PredniSONE and depression

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Excerpts:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PREDNISONE.... a word that is unknown to the naive and despised by the the knowledgeable. Before i begin i want to tell you that prednisone for lack of better word F***ed me up. So heres my story with the pill. About a year ago i was officially diagnosed with Minimal Change Disease, now remember i am eighteen at the time, and was prescribed prednisone to cure the disease. Now being unaware of the severity of the drug and disease i casually continued life while taking 80mg per day of prednisone. Well this was good and all because it did in fact put me in remission, but the side effects were starting go surface. My face ballooned up "moon face", started experiencing random series of depression, became insomniatic, and unfortunately gained several pounds. Well this was not the end of side effects as for me. I continued with the medication and after 6 weeks of 80 mg i began my 5 week course of 60mg. Then after that i started 4 weeks on 40 mg and began tapering 5 mg every 2-3 weeks afterwards. Toward the middle of 60 mg the drug started taking its toll on my body as my skin lost its elasticity so i started getting gruesome strecht marks all over my body. I also became constipated for whatever reason most probably prednisone was at fault. I became very frightened actually terrified so i started to research about the drug in hopes of finding ways to avoid some side effects. In doing my research i found out very disturbing information regarding prednisone. Along with all the side effects that i mentioned above, prednisone also causes cateracts, glacoma, diabetes via insulin resistance, and osteoporosis. Now these i consider as the more severe permanent side effects as the list unfortunately is much longer. Finding out about the side effects i became extremely paranoid and started a very strict diet to hopefully avoid some permenat side effects. I admit reading about the information on prednisone created my paranoia and/or possible phycosis which ultimately led to my stress which led to my severe depression. Now this wasn't any old type of depression, i was sersiouly in need of some help. Everyone around me could tell something was wrong and really i dont blame then for in fact i felt as if my soul had died, the very essence of my being. Now magin if you can someone taking away your youth from you, sucking the very life out of you... thats exactly how i felt. To add along with the depression my grades became a wreck in college as i dropped several classes, lost a friend, developed problems with my parents as they tired to help me, and disrespected family relatives with my uncontrollable mood swings. A few weeks in of dieting and exercising i lost a lot of weight (15-20 pounds). As far as side effects non had changed i still had to deal with all that was mentioned above especially with the fragile skin that was a real burden as i had even a few stretch marks on my face from sleeping on my side. At this point of my long and what seemed to be a never ending journey i become exteremly weak. My body had no energy to run on as i refused to eat and when i did eat it was either foods that are considered free foods or protein nothing else. Everything at this time had been taken away from me including smoking marijuana (marijuana drops blood sugar as this would cause me to start feeling faint and lightheaded), alcohol (same as marijuana drops blood sugar), and the fact that i was not comfortable in my own skin (literally). I was driving myself insane. Everyday i was behind the computer searching for more and more. I was obsessed and became my worst nightmare. Oh by the way half in the medication therapy i showed 1+ grams of protein in my urine which my doctor possibly thought it could have been a relapse. This news i did not take lightly i had lost it and was prepared of comiting suicide. I cant lie, i really did not want to live anymore i just wanted to end this and suicide seemed like a very real and convienent possibility. If it had not been for my parents talking to me giving me a 3 hour speech and lecture i do not know what i would have done. Suicide at that point became out of the question because i could not do this to my family. So i went and purchased urine dip sticks to monitor the protein. The doctor had given me a 2 week window or chance to get back into remission or else he was going to prescribe me cytotoxic agents aka chemo therapy drugs. This was horrible news to me. So as i monitored my protein i found out of a very interesting trend. I noticed that my protein levels in the afternoon were in fact positive for protein and were usually up and down as far as how much but in the mornings i noticed i was always negative. Now this give me a huge bit of hope because when in researching about MCD months earlier i found out that there is a coniditon called orthostatic proteinuria which affects mostly young adolecent males and is a condition described as for some unknown reason there is protein loss in the afternoon when the person is upright and active then when they are supine or laying down the kidneys do not allow any portein loss. This condition is in fact harmless. I was very happy from then news and i told my doctor, he was somewhat doubting, but i don't blame him he is looking out for my best interest, but sure enough after the 2 weeks had past i went in again for my appointment after testing and i was negative for protein as i had expected. We began tapering after that point and i continusouly monitored my own tests at home and eventually i got off the steroid, actually today is that day after a 9 month period of heartache and distress. You know people say that they went to hell and back in a hard moment in life, well i went to hell stayed there for 9 months then came back. I feel so everyone who as ever needed to take steroids for long periods of time, i know its tough but believe it as it is indeed a potent drug and in most cases a miracle drug. It gave me a second chance at life and no matter how hard it was or how much pain it put me through i cannot complain for it did in fact cure me and thats why i can never hold any grudges. So thats my story i kno its not pretty but what can i say it is indeed mine whether i like it or not.

I've been on in a little over one day. The 6 day treatment. 5mg pills-6 the first, 5 the second, and so on and so forth. I have been SO HOT! I didn't sleep for very long, and woke up a couple times in the middle of night burning up. For me, the mental side effects have been HORRIBLE. I'm a 20 yr old fairly healthy female. 5'3'' 110 lbs. I have had unbelievable depression.... really really irritable and angry. I've just felt like hitting someone 24/7. I don't want to talk to anyone, I just want to sleep, I can barely keep my eyes open. I don't know how I'm going to take 5 more days of this. I also experienced the extra sensitivity to heat that others described. I read online that photo therapy... or sun exposure will help speed up healing and can be used alongside prednisone. I just really want this all to be over with. I look like I have the plague, and I feel worse than I look on the outside. Every little stress or worry just makes me want to end it, though I know that that isn't the answer. I'm a Christian, and I'm just going to pray about it. God will take care of me. I'm BURNING UP AS WE SPEAK! I've also been extra thirsty and my skin feels so dry!

Hi all,

My first time on this site, it's quite interesting to see how people have very similar side effects. My case is I fought with a Poison Ivy and lost, my left arm shows the battle scars. Before going to the doctor, I tried Calamine, Caladryl, Cort Aide, Ivarest, Aveeno Oat Meal Baths & Tee Tree Oil. All failed to help, so off to my doc I went. After what I told him I tried using, he told me to stop. He noted those things do nothing to help Poison Ivy rashes to go away, he prescribed for me to take 20mg of Prednisone 3x a day for 4 days, then knock it down to 2x for 4 days and then 1x for 4 days. He also prescribed Cortisone Cream and to buy OTC Doneboro to soak my arm, it smells just like vinegar..I wonder! I have been taking Prednisone since Monday, so far the only side effects that have shown up is Insomnia and coughing. I do have A LOT more energy than I used to have, my job is enjoying my spitfire mode. The question is, what will happen once I am off this stuff? I've read and heard a lot of nasty things about this drug and I guess I will find out in another 9 more days, I've never been on Prednisone before, I do watch for changes in my body. Making sure I am not growing a beard or mustache, that my boobs don't expand (even though it would make my husband VERY happy). I am sorry to see many on here are having a bad time with this, maybe some of you should get a second opinion. Some doctors today are babied by pharmaceutical companies to push drugs, with some issues some of you have you may want to research your health problems more. Never take the word of your doctor as concrete, they are human too and make mistakes. I believed one fertility doctor until I researched my condition to find out I would never be able to have children, they milked my health plan until I faced them with my findings of medical research sites and online articles by universities. Never again! Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Don't be fooled, research for yourself. I will keep you posted as to my next 9 day countdown.

Alison

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

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

I don't have a new side affect with Prednisone but just want to share my feelings. I was diagnosed with Temporal Arthritis since last July 2007. I started taking 60 mg of Prednisone for 1 month. Didn't notice the side affects then. Weaned myself off through my doctor's instructions. But relapse occurred when I was only on 2 daily. With Temporal Arthritis, you get delibating and horrendous head pain which is caused due to inflammation of the main artery in the temple. I am back to 3 daily.
Besides my moon face, I am bigger. I really don't have a lot of the other side affects you all talk about. I am sorry you all have to go through that.
My depression is better. My sleep is horrible. Now I am going to a sleep study to see if I have Sleep Apnea.
I consider Prednisone a wonder drug. Although the side affects are horrible, I have to admit, I feel much better, most of the time. I do have inflammation in the neck. Not sure if that is pred or temporal arthritis, but am seeing a rheumatologist for that.

Teena

I have read some of the board and would like to know if anyone else has had prolonged side effects after being off Prednisone for almost a year. I think Prednisone caused all my current health problems. Was on the higher dose 5 day plan for a severe inner ear infection. I stopped taking it after the third day cold turkey, which I know was wrong because of blurred vision and stomach distention so bad I thought I was going to burst (almost the same as when I was pregnant). The first 4-6 weeks of stopping it were pure _ ell. So many withdrawal symptoms. I went to my doctor and he said I couldn't possibly be having all those symptoms from the Prednisone since I was only on it three days (but it is the regimen where you take the higher doses/multiple pills in the beginning and then it lowers the dose each day). Every few days it seemed I was having something new happen - heartburn, sweating, headaches. Then my thyroid function began acting up (hypothyroidism) and glands seem to swell with my monthly cycle. I started having a daily dry throat. All my symptoms seem to be on my right side: blurred vision, dry throat, swollen lymph glands, ear pain, groin swelling. It is one month shy of a year when I originally took the Prednisone and nothing has decreased, only new symptoms appear. My doctor keeps treating each symptom individually and won't look at the whole picture. I tried acupuncture and it didn't help. Any suggestions/comments?

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.

I agree, for me this is a horrible drug! This is the 2nd time my allergist prescribed it to me (last time was this past summer and I had severe panic attacks and thought I was losing my mind) this resulted in me returning back to my GP and him putting me back on Paxil (which I had been off of for a year). I was extremely reluctant to use this again but thought i might be able to manage it this time (with the help of Paxil).

My allergist prescribed Prednisone to me 2 weeks ago (5mg 3x's day for 3 days then, 2 2x's day then 1 for 5 days) I made up until the last 3 pills. I had severe brain fog and felt like I was floating through space. I couldn't even remember driving to work and parking my car! Extremely fatigued (I have diabetes (which is under control, but I had to keep checking my bg because I thought my sugar was dropping to low). Now, within the last week of taking the Prednisone I have experienced aching in my kidneys and I think I have a kidney infection.

Can Prednisone do this to you??

I am calling the doctor tomorrow. Today is the first day without Prednisone and I feel like I am totally out of it - really spaced out, dizzy, panicky and a bit nausea.

How long does it take for you to get Prednisone out of your system?

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

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

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

I have been VERY VERY ill.....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SDR

GRRRRRRRRRrrrrr!!!!!!!

In June I found out I had actue renal failure. One of the many medications I was given was prednisone. After a few weeks I grew so weak, tired and in a lot of pain. I even had to take a medical leave from work(4 months).
I was told to expect the moon face, hunchback, the acne..However, my sypmptoms worsened to point I didn't want to eat(lost 30 lbs) could hardly move and had to be hospitalized(almost went on dialysis). They flushed me out for a week at the hospital and avoided dialysis.
Once out of the hospital I proceeded to keep the weight off, but the side effects just mounted. I had thrush in the mouth(the worst feeling), sleeplessness, I had every side effect listed and I mean all with the exception of hallucinations and depression. The miracle was that what I was expecting weight gain, moon face did not happen.
Around September my doctor started weaning me off prednisone b/c I told him I cant take it anymore. Wouldn't you know it the minute I started getting weaned off the medication I got the moon face and acne. I cant beleive how much acne I have and the moon face and extra chin that came along with it are not cute. In 3 days I gained 10lbs and feel like I'm gainiing everyday. This might bring on the depression that has yet to occur. Why is this happening now that I'm being weaned. I started at 80mg a day and now I'm down to 30mg and next week down to 20mg.
I know this drug did its job and I pray that I dont have to be on it at all once the weaning process is over, but this is hell. I really feel doctors should tell you everything that you can expect. I didnt know enough about this drug(I know there is the internet I should have used it) and had I known then what I know now I seriously might have asked for some alternatives. This drug may be a miracle in the medical community, but for those of us who have to take it, its hell. Does anyone know how long it will take for the moon face, acne, and weight gain to go away?

PLEASE REPLY! ok i wrote on this board about a month ago, and i was complaining about all the horrible side effects i was having.....however things have gotten much much worse since then, and i must admit that i have been bad. very bad. i am secretly winging myself off of the steroids b/c I cannot handle the depression and not being myself anymore... I've been on Prednisone for a year now and started winging myself from 15mg when I last wrote on here to now 10 mg... my hair is falling out in HUGE clumps, and I am NOT overexaggerating when I say I am going bald... does anyone know if this could be from tapering the drug, or would you say it is probably because of my condition possibly returning from tapering the drug too low???? I just want to know if IMMENSE hair loss is affiliated with steroids...I have not seen anyone else mention anything.

I have had a severe case of polymyalgia rheumatica and was initially put on 60 mg of prednisone a day. It was wonderful! Within hours my pain level dropped almost in half. From there the pain has gradually improved even more. I went to 40 mg per day to 20 mg per day to 15 mg per day. Have been on the 15 mg for 2 months now and want off as soon as possible. Yes, I too have the moon face, camel hump, slight weight gain, nausea, digestive problems, cramps, depression, etc. Not fun! My question is - does anyone experience burning/stinging in their face, arms and legs from the prednisone? I wonder if it is the polymyalgia rheumatica or if this is a side effect from the steroid. Thanks for your comments.

I am a 19-year-old female pre-med student who has been taking this nasty drug for exacly 1 year now.... The amount I am on continues to change, for my disease keeps returning and leaving remission. I finally get down to 10mg from 40mg, and have to go back up when symptoms return!!! This is SO discouraging. The worst part is, no one understands the physical and emotional agony this drug brings on. I'm 19 and feel like I'm 90. My body aches, my weight is constantly fluctuating, I bruise from simply being poked (being a clumsy person, I look like I am beat!!), my bones feel as if they are about to break, and I am SEVERELY despressed. Being in college and taking rigorous classes, this is just too much for me to handle anymore... My 5-year relationship with the love of my life/best friend is falling apart because of my horrible mood swings.. don't blame him for leaving. I feel as if this drug has ruined my life more than the disease itself...Does ANYONE know if one's body and mind returns to "normal" after FINALLY being off this drug??? I pray to God the answer is yes... I would appreciate someone's reply and/or insight, because my Dr. fails to tell me about ANY side effects until I mention something. PLEASE REPLY!!!

I am a 22 year old female, 5'4'' and 120 lbs. I was recently diagnosed with asthma and was put on Prednisone for 4 days - 60mgs, then 40 mgs. I experienced blurred vision, mood swings (nervousness, depression), headaches, fatigue, and nausea. The day after I stopped I got a very sore neck and shoulders, and was so tired I didn't want to get out of bed. I now feel pretty much back to normal, but the whole experience was very scary while I was going through it because no one really warned me about these effects. I would burst out crying suddenly, and the vision thing was scary because you feel like it will never get better. I felt so unlike myself that I stayed in bed pretty much all four days I was on it and the day after I stopped. I hope I never have to take it again, and I am sorry for those who must take this drug long term. On the positive side, it does seem to have helped my asthma symptoms, although some of them returned after I stopped the medication.

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

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

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

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

God bless!

I was on Prednisone for a month. The sleeplessness , yet being so sleepy was awful but not nearly as awful as the weight gain and depression. I am curious how long this stuff stays in your system? I am a week and a half off and I feel a little better but I am wondering about when the headaches and weight gain will disappear? Thanks

I have been on prednisone for just over a week at 40 mg for Crohn's Disease. I have been experiencing constant body tremors, exhaustion, restlessness, the inability to focus, depression to the point of being suidical, mood swings, muscle aches and pains, extra stomach pain (not from the Crohn's), as well as the usual side effects, like enlarged appetite. I am only 16, and when I was 10 or so, I was on Prednisone at 60 mg a day for about 6 months with out these side effects. When I was younger, I only experienced the "moon-face", "buffalo-hump" (a small lump that often forms on the back of the neck), extreme weight gain (50 pounds in a month or two), and extreme stretch marks.

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

I get really depressed and moody. I've had muscle pain in neck, shoulders. Kinda nervous and restless at time.
I've had a small area in the middle of my vision that's noticable when something moves quickly in front. It sometimes leaves an after image.
Anybody else get that?

i take it for SLE too....and depression is starting to hit me too. I was crying for two days in a row and my boyfriend thought i was going crazy coz i was screaming at him for no real reason. i think its driving him up the wall coz he doesn't seem to understnad what is going on with me. Till yesterday i was feeling like nothing could comfort me and today i feel like the sun couln't be brighter.

Well where do I begin!!! I have been taking this drug for over three months now. I have mood swings, gained 30 pounds, have a moon face, acne on my face and chest, cannot sleep at night or very restless, I have the sweats, increased appetite, sore throat, shaky, depression. I thought medicine was to help you feel better. Right now I feel worse. I wish I had never been given this prescription for the treatment of Chrohn's Disease. Next time just cut out my intestine....

I gained about 10 pounds since going back on prednisone last summer and followed the South Beach Diet which seemed to work as it has kept my blood sugar undercontrol and eleminated alot of the cravings. I have just recently gone back on Zoloft for the depression and it has lessened my appetite - which is one of the side effects. However, I have found that weight training which I kept up from when I did physical therapy, has had the most benefit for keeping things under control - not to mention the good mental benefits that come from working out. Lately I've had to drag myself to the gym but it is always worth it.

I have been on prednisone ( for lichen planus) for about 6 weeks starting with 20 mg twice a day for a month. Now I am taking half a pill once a day... My face and neck are SO swollen I have gained So much wait I have mental and emotional breakdowns all the time I can't sleep ( so the doc prescribed seroquil) now I don't know if I am coming or gong. I will be so very full and still shoving food in my mouth. My knees and legs hurt badly I have had a horrible headach and my teeth and mouth hurt and now 'm growing facial hair at 27 yrs old. HELP ME!

I was on prednisone for 3 days. Took my first pill in the evening and another the next day. Took another that night. I was up all night discussing thing with my wife. I WAS WIRED. I crashed the next day, almost quit my job (I was heavily under stress at work). I went home, STILL WIRED, and shuttled my kids around all day. I started to think about my experiences as a kid. I was under severe stress. That night, I collapsed on my laundry room floor. I hallucinated all night. My wife and children were extremely frightened. They called the paramedics. I went to the emergency room. I litterly thought I had died. At the emergency room, I was disruptive and they admitted me. I spent 4 nights in a psychiatric ward, sedated with drugs but unable to differentiated my flashbacks from the past from the prednisone. It has taken nearly a week, to finally come to grips with the fact that I am not crazy. It was this drug and some stress (albeit, more than usual) that sent me into a life-changing experience. BE VERY CAREFUL if you are taking Prednisone, can't sleep, and are under stress. Your life may change forever. Mine did.

Six weeks ago, I took prednisone for ten days for joint pain and swelling (both hands, both knees, both feet etc. ). the swelling subsideded the fourth day. I lost 5 pounds of fluid weight gain. Ten days after stopping predisone, I had a second onset of swelling and pain with 5 pounds of weight gain. I took 40mg two days and lost the 5 pounds and severe pain. I also lost depression that has been with me 45 years. I experienced elation sustained for the first time since I was 18 years old. I am 63, retired, blessed with a good life within a prison of secret depression. I cut the dose to 10mg per day and saw a rheumatoligist who ordered 15 blood tests today and continued the 10mg dose. the elation continues and is joined by high energy. Is this a gift from God or what? Fred

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

Gypsi,
I have seen Doctor after Doctor no one knows what is causing the dibilitation of my body I am only 35 this has been happening on and off since 19. I have no idea what is wrong. They check my liver , bones and kidneys once a year I have MRI every three months. I have at times not been able to see and then go to 20/20. I think the depression is going to be what kills me to be honest I have and can live with the pain and handicapped problems but being sad and fighting to not be is har. I am however developing a new problem and think it is the prednisone I have sharp stabbing pain in my neck where ones thyroid glands would be. And I am the fattest I have ever been I am not able to excersize much because I have just bought a exersize ball I am going to try it.
I guess I will stop whining ... thanks for listening
Angela

Angela,
It broke my heart to read your post. U sound just like me after I had a kidney transplant and had to take pred. I ballooned up so big. My face certainly had "MOON FACE" like I've mentioned in my other posts, I have three sizes of clothes. It's very depressing and no matter how much support u have, it's still your body and it is all about us. We can't help how we feel about ourselves. It's the pred. The self-esteem flys out the window. I've gone thru this so much. I was on pred. for 4 yrs. I have been off pred. for three months. I've lost weight but I have about 25 more to go. I gained around 75-80 lbs. myself. I've lost 33 now. I was so skinny before pred. because of dialysis. I don't want to be that skinny again, that's why I want to lose only 25 more. It's very hard to lose. How long do u have to be on it?
Withdrawal is very hard,also. No matter what people say, when we look into the mirror, it's depressing. I promise u, after u stop taking it, tho it will take time, u will lose it. U r in my prayers. I'm so sorry that u have to feel like this because I've been there, am there, and have a ways to go. Maybe as time goes on, your body will eventually will adjust. I assume u will be on it for some time. I certainly understand the depression. God Bless You Trailblazen

I have been on Prednisone for two years now. I have gained 80 pounds and can almost never sleep. I have to be on this horrible drug or I lose my sight and use of my legs. When I am on it I have some use of my legs and see. So I need to continue taking it. I take 30 mg. a day when things are going well. I take 100 when things are not going well.
If anyone has been on this drug and been able to maintain weight please let me know. I hate being fat and long to wear the clothes I own. I hate shopping for clothes cause I am so so so very fat now. I struggle lots with depression not sure if it a side effect but I know I work hard to find good things about myself. I use to wear a size 4 or 5 now I am a 20 or 22. I have all the support in the world but still feel like I am useless. I can not do anything AND I am fat.
angela

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

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

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

To guest 12515
It depends on how many mgs. a day u were taking. It doesn't stop immediately after coming off of pred. Even tho it was only 7 days u still have it in your system. Be glad it wasn't 4 yrs. like me. It might take a little while. Watch the sugar and carbs. and be patient. Somtimes it doesn't matter what u do, it will still take a while. It will go away. I'm speaking for myself but I think there r others who might agree. The depression is part of the whole thing. The pred. and the frustration of what it does to our bodies. Hang in there and keep us posted. Take care.

BRAVO to u Bronchitis27 !! U will get better. U r not alone not with all of us here. I know when u r at home u do feel alone, so do I. Just know u r in my prayers. I'm doing somewhat better, the trouble I'm having now is serious depression and such sadness. Still have insomnia. As time goes by, I will get better. Two months off of pred. now. Still hanging in there.

I was put on iv prednisone of 1000mg for 12 days while in the hospital. After the iv the doctors put me on 80mg this was back in Feb. '05 and i am now down to 5mg. I have had all the side effects. Gained 30 pounds of water weight, a huge moon face, acne on face and chest, muscle aches and pains (especially in my lung and rib area), sleeplessness, and insane mood swings and depression. I am hoping through my continued use of acupuncture to relieve these symptoms as soon a I am totally off the pednisone. It has been a long road, and I still have aways to go.

I just started taking what will be a week's worth of prednisone for a hive-like rash (unknown cause). My dosage began with 30mg today. Within one hour I was sweating so profusely I felt like a cartoon character....so I got online to find out if this was a normal side effect so quickly, and I found this forum.

If I'd read this first I'd probably have not taken it!

I will taper down over the seven days. Anyone know if I can
expect moonface & weight gain on this short, rather limited dosage?
The Dr. cautioned about swelling and a rather manic feeling (He described it as "vacuuming ferociously at 3 a.m.") but thought most of problems came in 50 mg-plus dosages or those for extended time...
I also take meds for high blood pressure & depression and low-dose hormones for menstrual issues.
Anyone know if any other corticosteroids are "better" than prednisone, or are they all similar in effects?

many thanks for your time

And the Saga of Prednisone continues:

After a few weeks of 10mg per day (5mg AM 5mg PM) I am now down to 7.5 mg per day (last 3 days). The 10 mg allowed a lot of the side effects to start to fade: weight is steady or decreasing. I only gained about 5 lbs but that is now down to 1 or 2. I'm working out so I'm adding muscle as well as losing fat so I dont expect massive weight loss. (For instance .. I added an inch to the circumference of my upper arm.. muscle..not fat !) The irrationality toward food (cleanup in aisle 5 has new meaning.. like cleaning one's plate !)

Yes, Im hairier ! for a guy it's in all the right places. Not only hasn't that gone away.. it's hairier still !

My face is almost back to it's gaunt thin self :) SOME of the buffalo hump has gone away and my neck has thinned a bit - so no double chin anymore - just in the last two weeks.

Never had insomnia.. never had depression (wasn't thrilled with the side effects but thats a rational reaction.. not depression) never had moodiness. Acne is getting better. I STILL RECOMMEND PHISOHEX and a LOOFAH.

My belly is still distended but then I had a lot of surgery so it could be either or both. Exercise has helped (jogging and situps) and Im a tad fatigued but getting better.

Certainly thats not all of the side effects but the statement 1 month for every week of use seems true.. and the effects go away slower than they arrived.. ]

BUT THEY DO GO AWAY.

The more permanent effects (stretch marks etc) may be permanent.. try vitamin E Aloe etc.. they may help!

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

Have been on predisone for a year now. Tapering off. Diagnosed with dermatomyositis in 1998. Weight gain (30 lbs.!), some depression and had to have 2 places on my gums grafted because my gums were coming away from my teeth! Read about tooth loss from some of the emails on this site. Anyone else have gum problems? Doctor told me this is NOT a side effect of predisone. I wonder........
Anyone diagnosed with dermatomyositis, I would love to hear from you. Very rare disease......one-four per million. ***

i had been taking prednisone for a couple months for migraines before i told my doctor i didnt want to take it anymore. i had terrible mood swings, from depression to extreme joy. i would take it out on even my closest loved ones. my sexdrive also started to swing violently. i also had a swolen face and i bruised a lot easier. my blood was also a lot thinner. even when i cut myself shaving it would bleed for a half hour. i also became very tired and i couldnt concentrate. it helped my headaches though

Hi I have Lupus for the past 12 years nad I am treated for the past year with Prednisone. At times they go up to 40mg and than taper it down. Currently I am taking 7.5mg daily and I experience dizziness and chest pain and night sweats. For the depression I take Trazadone, which helps me to sleep at night. Anyone would like to correspond with me, please do. Thank you.

I have been reading some of the postings and I thought maybe I would share my experience with prednisone. I am a severe asthmatic and have been taking prednisone off and on for 17 years. In 1999, I had to have both hips replaced due to the prednisone. I have what you call a vascular necrosis of both hips and just this past November; I had to have my left shoulder replaced. I am praying that my right shoulder will hold up and be ok, but you never know.
Like most of you, I have the moon face, the weight gain, depression, memory loss, I have the start of cataracts, osteoporosis, mood swings, sometimes I can't sleep, I have a hump at the base of my neck, my mom calls it my buffalo hump, there are times that I take prednisone and all I do is pee and then there are times that I take it and all I want to do is eat. It is as if I can never get full.
Like someone wrote, it does make me feel better to know that there are people out there that know what I am going through. I hope what I have wrote helps. I guess like most of you, when I first start taking prednisone, we really did not know the extent of damage that it could do, but I also know that without it, I would not be here. So I will take the side effects any day.

I have been on prednisone, from 30mg to 10mg daily since November for polymyalgia rhuematic, fibro, and inflamatory arthritis. I can move again, but am now gaining weight, have hair falling out, and lots of nervousness. Have gone on xanax which has helped. Mood swings varies. Lots of depression because you don't know if you are really getting better or not.One day you can be at the top, next day, down at bottom. Good luck to all those on this drug. We need it.

memory loss ,depression and brain aging

my brother was on this drug when he was 15yrs. not sure exactly how long he was taking this drug - is depression a side effect that would linger. he is now 42 yrs and seems to be depressed and has been for many years. could this be because of the prednisone? or do side effect go away when you stop taking it