PredniSONE and little bit

Hi all,

My first time on this site, it's quite interesting to see how people have very similar side effects. My case is I fought with a Poison Ivy and lost, my left arm shows the battle scars. Before going to the doctor, I tried Calamine, Caladryl, Cort Aide, Ivarest, Aveeno Oat Meal Baths & Tee Tree Oil. All failed to help, so off to my doc I went. After what I told him I tried using, he told me to stop. He noted those things do nothing to help Poison Ivy rashes to go away, he prescribed for me to take 20mg of Prednisone 3x a day for 4 days, then knock it down to 2x for 4 days and then 1x for 4 days. He also prescribed Cortisone Cream and to buy OTC Doneboro to soak my arm, it smells just like vinegar..I wonder! I have been taking Prednisone since Monday, so far the only side effects that have shown up is Insomnia and coughing. I do have A LOT more energy than I used to have, my job is enjoying my spitfire mode. The question is, what will happen once I am off this stuff? I've read and heard a lot of nasty things about this drug and I guess I will find out in another 9 more days, I've never been on Prednisone before, I do watch for changes in my body. Making sure I am not growing a beard or mustache, that my boobs don't expand (even though it would make my husband VERY happy). I am sorry to see many on here are having a bad time with this, maybe some of you should get a second opinion. Some doctors today are babied by pharmaceutical companies to push drugs, with some issues some of you have you may want to research your health problems more. Never take the word of your doctor as concrete, they are human too and make mistakes. I believed one fertility doctor until I researched my condition to find out I would never be able to have children, they milked my health plan until I faced them with my findings of medical research sites and online articles by universities. Never again! Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Don't be fooled, research for yourself. I will keep you posted as to my next 9 day countdown.

Alison

I am a 19-year-old female pre-med student who has been taking this nasty drug for exacly 1 year now.... The amount I am on continues to change, for my disease keeps returning and leaving remission. I finally get down to 10mg from 40mg, and have to go back up when symptoms return!!! This is SO discouraging. The worst part is, no one understands the physical and emotional agony this drug brings on. I'm 19 and feel like I'm 90. My body aches, my weight is constantly fluctuating, I bruise from simply being poked (being a clumsy person, I look like I am beat!!), my bones feel as if they are about to break, and I am SEVERELY despressed. Being in college and taking rigorous classes, this is just too much for me to handle anymore... My 5-year relationship with the love of my life/best friend is falling apart because of my horrible mood swings.. don't blame him for leaving. I feel as if this drug has ruined my life more than the disease itself...Does ANYONE know if one's body and mind returns to "normal" after FINALLY being off this drug??? I pray to God the answer is yes... I would appreciate someone's reply and/or insight, because my Dr. fails to tell me about ANY side effects until I mention something. PLEASE REPLY!!!

I noticed some definite puffiness in my face and soreness in my breasts, as well as a bit of an acne outbreak on my face. My breast size actually increased a whole cup size...and I'm past the age at which you hit puberty.

The puffiness in my face started a day AFTER I finished the prednisone. (I was on it to control poison ivy...I then had an allergic reaction to the topical medicine given to me and was put on prednisone again to counteract the allergic reaction. I had the 6 day dosage pack (4mg?) 3 times and finished the pack this past Sunday.

The breast stuff occured after my 2nd pack. I'm assuming that may be the "fat redistribution" I've read about.... My stomach had a little bit of fat added to it...nothing major, however the weird thing is that my weight has been about the same.

The thing I'm majorly stressing about is the "moon face" thing and I want to know how long this will last and/or what I can do to counteract it!

Any help/information would be greatly appreciated.

I have been taking prednisone off and on for years due to my asthma. This past week I started taking a high dosage, about 120mg a day and slowly tapering about 10 mg off a day. I am member of weight watchers and am worried about my weight. I know I have been eating a little bit more than usual but I have gained about 8 lbs in a week, which is driving me nuts. And due to my inflamed asthma and infection, I have not been able to work out. Is this normal? Should I be worried?

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.

My son is very sick, and have no diagnosis as of right now, just that his immune system is attacking his nerves, hes only 7. He is now been on 60mg of pred a day. Hes stomach is always sore he complains of cramping and I think he is constapated as well. He has gotten a little bit stronger but complains of aching in his wrists and ankles. Worries me because he is not eating because of the stomach pain. He will eat a yogurt when he takes the meds but thats about it. Does the stomach pains ever go away. I can't stand to see him in such pain, it is suppose to help but seems to have cause a hole bunch of other things including moods and anger towards me.

Colleen

IMPORTANT!! Someone, please reply back to this, and fast. I had some sort of allergic reaction to a new face wash I used, and my face became swollen and red. The next day (today) I went to the doctors office and she gave me prednisone (30 mg today, 20 tomorrow, and 10 for the next day). I was really happy because she said that this drug is anti-inflammitory, and the point of it is to get rid of the swelling on my face. After reading all of these horror stories, I'm pretty scared. I'm wondering if I should even take the next two doses...tomorrow's Saturday, and the doctor's office is closed, so I don't know what's a good idea... please help! She only gave me a little bit, for the course of three days **does anyone out there believe that I'll be fine, concidering that it's such a small dose? I just want my facial swelling gone, that's the point.