PredniSONE and predisone

Howdy,
I was recently suffering with severe constricted airway, probably due to allergies. My Dr. put me on 10 days of 10mg Prednisone, 4 for 4 days, 3 for 3 days.... I was in a fog the whole time. I sometimes had to stop and think, where am I and how did I get here, not good when you are driving down the road. I felt like I had no control over anything. And my eating habits did a 360. I did not want to eat anything other than pastries and drink cokes, which is not typical of me at all! I have been off for about 5 days now and keep getting terrible headaches and muscle aches. I go from feeling like my old self for an hour or so to all of a sudden feeling like I have been beat up and all I can do is just sit around.
I don't think I want to ever take this again unless it is absolutely life or death. I am breathing wonderfully now however. I hope these lingering side effects pass soon.

i took a 9 day course of prednisone for a rash on my face and neck, and as soon as i stopped taking it, i started breaking out again ( i had been free of acne for a year and a half prior).

it is now 3 months later and i am still getting really huge zits. i am wondering if it could still be from the prednisone and what i should do about it...did anyone else notice an effect from prednisone that lasted this long?

I went to the doctor Wednesday for a swollen foot which was diagnosed as gout. The doctor gave me a shot of prednisone mixed with something else (?). Within two hours my groin, hip, thigh, and stomach was in pain. It is now Saturday and I can barely walk I am in so much pain. Has anyone else has this problem after only one injection?

I have been taking prednisone for three years and I love it! It has helped me out with breathing problems and arthritis pain. I take a small does every day. And when I am without it I have trouble breathing and have painful arthritis pain. This drug has done wonders for me.

I have been taking prednisone for three years now and I love it. When I am off of it I cannot breath and I get fluid in my lungs and my arthritis comes back and I ache all over. I could not live without it. The only side effects I have is a little weight gain, sweating, and moon face but the side effects are better than the all over acheing and not being able to breath. This drug has been very good to me.

I have UC, and was diagnosed in April after a Colonscopy. I was put on Prednisone and was never able to get past 20mg without getting very sick again.I changed everything I DID, my diet, everything. they finally put me on Imuran. But the prednisone is making me loose my hair, they started before imuran. Also give me horrible pain, in the bone and muscle. I take all my vitamins, and it helps a little but it still hurts. they run regular blood test. Some days I feel like I can;t walk. Make sure to cut your salt out. It also made my face horribly round and fat. and i got a fat hum p on my back. The acne sucks, and it messed with my period too!

Constant weight gain. Just had a kidney transplant Dec 2008, started off with 60mg prednisone now I am done to 5mg but I will gain 5 pounds and will stay at that weight for several months then go up another 5 pounds. I am eating healthy and exercising. I need help and advice!!!!!!!!!!!!

I HAVE BEEN ON PREDNISONE FOR 10 YRS. I AM ON 5 MG FOR 4 YRS. I AM HAVING SEVERE PAIN IN RIGHT HIP. I CAN'T LAY ON RIGHT SIDE AT ALL. WHEN I WALK OR BEND ITS FINE. BUT TO LAY ON BACK OR SIT OR RIGHT SIDE I HAVE SEVERE PAIN. I SAW THE DR TODAY HE SAID THE TOP OF THE FEMUR IS SOMETIMES EFFECTED BY PREDNISONE. LIKE BLEEDING OR OSTEOARTHRITIS. HE GAVE ME NAPORSIN. DOESN'T WORK STILL HAVE SEVERE PAIN. I HAVE POLYMYOSITIS. THE PAIN IS SO BAD IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE OVER 6 MONTHS. GOING FOR XRAYS. I AM A NURSE AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT.

Lumps under the skin all over my body and severe pain that feels like it is under my skin--like I've been skinned and the skin just laid back down raw and bruised feeling. I have to take time-released morphine for this pain and no doctor can explain the lumps other than to say it might be a side effect of the prednisone. I have never heard of anyone else having these lumps and skin pain, though. One post I read said their tongue was sore, which mine also gets when I take it.

One thing I want to emphasize is that the last time I read the printout that comes with an unopened new bottle of prednisone and that the pharmacists don't give you unless you ask, it said that the newest research suggests that you take the prednisone only EVERY OTHER DAY. Some symptoms may become a bit worse on the day off, but unless you are dealing with a potentially lethal disease, this keeps your body on its regular rhythm of making its own form of prednisone and thus prevents many of the side effects. I have been back on prednisone for 3 months now with the new one day on, one day off schedule, prescribed by my pulmonologist, and have much less of the side effects--no ravenous appetite and thus no weight gain, no swelling, no "moon face" and my lungs are still functioning much much better.
Please ask your doc about this or get the info sheet from the pharmacist (it is the very long one on tissue paper, not the one-page info sheet they are now giving us with each Rx.)

5 days on prednisone for sinus/chest infection--JOINT PAIN ever since!!!! (it has been months now).

SO WHAT DO WE DO PEOPLE????? I'm only 26, I had a cold, and now I have chronic joint pain!

hey everyone...reading every post makes me even more scared now. I was diagnosed with Bells Palsy on Jan. 13th. My doctor prescribed me prednisone and valtrex. 5 days, twice a day, 20 mgs. On the 18th i was finished with the pills. Very happy because the bells palsy went away. On my birthday, January 23rd. I washed my faced with Biore skin cleanser (which ive used for years) and it felt like as if my face was peeling off as i was washing it! I got so scared when i rinsed my face i actually felt my skin turning to leather. I got out of the shower and my face was round and beet red and my eyes were puffy and face was very very dry...The next day i woke up and my face was worse. I called my doctor and he told me go straight to the emergency room that i was having an allergic reaction to a skin chemical and get treated for an allergic reaction. I did just that. The hospital gave me another dose of prednisone. 60mgs the first day then again the same dosage that my other doctor prescribed me. Im scared to death now to take this pill. Yeah, my face went down and is not beet red anymore but what's going to happen next week once i come off??? i don't want to go against what the hospital gave me, but as im reading these posts, im up at 2:55 am and not sleeping..! help!

So basically this is my story.. I am 19 and have had severe asthma every\ since I can remember. I took prednisone up until I was 14, and from what I can remember I just stopped taking it around then. Then when I was about 18 I started up again because my asthma got worse. Between the time period of 14-18 I still had asthma, but started working out and became very active and healthy.I lost alot of weight had VERY THICK long hair. Then at 18 I got very sick and my doctor put me on prednisone knowing my asthma history. After being on it for a month my hair has become thin, I have gained weight, my face has rounded, my skin used to get tan very easily but now just flushes. I have headaches all the time, can't sleep at all during the night, then crash during the day. I am constantly depressed. I always have to pee. I can't be at the gym for more than 30 mins and then I just die im so tired. I can go on and on. I have tried so many time to get off but like I have read from the above comments,I become very sick and lazy I literally can't move. But what I need answers for, and what I was wondering, has anyone started to get hives/rash after coming off or being on prednisone. Every time I try to wean off of it I get them all over my legs!! NOTHING and I mean NOTHING makes them go away except when I start up prednisone again. My doctor thinks its okay and no other doctor can figure out why im getting these hives but its so obvious its from that because when I go back on it goes away. This is not a good medication to be on. I haven't seen hair loss as one of the major side effects but has that happened to anyone else. im praying to god i can wean of this drug if anyone knows anything pleaaaase let me knowwwwwww

I was on prednisone while getting over pneumonia to help with my breathing. I was only on it for 7 days and the doctor didn't have me go off of it gradually. I missed the last dose on the 7th day and by bedtime, my muscles were sore enough it almost hurt to lay down. I took the last pill that night before I went to bed and had no muscle soreness in the morning. After that, the muscle soreness came back, along with dizziness. My pulse was also higher than normal. Two days later at night, I was still having muscle soreness and dizziness, although not nearly as but, but I was having a lot of trouble breathing and my pulse would refuse to go below 100 no matter what I did and the problems continued thought the night. The next morning I went to the clinic that prescribed me the predisone because the information they gave me said to see a doctor if these problems persisted. I told them I thought I might be having a predisone withdrawal because my mother, a nurse, said it was the most likely problem from experience. They completely ignored that saying it had been several days since I've stopped the steroid and kept asking me about my asthma (inhalers weren't working and it was definitely not an asthma attack -- I've had plenty of those, to all different degrees) and ended up giving me medicine for anxiety, which helped the closing of my throat, but none of my other symptoms. Three days later, my resting pulse is down to 80, but my breathing is so much worse than it would be with just my normal asthma and taking my inhalers as much as is allowed. I had no noticeable symptoms when I was on the prednisone except being less able to sleep. If it keeps up, I intend to go to a different doctor to see what is really happening, but I don't think it's 'normal' to have the withdrawal symptoms for this long after only having it for 7 days. I know I took it when I was younger (I'm 22), but I don't remember ever having issues going off of it before.

I was diagnosed with Optic Neuritis in my left eye, at the time of diagnosis, I felt fine. Had an MRI to check for lesions on the brain, there were none. I was put on IV solu-medrol for 3 days, then 90 mg of prednisone for one week, with a rapid taper the second week. 6 days into the prednisone, I started have shortness of breath, etc. Went to the ER and my white count was 22,000. Had bronchitis and the beginnings of pneumonia. Because of the breathing problems, I only did 2 days of taper (doctor's advice). I have lost site completely in the left eye and now I have blurred vision in my right eye. Extreme fatigue, and a mental fog I just can't explain. A "twitch" in my left left hand and muscle weakness. I just don't feel "right". How long does it take for this drug to leave your system? Has anyone had a similar experience? My eye doctor was considering another round of prednisone for the optic neuritis, but I am not so sure I can survive it.

i have been on prednisone for 5 years off and on and he moon face is there the hair loss the weight i really want to come off it so bad the asthma is a big issue in my life i wish they would come out with a better drug for us asthma patients the withdrawals i have been going through are the hair loss i use to have long thick beautiful hair thin face smaller body i am hoping some day i will get it all back
hopeful

I had a chronic sinus infection and my doctor put me on Levaguin and 80 mg of prednisone. I am 62 and I take only synthroid as a prescribe. drug. I told my doctor I was a borderline diabetic. She told me the side effect were bone weakening in the hip and pelvis and stomach upset. At first I had a lot of energy and sleep a lot less. I just thought I was getting better. I tapered down to 1 1/2 . After taking them for 11 days I was not able to function. My body was under extreme distress, I have very excellent blood pressure and I am in very good health. I have been off the drug for 4 days. I am still experiencing sweating, hypertension, extreme muscle spasms. I am unable to wear my contacts, I am short tempered and I am normally the opposite. I have horrible headaches and I very seldom ever get headaches. I told my doc and she said it would go away in time.
My body is fatigued I am have trouble focusing,sleeplessness. I don't know where to turn at this point. Sometimes I feel like I should go to er because of the hyperventilating and rapid heart beat. I am afraid to exercise. I am eating a lot of high protein foods, I am not gaining weight, I have lost 7 lbs in two weeks. PLEASE EVALUATE THE RISKS OF THIS DRUG IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR ME. DOCTORS DON'T ALWAYS TELL YOU THE WHOLE TRUTH AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS.

I have Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA), was diagnosed in Feb. 2008. Have been ill for several years and finally it came to a head in Feb. I had a blood transfusion and then in the hospital 6 days later with a hgb of 4.0. I was so toxic and my blood so screwed up I nearly died. I was given another transfusion then (total of 5 pints of packed red blood cells) and started on Prednisone. For 3 days given liquid Pred injections, starting at 1000mg, tapering down to 250mg., then on the pill form at 100mg. Sweat poured off of me dosing down. I was off work for 2 months. I am still tapering but am now at 1mg. DR. added another drug, Danazol, after getting to about 10mg because my blood started going crazy again. My side affects with Prednisone have been, Euphoria, no depression, LOTS of hyper brain activity, thoughts running a 100 miles an hour but body at slow speed.Visual problems and a feeling of being highly drugged. 2 to 3 hours of sleep each night, compulsive behaviors and a lot of pacing back and forth. Couldn't hold my concentration because my mind wandered so much. Extreme Tremors in my back, hands and head. Wanted to talk constantly, if no one was around I talked to my Chihuahua or the TV. My cheeks puffed up and became hard and had a fat pocket puffed up on left side of my neck. My dog thought I was crazy, she was tired of the lights being on at 3 or 4 in the morning. Legs looked skinny but didn't gain weight until I got to about 60mg. Gained 25 lbs total. Tapering caused bad spasms in my calves, feet and hands. Thigh muscles would get extremely weak each time I went down a dose. At 50mg I started getting sleepy and could hardly stay awake. Went back to work at 35mg and couldn't remember how to sign on to my computer. Some memory problems since I was in the hospital, couldn't remember how to spell words I knew as a young girl. Started having hip pain about 3 months into the Pred, that hasn't stopped. At 10mg feet, knees, shoulders hurt deep in the sockets, muscles below my neck knot up, may take a while to totally get off this. Read on a couple of blogs where people cut a 1mg tab into 4 pieces to taper off the Pred. because of side effects. Had thrush in the beginning and break outs of shingles. I hope to God I never have to get back on this drug again, it is so HARD on the body but it did do what it was given for, to repress my immune systems. My next step is Spleen surgery, hope this is a cure for me, am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Wouldn't advise anyone to take Pred unless it's a life or death situation. It's prescribed too liberally and people have multiple problems, worse than I have experienced. I've probably forgotten some things, but there's enough I've mentioned to give you an Idea it's not good, but if Pred is all you have then you do what you gotta do!! My puffy cheeks have went down though, now my hair has become curly but at least I have hair and my chihuahua stills loves me!!!

hi all. thanks for writing your comments here. it has helped me today, another HORRIBLE day of prednisone hell. i have been seriously ill for 8 months been told ever other week I'm likely going to die from lung disease (i'm 35) and after a painful lung biopsy have been told my lung problems are almost all reversible... after a year on high dose prednisone. i was on 40mg a day for a month a while back and was so out of control from rage and crying and insomnia and panic/suicidality, ravenous appetite, that they lowered me to 30. then after biopsy they said i should be on 100mg to cure me, we settled at 60mg. it's been 24 days. The moon face started about one week in. i've gained 8 lbs. i am an emotional wreck. i have at least one rage filled attack per day where i am screaming and want to kill somebody or destroy something. some days i am so filled with hopelessness and worry i just want to die. my body changes (after just losing 30 lbs and being a work out fanatic my shortness of breath makes it impossible to walk up 2 flights of stairs without resting) face changes, acne, excess body hair (oh my god please make it stop i'm like a chia pet and i'm so afraid it is going to get worse) double chin, puffy eyes and cheeks, absolutely uncontrollable emotions and mood swings, inability to be logical or reasonable. i don't want to leave the house, i'm panicked and scared all the time. i never sleep. ambian gives me minimal relief (just started taking it) i feel like i'm losing everything, except my lung functioning is returning and i'm not going to die from this illness (they assure me THIS week) i understand light at the end of the tunnel, but living like this is unbearable most days, almost impossible the rest of the time. am i alone with the severity of this? or are all the others like me too busy hiding the sharps and crying in a corner to write on this board? thanks for listening :)

figures, forgot to mention what HELPS. no eating after 8 (7pm is better) no salt, no sugar, exercise, even just a walk every day, anything physical, i walk like a grandma on the treadmill but i still do it, sometimes it is the only thing that stops my crying. no alcohol, support and understanding from loved ones, it's not you, its the drugs. good luck.
figures, forgot to mention what HELPS. no eating after 8 (7pm is better) no salt, no sugar, exercise, even just a walk every day, anything physical, i walk like a grandma on the treadmill but i still do it, sometimes it is the only thing that stops my crying. no alcohol, support and understanding from loved ones, it's not you, its the drugs. good luck.

My husband has solumedrol IVs for 4 days-500mg every 8 hours due to a MS flare-He could not walk at all before he had the IVs. Now he is home and has used predisone to wean off the IVs. He has diabetes now with severe depression and he is in a fog a lot. I understand this is basically the only way he got through the MS flare, but now he is worse off due to the side effects. It is a shame that so many people have been hurt by this medicine that is suppose to help. My ex husband was so violent when he was on predisone for back pain that it caused us to end up divorcing because he would beat the crap out of me or become so mean, then depressed that it drove us apart after 20+ years of marriage.

Predisone is the only other alternative for antibiotic therapy. Predisone has been known for years to have a lot of side effects. Always keep in mind you must be weined from the medicine never stop without consulting your doctor and if your doctor gives you a dose that does not require weining please also consult your pharmacist and the pharmacist really knows the drug compared to your doctor. Doctor's typically only know what the medication reps tell them whereas the pharmacist has extensive medication knowledge and will also know your current medication conflicts. Be sure that your doctor is aware of all medications including all herbal supplements and other the counter medications. With predisone you really have to out weigh the symptoms verses the side effects then determine are they really worth going through to eleviate your symptons. Keep in mind Predisone is a steroid a very potent anti-flammitory and reduces the inflammation so the infection can heal.

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.

My wife just met with her oerthopedic surgion about a total knee replacement and the Dr. could not understand why, at her age,she could have such advancded osteoperosi. The result of the query was that her doctor had her on Prednisone for over a year and it should only be used ,at most, for two weeks at a time. There is nothing wrong with the med if it is properly prescribed but if you are experiencing hair loss,colin symptoms and any joint problems PLEASE see another Dr.

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

Survivors Of Prednisone
Type: Common Interest - Health & Wellness
Description: Many of those with auto-immune diseases such as Crohn's Disease are forced to go on a prescribed steroid known as Prednisone. The effects of Prednisone are terrible. Prednisone creates water retention (puffiness) in your face and torso. It causes severe mood swings. It also causes your hair to fall out. And that is just going on the Prednisone. Once you get off the Prednisone, you then have to deal with the adrenal insufficiency as Prednisone can shut down your adrenal glands.

There seems to be little support for people who have been on Prednisone. They seem to be left alone to deal with the side effects and the confusion and fear that it causes.

This is what this group aims to do:
***
Provide awareness of how Prednisone can and has affected lives.

So if you are feeling down or suffering from crazy mood swings or can't handle looking in the mirror anymore then come and let it all out !

I've been on Predisone for about 5 months for severe allergies. I now have excessive acne on my cheeks. I never had a single acne outbreak in my entire life. I stopped the meds for 3 weeks and my face cleared up. As soon as I started the meds again the acne came back. I also, have experienced swollen ankles but that was very temporary.

My Mother was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis 30 years ago. She has been on prednisone at low doses since then. About 3 years ago she started imagining things, and hallusinations. About 2 years ago her prednisone dose went up to 60mg a day due to a stroke of the optic eye nerve. She has since been tapering down, now at 15mg a day. But tapering down makes her arthritis more painful. She has developed diabetes, loss of sleep, loss of apetite, loss of muscle tone. When she gets bumped, it's a big opened gash, rather than just a bruise. With the higher dose she was more moody & would get angry easier. The hallucinations & paranoia continue & are making me more & more concerned. I haven't read about this in any of the stories. Has anyone else experienced this side effect? I spoke with her Rheumatologist who suggest a psychiatrist to prescribe anti-psychotic drugs. She's already on 11 pills a day, does she need another?
Please let me know if anyone has experienced this as well.
Thank you.

This is not my experience but my mothers; She's been taking this poison for 8 years. Her doctor finally(though her bagering) has her at 5 mgs. a day but it's already too late, her spine has had disc fractures to the point where she is completely hunched over, when she first started the drug she had normal bone density. Now her doc wants her sed rate to be 19 before he even considers taking her off the drug, which is ridiculous since I read that most women over 50 average s hard. My brother and I help with some shopping and things but both of us have other obligations(he works full-time; I have husband and two kids) so my dad has alot on his plate.

Prednisone destroys the body, eventually, and sometimes it makes the original condition look like a cakewalk.

I have been on Predisone for 14 months as I have BOOP (Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organism Pnuemonitis). As of last week I went down to 30 mg daily. I was initially on 60 mg daily. I have gained almost 30 pounds in the last year, bad break outs on my face, facial hair, sleepless nights and bad mood swings. I would really like to get off this drug but unfortunately there is no other drug out there to treat BOOP. I pray for all of us on this drug.

I'm a 34 year old petite 110 lb female and have been on Prednisone for 7 weeks now for a kidney disease (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis). The treatment is supposed to be 3-4 months to see if I go into remission. If not, then I'm "steroid resistant" and they will have to move to a more aggressive treatment (a type of chemo). So I'm praying that this prednisone works!!

The first 2 weeks were a peice of case, then I developed many side effects, but the following being the most troublesome:

- 2 weeks - Edema. I got really bad fluid retention in my lower body and was put on a diuretic. A few days later my heart started pounding so hard I thought it would pop right out of my chest. Well turns out I was totally dehydrated from the diuretic so I'm off that now but the edema seems to be under control anyway (following a low-sodium/low carb diet). At the same time as the edema my skin dried right up too, and I need to put moisturizer on all the time. Even when I bend over I feel the skin on my back stretching.
- 2 weeks - Bloating. Really bad bloating. I'm bloated constantly now. Eating a low sodium diet helps, but not much. At night I weigh 5 lbs more than I do in the morning. I have terrible gas (burping mostly) all of the time. Sometimes it looks like I'm 6 months pregnant! And I'm sure people think I am because as I mentioned I'm normally thin and now I have to wear looser clothing to hide my belly, which doesn't really work and just looks obvious.
- 3 weeks - Sore knees. It feels like there's something growing in between my kneecaps that make it very difficult to climb stairs and it feels spongy when I walk. I can not put any pressure on my knees, I can't squat down, bend to pick something up, kneel, anything. And it gets worse at night.
- 4 week - Moonface. And my face has been blowing up like a balloon ever since. As I sit here and type I can actually feel it throbbing and growing still. I've got fat on my neck under my chin now that actually feels like it's choking me if I sit hunched over. I'm finding the moonface very difficult to cope with. I do not like to look in the mirror any more. I feel like a candy apple.
- 4 weeks - Cramps. Terrible terrible hand and feet cramps. Sometimes if I'm using my hands to chop vegetables or write or even use a fork, my hand cramps up like a lobster claw. I try to use the other hand then the same thing. And then almost every day, my feet. First one, then the other. Excruitiating cramps that seem to go in 15 minute intervals that make it impossible to walk, stand, sit, anything.
- 4 weeks - Very moody and aggitated. I am usually very easy going, now i have patience for nothing. I will be in a good mood one minute, the next I feel like I can kill someone. My boyfirend and our dogs are being very patient with me... I just hope they know it's the drugs not me! I just don't seem to have any control over my emotions.
- 5 weeks - Extreme fatigue. I used to have lots of energy, especially at the beginning of my Prednisone journey. But now I'm just wasted all of the time. I walk to and from work and the last couple weeks I want to just lay down on the side of the road and have a nap as I walk home. I used to do pilates (as much as possible with the sore knees) but it's too hard now. And forget about any elliptical training or cycling. It's enough just to get to and from work and I'm just exhausted.

There are more issues and I could go on forever, but those are the most troublesome. I just try so hard to stay positive but it's very hard sometimes. I pray that this is working, and that it is not all for not. I can't wait to be off these drugs, and my heart goes out to each and every one of you enduring the same thing and pray that it works for your too.

Good luck everyone.

:)J

I was given prednisone for extreme posion ivy at 4years old. I ended up getting posion ivy at least 6 times a year until I was 12 years old. I had posion ivy so bad that my doctor would give me a predisone shot and the pill form along with something to stop the itching. By the time I was 6 years old I noticed my clitours had enlarged, and I was able to have mutilple orgasm's, at that age I didn't understand what was going on but I didn't care. I started to notice I was the fastest and strongest child in my school. I became very muscular and a little agressive. These side affects got even more extreme as I got older. I wasn't sure why I was the way I was, I just assumed that it was normal, but I knew I was different then the other girls. I ended up having over 100 shots of prednison by the time I was 12 years old. I stoped getting posion ivy when I was 13 and stoped taking predinsone. I became real tried and wanted to sleep all day, were before I had so much energy. It got to a point where I lost all sexual feeling and I became very depressed and frustrated. I just spirled down from that point not knowing why. I had sex for the first time when I was 16 and it was painfull, that's when I knew something was reeally wrong. I started looking for answers and found that taking prednisone had made me feel great when I was taking it but once I stoped I didn't even feel like a person anymore. I got posion ivy again when I was 21 and was given prednisone again. I started to notice that not only did my posion ivy go away but I got my energy back and sexual feeling for about 2 months, I was a whole new person. That's when I really relized what had happend. I went to a doctor and told them what I had experianced. They checked my hormone levels, and found out that my body wasn't making enough testosterone or estrogen, explaining why I lost energy and sexual feeling. I started taking depo testosterone and it has changed my life. The doctor's were hesitant to give it to me, but when they saw the changes in my hormonem levels and the changes with me mentaly, we decided to keep taking it. I ended up having to find my own answer's because no doctor understood why I was feeling that way. I will have to have hormone therapy for the rest of my life. Doctor's told me before I started taking testosterone that I had the hormone levels of an 80 year old women, and I was only 21. Now I am 25 and have been on hormone therapy for 4 years, I am only half way there hormonally, I hope I get to feel like a noraml 25 year old, but I might not be where I need to be until I'm 30. I lost so much of myself and my life to this drug predinsone. If I could re-du it I would have never taken it.

My mom has been on predisone off and on for the last 19 years. First for asthma for 5 years weight gain of 100 pounds. then got off of it by going to national jewish hospital in Denver. Still put on it over the years Now the last year has been diagnosed with sjogrens syndrome and put on predisone as well as methotrexate injections. They started coming down and she had some heart trouble so back up and she kept telling drs her chest hurt all the way to her back this went on for 6 months 6 times in hospital and ER they kept saying it was her heart and rib cage. Well finally 10 days ago finally took a back exray and she had three fractures in her spine. So she has had a broken back for the last 6 months which was caused by the predisone. Had surgery 4 days ago but is now in nursing home for a while and the sjogrens is showing up in her lungs and was told this week that the treatment is predisone. She has so many things wrong that I now feel like the predisone has probably caused most of her health problems. Predisone should never be used for long term use it is to dangerous and so very painful.

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 have taken predisone for 15 years ranging from 120mg to 10mg. I also take 2000mg of cellcept, 400mg og plaquinel, 1000mg metforin, 10mg zeita, 130mg antera,60mg cymbalta, land lyrica., Foreto Injections (for osteoprosis, due to predisone). In the beginning I gained alot of weight and became depressed and very angry. I have Systemic Lupus Erythomous (SLE), I also do self catherization. I have found over the years to stay away from suger, salt and fat. It is very hard because as you know predisone can make you want to eat all of the time. I get headaches and alot of infections, but the alternative is death. Predisone is a very good drug and a very bad drug, but it really does work if it depends on your life.

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.

THIS IS MY STORY AND I'M STICKIN TO IT! PREDNISONE IS A DRUG FROME HELL!!! I WAS GIVEN PREDISONE BACK IN THE LATE 90'S WHE DRUGS LIKE THAT WAS DESPENSED LIKE CANDY AND YOU DID NOT GET A PRINTOUT ON THE CAUSE AND EFFECTS THAT THIS MED COULD HAVE ON YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR AND YOUR HEAD!WELL.........I WAS ON A LARGE DOSE AND HAD A MAJOR EPISODE BUT I HAD A WONDERFUL FRIEND THAT I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES ONE DAY( 3 DAYS INTO THE PREDNISONE AND SHE WAS WAS A WORK!) SHE TOLD ME THAT MY VOICE WAS SO LOUD THAT THE OTHERS IN THE OFFICE COULD HEAR ME AND SHE ASKED EXACTLY WHAT THE DOC HAD GIVEN ME.SHE HAD ACESS TO A PDR AND WHEN SHE GOT HOME THAT DAY SHE LOOKED UP PREDNISONE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME TO FLUSH WHAT I HAD LET DOWN THE TOILET AND TO HELL WITH WHET THE DOCTOR SAYS BECAUSE THE PRED WOULD KILL ME OR MAKE ME KILL. SO DOWN THE TOILET IT WENT!!
THAT HAS BEEN AT LEAST 10 YEARS AGO OR MORE AND I HAVE REFUSED PREDNISONE AND MOST ALL STEROIDS THAT DOCTORS HAVE TRIED TO PRESCRIBE TO ME.WELL, I NOE HAVE A HEALTH CONDITION THAT REQUIRED PRED FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF FOR THE PAIN BUT IT HAS BEEN GIVEN A MEASURED DOSE)BUT) I STILL AM HAVING THE SAME SIDE AFFECTS BUT HAVE ANTI AXNZIETY MEDS TO TAKE THE EDGE OFF.I SHARED THIS STORY WITH MY PRIMARY CARETAKER THAT I AHVE NOW AND HE SAID THAT HE WAS GLAD I TOLD HIM BEFORE HE TRIED TO GIVE IT TO ME.HE SAID THEY CALL THE SIDE AFFECT PREDNISONE PHSYCOSIS.YES.....IT HAS A NAME!!!! ALWAYS TELL YOUR DOCTOR YOUR EXPERINCE YOU HAVE HAD WITH THIS MED BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE ALTERNATIVE MEDS AND CAN ALSO GIVE MEASURED DOSES OF PREDNISONE AND IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT ASK ABOUT GETTING AND ANTIANXIETY MED ALONG WITH IT. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR MEDS ASK YOUR PHARMACIST FIRST FOR THAT IS WHAT THEY WAS TRAINED AND SCHOOLED FOR AND ANYONE OF THEM WORTH THEIR SALT WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MEDS BEFORE THEY HAND THEM TO YOU AND WILL TELL YOU THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR!!I HAD A GREAT PHARMACIST IN A SMALL TOWN I LIVED IN YEARS AGO AND HE WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND WOULD EVEN TELL ME WHAT FOOD AND OR LIQUID THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE WITH THE MEDS.DOCTORS TODAY ARE NOT SCHOOLED IN MEDICATIONS AS THEY WAS YEARS AGO! ALWAYS ASK YOUR PHARMACIST IF IN DOUBT!!!! HOPE THIS INFO HELPS!!! PAMELA

Can you tell me if high blood pressure and head aches a side effect of Predisone?

I am athirtysomething yr old female. I was given high dosages of predisone in an out the hospital for two years. The predisone was used for treatment of asthma. While using the drug I experienced rapid heart rate, nervousness/anxiety and my shoulder dislocated every time I used prednisone,(the shoulder had been previously dislocated due to an injury). I also am plagued with acne on my face, back and chest. Molre recently I have been diagnosed with Grave's Disease. I am wondering if my predisone usage is in anyway related to my present diagnoses.

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 just started on Predisone for Lupus, and it is playing havoc with my eyesight. I am actually taking 1/2 a pill, instead of the whole p ill the doctor prescribed. Yet, I've been on it only 3 days, and the burring of vision keeps getting worse. Sorry, nothing is worth losing my vision over. I'm going off the drug, with or against medical advice.

I'm no longer taking predisone and was wondering how long it takes for the moonface to go away???

I take predisone to keep the arteries in my head open. I have alot of brusing all over my body. Is this a side effect?

I was put on prednisone 1/1/06 for low platelets/cll. I started at 80mg for 5 days. It didn't work so they had me drop 10mg/week. When I was down to 50mg I was given a mild chem and for that they increased my predisone to 80mg for 5 days. Then I dropped to 30mg/week and today I drop to 10mg/day. The side effects from dropping from 80 to 30mg was awful. My stomach has pupped out and puts pressure on my waist area. I didn't gain weight but I now have lost 2 pounds. I'm very uncomfortable and can't wait until this drug leaves my body. Has anyone experienced this?

Is eye sight loss from predisone temporary?

My DR perscribed predisone for an allergic reation I had that has caused a rash all over my neck and chest, and after reading some of these posts, I'm almost ready to skip taking it and live with the rash....

Hi polkanow,
I read your message and I wanted to write to tell you that we all go through the feeling of not being ourselves. It's a shame that we need to go through this for the pills to work on our bodies. Keep reminding yourself that once you are off the medication you will be your old self again. I have been on prednisone for over a year, I started at 80 I think, and we were reducing the dosage like you're supposed to with my disease (Wegener's Granulomatosis), and after my lung surgery about 6 months ago I had a flare up of the disease and had to restart prednisone at an even higher dose, at 100mg. This second time on predisone is much tougher than the first. Somehow, I guess because I've been on it longer, I'm experiencing more side effects, more ups and downs, more round face, more dark hairs on my face and neck. It doesn't help us at all that it makes us so unattractive either!!!! Does anyone know if the hairyness goes away like the moon face is supposed to? (thanks for the encouragement, sanndiego). I am small boned, and yet I've gained so much chubbiness on my face and neck that I can't wear some of the necklaces that I used to.
Patience

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

Never had high blood pressure until having had prednisone and also, prednisone played havoc with my blood sugars, with frequent elevations and never went down to what my previous readings on lab work showed. Have been told to watch out for becoming diabetic due to predisone. I have come to the conclusion that prednisone is POISON!!!!

Hi i had been on Predisone since Jan and it has been a total nightmare. It was given as to help with Pulmonary Sarcoidosis that i have. I have suffered from numerous side effects
- night sweats
- frequent urination
- acne breakout
- upset stomach
- body cramps and muscle weakness
- hair loss
- mood swings
- weight gain almost 50 lbs
- lack of sleep
I have now been off of the Predisone for 15 day and is still dealing with a few sides affects and withdrawl effects....i have notices...since the i have a very bad trembling affect to my hands

I took predisone for only a few months and I can take it no more. Other things work far better. The side effects were, loss of vision, swelling, headaches, dizzy, run into things and
others.

I took it for breathing, and I am breathing far better since I quit it. It is probably one of the worst medicines ( if you can call it that ) on the market.
I would question any doctor that subscribes it, when many
people quit it, use other things and get well.

I have recently been diagnosed with sarcoidosis. I am not looking forward to being on predisone. Are there any other drugs for treatment of this horrible disease. Thanks.