PredniSONE and bronchitis

Hello I am 40 yrs old and got a lung infection which cause swelling in my lungs so the put me on high doses of prednisone via IV for 21 days in the hospital. The drug saved my life and took it at the same time.

After I got out of hospital i was on 60 mg for 6 weeks the 30mg for 6 weeks then 20mg the 10mg. It has been a living HELL over the last 5 months or so.

I told my DR. i have very bad blurred vision and he said it because the med runs my sugar up but I check my sugar and limit my sugar and it around 100 all the time which is normal soits not sugar. Then he said well them you need to see an eye dr. cuz your eyes are going bad. I begged to differ with him and told him if there was something wrong w my eyes then why is is one day I see fine and the next day all blurred and then back to normal!? it this stupid steroid if you ask me plus on day my right eye is bad and next day my left uggh!

The WORST side effect it the brain fog as yall call it. OMG I feel like im loosing my mind and going crazy. The dr. says hes never heard of such with a wise remark and says you know where your at now right? I know where i am and what I say but I feel like its not really happening. Its like im dreaming it. I feel like Im trapped in my head and I lookout blurry eyes.

Before I was a very confident independent person but now I feel scared all the time i feel hopeless and ive went through 3 girl friends over the summer because of the extreme forward attitude the med gives me. I am not the same person I was. I some time just want to die. I'm extremely tire if i do any exercise at all.

Plus I have all the other typical side effect like the moon face and weight gain. I don't even look the same cuz my eyes have huge bags under them and a double chin I never had.

I feel for all of you because i know what your going through.
I saw one comforting post in here where someone said within 2 weeks of completely getting off the pred. he was his normal self.
I CAN TELL YOU HOW GLAD I WAS TO READ THAT!

Please if you have finished the med and have got back to normal don't forget about this post. Please let us know because we need any hope we can get to keep our chins up and not loose hope and go completely crazy or worse kill ourselves.

I have about 4 more months of this LIVING HELL and I will surely let you all know if it get better. If you have come off of it and are reading this PLEASE let us know if we get back normal at least w the brain fog. I can take all the side effect ok except for the crazy dream zone zombie feeling.

I WOULDN'T WISH THIS KINDA HELL ON THE DEVIL HIM SELF!!
Let's pray for each other that the Lord keep out minds strong until we get off the nightmare drug call Prednisone.

side effects:
brain fog, blurred vision, puffy eyes, depression, confusion, dizzy, moon face, buffalo neck hump neck, hopelessness

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 was diagnosed with my first case of bronchitis at 41 in August. I am female and was diagnosed with diverticulitis in July, for which I was given dual antibiotics for 10 days. I thought those side effects were bad, but I am beginning to believe PREDNISONE is worse!

I took a 12 day declining dose regimine, prescribed 3 days after I started a zpack for bronchitis that was worsening, not getting better. I had the rapid heartbeat at times, but really no effects.

My effects begin AFTER finishing the course of PREDNISONE a week ago. Two days ago, I broke out with tiny pimples all over my jawline. The next morning , they were covering my upper chest, neck, cheeks, temple and forehead. They are still there today and worse. They look horrible. I've never had acne in my life and I am supposed to be doing job interviews now. Looks like they'll have to wait. It's embarrassing. Makeup does not cover at all--it's almost like bad hives, there are so many I can't count. I have researched this and it's called steriod-induced acne and I suppose I'm going to have to go out and get some face wash with salicylic acid and some benzyl peroxide or something!

My second bothersome symptom, which started yesterday, is headache. I have never had headaches in my life. The pain started around 4pm when I would move my head, turn my head, look down or up or simply swallow. The pain was directly in the back of my head at the base of the skull. It migrated then behind my eyes and cheekbones. It lasted all night
and whenever I would sit up (not sleeping well either, awoke four times last night) or stand up--boom--there was the pain. Thankfully it lasted 12 hours and for about three hours now I've had really bad pain behind my eyes and cheeks. I took a couple advil just now. I am guessing these are the headaches Prednisone is famous for.

The third symptom has been sweating. Like crazy. Two days after finishing my dose, I would sit at kitchen table and just POUR sweat. Same thing this morning at breakfast. This seems to be a morning occurrence. Thank goodness I am job hunting now. I could not work with these symptoms.

My fourth symptom isn't so bothersome but is sensitivity to sunlight and blurry vision. I noticed the blurry vision once starting the Prednisone.

How long will these last? There are so many side effects you all have shared I wonder if anyone will even see this. I don't see acne, but a google search revealed a dermatologist causing acne after Prednisone the steroid-induced acne referenced above.

For reference, I will NEVER take Prednisone again. How easily I've forgotten the mood swings. The best part of Prednisone for me was it healed my bronchitis in about 10 days. The worst? The constant, epic dreams that lasted all night and involved constant problem-solving. I'm a lucid dreamer, but these weren't lucid. The themes were tied to daily life, something ridiculous I had heard on tv, and went on and on--almost psychotic. No nightmare quality--just very unpleasant and downright odd.

I will tell my doctor that under no circumstance will I take this drug again. I'm asking friends to recommend detox programs. I guess I should go to a steam room and exercise and sweat a lot, but the pain behind my eyes and my tiredness (oh yeah, forgot to mention that at 3pm each day I'm hit with terrible exhaustion) prevent me from doing that, or job hunting, or going to job interviews.

This better resolve this weekend. Being sick is no fun, but side effects from drugs shouldn't be worse. Apparently many people are sensitive to this drug!

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

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

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

Does anyone know how long the insomnia will last?

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!!!

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.

5 days on prednisone for sinus/chest infection--JOINT PAIN ever since!!!! (it has been months now).

SO WHAT DO WE DO PEOPLE????? I'm only 26, I had a cold, and now I have chronic joint pain!

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 actually had a good experience with 3 small doses of Prednisone to treat my congested sinuses, leftover from a flu virus. My body usually reacts to a head cold flu in 3 stages: get hit with the virus for a few days, then after the virus is gone, have a bad histamine response with sinus headache, sneezing and severe congestion (antihistamines don't help), and then the snot from my sinuses fills my lungs by the following week, giving me bad bronchitis. With my history of pulmonary problems (mostly due to an over-reactive immune response), I wanted to nip it at the bud, stopping the snot. I took 30 mg (light dose, as I weigh 110 lbs) the first night, slept rather well because I could breathe, but woke up 2 hours earlier than usual, my only side effect. The next morning, 15 mg, and then 7.5 mg the next night. Problem was solved! I feel better, just only a mild side effect (waking up early) for a few light doses.

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 was diagnosed with Optic Neuritis in my left eye, at the time of diagnosis, I felt fine. Had an MRI to check for lesions on the brain, there were none. I was put on IV solu-medrol for 3 days, then 90 mg of prednisone for one week, with a rapid taper the second week. 6 days into the prednisone, I started have shortness of breath, etc. Went to the ER and my white count was 22,000. Had bronchitis and the beginnings of pneumonia. Because of the breathing problems, I only did 2 days of taper (doctor's advice). I have lost site completely in the left eye and now I have blurred vision in my right eye. Extreme fatigue, and a mental fog I just can't explain. A "twitch" in my left left hand and muscle weakness. I just don't feel "right". How long does it take for this drug to leave your system? Has anyone had a similar experience? My eye doctor was considering another round of prednisone for the optic neuritis, but I am not so sure I can survive it.

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 was prescribed 20mg 3x daily for five days to treat "Reactive Airway Disease/Bronchitis." Yesterday was my 5th and final day of taking the medication and I noticed both of my shins began hurting for no apparent reason when I walked. I didn't think it had anything to do with Prednisone. Then, last night, I suddenly felt weak as if my blood sugar had dropped tremendously and ate a grapefruit while trembling with weakness to stop this feeling. Again, I made no association with this and Prednisone. Last night as well, I noticed that my shoulders suddenly became achey on both sides of my backbone for no apparent reason. This morning, I woke up and the pain from my shoulders had spread to my hips and the entire area between my shoulders and hips is tender to the touch. Today, after not taking any of the medication, I feel mentally blurry, have moments of what feels to be low blood sugar and flu-like symptoms. I'm also still experiencing the muscle pain in my back and hips although my shins seem better. My pharmacist told me to call my Dr. and seemed surprised to learn I was not weaned off this medication. All of the symptoms I have described above are side-effects that should be reported to a Dr. immediately, according to my pharmacist. Another less-serious side-effect that began yesterday is swelling in my feet, hands, stomach and face. I also had diarrhea today.

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 was prescribed prednisone for an allergic response to crab. I had been given it before for out of control asthmatic bronchitis and had experienced the usual, muscle pain, strange metallic taste in mouth, water retention, insomnia and elevated BP. But after the crab allergy I was given it IV all at once. The next morning my fingers were all tingly and that pins and needles thing began to travel up my arm, also I was anxious, really anxious and I felt like my eyes weren't focusing right. I took some benadryl and felt a bit better. For the next six weeks I was in hell. I felt absolutely insane. I had panic disorder and only felt OK at home, so I avoided going out at all costs. A visit to my doctor yielded a diagnosis of steroid reaction and prescriptions for zyrtec and klonopin. At 7 weeks out, one morning, I was just fine again, no panic BP normal.

Undaunted, I took 20 mgs one day a few months later, had to drive 12 hours on inflamed back and thought the anti-inflammatory action would be worth it. 7 more weeks of insanity resulted. Never again. I now know what crazy feels like.

I was put on Prednisonsone for Uveitis, inflammation of the eye. He started me on 20mg at 9 pills a day, then each week it was lowered to 6 pills then now i'm on 3 pills and then next week it will be 1 1/2 pill and i'll be off. I got the puffy face, my feet swelled, everytime i hate my stomach bloated and hurt, my face and neck turns red, i stayed hungry although i fought the temptation of eating for not wanting to gain a lot of weight, which I don't think I've gained any. But now I wake up in the middle of the night and severe knee pain, it feels like my knees they are in some kind of device that is crushing my bones they hurt so bad. i caught a bad cough and it's been around now for about 2 weeks and won't go away, i told the nurse about it and she says, i probably just got what everyone else has gotten, just a bad cough, well what's if it's some kind of infection? I look like a chipmunk, my face is so puffy. When i get off these prednisone in another week I WON'T BE going back on them, no matter what the case. I'm in more pain being on them and have more side effects while on them than the problem i was having with uveitis. I think some co workers thank I'm over reacting, but they're not here they don't see all the pain and frustration i'm going through while on this drug. The leg pain just started this weekend and i Know i can't deal with waking up everynight like this in severe pain. Everyone just makes me feel like i'm over reactin and it's nice to know that somebody out there is going through the same thing. Any comments will be great.

I have been on a Prednisone taper just under a week for Bronchitis. I was due to get my period during this time but didn't (not pregnant). Has anyone else had this side effect?

I was on a Prednisone taper for 7 days (bronchitis). I have been off for 16 days now. I am still suffering from BAD headaches, head pressure and dizziness (also racing heart) - off and on??? Does anyone know how long it takes to get this stuff out of your system? My first day after finishing it my headache and dizziness got so severe that I threw up 7 times over the next 24 hours?

Is it something that I am eating or drinking that is 'reactiviting' the side effects of the Prednisone? I hate this.

Thank you.

Vanessa

I am a 25 year old, who was perfectly healthy prior to recently when I was diagnosed with Nephritic Syndrome and Minimal Change Disease and possibly FSGS (kidney diseases) I was put on 60 mg of Prednisone for 1 month then I was lowered to 40 mg for one month and I am then dropping to 30 mg. I am also taking Fosamax for my bones and a Vitamin D pill because my last lab test showed low vitamin D levels.

I am dizzy constantly and can not live a normal life, I can not drive or do any activities that I had previously done. My chest is so tight and constricted all of the time, my heart rate is so fast and pounds at my chest. I have no energy to do anything, I can barely open a door at times. I am beginning to grow unwanted hair on my face. My abdomen is always bloated. I have pain in my rib cage, and shoulders. I feel very sore throughout my entire body. I do not really sleep at night, so I look very tired all the time.

I have actually lost weight, I have no appetite at all. I am down 10-15lbs.

Now for the Pro- my Kidney Diseases are currently in remission and this has happened much faster than the Nephrologist had thought.

I am very anxious to getting my life back to normal and getting off the Prednisone.

Has any one else experienced increased heart rate, chest tightness, or rib pain?

I wish everyone the best in their roads to recovery!!

Hello.

I was started on Prednisone on Saturday (3/15) for Bronchitis. So far I have taken 40mg, 40mg, 30mg, 30mg, 20mg, - I am to take 20mg for two more days than 10mg for three days. I also just finished a Z-Pack of antibiotics and am taking Mucinex and Ventolin HFA...

I have head pressure, dizziness, and weird visual disturbances. The problem I am having is my breathing feels WORSE on the Prednisone??? Is this possible??? I feel like I am losing my mind. I have insomnia and am extremely jittery. I have never taken Prednisone before - but want so badly to breath better - but it is not helping and in fact seems to making the problem worse?

Has this every happened to anyone? Please help I am so frightened.....

Thank you

I have asthmatic bronchitis. In June 2006 I came down with an infection in my lungs, which also set off my asthma. Between the two I was hospitalized and put on 240 mg of intravenous Prednisone and the antibiotic Levaquin. I was cured of the infection and was able breathe normally again but it took a great toll on my body It took me 3 months to taper off of the Prednisone and almost a whole year to feel myself. I was a strong, physically active person before this happened to me and I have not gotten my energy level and endurance back to what I was before I was sick. When I was released from the hospital I went from 160 mg of intravenous Prednisone to 80 mg of pill Prednisone. That step down was too severe and I went through intense joint and muscle pain in my body that it woke me from a sound sleep in the middle of the night. I luckily had an old Vicodin that I took which only made the pain bearable. I should have upped the Prednisone to make it go away but I wanted off. This pain lasted one week with each day getting less. The side effects I experienced from then on were so plentiful that I almost can't remember them all. The physical problems were, thin skin that bruised or ripped and bled profusely with the slightest bump, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, muscle cramps in my legs and hands, sleeplessness, dry mouth and frequent urination. My stomach bloated and got stretch marks. I didn't have any before that. The muscles in my thighs and upper arms atrophied so bad that I could not walk up stairs w/o using my arms to help. My arms were also very weak and I got hemorrhoids; another muscle that was affected. I had a bad case of the drops. I couldn't hold on to anything and broke many glasses. I got moon face that took a couple of weeks to go away after I was off the Prednisone. Because I was on such high doses, my hair died and stopped growing. About 40% of it fell out in one month. It took 6 months to grow back and it all grew back curly. On January 30, 2008 my bronchial tubes closed again due to a sinus infection. Again I was hospitalized with 240 mg of intravenous Prednisone and Levaquin. This time I responded much better, because I jumped on the infection/asthma instead of waiting. I stepped down from 240 to 180 to 90 to 60 and decrease 5 mg a day until I was off. This time I did no lose my hair land did not get hemorrhoids. The other physical effects were pretty much the same but much less severe. However, this time the emotional effects of Prednisone were much worse than last time. I was not a nice person. I was short tempered and argumentative and even had to stop myself from resorting to violence a couple of times. That is definitely not who I am. Prednisone stops your adrenal glands from working and adrenaline is you chemical way of coping with stress. I have been off of the Prednisone for one week and still find it hard to cope with the slightest controversy. My brain is still in a fog and I get confused easily. I cannot handle too many questions at once and forget things. My face is still round. Both times, I have found it the hardest dealing with the Prednisone at the very end and even after I finished taking it. I think it builds up and even though the chemical is suppose to be out of your body in 24 hours, it's effects stay a lot longer. I thought I knew what to expect but the second time was different again. It is a horrible drug but my trade off was breathing. Sometimes I think, that if I have to go through this a few more times, the side effects will kill me before the asthma. I wish all you Prednisone users loads of luck and stay positive.

I was prescribed Prednisone for sinusitis and bronchitis. By day three I noticed I was taking 6 pills versus the 3 prescribed. I called the pharmacist and they recommended I take 1 for each remaining day. I declined, because by then I was experiencing a lot of leg pain. I thought I had a blood clot. Now that it's day 6 I've experienced muscle and bone pain throughout my body. Last night while lying down I felt lightheaded and like I was going to blackout. My legs are weak, I feel like I'm having an outer-body experience, and I'm restless. I've gained a little weight and have a dark red/purple rash on my chest. My stomach is still bloated, but does not hurt. I hope this ends soon. God Bless you All!

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.

I was on prednisone for 6 weeks off and on and took it a total of 28 days for an bronchitis and gained 8 lbs. and still gaining.
It is very depressing since I am also going through menopause. I have been off of them almost 3 weeks. Does anyone know how long it will take to get the weight off? I feel like anything I eat will make me blow up. Thanks.

I first had prednisone for bronchitis, along with antibiotics. they seemed to cure the coughing at least for a while but I started to gain weight.I figured it was a coincidence and just let it go.
The bronchitis came back, and worried that it may be heart failure, I saw my Cardiologist who told me taht i was OK from that angle!!
I started cardiac rehab after my last heart procedure. ( a couple of stents) and coincidentally the bronchitis came back.
Same prednisone scrip but his time the weight gain was very noticeable. Ten pounds in one week!
I was stopped on the excercise machine because my face and neck was beet red after 15 mins of light excercise. Apparently the other patients were getting worried just watching me.
As the pred regimen came to its end, after 12 days, I lost 6 of the ten pounds in 3 days. thats where I am now.

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

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

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

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

Because its been 2 days that I dont take it.

2/22/06 I started taking Prednisone for wheezing from bronchitis. I started at 40 mg per day and have been taking it for 2 weeks. I cannot sleep, I'm ravenously hungry, my hands itch during the night, and I am so irritable I can't stand myself!

I have been taking it for a severe allegectic reaction to who knows what. Broke out in red seepy rash. It seems everytime I take it I have trouble breathing for most of the day. Than goodness today was my last dose.Has anyone else had this problem? JC

I bruise easily and have ugly marks on armsor legs where I get injured very slightly. I have none of the problems that I have read above. I understand prednisone is for inflamation and I have COPD - bronchitis last winter. Am also taking Actonel for bone strength.

I am getting very depressed. I was on Prednisone for about ten days back in April to help my Bronchitis. Now, it's August. I am on a 1200 cal a day diet, I walk a mile a day, I do situps until I can't sit up, I can't lose the belly and hip fat I gained. I am getting warts all over my hands and feet (immunodepressive drugs do this), and my periods (sorry to be gross) are still screwed up. Everything I've read says the symptoms should subside with the stopping of the drug, but how long does it take?

Tomorrow should be my last day of prednisone until I start weaning off it, so I will take my last batch of 8 tablets in the morning 5mg each and then wean off them. I forgot to take them this morning, I swear by this afternoon I was REALLY DIZZY, until I remembered to take them and about an hour later I was fine, that kinda scares me, your body shouldn't get hooked so quickly. Anyway I am going to see my homeopath on Wednesday and swopping over to herbal medicine. I like to put natural things into my body thank you :)

Bronchitis has gone YAY! but just a bit of a wheeze.

On Tuesday this week I will have stopped smoking for 2 whole weeks!! Best decision I have ever made!!
Will never touch another cigarette ever again.

Have a wonderful week everyone and remember that u are not alone if you are struggling with Prednisone. HEY who knew I was a poet!!

Hi everyone, Okay its day 6 of taking prednisone, I am feeling so light headed and awful that I decided to get a second opinion on my Bronchitis and all the cortisone that my Doctor has been giving me. Twice a day on Cortisone nebulizer and 40g of Prednisone a day. I am calling another Doctor I trust that I used before I moved State, tomorrow. I want to get a second opinion about how to wean myself off this Cortisone. I have then decided to go an see a Homeopath that helped me with my 35kg weight loss. She is brilliant. She is far from me to drive but after going through the side effects of this Prednisone I will drive anywhere to get better medical treatment. So no more chemicals in my body from now on I want natural medicine, it may take longer to heal but at least its going for the root of the problem and not the symptom. Wish me luck! -

I was rx pred. by my dr. 40 mgs for 5 days for my bronchitis.
I have never had bronchitis and/or any type of breathing problem.
This was in Dec.
Since then, my immune system has been shot and every other week , I catch a cold.
This is really frustrating, since I am for the most part, an extremely healthy and strong person.
Pred. really weakens your immunity.
when is this going to stop?

Chest pain, perhaps heartburn (or gas?) so bad that I can barely breathe...this only happens when I attempt to stop taking prednisone altogether. This time I tapered down from 50 mg to 25 mg (for a week) to 0 as of Sunday.

I had been taking prednisone to combat an allergic reaction to poison sumac. I began taking 50 mg/day for a week, doubled it for another week, cut back to 50 for a third week, quit cold turkey and the rash "caught fire," so I started up again. This time I'm determined to stay off, but I wonder how long I have to put up with this horrible chest pain!