i would just rather live with my asthma symptoms. i was scared that i was going to lose control and injure myself or my cat or anyone who got in my way. i do not recommend this drug by any means.

I am 48 years old. I have been asthmatic since I was 10. Never in my history of having chronic asthma, have I had to take prednisone.I started with 10 mg for the first 8 days. After a trip to the emergency, my Dr. found it necessary to up my dose to 40mg. I took this dose for 17 days. My face is round, I have had the worse acid reflux in my life, I have had mood swings..was up all night for 2 weeks and I still can't breath that good. I am weaning myself off of this prednisone and I am looking for another doctor. I am down to 10mg and I plan never to have to take this awful medicine again. I guess It would be okay if I was breathing like a champ, but I'm not. So there is no use in having all these bad side effects if I am still having trouble breathing. It's just seems that even a Pulmonary Dr. would want to take the fast way out. There are other safer meds to use.

I've been on Prednisone for about a month now and have experienced the racing heart. I've been thru so much lately and hope we can help each other here....for the asthma and other reactive friends - try an ALCAT test. This will tell you what foods/meds you have an intolerance to. They send you a kit and you may be surprised what happens to your body when you consume something that your body doesn't like. They have also just given me a script for Methotrexate because my RA numbers are high...I've done my research and so far am refusing to consume that toxic drug. Has anyone tried Minocycline (or other drugs in the cycline family) for joint pain, RA??? I hear it works and at least those side effects aren't deadly.

Male 28. Was diagnosed a couple of months ago with Ulcerative Colitis and was prescribed Prednisone. A large dose to start with then tampered off for 4 weeks. The first week I felt great, better than great, fantastic. The only downside was difficulty sleeping. The following 3 weeks, without any exaggeration have been among the worst I have ever experienced. I think the lack of sleep finally caught up with me, so I was constantly tired and generically felt depressed, also knee ache, eye pain, inability to think clearly (quite a problem when you are an Engineer), lacked energy or strength – and the Acne. Never before have I had Acne like this, and I used to suffer quite bad during my teens. Its just so aggressive, every few hours there seems to be new ones appearing. It seems to occur when ever I step down the dose. I think having this bad skin has really added to my depression over the last few weeks, it has been especially difficult considering I have been in the process of starting a new job. To top all of that my UC seems to be worst than ever! I’m worried that when I go back to see the Doctor next week he is going to put me on some equally-annoying medication or maybe another course of Prednisone if I’m lucky.

Does anyone know of some natural alternatives that are good for UC, very reluctant to put anymore man-made chemicals into my body.

I have had life-threatening spasmodic breathing episodes for the last year. My GP attributed it to asthma, because that's what it looked like, and they have given me prednisone shots and later on, antibiotic shots, to control it (for about 6 weeks at a time). I have well-controlled type II diabetes, so predisone can cause it to go out of control fairly quickly. Prednisone also caused some occasional pain in my feet, probably because of the elevated blood sugar. All the asthma drugs they gave me actually made me sicker, like Advair, etc. Lo and behold, I was able to talk my doctor into a referral to an allergist, and my allergy numbers are off the charts! All grasses, most trees, and many animals were high enough to cause anaphylaxis, especially when surrounded by more than one. Anaphylaxis can cause the labored breathing I suffered. Meanwhile, I have the lung capacity of an Olympic swimmer. I have an elderly friend who has gone to the hospital several times this year with the same problem. After I found out my results, I talked to his wife, and they discussed the allergy and infection aspect with the doctor. Turns out he had fairly severe allergies and infections that made his life-long asthma go way out of control. With a medicine for infection, he is 10 times better - the asthma is under control because it is not being jump-started by the low-level infections he suffered. I don't even have asthma, it just looks like asthma. I will begin years of allergy shots, just like in my 20's. (I am 55). The upshoot? Some people are suffering severe asthma symptoms. Others have a combo of problems which are exacerbating the asthma-like problems. Doctors who think you only have asthma tend to only treat asthma. Prednisone greatly reduces inflammation, which is a common factor in all the above diseases. So, calming the symptom doesn't mean treating the source. You long-term asthmatics should also look inot taking allergy tests if it is considered safe (they DO inject a small amount of allergens in your skin), and not spend 100% of your time with the pulmonary specialist who is only looking at your lungs. Also, you really need to do some cause and effect testing with antibiotics or similar to see if you have some type of infection. My friend and I are both on our way to better health because we went beyond treating the symptoms.

I have had asthma since i was 10. I am 44 years old now. I have never in my life been on prednisone this long (since Feb 2009). It is now July 11,2009. I was admitted to the hospital for IV steriods (prednisone) because for the first time in my life the general 10 course with the pills wasn't working. so there i was on 165mg of pred every 6hrs. After eight days in the hospital i was released and was to take 40mg for five days and decrease by 5mg until done. I didn't do to well and had severe exhaustion where i couldn't even walk 2 steps the next day. so I went to my pulmonary dr. who said he noticed a severe anxiety side affect in me from the drug and said i needed to get off it as soon as possible, he had me drop my dose every day by 5mg. TO FAST! I had breathing problems again, started over going slower, got down to 10mg and had to jump to 40mg again! side effects for me are severe anxiety (which i have to take ativan for) and especially massive painful foot cramps. My hands will cramp to while trying to write, but the foot cramps and the feeling of being wired are the worst. I am still trying to wean off....sometimes i wonder if i will ever finally be off this stuff. I just want to cry sometimes. It feels like being pregnant and going thru post partum at the same time

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

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

Hey all. I have had asthmatic bronchitis for about 6-7 weeks now and I have never had asthma or bronchitis before. It started off as a normal flu for 3 days with fever. Then when the flu went away, I started having trouble breathing and shortness of breath. It felt like I ran a marathon walking to the bathroom. I never had that before. The doctor told me it was bronchitis. All tests were fine. I was taking azithromycin (took 3 paks of them) and that was the only thing that made me feel normal, but it did not get rid of the infection. Then I was placed on cipro and steroids. Now I'm not on any antibiotics. I'm taking prednisone and just started the advair inhaler. I was having asthma attacks that I never had before. Very scary. Did anyone have asthmatic bronchitis before??? What did you do to get over it and how long??? Please help!!!

I can hardly function on this stuff. I am a 28 year old mother of four. I tend kids, and am very involved in the PTA. I was put on prednisone 3 weeks ago after being put in the hospital for pneumonia and asthma. After 1 1/2 weeks I was 23 pounds heavier and my entire body is so sore it feels like needles stabing me all over. My face is soo fat I my chin touches my neck...UGH I want to scream... I was walking six miles a day just 2 days before my hospital stay..Now it hurts my knees just to walk down the hall...The ance covering my entire body is disgusting and I am soo agitated all the time, which is not good I have six kids to tend to. I am down to 2 pills right now and will be off within 4 days.. I sure hope the side effects will go away I can't live like this another week....

Hi! I am 29 years old and have had asthma since i was young. As i entered high school i had very rare exacerbations but around 4 years back attacks became more frequent. I visited my doctor and he advised me 40mg of Prednisone a day for 5 days (20mg in the morning and 20mg at night). He mentioned that this was safe and no tapering was needed for this short burst. So every time i start having exacerbations i just follow this regimen. I have had no tapering or withdrawal symptoms and i can breath very well even after the Prednisone is off.

Recently, i had an exacerbation as the New Year started. So i started my regimen again on Jan1. But after 5 days, my symptoms were not relieved yet. It seemed like my asthma, triggered by an acute bout of Bronchitis, was worse than before. So i continued this regimen until 12 days. I was taught before that as taking Prednisone approached 2 weeks, it would be wise to taper. So on day 13 - 15, i took 30mg of Prednisone per day (15mg in AM, 15mg in PM). On day 16 - 18, 20 mg per day (10mg in AM, 10mg in PM). On day 19 - 21, 10mg per day (5mg in AM and 5mg in PM). On the 22nd day, i had 5mg once a day only. The next day, i woke up very drowsy, with muscle and joint pains, dizzy and light headed. But i just fought it and went on my day feeling sooo out of it. And at night, i just felt chest tightness. I again had difficulty of breathing unrelieved by around 3 puffs of my inhaler (which was a combination of a long acting bronchodilator and an inhaled corticosteroid) which was also good for acute events of asthma. This provided no relief until i took a total of 15mg of Prednisone again. The next morning, on day24, i felt better. I tool 10mg thinking i could maintain myself on 20mg a day. But as the day progressed, as still had these joint pains and wheezes and difficulty of breathing. So a night i took 20mg again. I started reading on Prednisone and tapering and noted that these symptoms might have been an adrenal crisis, I haven't consulted my physician yet. But am trying to taper myself off decreasing my dose 5mg every 3 days. I hope i can get back when i learn more.

I hope this helped people in some way. Stay healthy everyone!

I was giving prednisone for only 5 days (not sure about dose, but it tapered to one pill on the last day) for a bronchitis induced severe asthma attack. I have only had asthma twice in my 50 years, both times associated with a bad case of bronchitis. The "doc in the box" reduced his original dosage due to the 3 corisone injections I recently had in my spine. After reading these posts I feel grateful I wasn't on a higher, longer term dose. I have some of the same side effects listed here including uncontrollable appetite, fat gain around the middle, water weight gain, constantly having to urinate, superhuman energy, heart palpitations, and approximately two weeks after finishing, I began to get a mustache (hairs that were previously white became brown over a two week period). I have read on the internet and been told by my pharmacist that this is temporary. I have also read and been told that the 2mg estradiol I take every day since my hysterectomy causes the body to retain and not rid itself of the steroids as it normally would (estrogen is actually listed as drug interaction with prednisone). The doctor in the box apparently just ignored this interaction and prescribed it anyway. However the main reason I am posting is a very strange possible side effect that occurred approximately 1 week after my final dose. I was awakened in the middle of the night with SEVERE pain (felt like bone pain, not muscle) in my right knee that lasted until morning. By mid morning it was gone. The next night I had the same experience but in both knees. It lasted about 5 more days, gradually tapering in intensity, and then just went away. I do have severe arthritis in my lumbar and cervical spine, having had surgeries to repair injuries from a snowmobiling accident. I have normal arthritis elsewhere for a 50 year old, but have NEVER had issues with my knees. Has anyone had this strange symptom? None of my doctors (internist, rheumatologist, physiatrist - who gave me the injections and prescribed physical therapy for my spine) had any explanation. The only explanation I have is the prednisone because I had taken the Z-pac (antibiotic) with no side effects several times in the past. Weird!

Incidentally, I am off the prednisone for about 5 weeks, am still hungry all the time, still fat, still bloated. Unfortunately the extra energy is gone. Best of luck to everyone on this strange drug. My heart sincerely goes out to all of you on long term therapy. God bless.

I am recently out of the hosp after 9 days with COPD exas, pneumonia, flu. I have been on heavy antibiotics, steroids--home now for 1st time with oxygen---I feel GREAT.First time in years I feel like I have a life to live. Like a veil has been lifted. I'm scared for this feeling to go away--what is it? the steroids?? the oxygen?? Whatever it is I need to know so I can fight for it and stop just waiting to die.

Prednisone is wonderful and horrible. I love it - asthma, copd - i can breathe, and I don't hurt as badly. I hate it - my blood glucose shoots to 300+ every day, my hands are so swollen I can't wear my wedding ring, my belly looks like I'm 8 months pregnant, plus a lot of the other side effects. BUT - I'm alive! I wouldn't be without it.

So basically this is my story.. I am 19 and have had severe asthma every\ since I can remember. I took prednisone up until I was 14, and from what I can remember I just stopped taking it around then. Then when I was about 18 I started up again because my asthma got worse. Between the time period of 14-18 I still had asthma, but started working out and became very active and healthy.I lost alot of weight had VERY THICK long hair. Then at 18 I got very sick and my doctor put me on prednisone knowing my asthma history. After being on it for a month my hair has become thin, I have gained weight, my face has rounded, my skin used to get tan very easily but now just flushes. I have headaches all the time, can't sleep at all during the night, then crash during the day. I am constantly depressed. I always have to pee. I can't be at the gym for more than 30 mins and then I just die im so tired. I can go on and on. I have tried so many time to get off but like I have read from the above comments,I become very sick and lazy I literally can't move. But what I need answers for, and what I was wondering, has anyone started to get hives/rash after coming off or being on prednisone. Every time I try to wean off of it I get them all over my legs!! NOTHING and I mean NOTHING makes them go away except when I start up prednisone again. My doctor thinks its okay and no other doctor can figure out why im getting these hives but its so obvious its from that because when I go back on it goes away. This is not a good medication to be on. I haven't seen hair loss as one of the major side effects but has that happened to anyone else. im praying to god i can wean of this drug if anyone knows anything pleaaaase let me knowwwwwww

I was on prednisone while getting over pneumonia to help with my breathing. I was only on it for 7 days and the doctor didn't have me go off of it gradually. I missed the last dose on the 7th day and by bedtime, my muscles were sore enough it almost hurt to lay down. I took the last pill that night before I went to bed and had no muscle soreness in the morning. After that, the muscle soreness came back, along with dizziness. My pulse was also higher than normal. Two days later at night, I was still having muscle soreness and dizziness, although not nearly as but, but I was having a lot of trouble breathing and my pulse would refuse to go below 100 no matter what I did and the problems continued thought the night. The next morning I went to the clinic that prescribed me the predisone because the information they gave me said to see a doctor if these problems persisted. I told them I thought I might be having a predisone withdrawal because my mother, a nurse, said it was the most likely problem from experience. They completely ignored that saying it had been several days since I've stopped the steroid and kept asking me about my asthma (inhalers weren't working and it was definitely not an asthma attack -- I've had plenty of those, to all different degrees) and ended up giving me medicine for anxiety, which helped the closing of my throat, but none of my other symptoms. Three days later, my resting pulse is down to 80, but my breathing is so much worse than it would be with just my normal asthma and taking my inhalers as much as is allowed. I had no noticeable symptoms when I was on the prednisone except being less able to sleep. If it keeps up, I intend to go to a different doctor to see what is really happening, but I don't think it's 'normal' to have the withdrawal symptoms for this long after only having it for 7 days. I know I took it when I was younger (I'm 22), but I don't remember ever having issues going off of it before.

I have been on prednisone continuously now for 15 years. I was put on it in March of 1995 for a lung condition called chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. I was 122 pounds when I first started prednisone. Now 15 years later I am 197 pounds. I am 35 years old with osteoporosis. I have dealt with depression, terrible headaches, stomach ulcers, hormonal imbalance, hair loss, swollen feet and ankles, I now wear glasses when I didn't before, I have thin skin now that looks older than my 35 years, I deal with night sweats, and in the summer out in the heat my very round moon face turns red as a beet. But, no one can get me off the prednisone. I have seen many specialists, and within 1-2 days of starting to wean past 10mg I get so sick I have to be hospitalized, I literally can't breathe or live without it. I hate this stuff and what its done to me, but I have no choice but to take it or I will die. Doctors have tried alternate medications, nothing but prednisone works. If there is ANYONE who has had to be on it as long as I have or have had success in getting off it after being on it for so long, I would love to hear from you.

I was put on prednisone for asthma. I tapered down from 80 mg to 10 mg over 2 weeks. After coming off of the prednisone, I experienced nausea, extreme dizziness, felt disoriented, and had muscle weakness so bad that I could barely stand up. After several trips to the emergency room, my doctor, and an endocrinologist, they figured that I needed to be tapered off of the prednisone more slowly. The endocrinologist started me back on 10 mg of prednisone and tapered me down to 2.5 mg. Since I have stopped taking the prednisone, I have experienced dizziness,headaches, tremors, a rapid pulse rate, blurry vision and a sensitivity to light. I have been off the prednisone for two weeks now and every day is different. I have some good days and some bad days. Although I have my strength back and the nausea has subsided, the dizziness is debilitating and it seems that my balance and fine motor coordination is off. I feel very mentally foggy. The doctors do not seem to have any answers for me as to why all of this is happening. It has been a very scary and frustrating experience. I am concerned that the prednisone has done some serious damage to my nervous system. Has anyone ever had these side effects? Do they eventually subside and how long will it take? It has been the longest month of my life dealing with all of the effects of this medicine. Any advice would be appreciated.

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 been on prednisone for 5 years off and on and he moon face is there the hair loss the weight i really want to come off it so bad the asthma is a big issue in my life i wish they would come out with a better drug for us asthma patients the withdrawals i have been going through are the hair loss i use to have long thick beautiful hair thin face smaller body i am hoping some day i will get it all back
hopeful

Ok here's my story with Prednisone. Let me first give you a little back ground info on me. Born with a VSD, that was repaired at 8 months of age, only after developing severe pneumonia. Was fine as a child growing up until at 18 i developed asthma. i am 29 now and have been on and off prednisone during that time. During that time however I have always been on a metered dosage pack that has always tapered usually within 5 days with no side effects.

Now lets talk present day with me. First off I went in back in early Sept. for what I thought was just a sinus infection, turns out my lungs were so tight, i was immediately put on 80 mg for 5 days straight, and you guessed it no tapering. Those 5 days were the worst five days of my life. I have SVT- taychcardia and the med made it worst, I was running around like I was on Speed or something. Also, I had started to urinate like crazy. Headaches, nausea, muscle pain as well as joint pain. i can not walk without feeling as though my knees, and ankles are going to break. Also, i am not as foccused as I usually am. Ever since that faithfully day in September I have been on this stuff. it has already been 2 months and im on 40mg now. And I cannot sleep at all at night and during the day now i crash once it seems like the prednisone starts wearing off. its horrible. I am going to go see the Pulmanologist Monday hopefully he will have some answers, and Im dreading him telling me i may have COPD, from a protien defiency(sorry for spelling, this med is messing with my thought process). Any who, i cant just stop taking it, i have been warned about that. something has to give or my body may give up.

hope this helps.

this med is good if used correctly but i agree Doctors need to fully warn patients before hand of all possible side effects.

I was put on PredniSONE for my asthma. On day two of taking it I started to feel really awful. I couldn't lay down, sit down or stand without feeling like I was going to explode. So hubby took me to emergency. My blood pressure was sky high. 201 over 90, they put me on a fluid retention iv drip. I had retained way to much fluid and it made my blood pressure go skyhigh.

I have asthma and have been prescribed prednisone several times for it. Every time i take it i break out in an awful acne looking rash all over my arms and my chest and sometimes even my face. it doesn't start until about 3 days after i have started the medicine and it doesn't go away for about 2 weeks and it itches the whole time. I told my doctors that every time they would try to prescribe it and they did not believe me they said no one could be allergic to prednisone but it has happened to me 6 times now and it has never happened before i had prednisone or on many other medicine since then.i finally got them to switch the steroid to a different kind but every kind seems to do it. i had to refuse steroids the last time i was in the hospital for my asthma they just would not accept that i could not take the medicine.

My daughter, 21yo, took prednisone off/on for 4 months, both oral and IV form, with the highest dose of 90mg over a two week period. The risk of bone death (Osteonecrosis, aka Avascular Necrosis) is not disclosed as a risk and 7,000 people a year get this from steroids! They gloss it over under the guise of "bone pain" or "bone fracture" near the osteoporosis risk so you think that by taking calcium and vit D supplements you're protected. What's really going on here is that the steroids cause the bone to die so if you have pain, PLEASE INSIST on an MRI because a regular x-ray will not show ON until it's in the advanced stages..and then you'll most certainly need joint replacement.
I'm not making light of the weight gain, or loss of hair or any of the myriad of other side effects that come with this drug, but when you're told that the joints in your body are dead...and that they'll eventually become brittle and break and cause so much pain it is often compared to bone cancer, then you'll really want to sue someone. But, I've tried that...it doesn't work. Because the drug is FDA approved...the manufacturer can't be held liable.

My daughter has ON in her right shoulder, both elbows, both wrists, both knees, and both ankles. She's considered "collateral damage" by the medical/legal communities because Prednisone is the "gold standard." This disease is a slow progressing disease which is often found as late as 10 years after stopping the steroid treatment. If you find it early enough, some surgical options exist to prevent the collapse of your bones, so if you have joint pain...PLEASE investigate with an MRI

Reading some of the other side effects (after posting my most recent side effects) has made me think back a long time to when I was about 10 or so, and my asthma had been acting up- I was given a sort-of high dose of prednisone. For about two-six months after taking it, I had really severe knee pain, sometimes where I couldn't even walk around the grocery store. Eventually, it went away, and I distinctly remember my mom asking my doctor a few years later if it could be the cause (too high a dose and no weaning off), and the doctor said it was possible. Sometimes, I will have general knee pain for no specific reason, but luckily it doesn't happen very often.

Once I came back to Buffalo to school and had taken my first allergy shot, my asthma flared up majorly, so my doctor put me on 10mg prednisone for 8 days, while at the same time putting me on Symbicort (and also at the same time, I have been taking 75mg Doxycycline for my skin issue), and it caused me to get thrush, even though I was rinsing my mouth after symbicort. I was given the impression by the P.A. I saw that taking Prednisone increases your chances of getting thrush. Has anybody else ever experienced this?

I am 49 yr old male and was diagnosed with a severe upper respiratory infection. Was put on Prednisone for 20 days. I never did experience depression, but I did experience the hyper state and was full of energy big time. It was actually nice ...had felt better than I had in a long time. Two of the side effects that I have been experiencing is sweating a lot more than normal ... I mean just the littlest of exercise and my shirt is soaked. Also my back and the back of my neck has broken out with acne ... that really hurts. I am using Desoximetasone which is a prescription cream and it has almost cleared all my acne up. I was about 250lbs and lost to 235lbs in the twenty days I was on it. I never changed my eating habits ...weight just fell off ...... man I wish they could put that it another pill without all the side effects. Now that I have been off for a couple of weeks ...I have gained some of the weight back ... but I'm really trying to change my eating habits and get back to 235 and go lower.
I wonder if everyone posting would also put their blood type on their comments. There are so many different opinions of Prednisone ...there has to be a reason why you have so many effects for some and very little for others. I did research this drug while I ws taking it and read that if you take it for longer than 30 days that your body will stop making the natural prednisone that it makes. Thats why you hear when people take it for long periods of time ...you are destined to take for the rest of your life.
As far as lung condition, I can breathe again and I think I'm totally cured ... I have a follow up with my lung doctor next week.
My prayers are with you guys .... I agree .. I don't think I want to take Prednisone ever again. My blood type is AB+

Hi I am a 44 year old asthma patient. I have had asthma since the age 2 and have been on & off prednisone since that time. As a child until age 20 I was on predinsone daily. My question is has anyone experienced nerve problems due to long time use? I do have muscle weakness and spasms, but I am interested in if anyone has had nerve problems. Please email me at ****** and refer to prednisone.

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!

Hi all. I would just like to agree that PredniSone sucks but it is the best out there for these diseases especially the auto-immune diseases. Drug companies do not make any money on prednisone because it is generic and there is no patent. I know I picked up 98 10mg prednisones yesterday for $5.00. Believe me when there is a better steroid that works as well and has less side effects it will be available to us all. It will cost tons but it will be sold. Researchers have been working for so many years trying to find an alternative, some have been found but do not work well enough. As bad as the prednisone makes us feel it does work on the diseases. You always have the choice to say no - that is why we should all have a health care power of attorney - just remember that when you decide not to take the prednisone you are agreeing that the disease may worsen and may be life threatening. I hate to sound so morbid but patients must be informed. When you are at the physician ask about the side effects, ask if they can give you something to counteract any mood swings, ask what lotion is best for the itchy skin (AmLactin works well for me and is over the counter). Also, my physician advised me yesterday that the side effects are worse on women due to our precarious hormones. I have told my husband to just stay out of the way and don't piss me off because I am not sure how this next 7-8 weeks is going to fare for him. I am 4ft 10in 110lbs and he is 6ft 1in 200lbs and believe me he is scared for his life. I am using prednisone for my ulcerative colitis so now that I am feeling better physicially I can return to exercise and that has definitely helped. So has turning up the music really loud and dancing and singing poorly. Yelling at the tv helps me whether it be politicians, soap operas or idiots on game shows who get the wrong answers. I also have been keeping a journal of all the rage I have and what kinds of things I could do to people who keep getting in my way at the store, on the road, in line at the pharmacy - I guess I need to put that in a safe place so it can't be used for evidence :}

I was on prednisone for a little over 2 months for my asthma and it got even worse so my dosage got upped and I overdosed on it and had real bad mental side effects from it. i'm a healthy male who has worked out for the last 8 years, i'm 22 years old and 225 lbs with a good build, i workout every day and run 3 miles a day. i was taking 10 mg pills 3 times a day and then got up to taking a 50 mg pill once a day and within 2 days of taking the 50 mg pill i was HORRIBLE. the mental side effects were so bad, i didn't even know where i was or who i was at times and now it's about 5 months later and i'm still noticing the mental side effects, not quite as bad, but it's like a constant headache that never goes away. i talked to my doctor and he sad that they can last several months after you take it but won't be permanent so i'm still just living with it and at times it feels like it's rough and tough to deal with but you just have to keep thinking that it will get better. the sleeping problems can also be a problem too, but for anyone out there who is debating on taking it, I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMEND IT, STAY AWAY AT ALL COST IF YOU CAN

I am on my last of 10 days on prednisone and all I can say is Thank God! I am taking it for asthma and I feel worse than I did before! My chest feels like I am having a heart attack, I have labored breathing, I am confused and weak, terrible pain in my neck and shoulders, horrible metallic taste in my mouth that even Dentyne Ice can't take away, I feel exhausted all the time, I am starving myself only to gain a pound a day and I can't concentrate at all. There was no warning not to mix this drug with alcohol, and after a couple of drinks I black out. The thing that really sucks is that I am a professional flutist and it is affecting my breathing and ability to play! Someone please tell me these "side effects" will eventually go away as I am scared to death after reading about your experiences.

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.

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!

My doctor put me on prednisone for pain and inflammation and I have never felt better in my life. It's a miracle for me right now and I'll take my chances with the side effects for being pain free. I'm a happy lady for now.

I started prednisone last week because of an allergic reaction I had to I dunno what (yet). I started with a solumedrol shot, followed 12 hrs later by a kenalog shot, followed 12 hrs after that by oral prednisone q 24 hrs. The 'fog' is fucking horrible; I can't think straight. I'm at the end of a medic class and have finals this weekend - and I'm scared that I'll be in the middle of a fog during the exams and will fail miserably.

It's unlike anything else I've experienced. It's not a drunk or stoned feeling, it's literally like I've lost cognitive ability and cannot process information. For instance: I wanted to make some tea and forgot how to turn on the kettle.

Does anyone else experience wild mood swings? I'm not normally a tearful person, but the past few days have seen me crying uncontrollably for no reason whatsoever - and this morning, I started laughing whilst I was crying and just couldn't stop. My family think I'm losing my mind, and were I not taking prednisone, monteluklast and fexofenadine I'd agree with them. As it is, I feel somewhat reassured that it's the medications that are causing these symptoms, but holy cats, is it ever weird to feel this way.

I feel so bad for you folks who are faced with the prospect of long-term cortico-steroid therapy. If any of you would like to talk, please contact me at ****** .

Good luck, y'all!

I was on prednisone for four months. 40mg a day most of the time. i was taking it for an allergic reaction to a cosmetic tattoo that i had done. i miscarried a child while on prednisone. grew hair all over my body,which still almost two months later hasnt stopped. had trouble sleeping and chills. also have weird purple lines on my legs and severe muscle pain. Does the hair growth eventually stop?

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'm a 22 year old who was diagnosed with dermatologists a couple months ago. I've been on different doses of steroids ranging from 5mg to 60mg for 5 months now. i was on 60mg the longest and just went down to 40mg. i go down to 30 mg next month. so far my side effects are moon face, swollen areas around my neck and collar bone, weight gain like 15 lbs, always have to wake up in the middle of the night and pee, my knees get shooting pains sometimes at night, light hair by my ears like sideburns, tired, helps with my muscle weakness a little, my eyesight seems blurry sometimes, chest always feels tight. I'm also on Methotrexate, Bactrim, folic acid, and Fosamax. it might be a reaction form all these but i think its mainly from the Prednisone. i cant wait to get down to the lower doses. i look like a different person and even tho all my family and friends know its still embarrassing. i fell like a whole different person. i cant wait to be normal again.

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 started Prednisone 2 weeks ago and gradually started having leg cramps. They have gotten worse over the last couple of days. They are in my ankles and feet and I have to get up several times a night just to sit until they relax. We plan to decrease the dosage in two weeks, but this is most annoying. Of course, it's far better than what I was experiencing with pain and sleepless nights and had gotten so I could barely move. My hands were swollen and tight, my arms ached with every move and movements were very limited. My bones in my feet felt (and sounded) as though they were shifting around when I got up to walk. My knees were weak. I was just diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica. I feel 70-80% improved. Just wondered if anyone else has had these symptoms on Prednisone. It didn't do this with the dosepaks.

My daughter is a chronic asthmatic and has been on Prednisone for over one year. Since then she has experienced headaches, nausea, sleeplessness, depression, extreme anxiety, mood swings, blurred vision, aching... just about all of the side effects listed. Of particular concern to me are the mood swings, which at this time we are considering having her evaluated. I didn't realize that this drug could do soo much in terms of her behavior. Please help me to understand what is going on with her. She is 12 years old.

Hello,

about a week ago I admitted myself to ER because of terrible breakout of hives (never had them before) but was covered from head to toe.

Doctor prescribed PREDNISONE 80mg for 4 days, and gave me an IV with the drug a week ago Saturday night (don't know how much was there), 12/29/07, I took my daily dose 80mg Sunday noon. I only slept about an hour or two. By new years eve 12/31, I have started getting cold chills, feeling unbearably cold, then the next day 1/1, I felt like I was 100 years old, all my joints were stiff, I couldn't get up from bed, couldn't sleep much but there is still more.

By Wednesday I have felt even more stiff and hives were not going away, I went to the doctor (my stiffness went away after couple hours in the morning) he prescribed more PREDNISONe for another week, luckily I have stopped taking the medication after 5 days of 80mg, plus whatever they gave in in an IV but I still have what I think are side effects from taking it.

Ankles are still sore, I cannot sleep because an extreme numbness sets in my left hand middle to index finger, it is no numb it hurts like an elephant is sitting on it, that is why I am still up at 4:30 in the morning. When I am up it just tingles. Not sure what to do but can't sleep at all for last 3 days and getting really tired.

If I knew what Prednisone does I would never take any of it, I'd rather deal with hives oh and they still didn't go away, I have had them for about 10 days now, they did stop itching. Honestly I felt very very sick a day after taking it, I didn't associate this with Prednisone, until I found this website. Please if you can stop taking it or see for yourself how much you should take 80mg is definitely too much, for me at least.

Did anyone have to deal with joint stiffness, and numbness how long does it take for it to go away. My wife says to to ER again because I can't sleep I am just very uncomfortable with the numbness and rattle in bed, but guess what they could shoot me up with more Prednisone.

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!

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 Prednisone after and allergic reaction to penicillin (Amoxicillin) (bullous pemphigold - large blister on my arms and legs, some on the back and very little on the stomach) I've been on the medication for three days (40mg/day) I cannot standup or move my hands, my entire leg hurts and the foot is swollen (it could be from the penicillin). I'm hoping it will go away after I come off prednisone but has anyone experienced long term pain from this drug?

I'm pretty sure my pain is from the allergic reaction. Has anyone had long term pain from any type of bullous reaction?

I'm a 37 year old female and have severe asthma and allergies and have used pregnisone on and off for 30 years. I believe I am the poster child for the long term side effects. My immune system is shot to the point that my normal medicines for asthma (ventolin, advair) and allergies (tylenol sinus, claritan, visine A) and ezcema (elidel, hydrocortisone, etc. - - NOTHING works!

In the past 6 months, I have developed various infections that the doctors have not been able to identify. My eyes are swollen and red with large amount of white/yellow secretions. Vaginal secretions. Face swollen. Skilled covered in a rash with ezcema out of control. Sharp pains in my back and stomach. Constant asthma. Abnormal hair growth. It is to the point that it is impossible to function and each doctor just wants to prescribe more pregnisone. I feel as if my body is a walking time bomb and it is so full of all the cortisone from over the years and has just decided no more.

I admit that I too readily believed in the doctors when they would rapidly prescribe the pregnisone. Only now am I paying attention to the long term side effects.

Has anyone had tests done to test their immune system and other organs for damage? Thanks and best to our pregnisone club.

My Mother was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis 30 years ago. She has been on prednisone at low doses since then. About 3 years ago she started imagining things, and hallusinations. About 2 years ago her prednisone dose went up to 60mg a day due to a stroke of the optic eye nerve. She has since been tapering down, now at 15mg a day. But tapering down makes her arthritis more painful. She has developed diabetes, loss of sleep, loss of apetite, loss of muscle tone. When she gets bumped, it's a big opened gash, rather than just a bruise. With the higher dose she was more moody & would get angry easier. The hallucinations & paranoia continue & are making me more & more concerned. I haven't read about this in any of the stories. Has anyone else experienced this side effect? I spoke with her Rheumatologist who suggest a psychiatrist to prescribe anti-psychotic drugs. She's already on 11 pills a day, does she need another?
Please let me know if anyone has experienced this as well.
Thank you.