PredniSONE and leg cramps

How interesting to find this site! I, too, was diagnosed with temporal arteritis on February 29 (no more leap years for me!). Because I was already blind in one eye (had no idea) and losing sight in the other eye, I was put on 100 mg daily of prednisone. I had no idea of what I was in for. Since that time I have been able to taper down to 42.5 mg daily, but I don't think I've missed a single side effect. Horrific headaches. A 25-pound weight gain so rapidly it was unbelievable, moon face like I've never seen, was thrown into diabetes right away. My blood pressure went haywire, my cholesterol went haywire (had never had problems with either of them). I think I agree that the most debilitating has been the muscle weakness and leg cramps. I have no balance, have had 3 serious falls. The latest is my skin is breaking down and I'm losing my hair. What hair I have is like somebody held a match to it and frizzed it. I'm short of breath, keep trying to exercise and it's like climbing a high-altitude mountain. Swelling of my feet to where I can wear NO shoes except for Crocs in about three sizes bigger than I ever wore in my life. Now I have a liver problem, am being sent to an "ultra-specialist" for this. The good news is that my remaining eyesight has been stable, and I am very thankful for that. I have been assured by multiple specialists that I would have been blind by now if not for the prednisone. Although it is very difficult for me to read by the time night arrives, and that was my chief "hobby." The other part of this whole sad saga (ha) is how much money my husband and I have been out this year -- unbelievable. Lab tests or doctors every single week and sometimes every single day. I am now under the care of 5 different specialists (ophthalmology, rheumatology, cardiology, hepatology and internal medicine), and it has been so incredibly expensive. This is even with fairly decent insurance. I have been told that I have at least six more months to go on this treatment, and then possibly another year on methotrexate. Thank God I have NOT experienced the depression that seems to be a common thread here. I am trusting in Him to get me through this itme and to come out on the other side completely cured. But it does get difficult in the meantime.

I was put on PredniSone for a lung virus that i developed asthma due to. I had been border line asthmatic for 10yrs. Dosage was 6tabs 3days, 5 tabs 3days ...etc... I am two days from finishing my dosage and I have had sever leg cramps for the past week. I wake up 2 to3 times a night and have to walk around. I wake up at least 3 times and are able to straighten up enough and go back to sleep. I have also had to get up 2 to 3 times a night to urinate. This is uncommon for me. Hopefully with discontinued use these side effects will stop. I need to get a good night rest. I will never want to take PredniSone again.

Hi my name is Jessica an I was diagnosed with Chrohn's on 3/4/08. I started with the Entcort for two weeks and that did nothing for all the pain and suffering that I had been going through since November. The put me on Prednisone at 40mg a day. I have been on it for about 3 weeks. After 3 day I noticed the moon face because I had lost so much weight because of being so sick for so long. I still hardly eat and am still losing weight. I can't sleep more then 3 hours at a time unless I take something to strong enough to help me fall asleep and if I sleep for more then 5 hours I will be up for the next 20 before I can even try to lay down. I have OCD which I have never had and cant stop cleaning when I feel up to it (kinda like this side affect). I have been haveing awful leg cramps and walking into stuff all the time. I forget what Im doing or were Im going. BUT the WORST PART is the ACNE... I am an Esthetician and I never had anything like this. I mean I have breakouts during the normal times ect... But this is bad an everyday there are more of them. I use really good stuff on my face to begin with an the things I would use on a client are not the same for treating acne that is caused from this drug so those things are not helping either. Right now my makeup covers it ok, but Im going to be on Prednisone for 3 more months before they will start weening me off and then going on 6-MP drug. I cant go 3 more months if this is going to get worst. PLEASE IS THERE ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHAT TO USE TO CONTROL THIS ACNE ????

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

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

OMG!- These side effects are terrible! I 've also experienced leg cramps, insomnia, irritability, fluid retension , hands and feet swelling. But the cramps are the worst!! I thought that the decrease in dosage would relieve my side effects but they are still there. I am taking this short term for erythema nodosum caused by an antibiotic. I can't wait to get off of this medication. I don't think I want to take this medicine ever again.

I have COPD and due to my exacerbations my doctor prescribed prednisone to help eliminate the problem. Each time I have this problem I use prednisone. I take 40mg for 3 days, 30 mg for 3 days , 20mg for 3 days, 10mg for 3 days and 5mg for 3 days This regimen usually works. The two side effect I have noticed by taking predisone is I get severe leg cramps during the night, once, sometimes two times each night. Believe me, it is not fun waking up to leg cramps. I have also gained 15 lbs. probably due to the prednisone. And I must admit that there is a certain amount of irritability on my part when I'm on this drug. This drug was great for me in the beginning but has turned into a living hell since then. I plan to tell my doctor that I will not use this drug and to come up with something better for my COPD problem.

i was on predisone twice within the last six months because of a flare with chrons disease. i got really sick and was put on 40mg of prednisone twice a day. it made me feel much better, but the side effects sucked.

i had extreme moodiness and overreact to everything. i found myself constantly crying over nothing and got depressed very easily. i had alot of trouble sleeping, got really bad leg cramps. my appitite was insane. im constantly hungry and just feel like i need to eat and eat. i gained 15 pounds both times i was on it. my face gets so puffy. the fat that i gained is in my stomach and a weird texture. i also gained weight in my legs and have strech marks at the top. it took me about 3 months to get back to my normal weight. and then i got sick again and am currently dealing with it all again.

i hate predisone and to anyone going on it i recomend caring ALOT about what you eat because gaining that much weight sucks. also drink alot of water.

drinking water after you go off prednisone is supposed to drain your system of it and make the side effects go away quicker.

After almost two months on prednisone ( 1st 2 wks, 40 milograms/remaining 5 wks, 30 milograms per day, I have experienced hand cramps, foot cramps, leg cramps, increased appetitite, face swelling, irritability, mood swings, hyperactivity & gradual weight gain.

On the positive side, I have been able to channel the hyperactivity energy into exercising more (I walk or go to the gym mostly every day). I also have the stamina to do more housework after a 12-hr work day & taking care of the needs and activities of my 12 & 14 yr olds. And I have never been more caught up on my job. In regards to the irritability, I have never felt so good when I have had to put certain people in the place and give them a good piece of my mind. My usual nature is being too kind & holding things that bother me inside. In addition, I suspect that the medication had something to do with healing a fingernail fungus that a had. Previously, my doctor told me that for a quick fix for my nail problem, I would need to use a $300 medication! But all in all, I would still rather be off the medication and adopt all of the positive changes I mentioned above using my own merit.

Was put on Intravenious prednisone for a severe allergic reaction on June 12th. Was in the hospital for five days. dosage was 20mg twice a day. Been on that for three weeks. Now weaning off 10mg twice a day for 7 days, then 10mg once a day for 7days and 5 mg a day for 7 days. Side effects have been moon face, puffy eyes, bloated stomach, leg cramps, tingling legs ,arms and hands. Headache and neck pain.insomina. I look in the mirror and don't know the person I'm looking at. The medicine worked to stop the severe reaction I had , a rash the entire body, face neck etc. Throat closed up due to drug allergy to zocor. The side effects are terrible, it totally changes your body functions and after reading these post , It is scary to think the negative side effects it poses. I hope out there , they may be an alternative drug available with less side effects in the future for eveyone who needs this for whatever disease they have. I wish all of you the best and hope that your symptons will get better in time as you wean off .

I've posted before.. so this is a continuing story. Hope it helps some of you. And I REALLY hope some of you will put your thots down so we can all learn.

I've been on 10 mg a day for almost a month now.. tapered off from 30mg/day for a month to 25mg/day for a month and then tapered it down to 10 for the last 4+ weeks. There is some reduction in side-effects but trust me I still have plenty. Anyone care to join me ? Id be happy to share.

I occasionally get nasty leg cramps that wake me in the middle of the night and occasionally cramps in my hands and just about anywhere else I 'stretch' weirdly.. No clue why.

I have lost quite a bit of the moon face (not all). I can't tell if I've lost some of the buffalo hump or gotten used to it. Hope it's smaller !!

My appetite is still ravenous BUT I can control it. Therefore my weight is staying under control (a really good thing even though we're only alking 3-5 lbs from normal).

Most of the other side effects are still there.. fat deposits, somewhat moody, tingly feeling, and pimples/acne. The good news.. they are (to me) obviously diminished !

There is hope !!

If things continue well with the post transplant tests the pred will be reduced in 2 weeks to 7.5/day ! Cross those fingers ! :)

I have been lowering the pred dose for about 10 days.. from 25 (12.5 twice a day).. I'm now at 15 (7.5 twice a day). The leg cramps at 4 am are brutal ! they usually only last one night.. If there's a second night it's not as bad. I was lowering the dosage 2.5 a day.. There's probably no difference lowering it 5.. fewer days of side effects ! I'm almost to 10 mg.. and I'll probably be there for a while.

I experienced all the above side affects as well. I have ulcer-colitis. I did notice, however, when you start to taper off of the doses it helps if you drink TONS of water....seems to rid the symptoms a little faster.
I've been off prednisone for 1 yr and still have occasional leg cramps and redness on inner thighs, my eyesite is not what it was prior to prednisone. i will not take medicine again unless Dr tells me life or death!

Wow! I thought most of this was in my head! I keep telling my husband that this medication's side affects are almost as bad as the Crohn's flair ups! I, too, have had weight gain, increased appetite, mood swings, insomnia, night sweats, hair loss, hair growth on my face, leg cramps, depression, moon face, swelling around my neck (and ankles and abdomen)...in fact, you name a side affect and I probably have it. Currently, I am on 20 mgs (tapered from 40 mgs for 4 months). It seems like the side affects have increased as I have decreased dosage. Has anyone else noticed this as they decrease?