PredniSONE and hair loss

I've been prescribed Prednisone since April and just recently experiencing hair loss (I'm Female)

After my kidney transplant I was taking 40mg a day and only weighed slightly over 100lbs. I felt all of the same side effects: trembling, sweating, bloated tummy, paranoia, confusion, horrible acne, insatiable hunger, bad headaches. I started taking the pill and this helped a lot with acne and hair growth that started to appear. Ask your doctor if you can taper down to a more manageable dose. I'm still on prednisone and probably will be for the rest of my life, but I was firm with my doc and got it down to 7.5mg MWF. This level is much easier to deal with, and although I still have a slight "moose hump" (some kind of name) and disappearing eyebrows, my hair loss has evened out and I'm happy with what I have. Like many of you I used to have really thick hair. Things will get better, you just have to be persistent. No one should live that way, it's horrible and I don't think that doctors understand the drastic drop in quality of life that occurs.

hair loss after prednisone?

i took 60 mg of prednisone for 1 month for a kidney inflammation. i tapered down for months and finally have been off it completely for a few weeks. i did lots of natural things and really had no side effects- my face did get puffy when i was tapering, at about 30 mg but that's gone now. and my lip hair came in fuller but it's pale blonde so it wasn't too much of a bother

however, suddenly my hair is falling out like crazy. i took advair for many years (only 1/2 dose) and didn't connect it with my hair thinning until i started reading this site. i weaned myself off advair and noticed soon after that my hair loss in the shower was minimal

then i went on the prednisone and i was still fine. has anyone noticed hair loss after stopping prednisone? will this stop after a while?

Hi everyone, I have just read all thirty pages of posts to try to find some answers to my crazy reaction to prednisone. My thoughts are with you all since I have had an usually severe reaction to prednisone. I was on prednisone for 1 week in October 2008 at 60 mg/day for a sinus surgery. I am still having the following side effects at full force:

Axiety to the point I can't socialize
mood swings
hot/sweating even in freezing weather
whole body shakes
severe migraines
tooth sensitivity
muscle pains
extreme thirst (I drink almost 2 gallons/day)
hungry all the time
moon face
water retention around waist
acne
hair loss
rapid heart rate
dizziness
nightmares
night sweats
high blood pressure
high hear rate

I'm not exaggerating, my parent's can contend to that. I do have a history of having sever reactions to medication and I've had all the gland and blood tests which all check out. I never had a single one of these before the prednisone - I was a healthy 22 year old.

I was wondering if any could tell me when this hell will end - my job and well-being depends on it!

I was recently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and was hospitalized in March 2008 for pancreatitis - a reaction I had to Asacol. A week later I was discharged then went back to the hospital a day later for a severe flare-up. There, they started me on antibiotics and prednisone through an IV. When I left the hospital I started taking 40mg. The initial side affects were severe sweaty palms, racing heartbeat and dizziness. Within 2 weeks I started experiencing insomnia, acne, hair loss, extreme mood swings, depression, anxiety, and was OCD on top of the sweating to where the skin on my palms was starting to peel. It suddenly got out of control fast. I became suicidal - nearly attempted suicide twice. I was paranoid, had severe lack of concentration to the point that I felt cognitively delayed, couldn't do anything on my own, lacked emotion, and felt that I WAS crazy. Luckily my family was very supportive. During the second suicidal attempt they begged me to stay at a psychiatric hospital. I did and was there for about three days. A week later I was finally completely tapered off prednisone. Within 2 weeks I was completely normal and back to myself. My three months of hell was finally over. I tell myself I will never take prednisone ever again but the truth is it might be the only thing down the line that can save my life. I hate this drug and I don't recommend anyone take it unless it's the last option you have.

Well, let's see, I am 37, I just had my third child a year ago. When I had my first child at 19, I entered the world of Rhumatoid Arthritis, I did not take anything for it, it just seemed to go away by itself. After the second child it flared up but not long enough or hard enough to remember. After the third child at 36, wow did it get bad, so bad i couldn't get her out of her crib. That was the day I started 10mg of pred a day,,it made all the symptoms of the RA almost disappear...almost...which was a miracle,,,but it made all the side effects of the med start,,,,weight gain BIG TIME, bad moods, maybe 2 hours of sleep @ night,,,hair loss which scares me the most, blurred vision, buffalo hump looks like I'm looking for something on the floor all the time,,a wonderful neck that looks like i swallowed a couple bananas whole,,hmmmm,,,,let's seeeeee,,what else, easy bruising thankfully I like the color purple, oh, and me and mr. potty have become well friends. At first, the doc thought it was hypothyroidism because I also had 2 periods a month, but a blood test told threw that theory out. I just want to say,,,,I like that my RA is better because of it,,,but I am as of yesterday taking myself off of good ol prednisone, and sticking to a high dose of IB or Tylenol. It's just not worth it.

I took Prednisone for about 6 weeks for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome brought on by an allergic reaction to Ciprofloxacin. My main complaint on taking it was extreme hunger--not for sweets or junk, but for real food. I was also very moody and I think I must have been really mean to my husband. At the time, I thought I was being reasonable, but looking back, I can see I wasn't. It kept me awake, as well. Without the Prednisone, I might have died, because the extreme, constant itching with the Stevens-Johnson would have driven me completely nuts. My main complaint is that almost two months after quitting taking the Prednisone, I continue to have a moon face, facial swelling, and holding water elsewhere to the extent that I can hardly tie my shoes or even breathe. I would have expected that to get better by now instead of worse.

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

i 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

Hello everyone! I just want to thank each and every one of you for your postings. On more than one occasion I would come to this site because without all of you I probably would have truly lost my mind. I just want to give a brief history of what's been going on with me because if it can help one other person then it's all worth it. In 2005, I go vaccinated for chickenpox, I work in health care, never had them, and wanted to start having children since I'm 36. A month after the vaccine I broke out in a horrific rash ALL OVER and had it until April of 2008. I went to the hospital where I had the vaccine, 5 dermatologists, 3 Infectious Disease, various medical doctors and no one knew what it was. This April, I was admitted to the hospital with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia. After 3 hematologists, the last one feels the vaccine threw my immune system into a tizzy. I started with 60mg of Prednisone and eventually got down to 2.5mg. The hemolysis(body produces antibodies that attacks it own body) started again so I went to a new Hematologist and was put back up to 30mg and just got put down to 10mg today. Right now my biggest concern is the hair loss. I use to have such thick hair and now I cry almost daily because I loose so much. I am going to try the Ensure like someone posted just to see if that helps. I drink protein shakes, take Silica, multivitamins (Solgar) that have biotin, and going to try Nioxin shampoo. I have terrible mood swings and now I feel like I am going through withdrawal. It's almost like I want to take more just to feel better. I know that sounds crazy. The big fat moon face, my joints feel like they pop out, confused easily, can't sleep, and just can't really leave my house and live a normal life since April. I HATE IT!!! The only thing that helps me feel better when the daily prednisone "kicks in" is walking and exercising. I feel so bad for everyone this drug is just awful. I get angry because not one person told me what life was going to be like on prednisone. I think that is just mean. That's why these postings are so important. I know this is entirely to long but I feel so much better getting my story out there. Did everyone's hair eventually grow back. I don't know if I will have any left next month. Thank you all so much.
GG

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.

I took prednisone for 6 days ( the pack). Six the first day and five the next till day six I had one pill left. I have never experienced hair loss like this. I have a patch of hair that fell out in a circle the size of a 50 cent piece. I didn't notice it really falling out but noticed a bald spot and I freak out. I came on line to get info about this medication. This drug was ordered for me because I have severe pain in my back due to osteoarthritis, sciatica and back surgery. I was told taking this would help with the inflammation and might relieve some of the pain symptoms. Well, I think the pain would be better then the side effects that I suffer. I had loss of appetite and acne on my face. I feel dizzy and bloated. I pee all the time and seems like i visit the bathroom much more often for other reasons too. I have felt like a crazy lady and have less patience than normal. I hope that this does not last for ever. This is a small amount of the medication. I am sorry for those of you that have experienced a long period of time on this medication. I pray for you that they will find another alternative with less effects to your bodys.

I have been on prednisone for 5 1/2 months now, I was hospitalized starting in February until like the 25th of March for a bad exacerbation(sp) of my ulcerative colitis. I have taken prednisone for 9 1/2 months out of the last 17 months. I have experienced everything from growing facial hair I don't want to loosing what hair I do in a short period of time. Most of my hair loss started after I weaned off the prednisone about one week ago, or lets say it got much worse. I also while on prednisone got have got to experience the lovely side effect of pysicosis(sp) and am on meds to couter react what it has did to me. This is a evil and horrible drug, I hate it with a passion for all the harm it has did to me. I now have joint pain, restless sleepless nights, night sweats, tremors, not to mention the rapid weight gain. And to top all this off I am still not in remission, so this drug was used all in vain. Please be careful using this awful drug and if you have to use it, only use it for a few weeks at the time and not long term...the side effects can be horrendous and sometimes like in my case permanent to some extent. I do wonder about the hair loss, it has been worse this time than ever...I hope it stops soon.

I have been on prednisone since November 2007 for minimal change disease, 65 mg, in May I started to decrease the dosage (per Drs. orders) and by the time I got to 15 mg all my symptoms came back and I swelled up again. I was again put on a higher dosage of prednisone and put on Cytoxan 75 mg. I am now decreasing prednisone, back to 15 mg every other day and will be off Cytoxan next month. Hopefully this will work. Right now my main complaint of side effects is chest pressure, anything I eat or drink makes my stomach swell and I feel like I can never take a full breath. I recently had chest and abdoman xrays and an ultrasound, all negative. Does anyone have this symptom? I also have moon face, weight gain, hump on back, insomnia, headaches, digestive problems ,shakes, night sweats, vision problems, extreme tiredness and hair loss. How long before all this goes away?

My wife just met with her oerthopedic surgion about a total knee replacement and the Dr. could not understand why, at her age,she could have such advancded osteoperosi. The result of the query was that her doctor had her on Prednisone for over a year and it should only be used ,at most, for two weeks at a time. There is nothing wrong with the med if it is properly prescribed but if you are experiencing hair loss,colin symptoms and any joint problems PLEASE see another Dr.

12/13/07 I took Prednisone for 5 months and now my face has finally went back down but not the weight. I got back on it again but this time I wont be on it as long, I have already notice within 3 days of taking it I can't sleep at night. I am taken 20 mg , two in the morning a day....

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.

Hi, I was on Prednisone for a little over a month for Crohn's disease. I had minor side effects while taking it: couldn't sleep, no patience, dehydrated, dry eyes. It is the side effects from AFTER stopping prednisone that concern me. I''ve been off Prednisone for 3 weeks and I think I am losing my hair and getting acne-that I didn't have before or during taking Prednisone. Anyone experience side effects that started after stopping the med?

Severe hair loss/thinning. I've been on a low dose of prednisone for 11 years. My dose varies from 5/10 depending on the flare up. Before prednisoe, I had A LOT hair on my head.... thick, curly,healthy, shiny hair. I have about half the hair left on my head that I had before. It's now dry, brittle, lifeless, and damages very easy. It's hard to get any length on hair, because as it grows, it's breaks off...it's quite thin and has been ruined by prednisone.

I've had crohns for about 10 years. My last flareup was in December of 2006. I was on prednisone for 2 1/2 months. Since I've stopped the meds, my hair has started to fall out. It's been falling out now for two months and I'm afraid it will all fall out. I have yet to read anything about hair loss as a side effect of prednisone. What is going on?

I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus in 2001 and have been on Prednisone since then! I started on 60 mg and am now going off of the drug.

I gained about 60 pounds, I have a classic moon face, buffalo hum (on neck), and the bloaty belly--and I hardly eat. I went from being in shape and running three miles a day to barely being able to get off the couch! Here are some of my other side effects;

*sleep issues
*gum/teeth are more frail
* severe eye problems (blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, depth perception problems)
* excessive hair in places I don't want and hair loss in the places I want to keep it on!
* mood swings
* inability to concentrate for long periods of time
excessive fatigue

My advice on this drug--if you can--avoid it. If not--be proactive in getting your doctor to get you off of it as soon as possible at a slow rate.

I am now on 5 mg being tapered off permanently! Thank God!

Since May 1st, I was put on Prednisone for extreme physical inmobility. My first doctor (in emergency room of hospital)diagnosed me as having Polymyalgia Rheumatica. However, my specialist is still unsure as all test results have not come back. I was on a heavier dosage of prednisone and tapered off for 1 week when symptom reoccured. My specialist has me down to 2 pills a day and mobility has resumed. During this time, I have experienced skin rashes, tremendous hair loss, cramping in legs, pain in right arm, joint pains and stiffness. I look like I am pregnant at 68 yrs. old. What's with the stomach bloating? I hate the taste of the pills, the nervousness it creates. Can arthritis be this painful to the point I can't move at all? . As a woman... and vain....It makes me want to cry at the hair loss I go through every day.
There maybe more health issues with me than I am unware of at this moment. Is taking Prednisone a commonly prescribed medication for arthritis or other related issues?
There should be another drug with less side effects.

I have been on 60 mg of Prednisone since Oct. for FOcal Segmental Glomuruli Sclerosis. I think Ihave had every side effect you can imagine. I have gained over 50 lbs, I cannot sleep, I have steroid induced - insulin dependent - diabetes, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, hair loss, strech marks on my stomach, legs and under arms. I hae horrible mood swings, and joint pain. And to top it all off - the disease I was trying to fight is still here and all this seems as if it were for nothing. I am finally being slowly backed down off the steroids - but my dr. says it will be May before I am completly off.

I started taking prednisone in September at 90 mgs a day and I gained 30 lbs in three weeks and was hospitalized for five days. The weight, which was all fluid, came off leaving nice stretch marks on my stomach and my dose was reduced to 50 mg a day. I'm now taking 30 mg a day and will be down to 20mg/day in 9 days. As you can tell, i'm counting the days until I no longer have to take this stuff. My side effects include hair loss (legs), hair gain (face), swollen face, legs & feet, headaches, muscle pain/weakness, increased appetite, hand tremor, rapid heatbeat/pulse, and acne. I think that's everything. That's enough. I use to suffer from insominia but my doctor told me to take my prednisone in the morning rather than the evening and it seems to be helping.

To guest 14703,

When it comes to psychological and emotional matters, it is difficult to come up with one absolute answer. The steroid's psychological side-effects can take a toll on anyone at any time, any dose or any stage. The way people deal with the side-effects depends a great deal on a person's mental history, personality traits and inner strength.
For me, although I was taking a high dose of 100 mg a day for 3 months and so on for 6 months, I never became manic, schizophrenic or had suicidal thoughts. However, I did become a little depressed due to things I had no control over, like the abrupt weight-gain, the ugly triple chin, hunched-back, hair-loss, lack of sleep or concentration, aches in my muscles and stomach, lack of support or understanding from my partner (the list is endless!).
The physical as well as the emotional changes go together hand in hand. All I wanted to do was to get off the horrible drug and be drug free. One good thing out of this nightmare was that I learned to take better care of body, mind and soul.

Gypsi

Hello everyone and let me say I am SO GLAD I found this site. It is good to read what people who've gotten off the Pred. have to say and that hopefully someday I will maybe be somewhat the person I once was. It's been really hard feeling like I will never be the same again and even forgetting what I was like before! I've been on Pred. since July, started at 40 for a month then had to go up to 60 for like 5-6 weeks during which time I totally had my worst effects. This has been for a pseudo-tumor in the apex of my right eye which causes double-vision due to interfering with the movement of the eye. At my worst I had terrible insomnia, moon face, dowagers hump, extremely swollen legs feet and joints, constant pain, and general paranoia and anger and frustration. I've been decreasing since then and am now down to 5mg/day, but even though the feet/leg swelling is better and the dowagers hump is not as bad, it is still there plus moon face and acne continue, plus psychological effects just seem to get worse and worse even though the dose is down. Another thing which just started is I AM LOSING MY HAIR. It is coming out in clumps every day and my Dr. says I won't be all the way off Pred. till the end of January and I am afraid I won't have any hair at all left by then! (Except the dang hair on my face which is extra thick and dark compared to "before.") I have to say it is just the worst when you are already ill and then the "medicine" you have to take makes you feel like a joke of yourself in such a very public way!!! Anyways, just wanted to add the thing about the hair loss since I can't find it mentioned anywhere. Thanks again for your words of encouragement, looks like I won't be all the way better till next fall but at least that's something to hang onto in having some belief that these things are not permanent!

Emily

I have alopecia universal which is total hair loss. A doctor put me on presidone 40 mil a day for 8 months. My hair came back i could not believe what a miracle drug it was, but then the side affects started and 2 years later my right hip clapsed and i need a total hip replacement. I was only 27 years old with a year old son. This is just to let you know don't take that drug to grow hair its not worth it. That was a stupid thing for me to do. The doctor told me that happened because I took presidone with a healthy body. Now I am 40 years old still trying to get my hair back but my husband and family love me for what I am.
Take care everyone

Hi i had been on Predisone since Jan and it has been a total nightmare. It was given as to help with Pulmonary Sarcoidosis that i have. I have suffered from numerous side effects
- night sweats
- frequent urination
- acne breakout
- upset stomach
- body cramps and muscle weakness
- hair loss
- mood swings
- weight gain almost 50 lbs
- lack of sleep
I have now been off of the Predisone for 15 day and is still dealing with a few sides affects and withdrawl effects....i have notices...since the i have a very bad trembling affect to my hands

I have been on prednisone since end of February/05. 50 mg for a few months then down eventually to 20, had to go back up to 30, symptoms all came back.muscle weakness , and since I already have that with Dermatomyositis, it was a little confusing if it was helping at all.

Weight gain , moderate, but definite swelling of the face. Acid reflux a problem, hair loss.

A little discouraging, but necessary. I am now at 15 mg and going down to go off. Plaquenil has been prescribed and I have been on that for 2 months.Not really seeing improvement but have to get off Prednisone.Far too scary! Hopefully I am able to stay off it! I have always been a relatively healthy woman and I want my life back!

i am also a diabetic,I was given prednisone for itp started at 100 mg am now at present weaned down to 5 mgs every day still have 3 months on this drug the devil created, moon face bloating, hair loss depresson, anxiety etc

I'm 33 years old. I'm starting to take Prednisone since 5 years ago. My side effects were :- moonface , weight gain , high blood pressure, skin rashes, dry skin , hair loss .....

God please help me to reduce the dosage ....

I was put on Prednisone to reduce an Orbital Tumor. I was on it for 3 months with varying doses. I was hopitalized and they had given it to me through an IV. Currently I've been off of it for 2 months. It worked, but not without lasting side effects. At first I had SEVERE night sweats, I'd wake up in the middle of the night to change my PJs, pillow & sheets. I gained about 15 lbs, I was mean & short-tempered, I had a short attention span, I lost muscle mass, I felt shakey and jittery, I used to sleep well at night and still to this day I have a hard time sleeping. My current problem is SEVERE hair loss due to this medicine. I'm going to see a Dermatologist tomorrow to see if there is any meds that can reverse this. Although I don't like these side effects, I think it helped me when ALL my doctors said I should have surgery, the Prednisone worked enough that I didn't have to. However, there is no guaruntee that it wont come back....then I'll be back on this life altering medicine.
Good Luck to everyone out there!!

I have been taking prednisone for a little more than 14 months for neurosarcoidosis: first round - 60mg for two weeks, 40mg for two weeks, 20mg for two weeks. Then I experienced a severe relapse. my doctor increase the dosage back to 60mg for about 2 months, then to 40mg for 2 months, then to 20mg for about 3 months, then reduced by 1mg a week to 10mg, then maintianed for three months. I am now taking 30mg every other day. I have experienced the following side effects: weight gain (30 pounds in 3 months, a size 6 to a size 14), abdomen swelling, right much hair loss, ugly mood swings, mild depression, increase urgency and frequency of urination, headaches, back pain in kidney area, sleep loss (at beginning and now at last dosage change), night sweats (at beginning), severe moon face, slight hearing loss, fatigue, and easy brusing. The weight gain slowed down once I reach the 20mg mark. I have reduced the abdomen swelling and reduced some of the weight. I still have a slight moon face. I believe out of all the side effects, the most hard to deal with has been the hair loss and the weight gain. These two areas are pretty important to a woman. Eventhough, this medication has subsided the symptoms from the illness, they have also caused some harsh responses. My family (husband and 8 yr old son) have also had to deal with the side effects. I wondered there got to be a better drug, with less side effects. And as of right now, we don't know the long term effects on other organs of the body, what other illnesses this drug could lead to. Please email back any responses.

I experience insomnia, fatigue, snoring due to increased neck fat, moon face, painful abdominal bloating, 10 lb weight gain, increasing blurred vision, purple rash on stomach, thin skin and easy brusing,hair loss, facial hair growth, night and day sweating. I started to decrease prednisone 2 1/2 mgs. per week alternate days in early December. Everything was going well and I could see slow improvement in my condition until mid February. Since then I have had more weakness in my hands, arms legs, and increased blurred vision. Since I may have to be on a low? dose of prednisone for a long time I have some questions.
1. How low a dose is necessary for side effects to diminish?
2. Does all your hair fall out to necessitate a wig? When does it start to grow back.
3. Does the weight go back to normal without dieting? Does your shape go back to pre prednisone?
4. Will the weakness, control, and pre prednisone vision come back to allow normal functioning?

I have been on prednisone taper for about five months, starting at 40 mg for six weeks, and then tapering to 30 mg for six weeks, 20 for six weeks, and I am now down to 15 mg for macrodantin induced pulmonary fibrosis. I have had weight gain, bloating moon face, muscle cramping, hair loss, and mood swings. I will be glad to get off this drug, although it has helped me a lot. I also have hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and it does not help much for that. I will just have to move out of the area because I am very allergic to something and cannot find out what it is. The water retention and the moof face are the hardest to take. I also have had back pain since being on this, and I don't know for sure this is a side effect or not. I have heard of others who have had this and when they stopped the prednisone, their back pain went away. I will let you know when I am off in April.

mood swings!! weight gain, weakness, appetite increase, headaches, hair loss and gain, tiredness