PredniSONE and sinus infection

A year ago I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis and began taking 50mg Prednisone per day. The worst side effects in the beginning were weight gain, moon face, facial hair, hump-back neck, bruising (for example, just by my knees being together while I sleep,) excruciating joint pain and water retention to the point I felt my skin would split open. And poor vision which could have led to glaucoma, but an eye specialist put me on eye drops to reduce the pressure to normal levels. I've felt horrified and embarrassed by the change in my appearance but relieved that my sarcoid was being treated.
I feel confident in my case that Prednisone was the necessary treatment. My pulmonologist, opthamologist and regular doctor all agreed on a course of treatment. But I really advise people to get a second or third opinion before they take it. A friend of mine was prescribed a weeks course of Prednisone for a severe sinus infection. Luckily she didn't have any side effects but I really question if it was necessary. I'd also like to stress that if you're on Prednisone and experience worsening vision, please see an opthamologist who is a glaucoma specialist because it can lead to blindness if not treated.
And lastly, sorry this became a novel! I have been tapering off and I'm down to 20mg. But recently I've noticed my hair is thinning so much. I lose a ton when I brush it and it clogs the drain when I shower. Also my skin is shedding. When I shower and use a loofah sponge like I've always done and I lose layers of skin like a snake. I would really like to know if my hair will start to grow back when I'm finally off the Prednisone or am I going to lose it completely??

I was just put on prednisone due to a very strong sinus infection. I took 4 pills today of 10 mg each,and so far I have been feeling good,except of course of the normal discomfort of the sinuses dripping in my ears and shortness of breath. The Dr. also prescribed Amoxicillin, and so far so good. However I get really nervous when I hear what other people post about what has happened to them because I suffer from anxieties and don't wanna have another one of those EVER! I am 50 years old and have always been very healthy but as soon as I turn 50 booom! the next morning,aches and pains and irrational thoughts and fears and you name it! It is really awful:)

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!

Started with a Pred pak for a sinus infection. Made my heart race and had tach and early heartbeat, which kept me from sleeping. Went to Cardiologist. Several doctors denied that the Pred would cause the rapid heartbeat. Then the Cardiologist did an echo and found a pericardial effusion and some weird spots on my lungs. They suspected lung cancer which may cause the effusion, so I had surgery to do a pericardial window and a lung biopsy. Then a pulmonologist decided to put me on Pred again...steady dosage...because she didn't know what else to do. (Didn't have lung cancer) I didn't have any more funny heartbeats, so maybe the pred didn't cause it after all. But I've gained 40 pounds. My hair has grown faster, and I've gotten some facial hair (not supposed to have that, being a female)...which I call fur. Moon face with cheeks that are hard, muscle cramps, can't sleep, but once I do go to sleep, I can't wake up. Tired all the time, headaches, joint pain-sometimes severe, dry skin, generally bad attitude, with very little patience, low potassium levels which add to my muscle cramping problems, difficulty swallowing, indigestion which I've never had, with painful and burning reflux. And occasionally when I eat, I have the rapid heartbeat again. I go in search of food like I'm going to store it in my thighs for winter. Anything you eat will turn to fat, including protein. Can't wait to get off this stuff which will take until June of next year. Then my doctor says it will be 3 months before all these effects wear off. No one told me I would get fur.

Ok here's my story with Prednisone. Let me first give you a little back ground info on me. Born with a VSD, that was repaired at 8 months of age, only after developing severe pneumonia. Was fine as a child growing up until at 18 i developed asthma. i am 29 now and have been on and off prednisone during that time. During that time however I have always been on a metered dosage pack that has always tapered usually within 5 days with no side effects.

Now lets talk present day with me. First off I went in back in early Sept. for what I thought was just a sinus infection, turns out my lungs were so tight, i was immediately put on 80 mg for 5 days straight, and you guessed it no tapering. Those 5 days were the worst five days of my life. I have SVT- taychcardia and the med made it worst, I was running around like I was on Speed or something. Also, I had started to urinate like crazy. Headaches, nausea, muscle pain as well as joint pain. i can not walk without feeling as though my knees, and ankles are going to break. Also, i am not as foccused as I usually am. Ever since that faithfully day in September I have been on this stuff. it has already been 2 months and im on 40mg now. And I cannot sleep at all at night and during the day now i crash once it seems like the prednisone starts wearing off. its horrible. I am going to go see the Pulmanologist Monday hopefully he will have some answers, and Im dreading him telling me i may have COPD, from a protien defiency(sorry for spelling, this med is messing with my thought process). Any who, i cant just stop taking it, i have been warned about that. something has to give or my body may give up.

hope this helps.

this med is good if used correctly but i agree Doctors need to fully warn patients before hand of all possible side effects.

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.

The first time I heard the word prednisone was late Dec 07 when I was hospitalized for severe pneumonia. I started off with a bad sinus infection that quickly advanced into pneumonia in a matter of a couple weeks. I tried 3 courses of antibiotics but I continued to get worse and got to the point where I was unable to breath on my own. Within a day of being at the hospital I felt like I was living in a dream world and from there I continued to get more stoned by the minute. I had no idea I was being pumped full of prednisone intravenously, along with my antibiotics. I was given a dose of 250 mgs daily, and obviously it was way too much for me. As I progressed into my dream world, I had a couple of “episodes” where I acted completely out of character, and got really paranoid and highly emotional. I pulled my IV out of my arm the one night and sat and watched the blood dripping from my hand, not really understanding where I was or what was going on. Later on I got really paranoid that the nursing staff was conspiring against me and talking about me behind my back (lol) , which I normally would not care about, but for some reason it made me really upset and I sobbed uncontrollably at times. I also tried to leave my room in intensive care a few times, as I was convinced that I was not supposed to be there and wanted to go home. My doctors were really freaked out so they gradually lowed my dose over the last few days I was in the hospital, even sent me for a CT scan of my brain in case I was going crazy. Prednisone is an extremely strong and evil drug – that is why I had the adverse reaction!! Not because I’m crazy! And one should never be given a drug like prednisone without their knowledge!! A few weeks after leaving the hospital I started going down hill again and the doctors realized that what I had was an immune disorder and not just pneumonia per se. After a few months of on again off again prednisone (never longer than a week at a time), I was put on a daily regiment (50 mgs) of it starting in May. Since then I have experienced all of the same side effects noted by everyone on here, weight gain, sleeplessness, anxiety, hair growth (the worst is on my face and fingers!!) dizziness, confusion, trembling hands, tooth aches, and the worst of all , big time MOON FACE! I feel like a complete freak most days. I am now tapering and am down to 10 mgs. So far I have seen no improvement in the side effects, accept now I have withdrawal side effects on top of everything - nausea, headaches, flu like symptoms and trouble breathing. I HATE this drug, even though I know it ultimately saved my life in the hospital and my kidneys – as I had complications caused by the autoimmune disorder. I see my doctor next week and I want off this drug completely. I am not sure the benefits out weigh the side effects to be honest. I want to feel normal again and be able to recognize my own face in the mirror  People should use extreme caution when using this drug and it should only be used to save people’s lives, not used for minor things like poison ivy. That is unconscionable!!!! Good luck to all who are on this drug.

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.

prednisone is wonderful. It helps you feel a little better when you are sick. I have taken 20mg many times and it helps recover from sinus infections and headcolds. You don't miss work when on prednisone as it helps you get back to feeling good quickly. It tends to make me thirsty and almost too energetic. I request prednisone when I get my yearly sinus infection. Helps a quick recovery.

I was put on 40mg per day of Prednisone for a sinus infection. I felt good for 4 days, then very weak and tired with headache and nausea. The doctor did not prescribe tapering off, just stop after 10 days. I quit after 9 days. Horrible withdrawal, very weak, bad headache, terrible nausea. My blood pressure dropped from 120/80 to 96/40. I had been on 25mg Lisinipril and Hydrochlorothyazide - doctor stopped that. Blood pressure now 104/60. Still very tired. Headaches almost gone, nausea gone. Complete blood panel tests all normal. Dr says symptoms will go away. It has been 3 weeks since I stopped the drug. Some fluid retention, but that is going away. Has anyone experienced LOW blood pressure with Prednisone?

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

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

I cannot begin to stress how much I needed to see a few of these posts. While the Prednisone has me scared for my life at times and in complete and total despair the others... Seeing that others of you know what I am speaking of makes a small difference, for the positive. Having an appetite would be great. Surely food would help with the eternal flame the prednisone has created inside me. And all for a "sinus infection?!" Garsh Kristopher

I started Prednisone today at 40mg a day for 7 days to help open up my sinuses as I am getting over a sinus infection. I can't sit still and I am so anxious and nervous. This is odd for me because I am usually very laid back. My heart is racing and my heart feels as if it is skipping a beat. I don't think I am going to be able to finish these pills. It did the job. Yesterday I felt horrible and couldn't breath through my nose and now I can, but I can't stand this anxiousness. All these symptoms started about 6 hours after my dose.

I was prescribed prednisone for a sinus infection. I also experienced a significant increase in appetite and mood swings. I only take it when I have a sinus infection which isn't often but I don't find myself "needing" it when the infection is gone. I would take it again if needed as it makes an immediate positive impact.

i am taking 30 mg of prednisone in the morning and 30 at evening .. i will taper it down as my ent doctor recommends.. i feel shaky. is that a side affect and should i call my doctor.. i will be taking it for three weeks tapering it down... i have a sinus infection and was opwerated on.. any info u can give me would be appreciated.. thank u.

Hi,

I was placed on 40mg first 2 days then down to 30mg for the next 2 days and continued lowering dosage until pills ran out in 8 days total. I have a stubburn sinus infection that's been on going for 3 months now. After starting the prednisone, my face was very red and my neck became stiff and bloated. Headaches followed with terrible indigestion and sleepless nights. Sinus is not much better for all this trouble. I have been off for 3 days now and still feel really lousy with continued headaches and swollen neck. Hope this clears up soon.

My physician prescribed Prednisone for a sinus infection..has anyone been give pred for this before? I have been experiencing symptoms such as my heart racing like mad and hearing/feeling my pulse in my ears? Has anyone ever had this before on the pred?

Hello everyone! I've got a terrible cold and a sinus infection.
Hello gypsi....Hello sanndiego........This cold has knocked me down pretty good. Still losing a few pounds, still have the sweating and insomnia Been off of pred. since June 10th. Sometimes my hands tremor. Today I want a huge bag of potato chips Ugh! Last thing I need but sure sounds good. Ha. Hope u r doing good out there. Trying to fight the fever and the sniffles. Bye for now See ya gypsi. Keep the posts coming I'll be back on later. Take care Trailblazen .......................................................

I'm so glad I found this site. Was put on tapering Prednisone dose for sinus infection. Wasn't much, starting out with 24 mg, then 20 mg, 16 mg, 12 mg, 8 mg, lastly 4 mg then stop. Oh my goodness!! The first 3 days I thought I was literally going to die of something! I felt so anxious, almost panicky. I couldn't sleep at night-really irritating with 2 little kids waking you up when you do fall asleep. I also had muscle twitching. I had a lot of heartburn, which is now subsiding with the smaller tapered doses. As a RN for 23 years, I can't tell you how many times I have given this stuff, aware of the side effects, but it really feels real when you take it yourself. There were some good things...I haven't had an allergy attack in 5 days, and I haven't breathed this well in months. The anxiety is gone. My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have to take this stuff. It is a very good drug, especially in such severe illnesses, but it is very potent. Most doctors do give careful consideration when prescribing this.
Gail ***
Overland Park Ks

I've just started taking Pred. (20mg for 21 days) today....It's for a sinus infection. Does anyone know of something else I could take or ask my doctor about? If I have to suffer all these side effects of Pred., I don't want to take it. I'd rather suffer through. I'm also taking Avelox, Guaifen, and flonase along with the Pred. Any advice would be welcomed