PredniSONE and joint pain

My husband initially took Prednisone after getting strange lesions, severe joint pain, severe fatigue and severe stomach cramps/nausea. It worked great he was tapered off and no problems for about 18 months. Then he go sick again (2/08) and has been up and down on Prednisone for 7 months- currently taking 60 mg. daily. Some doctors think he has Wegener's, but testing is inconclusive (Wegener's starts with upper respiratory stuff, which he also had). His mood swings are severe and he's a different person, twitching, hand trembling, muscle spams, malaise, anxiety/depression, very fatigued, insomnia, severe stomach cramps/vomiting. How do you tell which symptoms are the Prednisone and which are the disease process? They want to taper him to make him sick enough to get some test results that show organ damage or something, but everyone chickens out and he ends up getting increased. How long should he be on Prednisone and not be put on something stronger?

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

im a 20 year old male who was given prednisone to reduce the inflammation around my spinal cord in my neck from a herniated disk. 60MG in the morning for 4 days and 40MG in the morning for 3 days...... no real weening process which im seeing probably should have been administered. while i was on it the mood swings were nuts and i noticed feeling muscle weakness and joint pain along with the occasional burning or tingling. ive been off it for 6 days and now the muscles in my legs and feet twitch and im still crazy in the head with little sleep and sinus headaches that don't quit. how long does this shit go on?

I had been on a prednisone dose pack (not too strong??) about a month ago for a neck injury to take away some inflammation. No side effects to mention and my neck felt tons better. Yesterday I went back to my dentist after 5 days of pain from a root canal. He put me on a prednisone dose pack saying there was some inflammation in the bone, very common, and the prednisone should take care of it. I took my dose yesterday, didn't sleep well (common side effect it seems) but then today my heart is racing and feels like it skips a beat. I have read this happening to folks on much higher doses, anyone have this kind of side effect with 20 mg/day?

Following a deadly allergic reaction to Celebrex, I was given an injection of prednizone, and prescribed 60 mgs. of Prednizone per day for a week. By the third day, my anxiety and what they call "steroid psychosis" was so bad I thought I was going mad. I suffered horrible insomnia, crying attacks, paranoia, fear...you name it. On the fourth day, my knee swelled up horribly and walking was nearly impossible. I stopped taking Prednizone cold turkey on the fourth day (which you are NOT supposed to do, but my doctor didn't tell me that). It has been over 6 weeks since the episode and I am still suffering knee and joint pain, gained 26 pounds and have a red face and horrible acne. My knee has a horrific bulge still. I had an MRI on the knee, and they say that I have fluid buildup on the joint. I have no idea how long it will take to get this drug out of my system, but I would caution anyone to seriously reconsider taking it unless it is life threatening. I believe my allergic reaction could have been treated with just benadryl alone.

Been on Prednisone for 3 years now for ulcerative colitis. At first tolerated the drug quite well. But after a few months started to gain weight, acne. After 3 years of yo-yoing between large and low doses, each increase in dose made me feel worse. I am now at a state of osteopenia and of extreme tiredness and brain fog. I see 80yo with more energy than I. I cant walk up 10 sets of stairs without feeling tired out. I need to sleep 3-5 hours a day just in order to function. As mentioned before brain fog is amazingly bad. I'm a scientific researcher which can no longer work.

Prednisone has introduced to me what panic attacks are, mood swings, joint pain and swelling, extreme muscle fatigue and wasting, blurry vision, in habitual eating habits, depression.

This drug has ruined my life. I would have preferred having surgery to remove the colon and going to the toilet 10 times a day rather than not living as brain fog and tiredness that makes my life a dream-state nightmare.

I just started 80 mg of Prednisone for Vasculitis in my kidney’s. I also have RA. This treatment is being augmented with low dose chemotherapy. The Chemo is nothing compared with the side effects of the Prednisone. It is Horrible. It has so messed with my brain I never knew what an awful existence obsessive compulsives live. I can’t sit still and stop doing things if there is anything left undone! I have trouble with controlling my emotions, responses etc. Thinking isn’t easy either. And I’m awake most of the night. (Not a bad thing since we just were blessed with twins however). But it is really straining my relationship with my 6 year old son who can’t understand why his Dad goes from nice dad to mad dad in a second. I’ve also have horrid muscle fatigue in my legs. For me this is the worst because getting up and moving and walking up stairs is almost impossible. And I was hiking up to 5 miles in rough terrain just a few weeks ago. I’ve actually LOST 10 lbs.

So I am wondering if anyone has any tips, tricks or ideas they have found to combat the muscle fatigue? It would be greatly appreciated if you could share any ideas you have. I’ve been drinking water and electrolyte replacements, (G-2, the new Gatorade) but that has not solved the problem.

Thanks.

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 taken Prednisone 10 mg about two times now and now I think it has effect my joints in my shoulder , hands and hips joints

I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in July. I had my colonoscopy/endoscopy the day before 4th of July. Got sick with what I thought was the flu on June 26th. That's when I first landed in the hospital (dehydrated & sick). After the diagnosis I was first put on Entocort and Pentasa (Pentasa is supposed to be a remission drug - keep you from having flare-ups). Entocort didn't work so they switched me to Prednisone. I've been on Prednisone for about 6 months now. Going from 20 mg to 40 mg and then I'm finally weaned down to 5 mg. I get to go completely off of it Jan. 13th. Scared of what other side effects might occur from coming off the drug. While on it I've had emotional problems, acne(never had a problem with it before), moon face, gained 30 pounds, joint pain (I was in therapy for as long as insurance covered. - I recommend water therapy, it helps for some people as it did me), trouble sleeping (haven't slept a full night since I got sick), certain days I'm really really thirsty, I've had sort of what I'd call restless leg (I had this before I was on this medicine but it has gotten significantly worse - mostly at night or when lying down), and dry skin.I have to say though that the WORST side effect is the FOG. It's horrible. I enjoy learning and using my brain and when I'm on this I can't think, I mix up words, and it feels like my brain is covered in cobwebs.I had to drop a calc 2 class and that got me off the track I'd set with my academics. My inflammation rate is down where it's supposed to be as of the last blood test a couple weeks ago. So I guess the Prednisone and Remicade are doing what they are supposed to - but I still don't feel as if the pain (not associated with Prednisone - caused by the disease) has gone completely away even if the inflammation has gone down. And Prednisone's effects are just horrible. Some nights I feel depressed and just want to cry and cry. The past months have been trying because of several hospital stays, switching to many different doctors (gastrointernologists, nephrologist, urologist (kidney stones), primary doctor - and they think maybe I should see a rheumatologist), and Pentasa (it began shutting my kidneys down). I just hope that when I come off the Prednisone the side effects will fade (hopefully quickly but lets be realistic - ill just be happy if they go away sometime in the next few months) and I won't flare up again. Anyone know the best way to get rid of the weight? I'm already drinking lots of water and I go walking and do exercises everyday.

QUESTION: When tapering Prednisone does anyone have a place(s) on their stomach that are sunken in and feels dry compared to the skin around it?

Anyways, I hope that everyone overcomes their difficulties, whatever they might be or concern. It's hard to have a life when you are constantly fighting your own body to stay healthy.There are plenty of situations in life that are already hard enough to deal with without medical issues of your own. Best of luck to all!

I was just wondering...I've been weened off Prednisone the last month or so and today is my last pill. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
However, I've noticed that my joints hurt and my feet oh the pain. Is this normal. I feel like my muscles are weak. walking up a flight of stairs is painful. Anyone know how long this will last or if this is something I will have to live with.

I Have ms I just found out. They thought I had a brain tumor and the admitted me to the hospital and started treating me immediately with Prendisone.It has just been horrible do you hear me horrible!! after I weened off of them the moon face became horrible. I have knee pain and they swell. my legs and feet and stomach. I have swelling in my back that looks like a buffalo hump. It is horrible.please help me. I feel so unattractive I just cant help it. I am very grateful that it has helped me. I was numb on my entire right side that is another reason why they put me on it. I am glad that is gone, but I almost think I would rather deal with the numbness than I would all of this. It is really scary because nobody said anything to me about how it was going to effect me. Actually the nurses said that there were no side effects to worry about. well let me tell you it has been one roller coaster; i was pumped full of the Prednisone through an IV for thirteen days straight in the hospital,, then was sent home and was given the pill form. all together I have been on the Prednisone for 26 days straight. I will just be so grateful when all of this subsides.All I want for Christmas is to get this swelling off of me and get rid of the moon face and the joint pain. is that tooooo much to ask my goodness. I am so glad that I found this site. it has really been most helpful. I hope everyone out there has better luck with this than I have. it sounds like allot of people have problems. thanks

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

My doctor prescribed me Prednisone on May 3. I'm on 10 mg. I start out on 3 tabs 2x a day for 4 days, then 2 tabs 2x a day for 3 days, then 1 tab 1x a day for 2 days. I was put on this for a sudden attack of joint pain/stiffness/swelling of my elbows, wrists, hands, knees, ankles and feet. I was in extreme pain. So far this drug has given me no side effects other than needing to urinate a little more often than usual. My pain is gone, as is the swelling. I'm almost scared to go off this b/c of the fear of the pain coming back. My blood tests came back on Friday and my doctor told me that I had Rheumitic (sorry, I know that's spelled wrong) inflammation and if the pain did come back after I stopped the Prednisone that I'd have to do more blood tests. I just turned 30 and I'm scared to death what else might be wrong with me.

Hello- I was Dx with Sarcoidosis in February, 2007. My lung specialist put me on 20mg Prednisone, increasing to 40mg within two weeks. My Sarcoid symptoms were from enlarged lymph- extreme trouble breathing, middle and lower back pain, kidney pain. Within a week of being at the 40mg level my heart rate and BP became so erratic that he had to start weaning me down. Initially I had extreme energy which felt good after suffering from fatigue but was short lived due to the cardiac problems.

The Prednisone has resolved much of my inflammation for the Sarcoid but I will not go on this again. I have been weaning now for over three weeks. Down under 5mg of Prednisone and it is almost unbearable. Each time I took a drop my mental symptoms became intolerable. Anxiety, extreme fatigue with extreme weakness, irrational thoughts, blurred vision. Within the last couple of days I could hardly get myself out of bed. My weight has increased steadily, bloating stomach, stiff joints, skin rash.

My biggest complaint is that doctors are not giving us enough information as to how this will affect from a negative side. Yes, it takes care of the inflammation but no one prepared me for these awful side effects and withdrawal symptoms. I feel like a nut case most of the time with no coping skills.

I was put on 1 gram of solumedral a day for 3 days and I am now doing the whole taper down thing for the next 18 days starting at 80 mg a day of prednisone. My knees and lower back were extremely painful the first 4 days. I'm now at 50 mg and the joint pain isnt too bad anymore but i did catch a cold, pink eye, and I feel very spacey. I am taking natural supplements along with the pred, I think they are helping a little. I'm also drinking ALOT of fluid and really fighting the cravings to eat. I hope there are no serious side effects as the doses get lower. I hope everyone that doesnt NEED to take this medicine can some how flush their system of it or for those who must take it, hopefully you can counter balance the negative side effects...Good luck and please share any knowledge you may have...we all need it!

I have been on the "pak" for four days of the seven now. My joints & asthma are MUCH better, but at a cost. I went balistic in the license branch today! It was scary for even me. The only reason the cops were'nt called was that thank God my adult daughter was with me, and got me out of there. I was shaking and my face was blood red. This can't happen again. I have NEVER done anything remotely like that in the past. Either my doc writes me some tranqilizers, or I am off this crap! We had discussed making preg a routine drug for me {low doses of course}, but I am having second thoughts now. True, the joint pain was pretty bad, but I'll just load up on NASIDs instead, and use my inhaler religously from now on. This is the only negitive side effect I have had, BUT IT IS ENOUGH FOR ME!

I have ulcerative colitis and have been on and off Prednisone for 3 years. Usually about 40 milligrams and tapering. I always noticed sensitive teeth and leaky leg veins/ swelling and discolored. That was all really. Then in April this year, during a bad flare, was put on 120 milligrams (accident by Dr or Pharmacist) for two weeks then 80 mg for several weeks then 60 until I could get on Remicade and finally get off the stuff in August. I gained 30 lbs while on a strict no sugar, specific carb diet, from size 12-18, moon face, triple chin, hump on back, big stretchmarks under my arms, fallen uterus and bladder now needing surgery, lost my voice, glaucoma and cataracts, cholesterol went from 189 to 318, leg and hand cramps daily and nightly, now am experiencing intense joint pain in every joint of my body. My legs and ankles swelled up terribly and now I have to wear support hose constantly. Since getting off Prenisone in mid August til now mid October, my face and neck have been returning to normal, friends mentioned last night my face looked more normal (I was hating seeing myself in the mirror or a picture). My teeth are terribly sensitive, even room temperature wine (acid?), hot or cold.

I was diagnose with rhumatoid arthritus recently. the joint pain was very severe in my shoulder and my wrists and fingers. My feet felt like big round balls and i could barely walk. My rhumatologist had just started me on plaquinil but it was having no effect. after complaing about my symptoms that had been going on and getting worse for about 2 weeks he put me on prednisone 30mg a day 10mg tabs. I noticed improvement right a way and have been on the drug for 1 month. today i feel great. and am not experiencing any side affects at this time. The dosage has been prescribed to ween me off the prednisone. hopefully it will work.

I HAD BEEN ON 80MGS. OF PREDNISONE FOR TREATMENT OF SEVERE SORIASIS. IT WORKED WONDERS FOR THE SKIN CONDITION. , I WAS SPEEDING MY BRAINS OUT , AND GOING 100 MILES PER HOUR. IT WAS SOMEWHAT EUPHORIC. I AM 45 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN IN MENOPAUSE SINCE MY LAST CHILD WAS BORN 5 YEARS AGO. AFTER I TAPERED OFF THE PREDNISONE OVER A MONTH PERIOD... I STARTED TO HEMMORAGE. I HAD UNCONTROLLABLE VAGINAL BLEEDING, BLOATING , PAIN, MOOD SWINGS, DEPRESSION, ETC. THE BLEEDING DID FINALLY SUBSIDE AFTER BEING OFF THE DRUG FOR 10 DAYS. HOWEVER , NOW THE SKIN IS DETERIORATING, AND THE JOINT PAIN IS EXCRUCIATING. I CAN BARELY WALK. I AM A DANCE TEACHER, AND THIS IS BECOMING DEBILITATING. I ALSO HAVE A CANCER HISTORY, AND THYROID DISEASE. IT WAS AND IS ROUGH. I GUESS I HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN HAVING HORRID, DISGUSTING SKIN ( AND UNABLE TO GET A PUBLIC JOB) AND BEING EMBARRASSED ALL THE TIME AND DEALING WITH THE VERY DIFFICULT SIDE AFFECTS OF THIS MEDICATION. I AM HOPING FOR A BETTER ALTERNATIVE. THE SUFFERRING IS UNBEARABLE. LIBBY B.

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease over thirty-one years ago. I have taken Predisone many times over the period of my illness. My Crohn's Disease has been very aggressive and I have lost all but 250 cm of my bowel. Prednisone has been the only drug that has been able to help but at great cost to me. I am now disabled from the disease and the side effects of the drug. The most devestating side effect is the weight gain. I am now 80lbs heavier than when I was diagnosed. The moon face is very difficult to deal with. Everyone says they know it's from the meds but that doesn't help when I look in the mirror. The fat deposits in my abdomen are very embrassing to me as well.
The sweats, blurred vision, nervousness, hyperactivity, exhaustion, acne, slepplessness, shaking, joint pain (so bad I can hardly walk when I am on the meds), mood swings, depression, swelling (water retention so bad I can hardly bend my legs), the muscle wasting in my thighs, the conective tissue damage making it hard to heal from surgery, difficulty concentrating, bone weakness ( I break ribs very easily) and so many more...all this is too much to pay to control a disease.
They really need to find better drugs now. If you can try something else instead of Prenisone I strongly recomend that you do. It should always be a last resort.

I am the opposite - I've taken lower dosages for bronchittis and now on 30 mg a day for joint pain. I have loose stools, and very rarely hungry. I do drink a lot. I am usually only on up to a couple of weeks but end up loosing about 10 pounds a week. This time I am on for 3 weeks.

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

I was on Prednisone for 8 months for Ulcerative Colitis, from 40mg on down and had a very hard time tapering off the drug. I am 45yo and still have joint pain in my elbow, knees, shoulder, a 20lb. weight gain, puffiness in my abdomen and face. I am afraid of bone loss and want to know if I should take Fosomax. How long does it take for the drug to leave the body and how can I accelarate the process.

Was taking 20 mg for 6 weeks for asthma. After first week had occassional joint pain. After 2 weeks the pain in my shoulders, hips and knees was severe enough to cause problems walking. My knee joints starting sweeling. I was told to cut off the pills cold turkey 3 weeks ago, which I did. However, my right shoulder and my knnes still have pain. My left knee continues to hold the same swelling. Is this normal after 3 weeks?

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.

Six weeks ago, I took prednisone for ten days for joint pain and swelling (both hands, both knees, both feet etc. ). the swelling subsideded the fourth day. I lost 5 pounds of fluid weight gain. Ten days after stopping predisone, I had a second onset of swelling and pain with 5 pounds of weight gain. I took 40mg two days and lost the 5 pounds and severe pain. I also lost depression that has been with me 45 years. I experienced elation sustained for the first time since I was 18 years old. I am 63, retired, blessed with a good life within a prison of secret depression. I cut the dose to 10mg per day and saw a rheumatoligist who ordered 15 blood tests today and continued the 10mg dose. the elation continues and is joined by high energy. Is this a gift from God or what? Fred

When I was taking pred. I was always losing my balance and pitching here and there. I was on pred. for 4 yrs. and have been off of it since June 10th of this year. I know how u feel. Low blood sugar can also make u very weak. I have Diabetes and had a kidney transplant over four yrs. ago and that's why I was on pred. Be very careful when u excercise. I have a reclining stationery bike that also has the arm things that u use. I got mine at Walmart. Try to get one of those. It beats falling down, I know. To answer about muscle aches and joint pain, comes from the pred. It also happens when u go thru withdrawal from pred. It lasts just a while, not to long, but it also depends on how long u r on pred. All of u r in my prayers, keep me in yours,

I just started Pred for severe joint pain (Last Tuesday) and I seem to have had a headache since. Is this normal?

Hello everyone!
I have been on Prednisone for about 2 years ( ave. 10 mg a day) I went through my pregnancy with it as well. After the baby, I decided to ween myself off of prednisone. ( I have EG, which is an inflammatory bowel disease) Since then, I developed Shingles, muscular pain, joint pain all over and I seem to get throat infections all the time. I had 3 in the last 5 months. Has anybody had this problem? I had a relapse of abdominal pain couple days ago and I am back on pred. 5 mg. a day.

Avascular Necrosis - Beware!

I have been taking Prednisone off and on for about threee years now for reoccuring iritis. Have been up to 60 mgs./day a few times, and many of the times I taper, no matter how slowly, the iritis comes back. Since you can go blind from iritis, I guess Prednisone is the lesser evil.

Anyway, during my first longer period of taking it, I had many of the common side effects - weight gain, double chin, facial hair, hyperactivity, moon face, etc. After visiting a classic homeopath, he gave me a remedy which kept the iritis away for a few months. Subsequent attacks did not respond to the remedy though. I have been back on Prednisone for about 8 - 9 months now, and have a drastic side effect to report, which I haven't seen before here.

After a long road trip (10 hours) I began to have strange pains in my upper right hand thigh, which seemed to eminate from the leg joint. No matter what I did, they didn't go away and not even 2 Lortabs could help the pain. I went to the orthopedic doctor and he diagnosed avascular necrosis. The is a condition where the blood flow has been cut off to the bone, in this case, the femur, and the bone begins to die off. If it can be detected in an X-ray, it is already pretty far along. An MRI, which I had yesterday, shows best what is going on.

This is a DIRECT side effect of long-term prednisone use which no one ever told me about! So if you have joint pain, especially at the end of a longer bone, BE SURE and talk to a doctor about it. It is going to be a serious deal to get rid of this.

Well, so far I have been lucky as my side effects have been bareable. I have had to take prednisone twice due to ulcerative colitis flares. The first time I started at 40 mg I.V. while in the hospital. Within 2 days I had gone from having 15-20 BM's a day, to 2 or 3 a day. Within 9 days my diarrhea had cleared up (and I was able to leave the hospital). I noticed after about 4 or 5 days of being on prednisoe that my appetite had gone through the roof. I was inhaling the tasteless hospital food like it was gourmet cuisine, and then I mooched food off the teenage in the bed beside me, and anyone else that had any. After loosing about 30 pounds in the previous few months from the colitis, the weight gain was actually a plus. Other effects from the prednisone were night sweats, insomnia, mood swings (I was really irritable), joint pain, and kind of a buzzy head feeling. The Doc tapered me quickly on the following schedule:

40mg 2 weeks
30mg 1 week
25mg 1 week
20mg 1 week

then dropping 2.5 mg's a week to 10, then 2.5 mg's per every 2 weeks until 5mg, then off.

I noticed the side effects diminished alot once I was under 20mgs.

The second time on prednisone after another colitis flare has been a lot easier to take. The only effects I noticed this time were appetite, buzzy head and joint/bone pain (especially in my neck). which again decrease alot when I got under 20mg.

Like I said, I feel lucky that my problems haven't been as bad as many who have posted on this site. If you are new to prednisone, don't get to scared by everything you here. If you are taking it, it is probably because you have little or no choice. Stay positive and maybe you will be lucky like me.

I was on prednisone for over a year for neurosarcoidosis. My doctor and I felt there was no choice in the matter. It was either take the prednisone or suffer brain damage. The side effects were devastating. Although I hated the moon face, weight gain (50 lbs. in 3 months) and buffalo hump - I could have lived with them. What I'm still having trouble with is leg and joint pain and vision problems. I've been off prednisone for a month now. The weight is starting to go down but the pain in my back and my leg is still there. Still, I feel so much better than I did two months ago.

Side effects are basically the same as everyone else. The worst one and the most embarrasing one is excessive sweating especially on minimal exertion. Other side effects are prednisone induced diabetes requiring insulin 4x a day, weight gain on abdomen and upper body, muscle, joint pain especially hip pain, muscle cramping, irritability, nervousness, teeth pain and facial hair growth.

I was diagnosed with Acute Interstitial Pneumonitis back in April/May after a 26 day stay in ICU. I was on 500 mgs. of prednisone by IV and then was gradually reduced to 60 mg. a day orally. Since that time my dr. continued the reduction and I am now on 10mgs. every other day. The side effects have been very trying. I have experienced bone loss, severe acne, moon face, great hunger causing weight gain (60lbs.), occular hypertension, and now severe depression. Also muscle aches and joint pain. I really want off of this drug, but cannot seem to get there due to fluctuations in pulmonary function tests. I know that this drug saved my life, but now I can't seem to handle the side effects much longer!

weakness in left hand and fingers, severe muscle spasms of neck, moon face, weight gain, occasional espisodes of very fast heart rate (170 beats per minute), joint pain