PredniSONE and hunger

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

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!

I've known several individuals that have been on prednisone and they changed their diet to counter the side effects of "moon" face & weight gain. In short this is what they did: males, reduce caloric intake to 1500 cal/day by eating five 300-calorie meals a day (every 4 hrs), limiting carbohydrate intake to 30g "net" carbs per day, and limiting sodium intake to 500mg per day. Females, reduce caloric intake to 1200 cal/day by eating four 300-calorie meals per day, limit carb intake to 30g "net" carbs per day, and reduce sodium intake to 500 mg/day. The idea behind the diet is that the frequent small meals will fight off hunger and weight gain while limiting sodium will counter fluid retention.

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

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

I have been on Prednisolone about 4 times in recent years. the highest dose was last year when i was on 80mg reducing weekly by 5mg. I have had most of the side affects you all talk about above. I have severe colitis so the side-effects of this drug are something i have to put up with. at the moment i have all the classic side-effects i usually get, rapid hunger, swelling to my face (moon face), neck has layer of fat, swollen back (buffalo hump), bruising easily, horrible taste in my mouth, swollen stomach. the one good side effect is it gives me lovely smooth skin lol. anyway the point of my post isn't to rip this drug appart as i have to say for me its a wonder drug and this time has prevented me from having my bowel removed! from personal experience once you finish the steroid treatment after a few weeks you'll notice the swelling go, my hunger usually fizzles out quite quickly (altho i have a large appetite in the first place!!) none of the side effects are permanent, so please all rest assured you will go back to normal just try not to put on too much weight while on the drug.

I know this is not a new effect, but I feel so out of control with hunger. I have never had a weight problem but I can not stop eating. I was on a regimen of high dose 60mg tapering over 6mths and gained 20 pounds due to radiation pneumonitis. Unfortunately, I now have a rare pneumonia from lung injury (radiation) and am back on 40mg for at least 6mths with gradual tapering. My question....am I going to gain another 20 lbs? This cant be all water because I am really eating and feel so bloated. Not to mention the other side effects mentioned in other posts.

Also, the pain after coming off in my muscles was very intense so it must be very common. I feel 80 and I am 48.

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?

I am 52 yr old female perimenopausal and I have some good things to say about my last experience with prednisone. This past allergy season I was put on 3 courses of the 5 day dose pak to decrease swelling of my bronchials. Now in past years when I have gone on prednisone I have not cared for how it has caused me sleep loss, irritability, and hunger. But something must be going on with me hormonally that caused this years experience which resulted in a sense of calm like I rarely have experienced, no loss of sleep, but the reverse - I slept better. Also reduction in hunger and an ability to and desire to control my calorie intake (I am nearly 100 lbs overweight). If it didn't have such long term side effects I wish I could stay on it for ever. What I found very interesting is last month when I was visiting my 61 year old sister who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and is currently on a 6 month treatment of prednisone is that she shared similar reaction to being on the drug as I did. I wish I could find the connection of what it was doing either to our immune system or pharmocalogically to our nervous systems that gave us such pleasant experience from using this drug this time.

I am a kidney transplant patient. I have been on prednisone for two years. I immediately noticed a lot of weight gain because of extreme hunger. My atitude is out of control. I am very aggressive at times and other times I am very emotional. I definitely feel this stuff plays mind games on you. I have also developed diabetes 2, a lot of muscle ached and knee and joint pains. Has anyone else had these problems?

hi i am a newcomer to this site and i have been on prednisone for 3 weeks and actually i took my last pill todayi have also been experiencing side effects like, little sleep, aching bones and muscles, acid reflux/hearburn, quite often urinating and hunger..actually hunger is the only side effect that i don't mind having as i had very little appetite before and is underweight for my height so i actually hope to gain a little weight..how long does it take for the side effects to leave your body and if i only took this for 3 weeks will it leave any permanent damage, like bone problems?????

I've been tapering for 7 months since my last infusion of pred, I started in June 2005 with 1000mg a day for 3-5 days in a row, I've had about 4 of them at 1000mg for 3-5 days afterwards I tapered from 180mg a day each time and am now down to 3mg's daily, my total since this eye disease started is about 30,000mg of prednisone, it's the only thing that gets my vision back and eye pain to go away. the sleepless nights, extreme hunger, hump on my neck, swollen legs...I hate this stuff but even with taking methotrexate, I still need it. visit my site www.daicompacific.com/thyroid.htm to see what I've been through. Thanks Steve Duran

I was prescribed prednisone for a severe case of poison ivy. 60mg for 10 days, then tapering over 2 more weeks. Side effects were dizziness, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, slow healing, pent up energy, acne, etc. My doctor also prescribed Ranitidine 300mg 2x day because it's a histamine blocker, and that helped with the all-over itching. Ranitidine is normally prescribed as a stomach aid (for ulcers/acid reflux I think), so that may have helped prevent any of the stomach/digestive side effects. I also tried to follow the recommended dietary suggestions that I learned about. I focused on potassium, calcium, protein, zinc rich foods, lots of healthy vegetables, vitamin E, etc. Try searching the internet for "prednisone diet" or "prednisone nutrition". I think all that helped! Good luck.

I hate the Dr's who give this out and do not inform of the hunger all time, rapid wgt gain. I'm 20 heavier after taking it for about 6-8 weeks for chronic hives that eventually closed my throat and was sent to er twice. When the hives came for no apparent reason (had all the tests done) Allergist says I'm not allergic to anything so she keeps giving all this stuff. When I had an extreme reaction with hives the prednisone helped them go away. I assure you I am allergic to blue dye found in pills, syrups, dye. I avoid darkly colored pills at all cost. I hate prednisone cause although I've been off of it for quite sometime. Can't lose the wgt it put on me.

My mother has severe COPD and is on prednisone to help her breathe a bit easier.

She was on 60 mgs a day for about two weeks and is weaning herself off. She always has the moon face, increased hunger, short temper and high glucose levels with this but this time there is a new side effect.

She recently started suffering dillusions. She didn't know she was in her own home, etc. She is currently in the hospital where they are weaning her off of the medication and keeping her sedated. The doctor attributes the dillusions to the prednisone. Has anyone had a similar side effect? I am hoping this is what is causing her dillusions. Thanks for your help.

Been on prednisone for over 6 mos...started at 60 mg a day for COPD's, major lung infections at times. Yes, it helped clear that up, but as mentioned by all of you, the side affects are about to ruin relationships with friends/family. I am supposed to start weaning down to 40, etc...for at least two weeks, then 30, and so on, till off completely, but so far, once I get down to the 30, the infections start back and I end up back up to 60. Weight gain, major hunger, major burning where they go in and where they go out...eyes watery/blurred vision. Personality has become very agressive and have lost two friends this week because of my outbursts. It's like I know what I am doing, yet can't control it. I have never been so depressed, and I am on Wellbutrin but doesn't seem to be helping. Steroids leave permanent enlargement of neck and the new look on face remains for the most part...I believe you call in moon face...I just look in a mirror and don't even recognize the person Ihave become.
age 57/f

I have been diagniosed with bells palsy, a tempory acute auto immune responce to an infected facial nerve. Within days I began to suffer from insomnia, mood swings-anger, hunger, thirst, blurred vision. I find it impossible to relax my mind and I am very restless.

Not sure whats wose bells or Prednisone!

I took 40 mg aday for 11 days, then 20 mg for 2 days, then 10 for 4 days. I had unbearable pain in the knees, extreme hunger, insomnia, and a few extra pounds. Now that I am no longer taking it I sleep better, not as hungry, but my breast are extremly sore, and I have what looks like pimples on my arms, back and neck. Does anybody know how long the effects stay in your system? Are there side effects from not taking it anymore? Any commets would really help.

I was given a prescrip for 60mg a day of pred from a hospital ER in NYC. No tapering instructions were given, either. 4 days in I developed severe joint pain in wrists, knees, shoulder, etc. Day 6 I stopped cold turkey. Saw an allergist specialtist on Day 10 because this all started as a reaction I had to something still unknown. Yesterday on day 12 with no decrease in joint pain I started the pred again at 10mg at the doc's request. Pain got better a few hours later but then started again in my wrist which had previously cleared up. Took another 10mg before bed last night. Still lots of wrist pain. Today it's unbearable. Doc says to only take 5mg next time in am and 10 at night. I can't stand this pain! Advil won't make it decrease at all. Seems like I got relief when I started up the pred again but seems like I have a reaction to taking it again.

All these feelings u r having come from the pred. Trembling in the hands or shaking, hunger, weight gain, anxiety, insomnia, etc., r a part of the pred. Everyone here who has been on pred. has gone thru all of the side effects. It's very hard to go thru. Don't think u r crazy, it's the pred. I've been off of it since June 10th and still have insomnia, and sometimes my hands tremble. I was on it for 4 yrs. Watch out for high carb foods and high sugar content foods or u will be in the bathroom alot. Hang in there and God Bless all of u.

I am on 20 mg prednisone, and have started trembling, have lots of palpitations and a terrible hunger.

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

One of the things I craved the most after coming off of Pred was chocolate and although I have set my mind strictly on salads, fish & chicken, the cravings for sweets is still there but then again Mind Over Matter. So instead, I take a tspn of honey, it's healthier and doesn't make my face to break-out. Many people say that after Pred they feel less hungry so I think the fact you quit smoking may contribute to your hunger and cravings.
By the way, good luck on your way to become a smoke-free person :)

I am wondering how long after quitting this drug does it take for the side effects to go away, in particular, weight gain. I was on it for only seven days for poison oak that I had had for over a month at that point. It worked on the poison oak, but omigosh, the hunger was terrible. I gained 15 pounds in those seven days that I cannot seem to get off me now. I have been doing the Atkins diet for the past year or so, but since the prednisone, it does not seem to be working any more. I'm not sure why I can't lose any weight at all and am extremely frustrated at this point. Any and all advise would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

To Guest #10748......Yes, I had terrible side effects while I was reducing my dose. In fact, I ended up in the emergency room one Sunday because my blood pressure and heart rate went sky high. I am a person with anxiety and panic attacks anyway, so the prednisone really put me over the edge. I am now down to .5 (1/2 of a 10mg tablet) a day until they are all gone; and they are almost all gone, thank God!!!!! I am feeling much better these days; not to say I don't have my bad days. I am taking the prednisone for sudden hearing loss in my right ear, so I still have my days where I feel weird because my head feels lopsided. It is the strangest feeling ever. It's very hard to explain to anyone unless they have experienced it too. I had the muscle weakness, mostly in my shoulders and arms; the extreme hunger, (I still can't believe the food that I could put away) and just a general LOUSEY feeling. I was a nervous wreck. Hang in there; it will get better. I can say this.......I will never take it again. Even if I end up in a wheelchair someday for some reason....I will NOT TAKE IT. Oh, and I had extreme sweating; mostly at night when it was time to go to bed. I would have to get a cold washcloth and lay it on top of my chest to cool down my core temperature. It was awful!!!! I guess it was pretty much a NIGHTMARE. Like I said, Hang in there!!!!!!

Glad to read some of the experiences of others. Now I don't feel so worried. I have never experienced such nasty side effects. I am now off the Prednisone and feel the come-down is as bad as being on the drug. Most of the time I feel numb in my muscles. A drunk feeling without the booze. While on the drug, I experienced terrible sleeping troubles, emoitional highs and lows and extreme hunger, 24/7. Today, I a very sore in my neck and shoulder region. The shaking and tweeking were bad too. As well as the disconnected feeling of not being able to complete sentences or thoughts. I feel as if i have been losing my mind. One bit of advise, I wouldn't work out extrememly hard while on Prednisone. Walking is fine but anything highly aerobic, like kick boxing or jogging feels like you're in cardiac arrest.

My mood swings were huge. With three young sons in the house, it took a lot to keep me composed. Hunger, gained 25 pounds the first week. As bad as food tasted, I could not push myself away from the table. Water and Coke tasted terrible. Am off it for now and while it did take my pain away and restore my strength, the side effects were cruel.

Extreme Weight Gain, and Severe Loss of Bladder Control, while taking it by mouth @ a 20 mg dose and by injection for Severe Asthma.

I went from a size 36/38 Men's Pants to a Size 44!!!!!

Thirst, Hunger, Weight Gain, from eating like John Belushi, in the Animal House Movie, in the food fight scene, and finacial ruin, from having to buy bladder control supplies, are just some of the problems I have had, not to mention the Moon Face and Finger Selling.....

Thank God I don't have to take the medicing @ this moment.

George

Just found your site. Pretty good stuff. I have been dealing with kidney disease for over 12 years. Had a transplant 7 years ago and have been dealing with some complications for about 1 year. After the transplant I was on 80mg of prednisone then evetually reduced to 5 mg. Due to the complications I'm back up to 40mg everyday. I get pretty much the same side effects as everybody. I'm 42 and can tell you that you CAN overcome the effects of this drug. It's not easy though. The depression is the most difficult. Be sure to let anyone who is close to you know that you are dealing with issues that require "special understanding." Tell them that you will probably be cranky then try to be aware when you are. Own the problem and work to keep it in line - its hard work but you KNOW it is not your normal self and you can force the uncomfortable feelings to a minimum. The cramping is irritating but it beats waking upon the other side of the grass! Remember that you have life - do what you can in every way you can. I take life savers candies as a "pill" for my hunger and drink lots of water instead of soda. That helps with the weight gain. Ice cold water seems to help - I keep a 1/2 full container in the freezer then add water to the ice and put it in the fridge. Popsicles also work. The ice cold sensation can be very satisfying. Good luck - when the treatment is reduced the side effects do wane.

Prednisone for crohns, started at 40mg. i did experience some of the side effects, the muscle burning, hunger and irritation but was happy to live with it as it was actually making better. then a flare up before travelling to my in-laws in poland and took prednisone to control it. the anger, rage because of an icident there was amazing. my father in law wont even ackowledge me and my marriage is heading to the divorce courts. Someone said earlier" it's 2004 their must be better"..Absolutely

I'm a 25 year old guy who was diagnosed with IBD- Ulcerative Colitis right before Christmas. Started out on 40mg prednisone and now im down to 20mg (get to drop to 17.5 tomorrow!). At first the side effects were anxiousness, sleeplessness, and an insane hunger. Now those have died down for the most part, but I have gained 20 pounds (which isn't a huge deal as I lost about that in the hospital), my face is much fuller, my stomach is always bloated, increased acne, and increased facial hair growth. I will be on prednisone at some dosage through april...so im really hopeful the weight gain/bloating will decrease as i lower the dosage. I would be interested in talking to others who have lived through this or are currently in a similar situation...******

This drug down right sucks and I can't wait til the day I can get off of it! I have Crohn's disease and I've been taking Prednisone for 3 months now. And will probably be on it for another 6 months. As soon as I stopped taking it the first time all the pain came back. So now I'm on 40mgs a day again. Moon face,swelling everywhere! Back pain,knee pain,heartburn,sweats,severe hunger(which did subside when my dose was lowered),mood swings... I feel for anyone who has to take this.

I am 16 years old and I am taking 60 mg of prednisone per
day. I have a kidney disease and that is why I have to take it. I have experienced weight gain, moon face, bloating, easy bruising, and hunger all the time. I would not recomend this medicine unless your illness is life threatning. If anyone would like to talk about it, please email me. Thanks