PredniSONE and headaches

I was prescribed a 6 day pack of 4mg Methylprednisolone (Medrol) at the ER for an allergic reaction I was having to a gel that I used on my sking. The Medrol worked great at stopping the allergic reaction. My swelling, pain, and rash began to rapidly clear up. Unfortunately I began to have many side effects. On day 5 I was unable to get out of bed I was so tired and dizzy. I had a headache and mental confusion and unclear thinking. I called my primary care provider on a Sunday to ask if it is okay to stop taking the steroid. She said it was and that it was unlikely the medrol was causing my symptoms. She told me I had a virus. I told her the symptoms I was having were listed as side effects on the drug info sheet but she did not believe me. IA few days later I made an appointment to see a doctor, not the same one who took my phone call. This doctor said all of my symptoms were from the Medrol. She knew because of personal experience she saw in her mother who was also taking steroids. She told me medrol can cause a manic response or a depressive, the latter is what I was having. As part of my exam she wanted me to have blood work but said I should wait at least 2 weeks to allow the drug to get out of my system. It is now 19 days since my appointment and I am still having side effects: nausea, complete lack of appetite, dizzy, and tired all the time. I put a call in to my doctor today and am waiting to hear back. I am sorry that I took this medication, will never take again. How long will it take for this med to get completely out of my system so that I feel normal again?
A friend told me her mother had a manic episode on steroids. When I was younger I took steroids for a brief period and had much milder side effects.

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?

I had a bee sting and was put on prednisone for 40mg a day for five days.After my first day on it i had major muscle soreness,very sleepy,heart rate threw the roof and bad headaches.decided i wasn't take another dose but now 7 days out i have water retention and put on 3 pounds i have been my same weight for yrs and now all of sudden i put this weight on and my hands are swelling up still.i am wondering when the hell this will be out of my system with only taking one dose..i will never take this crap again...any one that knows how long this will last please let me know....

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?

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,

I went on Prednisone for only 3 days as treatment to a bad allergic reaction to antibiotics. I ended up in the ER for treatment of the allergic reaction and they gave me a pred IV. They put me on 80 mg tablets, which I was supposed to take for 5 days, but there was no tapering off called for by the doc. I only took it for 3 days and started bad abdominal cramps and a bad taste in my mouth. Everything tasted extremely salty--and still does almost a week later. After I was off the drug for a day or two I started bad cramping in my chest, trouble breathing even though they said my lungs were clear, and really bad anxiety, which I've never had before. I freaked out while I was driving and had to pull into a parking lot for over an hour, and still had bad anxiety trying to drive home. I felt like I was drowning and had labored breathing. It's been almost a week and I still have muscle cramping in my chest, but it's starting to subside if I stay calm. I now have headaches and am weak generally, but am starting to come out of it, I think. I don't think the docs wanted to admit that lot of this was due to the pred; it is a serious drug that should not be taken lightly. I never knew there could be such extreme side effects to a drug. I am sorry to hear that many of you have had similar experiences, but it does give me some comfort to know that these effects were real and not due to some psychosomatic problem.

I was on Prednisone for just over two weeks for a bad skin rash (allergic reaction). I went to the ER they gave me an injection on Prednisone. The next day my Doctor puts me on 40mg a day for 10 days then down to 20mg, and then 10mg. The side effects were (and are) crazy. Blood sugar and Blood pressure are through the roof. My heart pounds,races, skips beats. Hands shaking, nervous, and panic attacks. Yeah, sure, the rash is gone, but I feel like a train wreck. I took my last dose 2 days ago, and have been told it can take 2 to 4 weeks for this to get completely out of my system and end the side effects. Can anybody else verify this?? Good god, what a mess!!

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

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

Thank you.

Vanessa

I was placed on 80 mg daily times 3 days, then 60 mg daily times 3 days, then 40 mg daily times 3 days, then 20 mg daily times 9 days for chronic sinus disease by an E.N.T. (ear-nose-throat specialist), felt good while on it.........now my heart is stuck in the racing gear and I am under my internal medicine doc for this.............that is a very, very bad feeling and hope its not long term.............................

I was put on 40mg per day of Prednisone for a sinus infection. I felt good for 4 days, then very weak and tired with headache and nausea. The doctor did not prescribe tapering off, just stop after 10 days. I quit after 9 days. Horrible withdrawal, very weak, bad headache, terrible nausea. My blood pressure dropped from 120/80 to 96/40. I had been on 25mg Lisinipril and Hydrochlorothyazide - doctor stopped that. Blood pressure now 104/60. Still very tired. Headaches almost gone, nausea gone. Complete blood panel tests all normal. Dr says symptoms will go away. It has been 3 weeks since I stopped the drug. Some fluid retention, but that is going away. Has anyone experienced LOW blood pressure with Prednisone?

This is my second course of Prednisone after several UC flare-ups. First time I was on 40mg for 2 weeks, then tapered down for two weeks. My first few days on Prednisone were great. I finally had energy, I was in a great mood and finally felt like I was living again. After 4-5 days, the weight/bloating began. My fingers and ankles began to swell, then my face. I no longer felt "alive" anymore, more slovenly. None of my clothes were fitting either. I developed a very noticeable "muffin-top" that made buttoning my pants difficult and wearing and snug t-shirts embarrassing. I returned to my doctor after my two week course (prior to tapering) and found that not only did I gain 12 pounds in two weeks, but my blood pressure had increased dramatically. I was assured that once I quit the Prednisone, my weight should return to what it was, as well as my blood pressure. Sure enough, they did.

I would have to say the very worse part of taking this medicine, for me, was not the two weeks that I was on my 40mg course, nor was it the two week taper, but the two weeks after stopping the medication. My energy level was completely zapped, but I couldn't sleep. I also had the worse headaches and mood swings. I would snap at my family for the smallest of reasons. This medicine introduced a side of myself that I never want to meet again.

Unfortunately, here it is 2 months later and I have been prescribed another course of Prednisone due to another colitis flare-up. I thought I was prepared for what this medicine will do to me since I experienced it once before. However, this time is nothing like the last. Unlike last time, I have yet to feel "on top of the world". My bloat came on quicker this time, as did my mood swings. I am depressed and really hating what I have become. Fortunately, I have enough sense to realize a lot of my depressive thoughts and mood swings are a result of the Prednisone, but it doesn't make it easier. My vision is blurred and for the first time I understand what others are talking about when they speak of foggy brain. I am physically present, but definitely not coherent. I just want this medicine out of my system. I would rather deal with the intense cramping and bloody stools from my colitis, then have to ever go on this medicine again.

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 was given 20 mg of Prednisone for 10 days for a rash and joint pain.
The pain went away and I felt great the rash got a little better. Two days ago I took my last pill. I woke up that night and my knees gave out. By morning I was great! Next night I woke with knee problem again had to slide down the stairs to the living room. I got to wondering if the knee thing could be associated with the Prednisone. I got on line and read all this terrible stuff. I am so Horrified! Today I am in pain like my body is bruised and my face is swollen a little. I have acid reflux as well. Non of this is typical for me. My knee thing is ok again, but I am just appalled! I have no MED insurance. I hope this isn't the beginning of worse things I am not taking that drug now. The Dr. didn't say I needed to taper...

I hope I have not damaged myself by taking this drug! My heart goes out to all of you! My question is - Why are the Dr.'s prescribing this terrible drug?

I 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 found out that I had a brain meningioma almost two months ago. I am currently being treated with CyberKnife technology and thank God this nightmare will soon be history. In the meantime, I had to take Prednisone, through IV in the hospital and then in pill form after. I am weaning off now, but the side effects are terrible. My normal weight is 106 lbs and I don't even want to know what I weigh now and it was only two months of taking that pill. While on it, I could not sleep, and I ate every carb possible. I am so bloated in my abdomen, and my face looks like a balloon. Now that I am coming off, I feel like a Zombie, I fall asleep everywhere and I feel like I am in a constant fog, not to mention the headaches. Does anyone know how long the side effects last after you stop taking the Prednisone?

I took Prednisone for an allergic reaction to a Bee bite that turned into cellulites after a few days. My arm and leg swelled up to the point where I had to go into the emergency room. They put me on a prednisone drip and then prescribed prednisone for 10 days tapering down from 60 mg a day to 10 mg a day.
I felt horrible on it! Could not think straight, massive headaches everyday to the point where I could not go to work! Then once I went down from 30mg to 20mg a day, the with drawl that your body gets is the worst!
Nassau, more headaches and forget about thinking straight! and yes your face does look like a moon after a few days... Try drinking a lot of water
Now I am on my 2nd day with out it and I still feel the side affects but I hope they will go away soon :(
This drug works but I hope I never take it again.

After reading so many of everyone’s stories, I feel I got off easy, but not without some agony. I developed a double whammy of acute bronchitis and pleurisy in my left lung. If you are not familiar with pleurisy, it feels like hit with a baseball bat in your ribs each time you attempt to take a normal breath. I was completely uninformed of the condition and it is now burned in my memory forever. I was prescribed azithromycin and Prednisone for a month. I started with two 20mg (40mgtotal) tabs for 7 days and then tapered off in the following manner. 1 ½ tabs for 7 days, 1 tab for 7days and then ½ a tab for the last 7 days. I have read many of the users who have been on Prednisone for years at a time and my heart goes out to each and every one of you. I experienced a large number of side effects for being on it for such a short period. My wife was ready to attach the ole cinder block to my ankles and drop me in the lake, but she stuck through it. The first side effects began within the first week. My appetite went through the stratosphere, my heart felt like it was going to erupt out of my chest on some nights and finally, my memory just went to (for lack of a better work) shit. After coming home from the grocery store on multiple occasions, I left the house key in the key hole on the outside, only to find it the next morning on my way out the door. My short term memory was just misfiring constantly. There are too many funny stories to tell. For some odd reason, I did not gain near as much weight as I should have given the mass quantity of food I ingested. The total weight gain was only around seven or eight pounds. The most prominent side effect was my mood swings. I am a laid back person my nature, but not for that 30 day period. I had to make a conscious effort to not put myself in a position to disagree with another individual. When it did occur, it was just not a pretty site. A few of the other side effects were lack of sleep and profuse sweating. I would wake up every morning and my pillow was drenched. I live in Austin, Texas, so the AC was pegged and 67 degrees and no one was allowed to touch the thermostat without grave consequences. I broke out the winter pajamas for the kids and my wife wrapped up in multiple layers of clothing, while I was spread eagle under the ceiling fan (Highest setting of course) in my birthday suit, and was still only the in the moderate comfort range. More side effects included swelling of my ankles and hands. I was not on it long enough to get the infamous moon face or the hump on the back of the neck. The side effects after stopping the dosage were no less entertaining. I took my last dose seven days ago. The three main effects have been rashes on my ankles and under my arms, severe energy loss and heartburn. The worst of it all has been my energy level, or the lack of. My energy level crashed so hard I have had to literally peel myself out of bed each morning. If I did not have a two year old daughter and a four year old son, I would probably still be asleep right now. It has been getting a little easier each day. I have started walking each morning now and hopefully this will end soon. I have also been drinking large amounts of water. That has seemed to help me out. The heartburn was easily treatable with some Pepcid AC. I hope my experience offers some solace to those in a similar situation and fair warning to those who are about to embark on this medication.

I am currently on Prednisone for Minimal Change Kidney Disease. I started at 60mg a day and my symptoms from the Kidney issues (swelling in my ankles and legs) went away within about two weeks. I had a lot of energy at first on Prednisone and trouble sleeping. I actually enjoyed the added energy. I also got headaches those first couple weeks and jaw pain. I wasn't really upset about the drugs until my face started getting puffy at about 4 weeks. I was reduced to 40mg at that time. I definitely noticed an increase in appetite and have just recently started counting calories to avoid potential weight gain. My weight so far has only fluxated about 5lbs. I am currently on 30mgs of Prednisone and can not wait to be off. I do have some slight acne on my upper back and notice a little extra weight there (maybe that camel hump thing someone mentioned). I am nervous these things will only get worse so I'm hoping my doctor will reduce the meds more rapidly after my next appointment. Overall it seems the Prednisone has done its job, but I'd still like to be off. I have been on a total of about 2 months now.

While coming off I have noticed heartburn (severe at times), mild depression, loss of energy, and I've been very bloated throughout the process.

I would only take Prednisone if absolutely necessary and get off it as fast as possible. Good luck to you all.

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!

Just amazing how things react differently on different people.
I have been on Prednisone for almost 5 weeks now and have LOST weight. I eat because I am supposed to not because I want to, I am NOT hungry !!! I sleep like a baby too... go figure? However, I am weaning off it and am down to 5mg a day and I am experiencing headaches and leg pain which I did not have while on a higher dose (15mg). I love the stuff although I think I am in a minority of one in the world. I feel great when I am on it even though have used it in the past and developed cataracts from it at the age of 48 (now 49) and have already had one cataract removed.

I began a new dose of Prednisone yesterday. I was diagnosed w/ RA about 3 years ago. I have been on Embrel (didn't work) and am now on Humira and Methotrexate. I have been having extreme difficulty the last month and finally returned to my doctor for relief. (I have been on Prednisone before and had only the headaches) I was prescribed a higher dose this time (60 mgs 2 x daily) and have been battling with a racing heart that beats so hard it hurts. I have now taken my second dose and cannot walk more than 10 feet without feeling like I am having a heart attack! While it is helping the RA pain in my joints, I am so scared to move and so uncomfortable when I do, I am not sure what is better. The disease or the cure? Has anyone else battled with the racing heart? Oh and I also have high blood pressure and the Prednisone is making it higher even with my meds!
My only other instance with this effect was from a steroid injection about a month ago. That episode placed me in the ER receiving medication to lower my heart rate.

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 taken predisone for 15 years ranging from 120mg to 10mg. I also take 2000mg of cellcept, 400mg og plaquinel, 1000mg metforin, 10mg zeita, 130mg antera,60mg cymbalta, land lyrica., Foreto Injections (for osteoprosis, due to predisone). In the beginning I gained alot of weight and became depressed and very angry. I have Systemic Lupus Erythomous (SLE), I also do self catherization. I have found over the years to stay away from suger, salt and fat. It is very hard because as you know predisone can make you want to eat all of the time. I get headaches and alot of infections, but the alternative is death. Predisone is a very good drug and a very bad drug, but it really does work if it depends on your life.

just started 40 mg /day for neck spasms and headaches- and on my first day am getting hot flashes.. and of course, oh, so tired. Is this common side effect? This is a great site/

Regarding the other post, headaches are a listed side effect. I took prednisone for two days - 40mg each. I am on day 3 without taking it due to side effects. At first anxiety symptoms and shaking hands and shortness of breath, then excessive sweating, abdominal pain, excessive urination, and hip and shoulder pain. Never mind the mood and personality changes, which occurred within hours of taking the 1st dose. Now, I still have really bad shoulder pain and sweating. Anyone who has gone through this, how long does it take, and what can help my body get over this faster??? Doctors should better inform patients of side effects - and my doctor is having me tested for parvovirus today--even though the symptoms I have are not consistent with it, and are all listed side effects of predisone----by the way, I had to find the side effects myself. I was sick (broncitis) and did not have the energy when I started the medication. Now I am angry that I was so poorly informed.

My 73 year old Mother has been on prednizone since Sept 2006, the reason is she's being treated for temporal artritis. It has stopped the headaches but has set her disbetes out of control. She now has to monitor her blood sugar every 2 hours. If I had known the side effects of prednisone first, I would have asked about other options.

Whoa, folks, Prednisone for 10 days? I thought the maximum was 7 days, else dire consequences beset you. I have Lupus and take only 20mg a day. The side effects, when I get off are severe joint pain, muscle tenderness and headaches but then Lupus does eat your joints and skin... Anyone out there knows anything about interval between treatments?

I've been taking prednisone for about a year, started with solu-medrol infusions of 1000mg for 3 days with a prednisone taper of 180mg a day for 7 and down from there, I have had 4 of these this year and now am taking 20mg a day, I've had many symptoms of taking so much pred, but it helps keep my vision normal and keeps the headaches away, weight gain, sleepless nights, now acne and just feeling bloated all the time are my main complaints, I am going to see another specialist to get me off prednisone, and will try another immunosupressant drug that dosent have near the side effects of pred, but all I can say is it works, but who knows what will happen to me down the road, I'm a 37 yr old male who feels like I've aged twice that.

I was given Prednisone, full dosage, for 9 days for an ear problem. 3 days after stopping the Prednisone, I was having mood swings, body aches, shakes and dizziness and verdigo. My Primary Care put me back on Prednisone, 10 mg., twice per day for 10 days. It has been about 1 month now, and I am still feeling nausea, headaches, dizziness, verdigo, body aches and I have to lie down a lot. Is anyone out there having the same problems and if so, how long does it take to get the Prednisone out of your body? My Primary care thinks I am going through surgical menopause and wants me to take low dosage premarin, but I have a family history of breast cancer, Mother and my Aunt/her sister. I am 58 years old. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Dale Rodberg

Hi,

I was placed on 40mg first 2 days then down to 30mg for the next 2 days and continued lowering dosage until pills ran out in 8 days total. I have a stubburn sinus infection that's been on going for 3 months now. After starting the prednisone, my face was very red and my neck became stiff and bloated. Headaches followed with terrible indigestion and sleepless nights. Sinus is not much better for all this trouble. I have been off for 3 days now and still feel really lousy with continued headaches and swollen neck. Hope this clears up soon.

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.

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.

I had poison ivy and was prescribed a 10 day step down dose of prednisone. I stopped taking it on 10/17. I am a diabetic. I noticed lower fasting blood levels while I was taking the prednisone. I have been off of it for 15 days. Since I've stopped the medication I have higher fasting blood levels, headaches, increased heart rate, dry mouth in the a.m. I want to feel like myself again. My fasting blood levels ranged from 95- 106, now they are 120 - 130!

I have been on prednesone for six days, for recurring virtego, my ENT Doctor prescribed 2 tablets of prednesone twice a day for five days and then tapering off at 2 tablets twice a day for five days and then 1 tablet once day for five days. I'm at the sixth day with 1 tablet of prednesone and my body is all swell up and shakey. I'm unrinating more often than usual. I feel alot better. My dizzy spells were very bad and headaches are gone. I'm not sure whether to keep taking the prednesone as prescribed--my ENT Doctor doesn't know about my side affects yet.

I start getting much worse headaches as soon as I'm on it for even a day and my usual headache medicine doesn't seem to work when I'm on prednisone, even at low amount (5-10 mg.)

I don't know if this is a side effect or not, but I have been on 40 mg. of Prednisone a day for about a month. About 10 days ago, I started having neckaches, headaches, and off and on weakness in the right arm. The doctor said it's probably a bad disk in my neck. I really don't buy that. Is this the evil drug doing this to me?
Mark

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.

dizziness, headaches, tingling in legs and arms

prednison is an evil drug but even that i have most of the side effects i still needed... i cant function without it. if i try to stop even reducing the dose order by the doc all the problems start. headaches, dizzines, swelling on arms, legs, ankles, shoulders and knees. i have been on prednasone since april 19,2005. i think im addicted to it, thanks god for this site i know now that im not alone and all of you have the same problems i have. now i hope all of u can cope with these med.
these side effects are not easy to deal with it but if the med is working hang in there. i try to quit just like that when i was on 60mg but believe me is not a good choice. god bless all of you and i wish you the best, by the way i dont know if the side effects are from the pred or the other 10 med i have to take daily, plaquenil, pred, methotraxate, folic acid, hydrocordone, prevacid, percoset, sulivanc, albuterol, etc... i dont wish my desease to no one... asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus....be patience and good luck.
nora from las vegas

I have ocular histoplasmosis. I was perscribed 80mgs for one week. I then reduced the dosage by 5 mgs a day every five days, It took me 18 months to get off the drug and still see healing in my eye. I went from a size 10 dress to size twenty. Prednisone works by slowing oxygen transfer at the cellular level. After 14 months off of it, I still have headaches along the top of my skull. I doubt my own judgement and have mood swings from sad to euphoric. I have tingling in my hands and feet. I am finally back to size 10, do the other side effects ever go away?

I have been on prednisone for twelve days, due to my Inflammatory Arthritis. I started on 15 mg of pred for 4 days, then 10 mg, and down to 5 mg. Today is my last day of prednisone, although my doctor told me that I could continue to take 5 mg, if I'd like. I have had mild anxiety and diarrhea, which I think is caused by the anxiety. My joints have felt great and the inflammation has gone down. The only drawback that I am had has been the anxiety and headaches. I'd take it again, but I do not like the anxious feeling that I am experiencing.

My 16 year old son has been on prednisone for 7 years for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Asthma, and Idiopathic Angio-Edema (deep tissue swelling/hives) with Chronic Uriticaria (Hives). He started on massive doses but in the last year decreased to 10mg every other day. 3 weeks ago we discovered he has developed scoliosis due to the long term use of prednisone. They tapered him off in 2 weeks. Now 1 week later he is having a type of withdrawl from it... weakness and no energy, nausea and headaches. He is never allowed to take prednisone again, and now the doctors are talking about putting him on cyclosporine. Has anyone experienced this too?

i am so glad i found this site. i thought i was losing my mind,i have and am having almost all side affects listed. starting at the top and working down i will list the affects it has had on me:headaches, neck pain, eyesight blurriness, lump on back of my neck,shoulder pain, stomach pain, hip pain, muscle weakness, racing pulse, feeling of anxiety,skin tenderness,unable to process thoughts and sentences,mood swings, severe sweating,the feeling of having a hangover. these are not all of them but had i known what this drug could do to your body i would have never agreed to the injections. most days i feel like dying. i never sleep it seems. and iam so tired of the way i am having to live. cannot work, or do the things i would normally do. thanks for listening
tami

i had a neck injury and was getting cervical spine epidurals withprednisone. i started having night sweats , trouble thinking an bad bad mood swings. to keep the list going ,terrible headaches ,muscle weakness,numbness in my arms and fingers. i thought i was going nuts and then was told it was a reaction the the drug. nice that they told me. if i had known the sid affects before i would not have gone ahead with the epidurals. does anyone know how long this will last?
thankstami

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

I took it at 60mg a day for 3 days then 10mg a day for 4 days for severe allergies (hay fever). I have had terrible headaches every day, frustration to no end, hot flashes. On day 2 I had severe leg pains in both legs that went away with in a few hours. I've had a lot of problems concentrating. My mind feels like it's racing constantly. My cheeks are puffy (moon face) started within day 2 and day 3..at this point my cheeks just hurt inside..ah. It's really uncomfortable. I've had strange/bizarre moments of anger/rage that are a bit frightening. Today is my last day of taking it, at last! It has helped a lot with my allergies though. I usually have cold feet and hands and since I've been on this all have been roasty toasty. Oh day 2 I did have a brief dizzy moment where I saw black spots before my eyes for a few seconds that scared me. The hunger pains are annoying. The headache starts in the morning and builds through out the day. If I lay down for a while and get a few brief nods off of sleep..it seems to do the trick. It's wierd. I don't recognize my face in the mirror much really. Not a good feeling.

Started on a 2 week program due to severe asthma, beginning with 60 mg for 4 days, now I am down to 40 for 4 days, then 20 for 4 days. I'm so glad when I'm done with it, can't sleep at all, but the house is clean, Have incredible headaches, have not gained weight, but have a moonface coming on. I am not very hungry, just indredibly thirsty, drink ice tea and water by the gallons.
Although it has relieved my asthma considerably, I would hesitate to go on it again. I hate it, it's just not a good feeling inside, all nervous and weird, I feel like I am buzzing and sometimes think people can hear that. I can't believe they would put a child on this powerful drug, unless absolutely lifesaving necessary.
Hang in there, everybody. I feel for the ones of you having to be on it for a long time.
Bianchi