PredniSONE and hives

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hi I am 31, have been put on prednisone for a pinched nerve in my shoulder blade. Iv taken two pills of 10 mil. For two days. one pill a day for two days. I'm stopping now. I feel so tired weak and unable to exercise. My chest is so heavy and heart flutters. I'm a smoker so it seems worse after a cigarette. I also have a few glasses of wine a day. I'm so frightened at these feelings. My tummy is now bigger in just that short of time. I really wish I knew all this first. Can any one tell me how long before I'm normal from the short usage. Please this really sucks and very scary. Also the smoking and alcohol how does it effect this? Please

I broke out in hives because of food poisoning. At Kaiser, they gave me an injection of Prednisone. They gave me 10 mg. of Prednisone to take 4 10 mg. for 3 days, then, 3 10 mg. pills for 3 days. Since it was making me sick, the nurse instructed me to take only 2 10 mg. pills, and the following day, to take only 1 10 mg. pill. I took the last pill on Thursday. It's now Saturday, and I have the worst pain in my chest, my head and throat hurt. Can anyone tell me how long until this wears off? Is this normal?

I had a cortisone injection into my left knee on Friday, June 5th and immediately started to react. Within an hour, I had extreme redness and heat in my face, neck and upper chest. Wheezing, hives in throat and mouth and behind my ears. Extreme headache that came on suddenly and started in the back of my head and stretched to the front. Dizziness, chest discomfort. I went to the ER and was given a nebulizer treatment, benadryl IV and prednisone because the doctors at the ER felt that I must have had an allergic reaction to some medication that was mixed with the cortisone injection, because they said that to be allergic to cortisone is very rare. About 20 minutes after they gave me 60mg of oral prednisone, they started my benadryl IV. I felt such a hot rush to my face, my ears were burning. Eventually, the reaction calmed down and they sent me home with a prednisone taper and benadryl every 4 to 6 hrs. Sunday morning, I took 60mg of the prednisone and within 20 minutes I knew that I was in trouble so I took 50mg of benadryl and on the advice of my doctor, called an ambulance. In the ambulance, I was given oxygen, a nebulizer and more benadryl IV. After that morning, I knew that my problem was the steroid. I hadn't had any sleep since Thursday, I had been nauseous ands been battling chest discomfort and a very bad headache. I spoke with my doctor on Monday and he wanted me to take Atarax,25mg, every 3 to 4 hours. I saw him on Tuesday and I went to an allergist on Wednesday. She started me on 50 mg of zyrtec twica a day and 25mg of Atarax at night to see if this would help the reaction that I continue to have. She said that it could be several weeks, at least, that I will continue to react, until the injectable steroid is out of my system. It had been 13 days, and Im still reacting.

I'm 15 years old and i've been taking prednisone for a few months, and from what i've read i'm on a really high dose. i was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and another autoimmune disorder concerning my muscles at the same time. my doctor told me prednisone was my only choice; it was either that or i would lose the ability to walk. he told me there'd be side effects, but i had no idea it'd turn out like this or i would have fought harder for another course of action. i started out on 30mg twice a day, and since then was weaned down to 20mg twice a day and now i'm down to 30mg once a day. i've been looking up a bunch of information trying to figure out if there's a way to lessen the side effects or any hope at all that they will get better. apparently there isn't much. after reading a bunch of these stories i gotta say i'm not feeling great about this. i totally understand everything everyone is going through. i'm sure you can imagine what it's like being smack in the middle of high school with a huge puffy face, acne so bad on my face, chest, back, neck, and shoulders that wearing a bra could put me in tears, and mood swings so bad i've lost friends over it. everyone knows how brutal high school can be, where appearance and attitude are everything. and i try to tell my doctor about it and he literally looks at me like i'm a whiny teenager and says "you're just going to have to deal with it." and people like my mom and my closest friends don't get it either. nobody understands how beyond frustrating it is. i'll get into the worst moods and not have a reason for it, but i'll stay angry for hours or burst into tears over someone looking at me the wrong way. it'll get to the point where i have to isolate myself from other people because the abrubt mood changes get so bad. as bad as i hate to admit it, the pain from the arthritis is gone now and supposedly my muscles are doing better too. developing arthritis caused me to have to quit cheerleading, something i've loved doing for 6 years, because the pain got to the point where i couldn't get my arms above my head or bend my knees. however, i'd almost rather deal with the horrible joint pain than deal with the side effects of prednisone. if your doctor gives you and alternative method, take it. i've always been confident in the way i look and really outgoing and happy and now i sometimes catch myself thinking about suicide. that's shocking to me because i've got so much going for me, but this medicine makes me miserable. and when i complain about it, anyone i'm talking to just looks at me like i'm being a cry baby. my mom does too, she'll say things like "you just have to do this. i know it's not what you want but to be honest i'm sick of hearing you bitch about it."
i feel a little better knowing other people feel the same way - like nobody gets whats going on with them. the prednisone does give me days of really great euphoria and days when i feel like i could run a marathon, but waking up in the morning to the acne and huge face puts me to tears every day. i have to pee all the time, usually getting up at 2 or 3 am. i don't sleep well anymore and i do sweat all the time. which also sucks being a teenage girl. i'm always hungry, and when i eat i never feel full so i don't know when to stop. my neck and face have put on so much weight that when people see me in the halls or out and about they ask me what happened. mind you these are people i don't talk to, just ones i know from classes or whatever. and it's pretty bad when teenage boys i've never really talked to ask what happened to your face. kind of a blow to the ego, or whatever is left of it at this point.
i'd like to know if, as my dosage gets lowered, the side effects will diminish and when i'm off the prednisone completely if they will disappear altogether. any help there?
or if there is any way to help the acne or puffy face

my doctor just put me on something called methotrexate or something like that to help wean me off the prednisone, and does anyone know what those side effects will do? or if they'll affect the prednisone side effects?
i'm constantly obsessing over gaining weight and what my skin looks like and what i eat and how heavy my face feels and the occasional pressure in my eyes to the point where i just want to be put out of my misery.
and after reading other people's stories i really don't understand why this drug is still given out as freely as it is. but maybe all doctors are like mine, they just don't get it.
best of luck to anyone who's on prednisone, my heart goes out to you; i'm right there with you
sorry this became like a book it wasn't meant to be this long

Another update:
It has been 16 days off the prednisone and I still have the puffy face and the hives have returned. The Dr. said they could not send me for allergy testing because the prednisone would interfere with the tests for a month or 2. Wow, I had no idea this stuff can stay in your system for such a long time and I only took it for 7 days, so my heart goes out to all of you who have been on this drug for months or years. I can't even imagine what you must be going through. I was put on this drug for hives, but some of you are on it for far more serious conditions so I have no idea if it would be wise or unwise to discontinue this drug for those of you in that situation. Talk with your doctors tell them you want off and to advise another alternative to at least try. I see that the prednisone is no cure for hives it just treats the symptoms and as soon as the prednisone was stopped the hives were still there. In my case the chance of this drug damaging my body for just a moments relief from hives was not worth it. How wonderful for those who are able to tolerate this drug but for most people it seems to have horrible effects on the body. May God help you all to make the right decisions.

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

Just started taking Prednisone 60mg today for an allergic reaction to penicillin supposedly. Since taking it today--I feel hot one minute then cold the next! I have also had this funny tingling sensation all over my body & I feel rather sluggish! I have three more days then hopefully I will feel better!

Have had skin excema most of my life on and off and just dealt with it with various ointments and such. To make a long story short I went to an emergency room one night about 9 months ago with a bad headache and instead of them dealing with just the headache they obsessed over my rash which is worse on my lower right leg. I was prescribed prednisone along with some antibiotic and not realizing what prednisone can do i took the 5 day plan. I knew immediately I was going to have problems as I was definitely on some kind of powerful stimulant. Anyway that was 9 months ago and I seem to have exchanged my excema for a permanent case of the type of hives that is worse at night before bed and is aggravated by any pressure on my skin. I do mechanical work and if I squeeze a screwdriver or bang on something with my hands they will swell and itch and my fingers will not bend very well. When I feel a slight itching in my hair or around my neck I also will have a slight headache. The hives can appear on my back or thighs or arms or belly at different times usually. Stress doesn't help either. By the way I am 60 and never had hives that I recall ever.
mtrsr50

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

My husband was stung by a wasp. He had a major reaction of hives and fainting spells. Naturally we went to emergency where the doctor prescribed.. you guessed it.. PREDNISONE !! sigh. He was told to take it only the next morning of his attack as the prednisone would make him too irritable to sleep. He woke up the next morning and all his rash was gone and he was feeling like a million bucks. NO more side effects from the wasp sting. We were always wondering WHY he needed to take prednisone for a wasp sting but wanting to listen to our knowledgeable and GOOD doctors, my husband took the prednisone. He was told to take 10 5mg pills in one shot, therefore, 50 mg. per day and then eventually wean himself off. Well, he took but the first 10 and within the 1/2 hour he developed an even greater reaction to hives than the day before. He became very agitated and moody... We drove back to the hosp. only to see the same doctor who'd tell us that he didn't HAVE to take the prednison if he didn't want to and that he was SURE that the prednisone had not caused this latest and worse reaction !!
For crying out loud. This is the year 2008. Couldn't the doctor have told us ahead of time that if the symptoms disappeared before even filling in the prescription ( which is what happened in this case ), THAT He should never have taken any drug? Prednisone is a killer. I know.. My mom DIED because of this darn drug only to find out that they were treating her for a disease that she probably didn't have after years of using PREDNISONE. These poor older people think that the doctors are GOD and that they have to listen to their every word. My husband, on the other hand, has thrown the drug away after just ONE USE. PLEASE, people, find other doctors and solutions and get second opinions.

The first time I heard the word prednisone was late Dec 07 when I was hospitalized for severe pneumonia. I started off with a bad sinus infection that quickly advanced into pneumonia in a matter of a couple weeks. I tried 3 courses of antibiotics but I continued to get worse and got to the point where I was unable to breath on my own. Within a day of being at the hospital I felt like I was living in a dream world and from there I continued to get more stoned by the minute. I had no idea I was being pumped full of prednisone intravenously, along with my antibiotics. I was given a dose of 250 mgs daily, and obviously it was way too much for me. As I progressed into my dream world, I had a couple of “episodes” where I acted completely out of character, and got really paranoid and highly emotional. I pulled my IV out of my arm the one night and sat and watched the blood dripping from my hand, not really understanding where I was or what was going on. Later on I got really paranoid that the nursing staff was conspiring against me and talking about me behind my back (lol) , which I normally would not care about, but for some reason it made me really upset and I sobbed uncontrollably at times. I also tried to leave my room in intensive care a few times, as I was convinced that I was not supposed to be there and wanted to go home. My doctors were really freaked out so they gradually lowed my dose over the last few days I was in the hospital, even sent me for a CT scan of my brain in case I was going crazy. Prednisone is an extremely strong and evil drug – that is why I had the adverse reaction!! Not because I’m crazy! And one should never be given a drug like prednisone without their knowledge!! A few weeks after leaving the hospital I started going down hill again and the doctors realized that what I had was an immune disorder and not just pneumonia per se. After a few months of on again off again prednisone (never longer than a week at a time), I was put on a daily regiment (50 mgs) of it starting in May. Since then I have experienced all of the same side effects noted by everyone on here, weight gain, sleeplessness, anxiety, hair growth (the worst is on my face and fingers!!) dizziness, confusion, trembling hands, tooth aches, and the worst of all , big time MOON FACE! I feel like a complete freak most days. I am now tapering and am down to 10 mgs. So far I have seen no improvement in the side effects, accept now I have withdrawal side effects on top of everything - nausea, headaches, flu like symptoms and trouble breathing. I HATE this drug, even though I know it ultimately saved my life in the hospital and my kidneys – as I had complications caused by the autoimmune disorder. I see my doctor next week and I want off this drug completely. I am not sure the benefits out weigh the side effects to be honest. I want to feel normal again and be able to recognize my own face in the mirror  People should use extreme caution when using this drug and it should only be used to save people’s lives, not used for minor things like poison ivy. That is unconscionable!!!! Good luck to all who are on this drug.

Sunday May 25, we brought home a new dog. Wed May 28 I started to break out in hives. I had hives for days, bad hives covering large parts of my body. Friday the 30 I woke up and both my lips were swollen to about 3 times the size they were supposed to be. I went to my doctor very concerned and she prescribed me Prednisone and Benadryl as needed. The hives continued - never completely going away. On June 3rd it was the last day of the prednisone, I was only on it for 5 days, but shortly after I took the last dose, I all of a sudden was having a hard time breathing and I broke out the worst so far. I ended up going to the E.R. because I couldn't breathe. The doctor at the er prescribed me another dose of the prednisone but also put me on zyrtec and pepcid. She was claiming that it was an allergic reaction to the dog. I had just hives again on the 4th, and then on the 5th I had hives again and then the back for my throat, my tongue, and my upper right gum went numb and I woke up at 12 am to my tongue being so swollen I couldn't shut my mouth. The next morning on the 6th I woke up to my face and lips swollen again and in the afternoon my tongue and gums went numb again. At this time the doctor wanted me to get the dog out of the house so I sent him to my mothers. I continued to wake up each passing morning with hives.Monday the 9th, my bottom lip swelled up around 4 in the afternoon and then spread to my upper lip and right side of my face before the end of the evening. Tuesday the 10th, woke up to both my lips and the right side still swollen. By the afternoon the swelling went down by on my bottom lip and large white spot appeared with 4 tiny brown spots in it. This made me nervous so I went back to the doctor and he said that being on the prednisone things can occur in abnormal ways and he thinks that the spot was just a cold sore so he gave me yet another script to take care of that. I woke up the next morning (the 11th) with hives on my arms and knees. Thursday I didn't have any hives but I started to get severely sick to my stomach and had a killer headache. This continued into Friday morning so I went back to the doctor, got a shot for the nausea. The sickness subsided for the remaining of the day but came back Saturday. Sunday I woke up with hives yet again on my arms and legs. And again on Monday. Back at one of my visits to the doctor he gave me a script to hang on to for another dose of the prednisone in case i was still breaking out at the end of this dose, so Monday the 16th I had to get this script filled. No symptoms on the 17th, and I brought my dog home on the 18th. I have absolutely no symptoms of hives or swelling of the face since the 16th, and the dog has been by my side since. I have although blown up. I am the puffiest I think I have ever been in my life. I am so uncomfortable in my own skin it makes me sick. I am VERY moody. and can cry at the drop of a pin.

I have heard absolutely nothing good about prednisone. I told the dr this, but he felt the perks off set the downs. I am not happy being on this med. I have 4 days left on this med. When I am done taking it, if i have no more symptoms I am going back to the doctor and asking them to give me something to get rid of this water weight. I have an appointment on July 10th to be tested for allergies. Wish me luck that it doesn't come back I am allergic to my puppy. I have become very fond of him. I would be devastated.

I would really take into consideration not taking this med. I know that when I am done taking it, I wont ever take it again. A lot of the side effects that this med can give you was the reason they were giving it to me. So I guess I just done understand why they would give me something that can make me have what they are trying to get rid of.

I trust my doctor I know he wouldn't do anything to harm me. I am just not comfortable with the side effect of this med.

Good luck to everyone out there has to be on this. I wish the best for you!

You people are freaking me out. I just started today with my first dose of prednisone for my first bronchitis diagnosis. I've been sick for 3 months and thought this would be a good med for me to rid the coughing. I'm starting to reconsider taking any more if all I can expect is long term adverse effects. I took this once before years ago for a severe skin allergy. I got the psychosis initially but then adjusted the dose. Then, I would get euphoric and full of energy, like being on a stimulant. I had no idea the round face thing was due to this, I thought I just ate too much while I was home sick for 2 months. I think I'll try the herbal alternative route. If it works, I'll write again and let y'all know. Thanks for all the comments.

I was 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?

Hello,

about a week ago I admitted myself to ER because of terrible breakout of hives (never had them before) but was covered from head to toe.

Doctor prescribed PREDNISONE 80mg for 4 days, and gave me an IV with the drug a week ago Saturday night (don't know how much was there), 12/29/07, I took my daily dose 80mg Sunday noon. I only slept about an hour or two. By new years eve 12/31, I have started getting cold chills, feeling unbearably cold, then the next day 1/1, I felt like I was 100 years old, all my joints were stiff, I couldn't get up from bed, couldn't sleep much but there is still more.

By Wednesday I have felt even more stiff and hives were not going away, I went to the doctor (my stiffness went away after couple hours in the morning) he prescribed more PREDNISONe for another week, luckily I have stopped taking the medication after 5 days of 80mg, plus whatever they gave in in an IV but I still have what I think are side effects from taking it.

Ankles are still sore, I cannot sleep because an extreme numbness sets in my left hand middle to index finger, it is no numb it hurts like an elephant is sitting on it, that is why I am still up at 4:30 in the morning. When I am up it just tingles. Not sure what to do but can't sleep at all for last 3 days and getting really tired.

If I knew what Prednisone does I would never take any of it, I'd rather deal with hives oh and they still didn't go away, I have had them for about 10 days now, they did stop itching. Honestly I felt very very sick a day after taking it, I didn't associate this with Prednisone, until I found this website. Please if you can stop taking it or see for yourself how much you should take 80mg is definitely too much, for me at least.

Did anyone have to deal with joint stiffness, and numbness how long does it take for it to go away. My wife says to to ER again because I can't sleep I am just very uncomfortable with the numbness and rattle in bed, but guess what they could shoot me up with more Prednisone.

I've been on Prednisone after and allergic reaction to penicillin (Amoxicillin) (bullous pemphigold - large blister on my arms and legs, some on the back and very little on the stomach) I've been on the medication for three days (40mg/day) I cannot standup or move my hands, my entire leg hurts and the foot is swollen (it could be from the penicillin). I'm hoping it will go away after I come off prednisone but has anyone experienced long term pain from this drug?

I'm pretty sure my pain is from the allergic reaction. Has anyone had long term pain from any type of bullous reaction?

I took prednisone for 6 days - weaned off. I took it for poison ivy. Ended up with a rash/hives worst than what the poison ivy did. I took this drug about 8 years ago with no ill effects. Now at 48, I am swollen and itchy ALL over my body. While on it, I suffered from insomnia, nausea, and loss of appetite. I also noticed I was in a fog, which I didn't realize was a side effect until I read these other entries. How long do these side effects go on? I would love to lose this rash!

I'm posting after being given predinsone in the ER for hives and head swelling, still not sure what the reactiion is from, 50 mg for 7 days, then i finished it all and two days later the back of my neck hurt so bad i couldn't lay on it or move it, it lasted one day/night, my hands are still swollen and itchy 3 days post prednisone.

I wanted to post for those going through a short course of prednisone and report that things will get better. I was prescribed prednisone at the ER for poison oak that had been getting worse over the course of 2 weeks; it looked like one knee was in the process of dissolving (soaked through 9 of those triple-layer 3x3 gauze pads in under an hour). I took 60mg for 3 days, 40mg for 3 days, and 20mg for 3 days. During that time I don't think I slept more than an hour total per night, I broke out in hives and cystic acne, and my face and stomach bloated. Then I had panic attacks as I was tapering off of the prednisone. At the end of a week after my last 20mg pill, I was almost euphoric at feeling like I was in my right mind again. All the other side-effects receded within 2 weeks and it does not seem to have had any lasting effects on my blood glucose (I'm part of a clinical trial for a vaccine). When I got reinfected with poison oak (that oil will hang around on anything it touches) I got a presciption for a topical corticosteroid from my GP and nipped it in the bud this time.

Hi, I'm taking prednisone for 2 months already. I am not sure anymore if this pred is doing me more good than harm. I gained 20 pounds with a moon face filled with acne... It is so depressing because I never had problems with my skin and with my weight until I start taking pred for allergies. If I stop or wean down the dosage, then my allergies (hives) breaks out .Now, I feel so miserable and just want to stay home specially now that my students are noticing these horrible changes. I don't know how will I ever get back to normal again.

I'm on a temporary prescription for extreme hives...30 mg 3 days, 20mg 3 days and then 10mg 3 days. So far on 3rd day. I have tremendous energy and endurance. Feel great.

i was giving prednisone to stop an the side effects of keflex i don't even feel like myself anymore i am moody and hungery all the time i have gain 10 pounds since taking this drug i think i such have just kept taking the keflex i think i could have lived with the hives

I was on 40 mg a day and then after 5 or 6 days gradually reduced dosage as prescribed by my Dr. I kept breaking out with hives and the Dr. then put me on Prednisone. It took care of the hives, however, I have had awful side affects. Nights sweats, severe anxiety, severe bloating in my stomach, can't sleep, increased appetite, dizziness, moody and depressed. I hope I never have to take this medicine again.

My husband developed hives from an unknown source. They have put him on prednisone now twice. His side effect is ANGER. He has been dizzy, hungry and angry. I am hoping they can identify his allergen soon to get him off this stuff. He was taking the tapering dose of 6 5mg pills per day tapering down to zero.

I don't think that 1 grapefruit per day can do the bladder infection; I was eating or drinking 3 grapefruit servings (juice or fruit) 3 days/day. I am using an Italian salad dressing with vinegar to try to offset drinking it!...but I did start the cranberry juice yesterday...good luck to all....

I just hope my 'new' doctor doesn't put me back on any steroids...it just seems that each of the (4) doctors I saw 'gave up' and put me back on them for lack of what else to do...the last one had me on prednisone for 2 weeks and then wean down on those and start on a low Decadron for 2 weeks to hopefully prevent the hives from returning...then this new doc took me off all of them ...I've been off a week now, just on antihistimines and Dixopen...so far just a little, bearably, itchy...

hi cjmom--
glad you found this site! hate to say it but i just swallow 2 tsp of vinegar before my meals. it's bad but not THAT bad. if it helps rev up my metabolism it is worth it! i really like drinking the pure cranberry juice... but be sure and dilute it in a lot of water or it is very tart. drink tons of it. it's also supposed to be a holistic remedy for shingles, which is why i was prescribed prednisone. so who knows? maybe it is also good for the hives? then my opthamologist said i never should have been on prednisone in the first place (it was prescribed by an urgent care doctor).

bottom line is my moon face has been going away. i don't know if it's the diurex or cranberry water or both. i'm going to keep using both just for good measure.

can eating a grapefruit a day cause bladder infections??? i was excited to be eating a healthy fruit!

good luck!
sanndiego

Hi... I was glad to find this site..I have been on and off prednisone for 3 mos....mostly ON..but now I have been off it for a week....I had a terrible hive reaction to 'something' in June and the only thing to suppress it has been prednisone...needless to say, I didn't sleep either...I averaged about 4 hours/night til they put me on Dixopen (sp?)...definitely helped with the sleeping as well as the hives..I tried the Diurex for the bloating and weight gain too...it helped very little...be careful around the grapefruit daily (I did that 2 different times in the past and it caused a bladder infection...) I am going to try the Cranberry juice though!...I am now off the Prednisone for a week and really watching my calorie intake...so maybe the Cranberry juice will speed things up and get me back to my 'normal' weight...do you put the vinegar 'in' anything...yuk by itself...I sure hope to get my puffy cheeks down as well...any updates?

A younger less drug skeptical me took prednisone for poison oak (talk about the remedy worse than the disease!). I had a major allergic reaction (hives, difficulty breathing, etc) and was given a big shot of benadryl at the ER.

This may sound crazy, but this was four years ago, and I am not sure my body ever got over it. My immune system is no good, and I (a person who takes great care of myself-happy, love my life, organic foos, exercise, etc) was SO sick the winter after the prednisone.

I still catch everything that seems to come by, adn I think its related to that vile drug.

I researched and did learn that according to studies, pred can depress the immune system for up to a year. If that is what the studies say, i am willing to bet its a hell of a lot longer than that.....

I took steroids for around 4 days, to counteract hives. The hives were evidently brought on by a skin reaction to artificial strawberry favoring plus stress (my mother-in-law died.)
I had erratic mood swings while taking the med. It did stop the itching and the hives. was taking benadryl also for the hives.

I never finished out the entire package of steroids, due to the mood swings.

I'm 21 years old... and I've been on Pred. for about two weeks now.... started out on 60 mg for 5 days, then 40 mg for 5 days, and now I'm on the home stretch with one 20 mg for the last 5 days. I had a reaction to some poison- though they never figured out what it was (though, I'm pretty sure it was poison oak and I had terrible hives reaction over my entire body).

But just from being on this medicine for two weeks I've experienced the following side effects:
- Increased appetite. Gained 3 1/2 lbs in a week and a half.
- Lack of deep sleep.
- Frequent trips to the bathroom throughout the night (3-5 times) - probably some how related to how much I'm consuming.
- Overall feeling of muscular weakness.
- AND worst of all, sweating at night. I'll have the a/c as low as it can go, and I still sweat through a few shirts at night. Does anyone else have this problem? It's driving me crazy... it's pretty gross. :)

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.

Daughter 17 years of age 6 months pregnant
broke out in hives last Thursday. Was put on prednisone. 20 mgs per pill. Took 3 pills Friday, 3 pills on Saturday, 2 on Sunday and went into a psychosis she's been confused, hallucinating, paranoid, you name she is. They put her on Haldol now, she took her 3rd dose today. She suppose to take the Haldol for 7 days. I had to take the week off from work to be with her. I'm not upset with that but I do think the ER dr is an ass and should not of given her such a high dose of prednisone

Please keep her & her baby in our prayers

I took it for about 2 weeks for an unusual occurance of hives brought on by stress. I immediately started to retain water and gain weight. It did something to my metabolism, because I gained 15 lbs. in about 3 weeks and top off at a 30 lb. weight gain over 3 months. I didn't start to lose it until about 3 years later.

I have been taking prednisone for severe chronic urticaria (hives) for 14 years. The good outwieghs the bad here because I would be dead by now if I was not on it. I would have killed myself. Before I was on it, my face would swell up so that I could not see, barely breathe and definitely not talk. On top of this I had hives on every inch of me, my hands so badly swollen that I could not close them, my feet so swollen even standing hurt and walking was like treading on knives. If that was not bad enough I had extreme nausea and could not keep even water down. Sleeping was completely out of the question and trying to do anything at all but sit and scratch was also out of the question. The only side effects I have had are extreme weight gain (60 the first year and in the additional years it has become a grand total of 150 lbs) I have doubled my weight since I started the medication. By the way I excercised like a hamster on crack and it did not help. I have pitting edema, an ulcer and I now bruise very easily. Over the years I have taken every antihistimine ever conceived as well as tried many other remedies. I have been on anti rejection medications, asthma medicine and even arthritis medication. At one point I was on Zantac and Proventil to see if that might do it. Unfortunately prednisone is the only thing that has worked for me. I have even tried some herbal remedies. I would wrap myself in aluminum foil if it would make my hives disappear, unfortunately it ended up being fat and pitting edema in which I have been wrapped. I can handle it. Getting fat is not the end of the world, not living my life is the end of everything! So take the vitamins and the detoxifiers and suck it up!

I was put on Pred. for severe hives after treatments for cancer (aggressive chemo and radiation) once the burns healed I came down with severe hives all over. I was put on Allegra, Clarinex, Zyrtec, Prednisone (60mg), Singulair, Advair, Atarax, and Preventil twice a day. I began feeling like a junky and the pharmacy would question my refills. I have the moon face and weight gain, with cancet treatments and prednisone total gain is 80lbs. I was ready to give up, between the pills, the massive side effects and the hives. I was intrduced to an awesome high antioxident through Market America. I started taking 4 capfuls per day and within a week stopped all my meds. cold turkey. I got hives worse the first 3 days but I was told that would happen while my system detoxed. My doctor added Plaqunel (to cover his butt) but it takes 3 months to get into your system and it is not a steriod. I still get a few hive now and then when I eat something (Red dye, barley-beer) but after I take my OPC-3 they go away without any medication not even OTC meds.
If you want information on the antioxidants I am taking you can find information at www.4thebetterlife.com or e-mail me at ******. I am also taking vitamin C and B12 with the OPC-3 because they assist with inflamation and histimine levels. I am working on the weight (I still gained and was on Weight watcher the whole time) and my face is SLOWLY returning, its been 2 months. I wish you all the best. I will never go on a drug again without researching it first and looking for more natural ways to take care of the problems and this is coming from someone who had 20-50% chance of living through my cancer P.N.E.T. Sarcoma. I am doing great no and I am cancer free and I am getting my life back after steriods.

I'm going through my second batch of re-occurring hives! 13 years ago, in high school, I had them all over my body everyday for 3 years! The many specialists, tests, diets & 31 different medications I tried, didn't help. One day, the hives just disappeared. After 10 years with no hives, they came back around just as massive and strong as before. I've had them daily for 10 months. I refused to take any steroids, until I ended up in the ER because my tounge was swollen and I couldn't breathe. I had to take the Prednisone. After 6 months of feeling completely crazy and gaining so much weight, I just stopped. Now, I'm on multiple doeses of prescreption anti-histamines.

During the 6 months I was on the Prednisone, I gained 38 lbs. I was still maintaining my workout routine, but felt like I was eatting for a whole family! I've been off of the steroids for a little over 4 months. My workout consists of one hour cardio/aerobic workouts, 5-6 times a week. Additionally, due to new food allergies, my diet is limited to meat, selected vegtables/fruits and limited dairy intake. I can not eat anything with flour/wheat & grains or chocolate. Plus, I'm on my 4th month of Phentremine (prescription weight loss medication). Even with all of this, I have only lost 18 lbs. (Everyone I know who has taken a prescription weight loss medication lost approx. 35 lbs in 3 months.) Is it because of the Prednisone that it's taking so much longer to loose the weight? How long will it take and does anyone know of anything else I can do to speed up this process?

This may be a little long.. but I thot it was amusing (or terrifying).

No one website provided this entire list, I merged and edited a few.

My favorite is "... this is not a complete list."

You will not get all, or even most, of these side effects, but they are possible. This is not a complete list.

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
a weakened immune system in general, leaving you open to infection
sensitivity to sunlight - avoid too much sun
heat intolerance
"moon face" - a swollen, rounded facal shape
sodium retention, fluid retention, edema (swelling)
congestive heart failure, from "steroid myopathy"
potassium loss, alkalosis (increased alkalinity such as sodium, in the blood)
hypertension - high blood pressure (severe headache or blurred vision)
muscle weakness, loss of muscle mass
osteopenia - loss of bone density, osteoporosis - extreme loss of bone density ;bone and joint changes osteoporosis
tendon rupture, especially of the Achilles tendon
spinal compression fractures
aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads - severe knee and hip joint problem, possibly requiring replacement joints
chronic fractures of your long bones
peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage
nausea, vomiting
anorexia, weight loss
increased appetite, weight gain, sudden weight gain (more than 5 pounds in a day or two)
diarrhea or constipation
pancreatitis - inflamed pancreas
abdominal distention - swelling of the stomach
ulcerative esophagitis - inflammation of the esophagus (tube that leads to your stomach), with sores
slow wound healing
thin, fragile skin
petechiae - blood spots on the skin
ecchymoses - black and blue pools of blood under the skin from ruptured blood vessels
facial erythema - abnormal redness of the facial skin
hirsutism - abnormal hair growth
acne
urticaria - hives
heavy sweating
headache
convulsions
vertigo
neuritis - impaired or lost reflexes
paresthesias - sensation of numbness, tingling or burning
menstrual irregularities
Cushingoid state
failure of adrenal gland to produce enough hormones in times of stress
stunted growth in children
hypercholesterolemia - high cholesterol
low carbohydrate tolerance
adult onset diabetes
increased need for insulin in diabetics
hypoglycemia - low blood sugar
cataracts
increased pressures in the eye
glaucoma, with possible damage to the optic nerves
secondary eye infections due to fungi or viruses
exophthalmos - abnormal bulging out of the eyeballs
hallucinations
psychosis
euphoria, mood changes
accelerated atherosclerosis - coronary artery disease
heart arrhythmias due to potassium deficiency
syncope - fainting
necrotizing angiitis - serious inflammation of blood vesssels or lymph ducts
night sweats, nightmares, insomnia

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 have been on prednisone, and other types of steroids for 6 years now,, i have all the side effects, hair thinning, skin thinning, moon face, weight gain, stopped my menstrual, rashes, legg cramps, brusing, mood swings, and on and on, , i compare this drug to cocain,,,THE BIG LIE! It will make u feel good at 1st, then sap!...anyway,, i take them, because i have constant hives,,, steroids only covers the problem up for awhile, it doesn't cure,,, honestly,, of there is another way, take it,,, try to stay off the steroids,,this is what i was told,,,depending on how long u have been on steroids, it can take up to 2 years to get out of your system, and that long to get that weight off,,it is not water weight,,, IT IS FAT, because you put it on eating,,this drug will make ur skin thin,, will bring your young body down FAST!!!! i personally have come to the conclusion to keep the hives and swellings and stop the steroids,,,,oooooo VERY IMPORTANT,,,STEROIDS, WILL AME U HEAL VERY SLOW,, SO IF U HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY,,,DENTAL WORK,,MAKE SURE U SAY SOMETHING...