PredniSONE and knees

This is my second bout with what my doctor thinks is erlickiosis. The first time I was at the point where I could only move like an old man doing "the nursing home shuffle". Everything was swollen. Feet, hands, knees even my jaw was hurting. I couldn't stand on my own even though two weeks prior I was walking 3-5 miles per day on some good size hills. I was hospitalized and given steroid injections. Within 12 hours I was standing on my own. I was given Perdnisone 30 mg X 3 days 20 mg X 3 days 10 mg X 3 days 5 mg X 4 days. Except for some insomnia and peeing 5 times a night there were no other effects. Within 2 days I was crippled again. Now my GP was in Africa and my Internist was leaving for vacation in India. Internist would not put me back on Prednisone because he wanted me to see a Rhumatologist. I made an appointment but it was SIX WEEKS OFF. Two days later i was admitted to a different hospital. This one was where my Rhumatologist had access. Long story short Prednisone 80 mg 7 days 60 mg 7 days 40,20,10mg 7 days each. Had to start taking insulin again. Glucose never went over 200. Avg glucose last 5 weeks is 120. Gained 5 pounds because I work out every day with free weights and lots of cardio. Hopefully, I won't have to many side effects when weaning is accomplished.

I was put on Prednisone for my COPD. Right after starting a 30 day script (I don't remember the dosage) I started experiencing SEVERE muscle cramps. Legs, feet, hands, abdomen, ribs, back. It was the most terrible experience I have ever had and I refuse to take it again. I also gained 30 lbs in 30 days. Which I have had extreme difficulty taking back off. I am now, two years later, experiencing great difficulty with my knees. I believe that I will always suffer the side effects of this, yet another, wonder drug. The wonder is how many people's lives is it ruining...

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!

I was put on Prednisonsone for Uveitis, inflammation of the eye. He started me on 20mg at 9 pills a day, then each week it was lowered to 6 pills then now i'm on 3 pills and then next week it will be 1 1/2 pill and i'll be off. I got the puffy face, my feet swelled, everytime i hate my stomach bloated and hurt, my face and neck turns red, i stayed hungry although i fought the temptation of eating for not wanting to gain a lot of weight, which I don't think I've gained any. But now I wake up in the middle of the night and severe knee pain, it feels like my knees they are in some kind of device that is crushing my bones they hurt so bad. i caught a bad cough and it's been around now for about 2 weeks and won't go away, i told the nurse about it and she says, i probably just got what everyone else has gotten, just a bad cough, well what's if it's some kind of infection? I look like a chipmunk, my face is so puffy. When i get off these prednisone in another week I WON'T BE going back on them, no matter what the case. I'm in more pain being on them and have more side effects while on them than the problem i was having with uveitis. I think some co workers thank I'm over reacting, but they're not here they don't see all the pain and frustration i'm going through while on this drug. The leg pain just started this weekend and i Know i can't deal with waking up everynight like this in severe pain. Everyone just makes me feel like i'm over reactin and it's nice to know that somebody out there is going through the same thing. Any comments will be great.

Hi! I was diagnosed with wegener's in Dec. 2007. I was hospitalized for 6 days. When I left the hospital I was taking 80mgs of pred's. After 8 weeks I am now down to 60mgs.{per day} I found it amazing how the doctors didn't inform me on the very well on the side effects of pred's. Plus bactrim,actonel,protonix,vitamin-d and cytoxin chemo once a month for six months or more.{i have had 2 four hour infusions,getting ready for my 3rd one in a few days}.
I have severe moon face,buffalo hump. My neck and throat feel full. Almost as if I was drowning.I've gained 25 lbs.,I have severe pain in my legs and knees,my back between my shoulder blades from the massive hump that I have,which by the way makes it hard to sleep. I am puffy all over,I feel like a huge sponge in the ocean!!!!! I only hope that when the med's are over I will return to normal. I cry a lot because of all the changes to my body! I don't feel like getting out, afraid people are laughing at me, my clothes look horrible,and my memory has been fading! I sometimes feel like I'm in the "o" zone.
I am grateful for the wonderful care my doctors have given me,I just wish that they would of prepared me a little better for what I was facing for possibly a year!
For every one out there that are facing all types of effects,just remember not to forget who you are and things will get better.

I'm a 22 year old who was diagnosed with dermatologists a couple months ago. I've been on different doses of steroids ranging from 5mg to 60mg for 5 months now. i was on 60mg the longest and just went down to 40mg. i go down to 30 mg next month. so far my side effects are moon face, swollen areas around my neck and collar bone, weight gain like 15 lbs, always have to wake up in the middle of the night and pee, my knees get shooting pains sometimes at night, light hair by my ears like sideburns, tired, helps with my muscle weakness a little, my eyesight seems blurry sometimes, chest always feels tight. I'm also on Methotrexate, Bactrim, folic acid, and Fosamax. it might be a reaction form all these but i think its mainly from the Prednisone. i cant wait to get down to the lower doses. i look like a different person and even tho all my family and friends know its still embarrassing. i fell like a whole different person. i cant wait to be normal again.

I don't have a new side affect with Prednisone but just want to share my feelings. I was diagnosed with Temporal Arthritis since last July 2007. I started taking 60 mg of Prednisone for 1 month. Didn't notice the side affects then. Weaned myself off through my doctor's instructions. But relapse occurred when I was only on 2 daily. With Temporal Arthritis, you get delibating and horrendous head pain which is caused due to inflammation of the main artery in the temple. I am back to 3 daily.
Besides my moon face, I am bigger. I really don't have a lot of the other side affects you all talk about. I am sorry you all have to go through that.
My depression is better. My sleep is horrible. Now I am going to a sleep study to see if I have Sleep Apnea.
I consider Prednisone a wonder drug. Although the side affects are horrible, I have to admit, I feel much better, most of the time. I do have inflammation in the neck. Not sure if that is pred or temporal arthritis, but am seeing a rheumatologist for that.

Teena

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

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

I started Prednisone 2 weeks ago and gradually started having leg cramps. They have gotten worse over the last couple of days. They are in my ankles and feet and I have to get up several times a night just to sit until they relax. We plan to decrease the dosage in two weeks, but this is most annoying. Of course, it's far better than what I was experiencing with pain and sleepless nights and had gotten so I could barely move. My hands were swollen and tight, my arms ached with every move and movements were very limited. My bones in my feet felt (and sounded) as though they were shifting around when I got up to walk. My knees were weak. I was just diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica. I feel 70-80% improved. Just wondered if anyone else has had these symptoms on Prednisone. It didn't do this with the dosepaks.

I am 19 years old and I recently was taken off of it 2 years ago when I switched doctors. Prior to the switch I had been on it for 16 years. I prob have some of the worse side effects. Because it causes an increase in appetite I ate but I didn't eat all the time, and I ended up gaining over 100lbs. I have a black-brown ring around my neck and for the longest time I thought it was dirt that wouldn't come off so sometimes I scrubed my neck sometimes to the point that it was raw.I have bad acne on my back and its just horrible.I cry every single night because of the side effects.I just want to know if anyone on here can help me.

My husband was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that was attacking his shoulders, hips and knees, last February. The cause was unknown, perhaps a drug reaction to Amitriptylene, perhaps PMR, they still don't know. The doctors put him on prednisone. 15 mgs seemed to control the symptoms and he started to feel better right away. Weeks went by and he occasionally said, I seem to be losing weight. Then it was, I've lost 10 pounds. Next month it was five more. And he started getting weak. His muscles were just weakening and atrophying. He was thin to begin with and by September he had lost 26 pounds. He no longer had the strength to work and was put on temporary disability. We felt it was the prednisone because it all started happening together and we convinced the doctors to let him try to taper off of it. They put him on plaquenil and Immuran and let that build up in his system before they would let him begin to taper off the prednisone. He is finally off prednisone completely and he has finally started to gain a little weight back and feel a little stronger. The hardest part was convincing the doubting doctors. They all said, Oh no, prednisone makes people gain weight. Yet there he was standing in front of them. He certainly hadn't gained weight. But if a side effect is "typical" then they seem to insist that you have the typical side effects or you must be making it up. Of course, they could see he wasn't making up the weight loss, so they did a million tests looking for some other cause; cancer, etc. All were negative. He did go to the Mayo clinic who ran a bunch more tests and they did find one interesting thing: a super low testosterone level. They felt this might explain the muscle loss and weakness. So they started giving him testosterone. However, I say, which is the cause and which is the effect. He didn't have this low testosterone before he started taking the prednisone. That awful stuff messes with all kinds of things in your body--basic things like the hormone balances. When we got down to 2 mg per day we stopped cold turkey. Things are better now. It appears that he still has the underlying auto immune problem because the pain is coming back in his hips and shoulders. But he will not go back on prednisone for anything. That stuff was killing him.

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.

I have been off and on prednisone my entire life as well for asthma and poison ivy. About 5 years ago I was put on it for 3 months due to finding out i had chron's disease. It is the worst drug ever!!! I gained 30 lbs in two weeks, I had severe night sweats and nightmares. My knees hurt constantly and still do to this day. Right now I am sick again with asthma and they want me to take prednisone and I am refusing. I want an alternative. Help me find one please someone!!

I am 21 years old and have been on prednisone off and on for about 2 years. I have went from 60Mg to about 20mg for about 6 months. My knees hurt badly when I squat for about 5 minnutes and stand up. I also have been having trouble focussing on things. I was also wondering if anyone has heard of any long term effects like say 10 years later.

Wow. To all the valid contributors and site owners, top posts and site!

I have SLE and have been found to have Lupus Nephritis (kidney). I was on 60mg, now down to 40mg of Prednisone.

After Pericarditis, I presented with terrible SLE headaches. I'm now also on Cyclophosphamide (Chemo treatment) for my Kidney and other meds for that, as well as the Prednisone, but my side effect I am having which I think is from the Prednisone is SWELLING in the face some, but especially from knees downwards getting worse throughout the day.

After reading a bunch of pages here, I suspect that it could also be not just the Prednisone but because my Kidney functioning poorly. I can't get rid of the water fast enough. I do not have anything diuretic normally because I am also diagnosed with Raynauds Phenomenon.

To balance things out, I've tried to drink the minimum side (2L for 2 days after Cyclophosphamide treatment) and funnily enough, if I have drank too much water in the day time I:
*Sleep with a big pillow under my knees/feet
*Do not drink any at night (if thirst, just have a half mouthful)
*Wee it all out throughout the night

It HAS worked and my weight, the swelling in my legs/feet has come down dramatically... It has also helped my FACE be less swollen and puffy...!

Other symptoms I had when I had prednisone only: EMOTIONAL! Twice I could not stop crying when there was completely nothing wrong with me at all (i.e. bawling my eyes out). At the time I was on 20mg when my SLE was quite much lower in activity level. I was totally "off my head".

Now I'm on 40mg, and I do get emotional more easily - but I brought the husband to my specialist once so he could get side effects explained to him directly. I also get hot flush tingles in my fingers and toes from prednisone.

For all those people worried about WEIGHT - I highly recommend one of those scales (I know I can get one for $40AUD) which can tell you your WATER level as well as weight (you have to input your height). If you are running at 70% instead of 60% water, then you know your weight is 10% overstated, but just due to the water.

meow

I was on Pred for about 9 months(FSG Kidney Disease) and came off about 3 weeks ago. The problem that I have been having for the past three weeks is moderate to servere pain in my joints and muscles? This includes area's like my feet, shoulders, knees and chest. How long should these problems persist? The only thing gettying me by now are pain killers.

I'm 17 years old, and I have Ulcerative Colitis. I was diagnosed at 15, and was put on Prednisone then for three months. I didn't gain much weight in my tummy that time, but my face swelled to huge proportions, and while ON the drug, my hair grew like crazy but was very dull and lifeless at the same time. The minute I stopped the drug, my hair started falling out. Within a month, I had lost 40% of my hair.

Well, I'm on it again, and this time it's worse. I started out at 40mg back in October, and am down to 20mg now, but it's just as bad as when I started. I'm VERY moody and snap at my best friends, who I am usually the calmest around. I often find myself just wanting to hit and yell at something. Before I started Pred, I weighed 138. I weighed myself yesterday... 150.2. This is very disheartening. I have a moon face, the makings of a double chin, unhealthy hair, I wake up about 5 times every night because I'm restless or I have to pee, I can't focus in school, my knees hurt, etcetera. I'm miserable.

I work out 6-7 times a week because I'm so concerned about my weight. I do 30-45 minutes of the treadmill and/or elliptical, and do all the happy little toning machines, in hopes that my tummy can be a bit more toned. But no. It's a useless blob. None of my favorite jeans or shirts fit me anymore, and this - not the drug itself, but the side effects - make me very, very unhappy.

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 am so glad I found this sight! For all Prednisone users out there...I was prescribed Prednisone for an upper respiratory infection (I had for 9 months). I was prescribed a 21-day 'taper down' course five (5) times; in actuality not all that much...if I had only known what this drug would do to my body! Besides the insatiable hunger and weight gain (5 - 7 lbs. weight gain per course of the drug), the swollen face/neck, muscle aches, double-vision, sleeplessness - I have been through the worst three (3) years of my life since taking this 'drug'! Three years ago, I had the worst knee pain (in both knees). The orthopedists said tendinitis, bursitis, IT band syndrome...finally a new ortho. ordered an MRI and found out I had Stage II Avascular Necrosis (AVN) in both knees. This is a condition where the blood flow has STOPPED reaching a certain area of the body. It is a side effect of this so-called 'wonder drug' (Prednisone). I had the surgery that is used for AVN (Core Bone Decompression) - it did NOT work! They tried other surgical procedures to no avail. A big issue was that AVN in the knee is very rare. AVN commonly strikes in the hip. There was little or no medical documentation on how to treat AVN in the knee(s). A year later, I ended up having total knee replacements in both knees. Last summer (Summer '06) I broke a bone in my pinky finger by barely hitting a wall in frustration over all this. My bones are extremely brittle from this drug. I am sitting writing this after having dental (oral) surgery because I have lost four (4) teeth as a result of this drug! I need over $7,000 in dental work (implants/bone grafting) that insurance does not cover as a side effect from this drug. I realize that some people out there must take this drug...If you have taken this drug, and have pain in your hips and/or knees, please ask your doctor for an MRI (AVN can not be seen in X-ray until end stage - when the joint collapses from lack of blood flow) and see your dentist regularly. I am only 34 years old and if I can reach just one person regarding the side effects of Prednisone, I will sleep better tonight!

i'm asthmatic and used to weigh 10stone, now i weigh 25 stone, i was on prednisolone for 4 yrs and 40mg a day but my doctor 4got to tell me that the tablet had a side effect of weight gain, i was put on the tablet in 1989 and put 8 stone on within 18 months, now i have arthiritis in my knees, back and alot of pain in my hips, but due to my weight i have alot of other problems now, and i can't exercise, and i don't over eat either, but can't lose the weight, i'm only 35 and feel my life is over thanks to prolonged use of prednisolone and a doctor who failed to see what was happening,

I have been on Prednisone for over a year to treat my Chrohn's. I am finally done to half a pill. The side effects I have or have experinced are.sweats, no sleep, increased appetite, mood swings, feelings of being stoned, hyperactive, shaky, acne on face and chest, flushed face and hot flashes, sore eyes, weak skin, sore muscles, sore elbows (not knees or hips), unable to concentrate for long periods, skatterbrain, forgettfullness, anything else I am forgetting. I am a 32 year old female. hate this drug, once I am off will never go back. I would rather have a colostromy then go on this drug again. Oh and did I mention the depression. Very suicidale at times...crazy drug! Anyone can tell me when the moon face and acne side effects will go away?? All the best to everyone on this drug.

I just started taking 60 mg a day .. today was my first day .. it was for a rash and my legs and knees hurt, my stomach hurts, my face has broke out, and i have a headache i hope that it gets better..why do this give this stuff to people if it makes them worst.. id rather wait until it goes away on its own!

I have been on pred for 11 days. 20mg twice a day for cough-variant asthma. I can tell the coughing is getting better but I am in a lot of pain that just started in my (both) knees. I am not sure why this is happening, it is almost like I can not walk with out fear of falling. I am 50 years old. I plan to call my doctor first thing in the am and try to get off this as soon as I can. My knees are killing me, has anyone else ever had this happen and if so does it go away with pain medication?

I was on 116mg. prednisone for 7 days then to 80mg. for 6 days 20mg for 2 days then 10mg. for 2 more days and my side affects have been weight gain, dizziness, swolen face, restlesness, shakes, major acne and extreme shooting pain in the knees, knees very jello like.

There was a mix up and I was supposed to be on 40mg of prednisone but the bottle told me 20. I woke up this morning as if someone has taken a sledge hammer to my knees and if the bones were shards, I couldn't walk and the pain was excruciating. I wasn't sure if it were the prednisone, but I think it was decreased to fast. If it happens again this morning I will go to the emergency room. Is is the pharmacy or the doctor's fault for not making clear the amount I am supposed to take.

I have been on prednisone ( for lichen planus) for about 6 weeks starting with 20 mg twice a day for a month. Now I am taking half a pill once a day... My face and neck are SO swollen I have gained So much wait I have mental and emotional breakdowns all the time I can't sleep ( so the doc prescribed seroquil) now I don't know if I am coming or gong. I will be so very full and still shoving food in my mouth. My knees and legs hurt badly I have had a horrible headach and my teeth and mouth hurt and now 'm growing facial hair at 27 yrs old. HELP ME!

I have MS and have had several doses of prednisone. No sleeping, my stomach looks like I am about to deliver an 11 pound baby. My face gives me a preview of what I would actually look like if I were fat. My knees swoll up so bad that it hurt to walk. My tongue has no feeling to it and my attitude is just horrible.

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 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.

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

I have been taking Prednisone for 26 days now. I started out with Poison Ivy. My DR put me on 60mg for 2 days, 50mg for 2day, etc. At about day 5, my poison ivy started to resurface & spread. I ended up in the ER on my last day of the original prescription. During those days I didn't really experience many side effects. However, after my ER visit they put me on 60mg for 10days, 50mg for 5 days, 40mg for 3 days, 30mg for 3 days, 20mg for 3 days, 10mg for 3days. Now I have experienced really bad acne on my chest, back, & now my face. (I've never had a problem w/acne before) I understand that is a side effect of the drug and figure it will go away next Saturday when I'm done with all of this. I've also had the insomnia, dizziness, blurred vision, manic episodes, and mood swings. The question I do have is that I have extreme swelling in both of my knees. It gets so bad at times I can hardly walk because I can't bend my legs. Has anyone else experience that?

I was perscribed Prednisone after getting a monster case of poison ivy. As I was finishing the course at the end of one month, I got poison ivy again (stupid!) and started a second month. Dosage started at 60 mg and dropped 10 mg every five days.

The first symptoms were insomnia and anxiety. Then heartburn and pressure in my chest. In the second month. I began feeling pain in my knees and tingling in my arms. After 6 weeks, I got the facial hair, moon face, and mild acne.

As the dosage has decreased, the heartburn has gone away. The anxiety has also improved.

If there's a next time for the poison ivy (Heaven forbid), I think I'll suffer through the skin rash. It was all over my face and my eyes were swollen almost shut, but it would have gone away on its own.

I was hospitalized in March of 2004 with pneumonia caused from household cleaning products. They put me on "mega doses of Prednisone" intraveneously. When I returned home I was taking 40 mg a day for approximately two weeks. I woke up one morning, unable to walk because my knees hurt so bad when I put pressure on my legs. I recently, after episodes of pain, weakness and inability to walk without crutches, have been diagnosed with osteonecrosis, death of bone tissue. I am confident in saying it was the Predisone that caused it. The moon face, weight gain, and muscle and joint pain was also a factor. The osteonecrosis is a lifetime disease. I cannot work or function in the way I did before being put on this steroid. I asked the doctor about side effects and he told me not to worry. If I had known I would have said no. I think this drug should be taken off the market. I will be effected negatively for the rest of my life now. I would have preferred to take my chance without the Prednisone to heal my pneumonia. I should have been informed and as I read this webpage about the side effects I believe many of us should have been told the many side effects and allowed to make a decision rather or not we wanted to take it. Quality of life is most important!

My asthma got out of control. First the Dr. put me on a 6 day
cycle of prednisone, still sick, then increased to 20 day, 30 day, 40 day then 60 a day...still can't breath.. went to hospital after 2 weeks, admitted and given intervenous 60 mg. every
8 hours.. the side effects are killing me..terrible bloating, i can't sleep more then 5 hours a night, i am depressed, yelling at my 7 year old daughter, unbearable muscle pain
in my knees to my ankles. hand and feet cramping rendering
me immobile....someone help me!!!!

I was taking prednisone for 5 months, and have now been off of it for 2 months......can anyone tell me how long the side effects will last.....especially pain in my hips and knees sometimes it is so bad I can not climb my stairs!!!!!

Been on it since first of June, and boy, what a disruption! After a week (started at 60 mg/day for a week, then 50 for a week, then 40 for a week, and have been at 30 ever since), I couldn't sleep, was eating like I had a tapeworm, was moody as everything, and just felt miserable. My face puffed up after about 2 weeks, and my stomach is following suit. I've gained 15 lbs., now weighing more than I ever have (other than pregnancy). Still hungry all the time, mostly at night. My muscles in my shoulders and thighs stay tight, like I'm flexing them, even when I'm not. My knees hurt by midday, and they swell with fluid. Propping my legs when I sleep seems to help. Oh, and I go to the bathroom ALL the time and my period came 10 days early this month. Ugh. I'll be on this drug until December.

Dr. prescribed prednisone for poison ivy. I have had a pain like a tooth ache going up my spine. Headaches and my knees are killing me. This is only my third day of taking pills and my last.

Mood swings, depression, facial hair growth, hips and knees ache while sleeping (when I can get to sleep) weight gain, constant hunger, skin peels off like a snake, purple bruising appears for no reason on hands and arms, find it hard to chew because teeth hurt - was on this marvelous drug for 3 x 10 day sessions over 3 months ago for COPD exasperation and still have the side effects. Will they ever go away?????????

Ihave ulceative colitis.
i first started taking 40 mg of prednisone but it did not help me out so they increased it to 60 mg for a week, then i went on 50 for 3 days, 40 for 3 days, and now i am currently on 30mg for 2 weeks. i hve notice a huge gain in my appitite. i cant stop eating...i eat a meal and i am already thinking of the next one. i used to have a six pack but now its gone in only a few days, now i have a pot belly and is just getting bigger. my face is swelling and my knees hurt sometimes. i hope the side effects go away after i am done taking this stuff. i dont know how much wight i iwll gain. i hope not too much cuase i am not aloud to exersice untill im off predisone.