PredniSONE and shoulders

26th August 2009 I am at the point of wanting to tear my husband into little pieces, nothing he does is right. My emotions are horrible ranging from angry to utterly furious. My anxiety level ranges between moderate to pounding heart almost panic attack level I presume. I am restless, cant sleep, swollen face, neck, puffed up shoulders, very weird stuff. My eyes are so so puffy I want to cry. My husband was so worried about my personality change he called the doctor who laughed and said that some people get some side effects with Prednisone. OMG why didn't the hospital staff and doctors say something about this when they were pumping the stuff into me? I actually was thinking my life was not worth living anymore.........everyone around me was angry at my bad behavior, which I could not control and still cant. What the hell is this all about, cant they use another drug? D. from Santa Barbara

I'm 15 years old and i've been taking prednisone for a few months, and from what i've read i'm on a really high dose. i was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and another autoimmune disorder concerning my muscles at the same time. my doctor told me prednisone was my only choice; it was either that or i would lose the ability to walk. he told me there'd be side effects, but i had no idea it'd turn out like this or i would have fought harder for another course of action. i started out on 30mg twice a day, and since then was weaned down to 20mg twice a day and now i'm down to 30mg once a day. i've been looking up a bunch of information trying to figure out if there's a way to lessen the side effects or any hope at all that they will get better. apparently there isn't much. after reading a bunch of these stories i gotta say i'm not feeling great about this. i totally understand everything everyone is going through. i'm sure you can imagine what it's like being smack in the middle of high school with a huge puffy face, acne so bad on my face, chest, back, neck, and shoulders that wearing a bra could put me in tears, and mood swings so bad i've lost friends over it. everyone knows how brutal high school can be, where appearance and attitude are everything. and i try to tell my doctor about it and he literally looks at me like i'm a whiny teenager and says "you're just going to have to deal with it." and people like my mom and my closest friends don't get it either. nobody understands how beyond frustrating it is. i'll get into the worst moods and not have a reason for it, but i'll stay angry for hours or burst into tears over someone looking at me the wrong way. it'll get to the point where i have to isolate myself from other people because the abrubt mood changes get so bad. as bad as i hate to admit it, the pain from the arthritis is gone now and supposedly my muscles are doing better too. developing arthritis caused me to have to quit cheerleading, something i've loved doing for 6 years, because the pain got to the point where i couldn't get my arms above my head or bend my knees. however, i'd almost rather deal with the horrible joint pain than deal with the side effects of prednisone. if your doctor gives you and alternative method, take it. i've always been confident in the way i look and really outgoing and happy and now i sometimes catch myself thinking about suicide. that's shocking to me because i've got so much going for me, but this medicine makes me miserable. and when i complain about it, anyone i'm talking to just looks at me like i'm being a cry baby. my mom does too, she'll say things like "you just have to do this. i know it's not what you want but to be honest i'm sick of hearing you bitch about it."
i feel a little better knowing other people feel the same way - like nobody gets whats going on with them. the prednisone does give me days of really great euphoria and days when i feel like i could run a marathon, but waking up in the morning to the acne and huge face puts me to tears every day. i have to pee all the time, usually getting up at 2 or 3 am. i don't sleep well anymore and i do sweat all the time. which also sucks being a teenage girl. i'm always hungry, and when i eat i never feel full so i don't know when to stop. my neck and face have put on so much weight that when people see me in the halls or out and about they ask me what happened. mind you these are people i don't talk to, just ones i know from classes or whatever. and it's pretty bad when teenage boys i've never really talked to ask what happened to your face. kind of a blow to the ego, or whatever is left of it at this point.
i'd like to know if, as my dosage gets lowered, the side effects will diminish and when i'm off the prednisone completely if they will disappear altogether. any help there?
or if there is any way to help the acne or puffy face

my doctor just put me on something called methotrexate or something like that to help wean me off the prednisone, and does anyone know what those side effects will do? or if they'll affect the prednisone side effects?
i'm constantly obsessing over gaining weight and what my skin looks like and what i eat and how heavy my face feels and the occasional pressure in my eyes to the point where i just want to be put out of my misery.
and after reading other people's stories i really don't understand why this drug is still given out as freely as it is. but maybe all doctors are like mine, they just don't get it.
best of luck to anyone who's on prednisone, my heart goes out to you; i'm right there with you
sorry this became like a book it wasn't meant to be this long

I have been on Prednisone for 3 months for PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica)and so far the pros have far outweighed the cons. PMR is an extremely painful condition that affects the shoulders and hips especially at night and early morning, I spent all of December and January sitting upright in a chair trying to sleep, untill I was diagnosed and prescribed Prednisone and oxycodone. I started at 25 mg and I'm now down to 15mg. The side effects that I do have are weight gain (about 10 pounds), mild mood swings and insomnia.I am an avid bicycle rider (25-35 training miles per day on week days a lot more over the weekend),I am 60 years old and now back on the bike. The strange thing is after about one month back in training I am much stronger this year than last even with the added weight. Last year, a solo, 30 mile hard ride I would average about 17 mph this week I went out on my same training ride at 19.4 mph, over 2 mph faster. Everything I read about Prednisone says that it wastes muscles,but I have become stronger. Is it possible that it's the Prednisone?

A few years back I severely injured my back. As part of my treatment my doctor gave me prednisone. My joints, especially my knees hurt beyond belief. I even had go to my parents house because I couldn't move, it hurt too much. I called my doctor and you know what he told me?!?! it was all in my head.He accused me of trying to get pain pills from him. The joint pain got so bad that I had to be hospitalized. You know what they told me at the hospital. I was having a allergic reaction to prednisone. No S***t!??! anyway, since that time I have not taken prednisone. My concern now is that my doctor wants me to get a cortisone injection. . . I am scared I would get the same reaction. from the research I have done so far, it looks like it is from the same family. Does anybody know?

Thanks
B.

I have crohns and was on a very high dose of prednisone from Jan. - Sept./08 (having a operation to take part of my colon out in Jun/08) and now I am suffering such joint pain in my back shoulders and both arms that I am taking ibuprofen (approx. 8- 10 a day). My general doctor said to me "somethings can't be fixed" and I said to him well I did get my crohns under control, surely there is something I can take to block this pain. I take Calcium with Magnesium, Vitamin D and an anti-inflammatory, Mesalamine, prescribed by my internal specialist. I have not been well for over a year, finally get crohns under control and enjure such pain in my shoulders and arms - it makes me cry sometimes because the pain is so great. I finally realized, maybe this is the after effect of prednisone. Anyone have any ideas if I might be correct. I am going to internal specialist March 12/09 so I am going to ask him if he can help me as my regular doctor seems to brush my pain off. Thank you, D.

I am so glad I'm not the only one that has the crazy symptoms. I am being treated for an inflammation in my optic nerve. I woke up over a month ago now with double-vision. I was on 100mg a day for seven days then went down to 60mg. I feel like I'm high all the time though. I have to take my pills at 7 in the morning and they are still effecting me until about 2 or 3 in the afternoon. I can't drive or do anything that would take a lot of concentration cause I just feel out of it around my eyes. Also I have tingling in my face and arm. Not sure if this is a side effect or if its the possibility that I may have Multiple Sclerosis. (getting an M.R.I. done for further testing) Does anyone else have those tingling sensations?
My vision has almost come back to normal now. The Prednisone has done wonders for that, but I really hate taking it.

Started taking 20 mg prednisone today for a bout of inflammation in my jaw and ear. I felt great when I first took the pill but now 7 hours later I am having terrible aches and pains in my hips, legs and shoulders. I am trying not to think that everything that can go wrong will go wrong but I feel worse than the ear ache I started with. Has anyone experienced such quick aches?

I was prescribed 20mg 3x daily for five days to treat "Reactive Airway Disease/Bronchitis." Yesterday was my 5th and final day of taking the medication and I noticed both of my shins began hurting for no apparent reason when I walked. I didn't think it had anything to do with Prednisone. Then, last night, I suddenly felt weak as if my blood sugar had dropped tremendously and ate a grapefruit while trembling with weakness to stop this feeling. Again, I made no association with this and Prednisone. Last night as well, I noticed that my shoulders suddenly became achey on both sides of my backbone for no apparent reason. This morning, I woke up and the pain from my shoulders had spread to my hips and the entire area between my shoulders and hips is tender to the touch. Today, after not taking any of the medication, I feel mentally blurry, have moments of what feels to be low blood sugar and flu-like symptoms. I'm also still experiencing the muscle pain in my back and hips although my shins seem better. My pharmacist told me to call my Dr. and seemed surprised to learn I was not weaned off this medication. All of the symptoms I have described above are side-effects that should be reported to a Dr. immediately, according to my pharmacist. Another less-serious side-effect that began yesterday is swelling in my feet, hands, stomach and face. I also had diarrhea today.

my doctor put me prednisone 40 mg for 9 days to treat my inflammation of my neck and shoulders. I took my last dose 5 days ago. I'm still experiencing side effects like insomnia,anxiety,nervousness,fast heart rate and upset stomach. how long will side effects .

I am on my last of 10 days on prednisone and all I can say is Thank God! I am taking it for asthma and I feel worse than I did before! My chest feels like I am having a heart attack, I have labored breathing, I am confused and weak, terrible pain in my neck and shoulders, horrible metallic taste in my mouth that even Dentyne Ice can't take away, I feel exhausted all the time, I am starving myself only to gain a pound a day and I can't concentrate at all. There was no warning not to mix this drug with alcohol, and after a couple of drinks I black out. The thing that really sucks is that I am a professional flutist and it is affecting my breathing and ability to play! Someone please tell me these "side effects" will eventually go away as I am scared to death after reading about your experiences.

I am glad that I found this website! I have been trying to find out how long it takes for my moon face to go away. I was prescribed 60mgs daily of Prednisone while 35 weeks pregnant for 3 weeks. When pregnant, I developed a condition called Thyromocypenia (my white blood cells die off during my pregnancies). In order for my OB to not have to put me under again for a repeat c-section, she referred me to a hematologist who put me on this drug. I asked him about side effects and he stated that the most common is increased appetite, which did not affect me. Even though I was pregnant at the time, my appetite did not change, but what did change was my face after I stopped taking the Prednisone. While in the hospital after the birth of my son, they did taper the dosage for 3 days and at the point of discharge, I was completely off the drug. I left the hospital on a Wednesday and overnight my face had swollen so strangely that I went back to the hospital on Friday. I had no idea that there was such a thing as this moon face syndrome. The nurse that attended to me in the emergency room told me about it. She said that she had taken Prednisone before for asthma and it took her face 3 weeks to return to normal.

I just had my son on 5/4, and my face has been swollen exactly a week today. I can see where some areas are reducing, but it is still not back to normal. My face did not swell at all during my pregnancy and I only gained 18lbs, so this was really startling for me to have been through 9 months looking great and after giving birth sitting up with a pie face, swollen nose, swollen lips, a swollen neck, and swollen shoulders. I also experienced a couple of migraines that nearly took me out. I hope to never have to take this drug again!

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.

I am a 25 year old, who was perfectly healthy prior to recently when I was diagnosed with Nephritic Syndrome and Minimal Change Disease and possibly FSGS (kidney diseases) I was put on 60 mg of Prednisone for 1 month then I was lowered to 40 mg for one month and I am then dropping to 30 mg. I am also taking Fosamax for my bones and a Vitamin D pill because my last lab test showed low vitamin D levels.

I am dizzy constantly and can not live a normal life, I can not drive or do any activities that I had previously done. My chest is so tight and constricted all of the time, my heart rate is so fast and pounds at my chest. I have no energy to do anything, I can barely open a door at times. I am beginning to grow unwanted hair on my face. My abdomen is always bloated. I have pain in my rib cage, and shoulders. I feel very sore throughout my entire body. I do not really sleep at night, so I look very tired all the time.

I have actually lost weight, I have no appetite at all. I am down 10-15lbs.

Now for the Pro- my Kidney Diseases are currently in remission and this has happened much faster than the Nephrologist had thought.

I am very anxious to getting my life back to normal and getting off the Prednisone.

Has any one else experienced increased heart rate, chest tightness, or rib pain?

I wish everyone the best in their roads to recovery!!

Stay away from Prednisone

My prayers to all of you who take these destructive "medications". here's my short story.

I had been diagnosed with Sarcoidosis back in 2003. My doctor gave me 60MG per day (three 20 MG tabs) for over six months, with the weening off period lasting another six. To make a long story shorter. I went through many of the same problems like, bloating in the face and body, rashes, a bump that looks like a wart--that still won't go away, and a continuing state of memory loss. I get baffled easy now. I also continue to go through mood swings.

But here's the kicker, I haven't taken Prednisone for over 3 years and I was trying to begin lifting weights. I thought I popped something in my arm, but the doctor says that I have "aseptic necrosis", that has developed in my left shoulder and soon to start in both sides of my hips. For those who don't want to "google" the term, basically parts of my shoulder and hip bones are not getting blood flow and are dying (necrosis).

With my memory loss, I am having difficulties performing at work and doing routine tasks at home. I did not think this "medication" would have affected me this much.

Prednisone needs to be on the banned list of medicines.

I had a kidney transplant a year and half ago, and had to take Prednisone as one of my post-transplant med's. I was on it for about 2 months and I went through a lot of the same side effects mentioned by other people, increased appetite and weight gain in odd places, sleeplessness, and acne. Then recently I had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic and was again prescribed prednisone for three weeks, but this time the acne is so bad it looks like a rash, and it's all over my back, chest, neck especially, and on my face. I can deal with it because I realize it's what I need to do, and I am grateful that there is a drug that can treat the symptoms from the allergy, but I am wondering how long it will take for the acne to clear up once I finish the 3 weeks? Does anyone know how long it takes when you've been on it for that amount of time? Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks.
Megan

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

Was on Prednisone 2 years ago for respiratory problems 30mg. Gained 25 pounds, fat face, felt tired, etc.

However 2 years later, after weaning off Prednisone my muscles ache, joints are most always stiff, esp. hands plus my feet feel numb and my short term memory has not returned to normal----does any one else out there have similar problems. What can be done?

I am a 22 year old female, 5'4'' and 120 lbs. I was recently diagnosed with asthma and was put on Prednisone for 4 days - 60mgs, then 40 mgs. I experienced blurred vision, mood swings (nervousness, depression), headaches, fatigue, and nausea. The day after I stopped I got a very sore neck and shoulders, and was so tired I didn't want to get out of bed. I now feel pretty much back to normal, but the whole experience was very scary while I was going through it because no one really warned me about these effects. I would burst out crying suddenly, and the vision thing was scary because you feel like it will never get better. I felt so unlike myself that I stayed in bed pretty much all four days I was on it and the day after I stopped. I hope I never have to take it again, and I am sorry for those who must take this drug long term. On the positive side, it does seem to have helped my asthma symptoms, although some of them returned after I stopped the medication.

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've been on prednisone for a few months now for severe ulcerative colitis, I'm 18 years old now, and the disease started when I was fourteen. So far, it's the only thing that seems to work. I've experinced increased acne, and occasional soreness in my shoulders in back. But the worst thing is that lately I've been just explosively angry. I raise my voice to the point that I am screaming my lungs out (which I rarely did before). I feel like I'm losing the ability to see what's going on when I get angry. I hate depending on other people to know when I'm out of control, but I'm beginning to think I can no longer tell. Does anyone else feel this way? Thanks.

I am a 52 yr old female. Just finished my 6 day supply of 20mg prednisone. I have shoulder impingement in both shoulders. Prednisone is a NIGHTMARE MEDICATION! I had several of the side effects mentioned. It lessened the pain in my shoulders, but the side effects were far worse. I had difficulty sleeping (bad dreams), anxiety, depression, severe hot flashes,sensitivity to light, heart beating rapidly. I felt like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde. I didn't recognize myself in the mirror. There was this old wretched looking person looking back at me. Now after the medication is gone the pain is back.Whoopdedo. 6 days of misery and torment for that! Never again!

Alright well ive been on pred for about 2 months now started out at 40mg / daily but now am at 30mg. I've experienced facial swelling, minor weight gain, severe acne on face back and shoulders, my hands now slightly shake, and ive had mood swings. I have never had any problems with sleeping or night sweats if anything im getting more sleep than i have before.

Hi, I have currently been taking prednisone for 3 weeks at 40 mg which just was decreased to 35 mg. I am taking this medication along with colazal for Ulcerative clotis. I am a 21 year old male.

The side effects I have experienced are A very increased appetite. I am always hungry, I eat about 6 full meals aday. I am also getting about 5 hours of sleep. And for about a week now I have had a major acne problem. I have broken out all over my face, shoulders, chest, and back.

I am 16 years old and have had an undiagnosed stomach econdition for about 4 years. my Stomache pain recently flaired up and i was admitted to the hospital for 6 weeks. My Doctor prescribed 40mgs of Prednisone per day. I am currently 3 weeks in and have had alot of trouble with the side effects. The side effect that is causing me the most discomfort is lack of sleep. in the last 3 weeks i have considered myself lucky to get an hour of sleep a night. another problen i've had is losing the will to exercise, before starting prednisone i was going to the gym religiously every day. i am still goin atleast every second day but i have to force and drag myseld to go. My appitite has increased and i am easily angered by anyone for small things. I have been having mild Acne problems on my shoulders and back and have had mild muscle soreness. My last side effect is full body shaking that is extremely hard to control. I can't wait to get off this stuff and hope the side effects stop immediately.

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

I was prescribed Prednisone for only 5 days- my doc said to take it to rule out inflamed sinuses as a cause of my dizzy/lightheaded symptoms.
Well, this medication did everything but take away my dizziness. On my 2nd night I was feeling anxious and had difficulty falling asleep. On my 3rd night, the it got worse. On the 4th night, I felt like something was crawling under my skin- it was so uncomfortable- I kept rubbing my arms and paced back and forth until the feeling went away about 2 hours later. On the last night, I woke up from a nap feeling tender all over- my ribcage, my shoulders, under my arms, my neck, jaw. My jaw even appeared to be swelled. My body was so sensitive to touch that I couldn't even carry my purse on my shoulder the next day as I walked to a doctor's appointment. My doc told me that the tenderness was probably due to a virus that the Prednisone had initially supressed. What do you think? Anybody else ever had these side effects or effects after completion of the Prednisone?
Oh and about the dizziness, it just got worse. I will never take this medication again.

To Guest #10748......Yes, I had terrible side effects while I was reducing my dose. In fact, I ended up in the emergency room one Sunday because my blood pressure and heart rate went sky high. I am a person with anxiety and panic attacks anyway, so the prednisone really put me over the edge. I am now down to .5 (1/2 of a 10mg tablet) a day until they are all gone; and they are almost all gone, thank God!!!!! I am feeling much better these days; not to say I don't have my bad days. I am taking the prednisone for sudden hearing loss in my right ear, so I still have my days where I feel weird because my head feels lopsided. It is the strangest feeling ever. It's very hard to explain to anyone unless they have experienced it too. I had the muscle weakness, mostly in my shoulders and arms; the extreme hunger, (I still can't believe the food that I could put away) and just a general LOUSEY feeling. I was a nervous wreck. Hang in there; it will get better. I can say this.......I will never take it again. Even if I end up in a wheelchair someday for some reason....I will NOT TAKE IT. Oh, and I had extreme sweating; mostly at night when it was time to go to bed. I would have to get a cold washcloth and lay it on top of my chest to cool down my core temperature. It was awful!!!! I guess it was pretty much a NIGHTMARE. Like I said, Hang in there!!!!!!

After another afternoon of feeling downright lousey, I began reading all of these testimonials. I cannot wait until this medicine is gone and out of my system. I just don't feel right and until I started reading what other people had to say, I thought I would lose my mind. I have been taking Prednisone for Sudden Hearing Loss as of the 18th of March, 2005. The doc started me out on 60mg daily for the first 5 days, then down to 40mg for the next 7 days, then 20mg for the next 7 days, then 10mg for the next 7 days, then 5mg a day until the pills are gone. I swear, I will never take this crap again!!! I have the incredible appetite, mood swings, weakness in my shoulders and legs to the point that working has really been a struggle. I sometimes just sit at my desk and wonder what I'm doing there. I will admit, the sleeping problem that I had the first week has gotten much better. I now can sleep through the night but usually wake to a feeling in my stomach and throat that I just swallowed a piece of glass. Then I have to jump out of bed and get down to the kitchen to quick get something to eat so that feeling will go away. What a way to live. I'll take the deafness over these feelings any day!!!!!!! And by the way, I still cannot hear out of my right ear.

Weight gain particularly in the breast and abdomen region, sweating, Pain in the shoulders, sleeplessness,restless legs, indigestion.--GERD
I have been on the drug for a year, and I hate that I need it, but I am afraid not to breathe. I have asthma.
I take very little now , cut myself down to 2.5 mg. NO doctor ever told me the side effects

I have cusining's disease. I was on Kenalog for arthritis in nec and shoulders for almost two years. The doctor stopped the shots abruptly and put me on VIIOX till it was taken foo the market. I have been on predisone for a year now and continue to decrease my dose. I have every symptom of Cushing's from Moon face, buffalo back and neck. And weak muscles, joints and so much pain. My wuestion is my teeth. I have lost 3 molars and have 4 more indanger. Can you give me some documented information on steroids and my teeth after prolong use. I need my dentist to receive this info so the insurance company will help with the expense. Any web sites, written documents would be appreciated

Regards,
P.J.

Acute asthmatic, have been on life support 4 x,the last two years taking prednisone non stop and still very short of breath,weight gain of 15 pounds, from 135 to 145,frequent urination, depression,pain in joints specially on shoulders, bruising, swelling and puffiness, heart burn, blurry vision.Help I want to get of this drug!

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.

I have been on pred for 2 years off and on for Temporal Arteritis that the doctors at long last have decided that I don't have. They started me out on 60 mm and now they are taking me off at 1mm every other week. I am down to 11mm now. I have experienced all the side effects except the acne and problems with periods. I gained 40 pounds and have such bad pains in my lower back that I can't stay on my feet for long. And I'm always hungry though I try to control it. My main withdrawal symptom is extreme itching from my neck to my wrists and thighs. especially where there is any pressure on the body such as waist bands etc. I tried to get off it once but it was at a faster rate and that is when the itching started. I will gladly put up with the itching as long as I can get off this "Satans curse" of a medicine. I also have jerking in my hands and a general feeling of shakiness. I was glad to read that someone else had painful sensitive teeth I didn't know it was connected to the pred. I too wonder if I will be able to lose all this weight after I'm off the pred. I do know that the moon face goes away because it did the one time I came off the pred then had to get back on it. I also have weakness in my thighs and arms. and my arms are always getting big ugly bruises or torn skin on them to the point that I have to wear long sleeves in hot weather.feel free to email me with your story. Especially if you are off of it so I can have some idea what might happen to me