PredniSONE and good luck

I am 50, pretty healthy, but have had a new condition of inflamed and severely painful joints and muscles limiting activity. Doc put me on 60 mg prednisone for 3 days, then 40 mg 3 days and 20 mg 3 days. First day was ok. Since then I have been a raving lunatic! I read the post about the person chasing their cat around and had to laugh and relate. I flipped off the neighbors workers because they were backing up a truck and it was noisy! It is all I can do to keep myself in check. I have canceled/rescheduled all unnecessary appointments until next week when I am finished. I "sleep" about 3 hours a night. Last night I peed the bed. I eat constantly. I have to work and concentrate (teach college) and that is so hard. I imagine my students must think I am on meth. I can't take it any more. I have 1 day left and I am not going to take the last one. I hope that this regimen will have calmed down the inflammation and if it recurs I will seek alternatives. AM NEVER going back to prednisone unless it is life or death situation.
Good luck to all those out there who have to take it long-term. Bless your hearts.

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

I was on prednisone for 1 year for chronic pericarditis, finally weaned off and no problem with my heart since. It now been 5 month and I now have chronic shoulder and foot pain, I've read that it can take up to a year for your body to adjust and produce the correct levels of cortisone, I'm taking voltaren when the pain is too much, I feel like a 75 year old in the morning and I'm only 48. I feel so sorry for everyone who has had issues as well.

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

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

I will be on prednisone for the rest of my life so my Pulmonologist says. I have an auto-immune disorder called allergic broncho pulmonary aspergillosis. I thought I was alone until I read all your messages when it comes to leg, and joint pain. My doctor acts as if I am crazy, and that it is not a side effect of the medication I am taking. It has gotten worse the longer I have been on the drug. I rarely sleep, and I have an appointment with him tomorrow. If anyone can suggest something that helped them I would love to hear it. I have tried everything, and the only relief is when I take pain medicine which I do not want to be on forever.

Was on Prednisone for 11 days for an injury to my neck. I knew nothing about the drug except what my doctor told me that it would reduce inflammation in my neck and help with pain.

Well, it did nothing for the injury and pain in my neck. BUT.... I had HORRIBLE menstrual cramps and got my period 8 days early. I've had my period for 9 days now AND terrible pain in my upper left leg. I thought the pain was related to my leg and as the days went by I realized it was in my left hip! It's so bad I can't lift my leg without extreme pain. I KNOW IT'S FROM this awful drug.

I've been off of it for 4 days and the pain is still with me. I called my family dr. and was told Prednisone doesn't do that. BULL!! The paperwork I got with it from the pharmacy show "Changes in menstrual periods" "muscle/joint pain" "bone pain".

I wish I knew this BEFORE I ever took it.

Does anyone know if these symptoms and problems will go away after stopping it? I called the pharmacy and was told it will take 2-3 weeks for it to get out of my system!!

Has anyone had problems that eventually went away after stopping the drug?

Thanks and I hope everyone else is okay soon! This drug should be off the market. I received no help for my neck pain at all!!

I have been on various doses of prednisone on and off for 9 years for a kidney disease. The doses have varied from 70mg to 5mg. I have just about had enough. I cannot describe how debilitating this drug is. Every side effect on here I think I have had except excessive energy. Here is a small list:
Moon Face
Buffalo Hump
shaking like Parkinson
body aches
EXTREME weakness
heart palpitations constantly
joint pain
something would go on with my knees in the morning....it felt like something was boiling. It would be my guess as to what the "Bends" must feel like....it feels like someone is stabbing you in the knees with a knife.
Sleeping at least 16 hours a day
I could barely make everyday at work. It was so miserable to not be able to wake up, I would push myself in 15 minute increments....
You cannot know what it is like to be bed ridden for weeks and to have no doctor understand or believe what is happening to you. You just seem fat and lazy.

I am emotionally scarred by this medicine, there is not a day that goes by that I'm not terrified of having to take a large dose of this again. I just can't.
There is no quality of life at all. You can't do anything.
On top of that, there is no one to talk to, not even a doctor that understands what you are going through.
God help anyone that has to go through this. I understand.

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

They think that I have either crohns or ulcerative colitis. I have tried antibiotics, lialda, mesalamine enemas, with no improvement. After another colonoscopy they put me on prednisone at 40mgs, 30, 20, 10, then 5 decreasing weekly. Well the first week was okay. I had some of the side affects, insomnia, extreme hunger, and crazy. I could deal with that. But then when I decreased down to 30mg, my body flipped. I awoke from the middle of the night with burning pain in the knees. So bad I took 4 ibuprofen and threw myself in the tub with epsom salt. I thought okay that was weird because I have never had a joint pain in my life. I saw the gastroenterologist that day bc I was still having abdominal pain. He totally blew off the knee pain and said he had no idea what that was. I thought okay maybe it will go away. A few days went by and nothing. 3 days later and I awoke one morning crying in pain because of my legs. I called the on call doctor who also said he had no idea and go to the er. So I went crying hysterically for 4 hours. Even after 3 rounds of dilaudid I was still in pain. They suggested a Rheumatologist. So I went to one a week later who said I was going through steroid withdrawals. And there is nothing we can do but treat the symptoms of pain. I am now down to 10mgs have been out of work for 2 weeks and am absolutely miserable with severe leg pain, muscle weakness and fatigue. He also adjusted the drop down increments to 5 instead of 10. Anyway I will never take this drug again and I think they rushed to this one. Just wanted to share. I am glad I found this website because I went from a fully functioning physically fit 28 year old to a crippled crying crazy person. I think I was scaring my husband, honestly, until we both read some of your postings which were similar.

my boyfriend has been on prednisone for 4 years and he is terribly snappy and aggravated all the time and short tempered and does not think that he is... i love him so i deal with it but its getting harder because he dosnt feel this is correct every time i ask him something he bites my head off and almost everything i do irritates him gets on his nerves the mood swings are out of this world sometimes and he totally thinks im being a lala in his words...will someone respond to this so i can show him and he will know im not just saying these things
all this

I suffer from gout... this was the first time I took Prednisone, and, in terms of foot swelling / pain , it worked well.

However... 20-30 minutes after taking 20mg of prednisone, I experienced eye problems. I began seeing "floaters." I experienced significant eye "pressure?" for 24 hours. 48 hours later the pain went away. It's difficult to explain. I'm not a doctor. My eyes felt "big." "Intra-ocular eye pressure" might be the correct term.

I don't know how to explain it... it really messed with my eyes. Neither my doctor nor my pharmacist could confirm this as a side effect.

Has anyone experienced this? Thank you.

OMG...I can't stand it anymore!! My legs are killing me!!...I am almost weaned off of it...tomorrow I take one 10 mg pill....and then the next day, I take 5 mg....and I'm done. Thank God!! I pray that I have no bad side effects from weaning off of it. I worry that I won't be able to breath again. Then what??...I will not take prednisone ever again!!...I think I would rather die then live on this horrible drug....If only I knew what it was before I started taking it.

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!!!

A few years back I severely injured my back. As part of my treatment my doctor gave me prednisone. My joints, especially my knees hurt beyond belief. I even had go to my parents house because I couldn't move, it hurt too much. I called my doctor and you know what he told me?!?! it was all in my head.He accused me of trying to get pain pills from him. The joint pain got so bad that I had to be hospitalized. You know what they told me at the hospital. I was having a allergic reaction to prednisone. No S***t!??! anyway, since that time I have not taken prednisone. My concern now is that my doctor wants me to get a cortisone injection. . . I am scared I would get the same reaction. from the research I have done so far, it looks like it is from the same family. Does anybody know?

Thanks
B.

Hi...Am 33 years and had been on prednisone for 4 months till about a month ago. It was in June last year that I was down with Viral hepatitis along with pyelonephritis. I was eventually diagnosed with Autoimmune hepatitis and therefore administered this drug with an high of 40mg for two and gradually tapered subsequently.
Two months of medicines and I had this pain in my thighs especially when I had to get up after lying sedentary. After 1.5 months subsequently the pain worsened to now include all my joints including the leg muscles. Things have really become more painful now. The gastroentorologist who put me on this drug has advised me to see a rheumatologist. Now I am torn between trying to understand whether this is a part of my treatment or my ailment (rheumatoid arthritis is also an auto immune disorder) and only praying that it is a part of the treatment.
The Doctor's have not been clear on how long this pain will persist. Regular walking, getting up, getting out of the car, turning the cap of a bottle is painful and getting worse with my ankles and knees swelling.
The moon face, the hump, the acne are all ebbing. However this pain is killing. Anybody has any idea how long the pain will last?
Thank you and best wishes to you.

I have polymyalgia and the rheumatologist put me on 15 mg prednisone a day for one month then 12 1/2 mg 2 weeks then 10 for two weeks and now 7 1/2 for a month then down to 5 mg next month til next doctor visit. The only side effect I feel I am experiencing is not being able to loss weight. I have not gained any in the 3 month on the meds, but have been really watching my weight and can't seem to lose any. I do at times get a hot flash, not at night but in the daytime, but compared to the pain and stiffness from the polymyalgia.. I'm a happy camper. Before I couldn't get in or out of the tub or car the pain was so bad! Mornings were unbearable. I am 150 pound 54 year old female.
Does anyone else feel good about this drug and have had success with it. My doctor wants me off it in a year.

I was diagnosed with SLE (lupus) when I was 14, I'm 21 now, and I've had to be on prednisone all this while. The dosages alternate between 60mg (the highest) and 2.5mg (the lowest), I just went for a routine check up today and found out that my protein level in my urine is at an all time high. So the doctor is pushing me back up to 30mg of prednisone. Its 2 am, and I am sitting in bed crying because I don't want to have to go through everything again; the weight gain, the moon-face, everything. I know I may sound shallow, because ultimately, the medicine is keeping me alive, but the side effects are terrible. Very few people understand that its not fat that you're gaining, and the remarks that I know I am going to get are enough to drive me insane.Is there anyway the water retention or the weight gain can be stopped or decreased?

hey everyone...reading every post makes me even more scared now. I was diagnosed with Bells Palsy on Jan. 13th. My doctor prescribed me prednisone and valtrex. 5 days, twice a day, 20 mgs. On the 18th i was finished with the pills. Very happy because the bells palsy went away. On my birthday, January 23rd. I washed my faced with Biore skin cleanser (which ive used for years) and it felt like as if my face was peeling off as i was washing it! I got so scared when i rinsed my face i actually felt my skin turning to leather. I got out of the shower and my face was round and beet red and my eyes were puffy and face was very very dry...The next day i woke up and my face was worse. I called my doctor and he told me go straight to the emergency room that i was having an allergic reaction to a skin chemical and get treated for an allergic reaction. I did just that. The hospital gave me another dose of prednisone. 60mgs the first day then again the same dosage that my other doctor prescribed me. Im scared to death now to take this pill. Yeah, my face went down and is not beet red anymore but what's going to happen next week once i come off??? i don't want to go against what the hospital gave me, but as im reading these posts, im up at 2:55 am and not sleeping..! help!

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

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

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

I am a 33 yr old male with Cystic Fibrosis. I started prednisone in 2006 and as of 2009 i have never been off of it.This drug has destroyed my body. I was under weight when i started, at 130 lbs. I am 5'9'' so i admit that was thin,but know i am at 170 lbs. This has had an effect on my relationship with my girlfriend since i met here when i started taking it. It may actually help me breathe better,but I am not sure. I have decided to stop it myself. I will do so slowly,but i am sick of the way i look and feel. This may sound silly to some but i just hate being in this state. I look like a pregnant woman playing a trumpet. I wonder how long it will take me to look like me again? Good luck to all of you. BK.

I was placed on Pred. in November for vasculitis. I was given 20mg for about 7 days, then cortisone for several days, with great results. Then the vasculitis came back, to nip it in the bud, the doctor gave me 10 mg of Pred. which I took for 5 days, no step down. Now I have a very irritated tongue... red, inflamed, hard to eat, burns constantly. This is the only new med I have taken in months, so it has to be the Pred.

I got a large dose. I think 120 mg. in a shot. I had strep throat and had severe tonsil swelling and the uvula was enlarged at least three times the normal size. I'm concerned now as to what to do next. I have a prescription for a week where I wean down the dose to I believe, 80 mg for three days, then to 40 for three or two days (I'm not sure cause I didn't get the prescription picked up yet. I just am remembering what the doctor said. ) I'm so concerned that it'll mess me up! The dosage continues to one pill for so many days and then to a half. The swelling has subsided substantially, and it really helped. I don't have any other symptoms as yet. Maybe a sour stomach. I'm afraid of the symptoms and any weight gain.

My 7 year old female Siberian Husky, Niceah is suffering with her second serious flare-up of IBD. She was taking 20 mgs. of prednisone every 12 hours for several days. We are now down to 12 mgs. daily and working towards 12mgs. every other day. She is lethargic and her body and belly have swollen frightfully to the point where it is difficult for her to lie down without grunting and sighing. She pants heavily. She drinks and eats constantly. Her nose is dry. Her tummy grumbles all day and night. I have been boiling chicken breast and mixing it with sweet potato and Enzymes & Probiotics. I am currently working with a holistic advisor concerning Niceah's diet once she has weened off the prednisone. The side effects of this drug are frightening and I am so worried that something more permanent and damaging will occur. Has anybody experienced this?? If so, I would appreciate any advise. Robin. copher370@aol.com

I too have eosinophilia pneumonia and have been on Prednisone for over two years. Doctor told me he had not seen a case of EP since the 1980s but as of last week he has now had five cases of the disease with no explanation as to why. After determining my condition was not parasitic he started me out on 60mg and then I tried to wean myself by dropping 5 mg every two weeks but to no avail. This continued for at least 18 to 24 months until I decided I would try to drop by 2-1/2 mg every four weeks and am now down to, as of today, 5 mg. Walked four miles this afternoon and did experience some wheezing but didn't feel like my lungs were going to explode so I consider this success. Have this wired moon face that makes me look like someone I don't even know but have been pretty lucky to maintain a constant weight with a starvation diet. Am hoping I am able to continue at the 5mg and lose some of these terrible side effects but don't know how long it may take. Last time I was at the doctor's office and in a desperate state, he prescribed (he continues to research all options and some alternative methods to provide relief) Stromectol tablets which is used to treat parasites but is the active ingredient in the treatment of heartworms in animals. Once I determined the side effects did not outweight the potential benefits I took the one dose treatment and maybe, just maybe, it is helping. Only time will tell. Can anyone tell me if the length of time on the treatment is a determining factor for how long the moon face and other symptoms will last.

Hang in there and hopefully we can help each other through.

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

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

I 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.

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2003, have been treated with Asacol ever since, and was in remission for nearly 5 years. I flared in December of 2007, and had my first experience with prednisone; I was on 40 mg/day for nearly 6 months. I gained 35 pounds, got the moon face, double-chin, tummy fat, muscle aches, extreme mood swings, excruciating headaches, night sweats, and UNCONTROLLABLE hunger. I, too, noticed the sensitive teeth, and now I feel like my enamel is really thin...almost see-through. Anyway, I've been off prednisone for about 5 months. The moon face went away for the most part, but my cheeks still seem a little chubbier than before, and my double-chin is a lot smaller, but still there. I've lost about half the weight, but only after joining weight watchers and working out 6 days a week. I feel like I can't lose any more weight to save my life. Does anyone have any suggestions? I never struggled with weight prior to taking this stupid drug. I'd appreciate any input.

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

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

Hi everyone well yesterday i started to to take Prednisone 2 hour later my heart is racing along with high blood pressure , so ill try to calm my self down blood pressure kind off got back to normal but heart still beating rapid, today i woke up my blood pressure was fine but my heart still pounding do ya know how long it t takes for my heart to go back to normal , and im sorry to hear about everybodys different reactions to this stupid pill hope everybody gets better.

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

eat avocados to help with cramps. No one tells u that prednisone depletes potassium. Better avocados than banana because prednisone also raises your blood sugar.

My 12 year old son has been on 60 mg of Prednisone for two weeks now. His side effects have not been bad at all up to this point. He's gained about 6 pounds. His brain is unusually active right after taking the drug, and this effects lasts a few hours. He's always been a wildly creative kid but prednisone seems to intensify is creativity and the productivity of his brain. He has Tourette Syndrome and his tics waned overnight after beginning the meds so that is a big bonus if prednisone is responsible for that. He has always been an insomniac since he was a baby but prednisone makes him sleepy, so sleepy he takes naps during the day and goes to bed early, sleeping soundly all night, so soundly he had an accident and wet his bed last night. His head sweats when he sleeps. He has infrequent periods of mild irritability. His appetite has increased but not unnaturally so. Seems like he finally has a sustained healthy appetite. He goes to 45 mg for two weeks tomorrow so I'm interested to see what new side effects this brings on. No stomach problems despite taking this along with very high doses of antibiotic. Maybe the prevacid he takes with Lactobacillus is helping with that and the fact that he takes his meds with small meals or lots of fluid.

I have Crohns and had a flare up so I'm back on 40mg of Prednisone. I've been on 40mg now for 3 weeks and I start to tapper off in another 3 weeks. Well every time I start the prednisone again I get new side effects. This time, my gum are bleeding all the time and the pain in my knees are horrible! I still get the regular side effects, ie: Mood swings, joint pain, sleeplessness, sweating, swelling of my legs and hands, wanting to eat everything under the sun, moon face and my hair falls out! I wish the drug manufactures could develop a drug that would not be so hard on our bodies. I have to struggle with the pros and cons with every flare up. Do I want the weight gain, mood swings and hair loss or do I want to look good and be very sick! I'm 37 and was 16 when I found out I had Crohns.

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

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

My daughter is 12 and just started taking Prednisone 5 days ago (40mg - she weighs 105lbs) .. I've been watching her salt intake - tonight she looks a little pale to me - is that a side effect? has anyone else experienced that? She has Ulcerative colitis (2 years this month) - started w/asacol, colazol, 6mp (gave her pancreatits) now is on methotrexate since Nov '07 - was put on prednisone because of a recent flare - to me none of these medications have put her into remisson - always goes 3-5 times a day - sometimes blood - sometimes not - don't know if prednisone will help - so afraid of the side effects -
Dr. said if it doesn't - Remicade will be the next option - after that surgery - only thing - my daughter has never complained of pain - except when she was on 6mp -
sorry for babbling - just so scared...

Prescribed Prednisol & Predsol June 2007 for acute ulcerative colitis. Three months, oral and rectal, got it under control.September 07 got large fluid appearances both knees which took two weeks to subside completely.
Soon after & whilst playing golf got stabbing pain left Achilles. Repaired by op. Thereafter commenced getting aches in muscles and joints and generally across entire body structure. Extreme pain in rt hip, imaged and shown as necrosis of femur joint. April 08 rt hip joint replaced. Continual muscular pain overnight which abates with movement during day causes sleep deprivation and consequential lethargy.
Most interested in proven supplements and/or prescription antidote!

I have now tapered to 10mg prednisone every other day and will end 75mg Cytoxan Aug 19th. Just went to the Dr. and she said protein is back in urine (bad) but also rising in blood. (good) I can continue to taper prednisone but will have to have another 24 hr urine speciman to determine wether I have to go on cyclosporine. Was originally diagnosed with Minimal Change Disease, but now she thinks it could be another kidney disease. Has anyone had successful tapering with the addition of cyclosporine? Does the urine protein ever get higher? What about side effects of cyclosporine.

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

After a year of battling effects from an eye injury, an optho-neurologist finally came to the conclusion that I had orbital inflammatory psuedo tumor. I was told to take 60 mg immediately and then take 2-40mg doses (AM and early afternoon). On Friday, July 18th I took 60 mg at 6:30 p.m. and was so nauseous and barely slept. That next day I took 40mg in the morning and another 40mg around 2:30 p.m.. Although I had been, throughout the year, experiencing pain in my left eye and cheek..what I experienced by 4:00p.m. that next day was more severe than ever. I started having shooting pain and a headache so excruciating that I was in tears. (I had two children naturally).
By 10:30 I had several hours of this pain when the worst happened. The left side of my face drooped and I had difficulty speaking. By the time I got to the hospital I could not move my left arm and left leg. After five days in the hospital and every test imaginable (cat scan, MRI, EKG, etc) they ruled out all stroke, MS and anything else that would show up on these tests. During the hospital stay (although they did not cite prednisone for this event), they started tapering me off. I went from 80 to 50 in one of these days and thought I would DIE. There was no pain reliever/narcotic strong enough to take away the headache. I spent ten days tapering and prayed every day for the end. Sweating, no sleep, crying and did I mention...my headache has still NOT gone away. I have a couple of hours here and there without this pain but for the most part I have been in this hell even after my taper. The clincher is that NO ONE at the hospital or afterwards would admit that this was a side effect but they also could not provide a response. It took three weeks for me to work my way back to walking and using the left side of my body. Has anyone heard of this before? Good luck to all of you, it has meant a lot to read your comments.

I have been diagnosed with Ulceritive Colitis as well. I am about to be put on 30mg of prednisone and am terrified of these effects. I've gathered a lot of useful information from this forum and am thankful for that. Imuran, azothioprine, and remecade seem to be the most successful drugs as alternatives to prednisone. I'll ask my doctor about all three and hopefully I can avoid the prednisone. I'll be sure to post my results soon.

Thank you so much for your website. I cannot begin to tell you what this drug has done to ruin my life.

I had been on it for over 4 years on a misdiagnoses (Never should have been on it) and was told
“It was no worse than Tylenol.” Ok I thought as I was suffering from a few swollen joints every
now and then but was fine otherwise.

Then one day I was working and someone noticed my face was swelling. I looked in the mirror and
low and behold my face was rubbing my glasses. I asked my doctor and he said “it will go away soon.”
I am very athletic so I continued to run and work out as I slowly went from a 30” waist to a 50” inch waist!!
People at my office thought I was on a food binge like no other. My wife was stunned on how fast this
happened as was my family. Now the problem had gotten much worse. Constant body aches and swollen ankles.
After a year I went from jogging, to walking, to using a cane to using a walker…how sad my family felt
for me and no friends insight. my company then laid me off as I used the walls as a walker and simply could
“perform up to par.”

Next came the extremely high sugar, blood pressure, Glaucoma and I suddenly noticed I was having problems
seeing. Went to the eye doctor and was told I was getting cataracts but it would take a couple of years to form.
90 days later I could not drive and could barely see in both eyes, now I was almost blind.
Now 80lbs overweight almost blind with Glaucoma, high blood pressure, diabetes and cataracts. not to mention severe depression and mood swings that were unbearable, and yes still using a walker from severe muscle pain.

Well the time came where I lost my health insurance and was unemployed. I was out of Prednisone
one day and called my doctor. He said come in for $320.00. I said I didn’t have it and pleaded for them to call
in a 30 day supply, I was told that they “weren’t a charity” and “go to the emergency room” click!! My wonderful
doc was gone. Well I went to the emergency room the next day and was told “they don’t give refills.” I had been
off prednisone for a day and as some people know if you stop that high of dose for that long you may die from
adrenal crisis. So I stood in the emergency room for 12 hours waiting to go into this crisis! Finally a nurse convinced
a doctor to see me for 30 seconds, gave me a refill and a list of welfare clinics and booted me out the door. They
hated my appearance and hated me for no cash.

One day I decided to end this nonsense and tread everything I could from sources I hadn’t read that were very old
regarding what was wrong with me. I went on self imposed diet of 1000 calories a day and lost 60 lbs…yes!!
I stated weaning from the Prednisone and took a ton of supplements I had read about. I got down to 7.5mg every
other day. Yes, suffering tremendous total body aches, severe mood swings, dizziness, severe hunger and
confusion but I plowed though. By the way I don’t recommend this but I couldn’t get a refill for a prescription from anyone
because I ‘had made to much money.” So I turned to the Internet for everything. I bought 500 5mgs for $23.00 screw the doctors I don’t need their prescriptions. I am now totally off for 6 weeks I do have some bad stiffness, muscle aches and mood swings but after 4 years of pure hell I am truly thankful to be off this dangerous drug, it ruined my life.

So I went to a new Doctor finally and my diagnoses was a food allergy and simply had a small stint of bursitis a total mis- diagnoses from my first Doctor! Doctors aren’t gods so take it from me trust yourself first and do your research.

My prayers to all who suffer from this drug. Damn the incompetent doctors who wrongly prescribe it!

Dan

PS Does anyone know how long these severe body aches last after completely stopping. Its been 6 weeks and its just a little better. My doctor told me to fight it out or get back on pred. NO WAY!!

Does anyone have the side effect of reduced sensation of smell and taste?

I just got off of 7 days of 20 mg. Prednisone twice a day for severe poison ivy. I've always had the reducing dosages before but went to a new young doctor who said this was better. I experienced extreme insomnia for several nights. Last night I slept better, but today I'm feeling dizzy and have slight soreness in my back and neck. I'm really hoping this all clears up soon since my son is getting married in 12 days and I don't want to be dizzy and moon-faced at the wedding.

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

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

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

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

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

Good luck, y'all!

Male, 43 yrs old, diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 18 years ago. Have taken Prednisone in 1996, 2001 and 2008 to control the symptoms from UC. Each time started with around 40mg per day, tapering down to 2.5mg per day, usually over a 6 to 12 week time period. Bottom line, it can be a life-saving drug for whatever it is prescribed for, but it has some SERIOUS side effects. For me, severe anxiety, nausea, headaches, and weight loss. You can be prescribed an anti-anxiety medicine like Xanax (as I am), but Xanax also has its own nasty side effects. (Namely addiction if you aren't careful.) You definitely don't want to go off Prednisone without "tapering down" on the dosage as your body will NOT be able to handle it. Currently, having just stopped my most recent dosage of it a week ago, I am still suffering from anxiety and sleeplessness (stopped taking Xanax too.) Lord willing, my body will be back to "normal" within the next few weeks, which is generally how long it takes for me,