PredniSONE and sleep

Prednisone has messed up my head. I had Bells Palsy (which is paralysis of one half of the face) and can be very scary. I have had some depression before but this stuff made me fall off the face of the earth. I went from someone in control and quite happy to the absolute pits. The depression was quite severe and sudden and I had no ability to stop the downward spiral. It has played havoc with my life. In its defense, it cleared the Bell's Palsy up very quickly but the grief it has caused me through my altered mind state wasn't worth it. Insomnia (eg - no sleep for 6 nights straight) was a trigger and then the mood swings took over and then bang....full blown depression and an inability to focus, work properly or function. I am now on the road to recovery but it has been a pretty turbulent 2 months. Be very careful with this drug....very, very careful.

I am 50, pretty healthy, but have had a new condition of inflamed and severely painful joints and muscles limiting activity. Doc put me on 60 mg prednisone for 3 days, then 40 mg 3 days and 20 mg 3 days. First day was ok. Since then I have been a raving lunatic! I read the post about the person chasing their cat around and had to laugh and relate. I flipped off the neighbors workers because they were backing up a truck and it was noisy! It is all I can do to keep myself in check. I have canceled/rescheduled all unnecessary appointments until next week when I am finished. I "sleep" about 3 hours a night. Last night I peed the bed. I eat constantly. I have to work and concentrate (teach college) and that is so hard. I imagine my students must think I am on meth. I can't take it any more. I have 1 day left and I am not going to take the last one. I hope that this regimen will have calmed down the inflammation and if it recurs I will seek alternatives. AM NEVER going back to prednisone unless it is life or death situation.
Good luck to all those out there who have to take it long-term. Bless your hearts.

My daughter was being treated for headache pain and eye pain. She was put on prednisone z-pack which did nothing. The pain got worse so she spent 2 weeks in the hospital where they were giving her 1000 mg bags of prednisone in her IV. She finally came home and nothing was found. They did numerous MRI's catscans, you name it. A week after she was home she developed severe pain in both legs we believe is from coming off of prednisone. Does anyone know how longs this lasts, and what can be done about it. She averages 1-2 hours of sleep. She is on every kind of pain medication known to man but nothing helps. Please help!!

I am so relieved to have found this site... i have been miserable for almost 2 weeks, i broke out with hives last week and never found the cause but with that and some breathing problems they put me on prednisone. I have been miserable since, i couldn't eat drink sleep or do anything else at all pretty much and i have had diarrhea, and a ton of other symptoms... i feel bloated acid reflex muscle aches headaches dizziness chest pain & pressure very weak feeling mood swings and depression the jitters and heart racing and from what i read and researched this is all from the steroid prednisone.... thankfully the doctor ended my dosage sooner than it was prescribed and last night i took my last pill... i now am just wondering when or how long will it be till i feel myself again and can have a good nights rest?? I will never use this medicine again!! I am just soo relieved to have found some answers on here.

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

My neurologist put me on Prednisone for cluster migraines. I started with 80 mg for 2 days, 60 mg/2, 40mg/2,20mg/2. It was so effective at keeping the cluster attacks from coming. I was so thankful to finally have something to stop the attacks. I have suffered with CH for 20 years and other than pain medication to abort an attack I never had anything that worked as a preventative. After taking the prescribed dosage I stopped taking the Prednisone. My neurologist warned me that this drug can be very effective short term but I would not want to have prolonged use because of the side effects. Unfortunately, when I stopped taking it my cluster migraines came back full force. So I went back on taking 20 mg daily. That was a BIG mistake. At first I was euphoric, on a constant high. I had so much energy even though I would only get about 4 hours sleep because my mind was racing from 2:00 am into the early morning hours. I would wake up with night sweats and needing to urinate 3 times per night. My face got puffy, I had terrible heartburn, increased thirst and a decreased appetite. My family was watching me wizz around like the Tazmanian Devil wondering why I was acting so bizarre. I thought I was seeing things so amazingly clear! The worse part of all is the itchy, red rash that started on my elbows, then knee caps. It has now spread up and down both arms and legs. I went to see my GP and I told him that I have never had any skin rash like this before. Could it be the Prednisone causing it? He of course said it was unlikely because Prednisone is used to clear up skin problems. Now having stumbled on to this site I realize that it must be the Prednisone doing this to me. I am unfortunately going to have to suck up the pain of the migraines and let them run their course until they leave me for a few years. I'm so disappointed that Prednisone isn't going to be the cure after all.

Male 28. Was diagnosed a couple of months ago with Ulcerative Colitis and was prescribed Prednisone. A large dose to start with then tampered off for 4 weeks. The first week I felt great, better than great, fantastic. The only downside was difficulty sleeping. The following 3 weeks, without any exaggeration have been among the worst I have ever experienced. I think the lack of sleep finally caught up with me, so I was constantly tired and generically felt depressed, also knee ache, eye pain, inability to think clearly (quite a problem when you are an Engineer), lacked energy or strength – and the Acne. Never before have I had Acne like this, and I used to suffer quite bad during my teens. Its just so aggressive, every few hours there seems to be new ones appearing. It seems to occur when ever I step down the dose. I think having this bad skin has really added to my depression over the last few weeks, it has been especially difficult considering I have been in the process of starting a new job. To top all of that my UC seems to be worst than ever! I’m worried that when I go back to see the Doctor next week he is going to put me on some equally-annoying medication or maybe another course of Prednisone if I’m lucky.

Does anyone know of some natural alternatives that are good for UC, very reluctant to put anymore man-made chemicals into my body.

I have BOOP and was put on Prednisone. I was told this is the only treatment to control BOOP. Soon as I got on it I would pour sweat from my head so bad I was dripping all down my face. I had the shakes so bad in my hands I could not even hold a cup to drink. Before the Prednisone I had a night cough but not too bad. After being on the Prednisone I felt like I was drowning and coughed all night and couldn't sleep.I found out that if I took a antihistamine every 4 hours at night I could get some relief from the non stop coughing. My heart would race when I would lay back down after I would get up to got to the bathroom. I also felt more short of breath then before the prednisone. I had leg cramps so bad I would scream in pain. I never get headaches but did on the Prednisone. also blurred vision. I called my Dr. and still haven't been squeezed in for an appointment. I have weaned myself off the Prednisone and I will die before I take it again. I really felt it was killing me. I have NEVER been so miserable.I can only hope that when I can FINALLY see my Dr. that they will come up with ANY other treatment. Prednisone made me feel much worse the what it was suppose to treat. Anyone on it that wants off beware that you HAVE to taper off and it takes time or you will damage your adrenal gland beyond repair and you could die!! Please be careful!!

Please someone help. I've been on prednisone for a year and a half. told I had Adrenal Insufficiency and as I was weaned off complained to my doctor about mood swings and not being able to sleep. Now down to low dose and experiencing free fall feeling in chest,shortness of breath and worst of all rage. Want to break things and just die.My mood swings escalated and they want to up my prednisone and told me to see a psychiatrist! My eye sight has changed this past year for the worse. Need new glasses and if they up it I'll go blind! I want my life back. I use to be the most level headed, peacemaking person and now I don't know who I am. Please someone HELP I need advice how to get out of this vicious cycle.
Thanks in advance

HELP!!!!

Ok heres my story- I herniated a disc in my back about 4 years ago. I had a microdicectomy at the time and took prednisone starting at 40mg and weening off for a 14 day cycle. i had NO problems.

4 months ago i reherniated the disc. after 2 cycles of 14 days each on prednisone and 2 epideral injections in my spine it DID NOT work. i then started vicodin. i upgraded to percocet about 2 months in. i had the surgery again and after the surgery...yup another 14 day cycle of prednisone. i am off the percocet now ( i was on about 40mg per day for 14 days) and just finished the prednisone 4 days ago. this is what I am feeling:
restless
crawling out of my skin
sweating just stopped yesterday
heart pounding
cant sleep

Do you think this is from coming of the prednisone????? If it is how long does this usually last??

I will be on prednisone for the rest of my life so my Pulmonologist says. I have an auto-immune disorder called allergic broncho pulmonary aspergillosis. I thought I was alone until I read all your messages when it comes to leg, and joint pain. My doctor acts as if I am crazy, and that it is not a side effect of the medication I am taking. It has gotten worse the longer I have been on the drug. I rarely sleep, and I have an appointment with him tomorrow. If anyone can suggest something that helped them I would love to hear it. I have tried everything, and the only relief is when I take pain medicine which I do not want to be on forever.

Was in the hospital receiving IV and inhaled steroids for breathing problems. Sent home with 10mg prednisone twice a day. It was even worse. ---puffy face, no sleep,and extreme weakness in my thighs--hard to even walk up stairs. Had a CAT scan of my lungs and my dr. was alarmed---said for a 112 pound woman,my stomach was the size of an obese person! now I'm going to have a stomach emptying test to see if that or the steroids is the problem.

My husband has pulmonary fibrosis and has been on prednisone since June 2008. It worked wonders for him and he was able to function normally; he started at 60 mg. He has slowly been coming down off the prednisone and is currently taking 1 mg. Since he got down below 20mg he has been losing energy and ambition and interest; he is terribly weak and any little exertion has him gasping for air; his legs are so weak he can hardly walk and only for a short time. He does not sleep during the day but does not sleep much at night either. We know these effects are the result of coming off the prednisone but I'm wondering how long the effects will last.

I have been on Prednisone, off and on, for many years as I'm a severe asthmatic. Lately though, I've been dizzy - I mean the sometimes can't stand up, room spinning when your eyes are closed, dizzy - tomorrow will start the 5th week of being "off kilter." I have been anxious, don't sleep well, bruise like crazy, my stomach hurts all the time, and a dozen other symptoms. But, I have to say, I'm used to "not" breathing well, but being dizzy - that is starting to take its toll. This occurred, I believe, because of 60mg a day for over 3 weeks, and then I started tapering. Every time I have a terrible reaction to this drug, I think I will "never take it again." But, whenever I'm at death's door, I change my mind because with all its horror, Prednisone can be a lifesaver for people like me. I just don't remember ever feeling like this before. I feel as though I'm about to come out of my own skin, and fly off into space.

Was on Prednisone for 11 days for an injury to my neck. I knew nothing about the drug except what my doctor told me that it would reduce inflammation in my neck and help with pain.

Well, it did nothing for the injury and pain in my neck. BUT.... I had HORRIBLE menstrual cramps and got my period 8 days early. I've had my period for 9 days now AND terrible pain in my upper left leg. I thought the pain was related to my leg and as the days went by I realized it was in my left hip! It's so bad I can't lift my leg without extreme pain. I KNOW IT'S FROM this awful drug.

I've been off of it for 4 days and the pain is still with me. I called my family dr. and was told Prednisone doesn't do that. BULL!! The paperwork I got with it from the pharmacy show "Changes in menstrual periods" "muscle/joint pain" "bone pain".

I wish I knew this BEFORE I ever took it.

Does anyone know if these symptoms and problems will go away after stopping it? I called the pharmacy and was told it will take 2-3 weeks for it to get out of my system!!

Has anyone had problems that eventually went away after stopping the drug?

Thanks and I hope everyone else is okay soon! This drug should be off the market. I received no help for my neck pain at all!!

I had an asthma attack went to the er and got a breathing treatment and they gave me prednisone (not sure what dosage was) but they said it was a very high dose. After some other tests they sent me home. Got home at 830 that night and went to bed. Woke up around 1100 pm, with skin feeling like it was on fire and heart racing, chest heaviness. Couldn't sleep all night. Went to drs office next morning said I was having a reaction to prednisone. Oh by the way I was feeling very anxious as well all night pacing the floor. That was Friday night, it is Sunday night and still feeling a little anxious, heart racing, coughing, diarrhea, chest heaviness and can't sleep. All this from one dose of prednisone and a breathing treatment. I am sure that it is the prednisone because I did take it one other time about a year a go and had some of the same issues.

I WENT TO MY DOCTOR FOR AN EAR INFECTION. HE PRESCRIBED ME SOME ANTIBIOTICS LIKE USUAL AND THEN ADDED "PREDNISONE". THIS PILL IS THE WORST PILL EVER!! I WAS TAKING 40MGS A DAY AND BY THE 3RD DAY THE SIDE EFFECTS REALLY HIT ME. I FELT SO UNEASY SO NERVOUS AND VERY PANICKY(YEA I KNOW I CANT SPELL) N E WAYS. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME I THOUGHT I WAS GOING INSANE I COULDN'T KEEP MY THOUGHTS TOGETHER MY HEART WAS RACING, I EVEN BURST INTO TEARS THAT NIGHT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MADE ME THINK TO READ ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS BUT AS SOON AS I DID I STOPPED TAKING THEM. I HAVE BEEN OFF THEM GOING ON 4 DAYS NOW AND IM BARELY GETTING BACK TO NORMAL. IM STILL A LITTLE ANXIOUS AND VERY TIRED THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND I DON'T EAT. I STILL CANT SLEEP THAT WELL BUT I GUESS I JUST HAVE TO RIDE IT OUT. IM NEVER GOING TO TAKE THAT DEMON DRUG EVER AGAIN IN MY LIFE. ITS A HORRIBLE DRUG THAT CAN CHANGE A PERSON FOR THE WORST.

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 am on a 6 day treatment of PredniSONE 4mg for a foot injury that caused massive swelling. The swelling was gone after the first day of the treatment, but the side effects started the second day for me. I freaked out yesterday thinking that I was having a heart attack. I even asked the doctor if there were any weird side effects and told him that I have anxiety about taking medicine. He said it's harmless, and not to worry. I felt safe taking it the first day but now I've been experiencing increased heart rate, flushed face, pain in my muscles, left arm, and chest, tingling and itching, I can't sleep, when I do sleep in the morning I wake up tense and frustrated, I've lost my appetite, it's hard to go to the bathroom and I can't seem to get my thoughts together. I had an anxiety disorder before and had I known the side effects of this medicine I would not have taken it. Today I decided to skip a day by only taking three pills today and two tomorrow. I just want OFF THIS STUFF!!! and I never want to take it again. I can't believe its on the market and doctors are soo shady about it! And all this from the lowest dose... 4mg.

I have been on various doses of prednisone on and off for 9 years for a kidney disease. The doses have varied from 70mg to 5mg. I have just about had enough. I cannot describe how debilitating this drug is. Every side effect on here I think I have had except excessive energy. Here is a small list:
Moon Face
Buffalo Hump
shaking like Parkinson
body aches
EXTREME weakness
heart palpitations constantly
joint pain
something would go on with my knees in the morning....it felt like something was boiling. It would be my guess as to what the "Bends" must feel like....it feels like someone is stabbing you in the knees with a knife.
Sleeping at least 16 hours a day
I could barely make everyday at work. It was so miserable to not be able to wake up, I would push myself in 15 minute increments....
You cannot know what it is like to be bed ridden for weeks and to have no doctor understand or believe what is happening to you. You just seem fat and lazy.

I am emotionally scarred by this medicine, there is not a day that goes by that I'm not terrified of having to take a large dose of this again. I just can't.
There is no quality of life at all. You can't do anything.
On top of that, there is no one to talk to, not even a doctor that understands what you are going through.
God help anyone that has to go through this. I understand.

I have been on prednisone since I was two years old (I am now sixteen) because I have Autoimmune Hepatitis IIa. I would like to point out that there is still a life worth living being on prednisone, maybe I say this because I do not know life without it, but at least we're alive! Last year I had a flare up of the AIH and had to 6x my dose of prednisone. It sent me into a spiraling depression of constant sleep, crying, hopelessness etc....but I made it through. Just PLEASE keep hope that things would get better, because I know what it's like being on the dreaded drug better than most.

They think that I have either crohns or ulcerative colitis. I have tried antibiotics, lialda, mesalamine enemas, with no improvement. After another colonoscopy they put me on prednisone at 40mgs, 30, 20, 10, then 5 decreasing weekly. Well the first week was okay. I had some of the side affects, insomnia, extreme hunger, and crazy. I could deal with that. But then when I decreased down to 30mg, my body flipped. I awoke from the middle of the night with burning pain in the knees. So bad I took 4 ibuprofen and threw myself in the tub with epsom salt. I thought okay that was weird because I have never had a joint pain in my life. I saw the gastroenterologist that day bc I was still having abdominal pain. He totally blew off the knee pain and said he had no idea what that was. I thought okay maybe it will go away. A few days went by and nothing. 3 days later and I awoke one morning crying in pain because of my legs. I called the on call doctor who also said he had no idea and go to the er. So I went crying hysterically for 4 hours. Even after 3 rounds of dilaudid I was still in pain. They suggested a Rheumatologist. So I went to one a week later who said I was going through steroid withdrawals. And there is nothing we can do but treat the symptoms of pain. I am now down to 10mgs have been out of work for 2 weeks and am absolutely miserable with severe leg pain, muscle weakness and fatigue. He also adjusted the drop down increments to 5 instead of 10. Anyway I will never take this drug again and I think they rushed to this one. Just wanted to share. I am glad I found this website because I went from a fully functioning physically fit 28 year old to a crippled crying crazy person. I think I was scaring my husband, honestly, until we both read some of your postings which were similar.

The purpose of prednisone for sinus sufferers is to open up the sinuses. Now, I have found that 40-50mg a day is usually QUITE sufficient to do that. (For me – everybody is different) And, as I get better, I taper off each day to 30mg, then 20 as needed. What doctors forget is that people react very differently to medications. Why take more when all it does is make the side effects worse? The doctor doesn't know how you feel, YOU know how you feel. Don't blindly take this dangerous medication, LISTEN to your body.

If you have taken 40 mg, your sinuses are completely open, and your heart is starting to race, do NOT take any more that day! Or, at the very least, wait till it stops and then take 10 mg or even 5 to see how you do. I advise never taking all your prednisone in one dose - try to space them out over the day so you can see how you react. Never take any later than dinner so you can give the side effects time to wind down if you experience them.

In summary: I have found that taking unneeded prednisone after you have achieved the needed relief will not do much good, if any. However, the lack of sleep will be very detrimental.

One final tip: I have found that after I start to get better, 20mg prednisone taken with a couple Sudafed is about as affective as 40mg prednisone. However, be VERY careful combining medications if you get fast heartbeat! Two examples are cough medicines and (especially) Sudafed! I advise trying a half dose of Sudafed (1 pill or half a 12hr pill - 12hr pills are great for nighttime) first if you are on prednisone. You can always take more, but you can't un-take a pill.

Disclaimer: I've taken prednisone many times, but I'm not a doctor, yada yada...

I hate predisone. I took it for 5 days, 40mg a day because of my bronchitis. After my last day of taking it, I became really emotional. I was crying for no reason. My heart was beating really fast, I was dizzy and insomnia is the worst. My legs also ache really bad and they are so weak.

I've been off of prednisone for 4 days and im starting to feel a little better but I still can't sleep.

Does anyone know how long the insomnia will last?

Hi everyone, I have just read all thirty pages of posts to try to find some answers to my crazy reaction to prednisone. My thoughts are with you all since I have had an usually severe reaction to prednisone. I was on prednisone for 1 week in October 2008 at 60 mg/day for a sinus surgery. I am still having the following side effects at full force:

Axiety to the point I can't socialize
mood swings
hot/sweating even in freezing weather
whole body shakes
severe migraines
tooth sensitivity
muscle pains
extreme thirst (I drink almost 2 gallons/day)
hungry all the time
moon face
water retention around waist
acne
hair loss
rapid heart rate
dizziness
nightmares
night sweats
high blood pressure
high hear rate

I'm not exaggerating, my parent's can contend to that. I do have a history of having sever reactions to medication and I've had all the gland and blood tests which all check out. I never had a single one of these before the prednisone - I was a healthy 22 year old.

I was wondering if any could tell me when this hell will end - my job and well-being depends on it!

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 doctor gave me prednisone (just 5 pills, 50mg ones) to cure my hands dehidrosis, but after taking the first one, I could never ever sleep again, and my heart palpitations are terrible, luckily this is my last day on prednisone, and I hope there are no post effects, and I also hope not having to use this drug ever again. It made me realize how important is to sleep.

My Doctor put me on prednisone 10mg for inflammation in my neck. I did 5 first day 5 second day 4 fourth day and when it was time for day 3 he took me off my upper body from waist to neck hurt so bad if anyone would touch me, blotchy to touch no visible rash stomach cramping nausea and I described sitting down as if I had a very bad sunburn, hunched over. I called his office and they said doesn't sound like a sided effect to stop taking well that night Thurs. I was in the ER for a what they are calling an "allergic reaction" gave me benadryl and sent me home next day very groggy, body still hurt not stomach and slept all day. Saturday night back at the ER bad headache and neck and face felt tingly very weird after a million test sent home. Sunday felt the same. Monday went to doctor's office with abdominal cramping nausea and tingling face/headache had an scan of head and more test gave me anxiety pills (I think they think I'm nuts now). Tuesday back at his office feeling worse more test everything so far is normal gave me something for headache (it worked!) and sent me to see a specialist to make sure it was not my appendix which it's not. I'm Still having stomach cramps upper stomach above belly button no more headache occasional tingly of face and no appetite having a stomach ultra sound today. I'm just wondering now if anyone has had the same symptoms? Starting to think maybe I am crazy. I wasn't on it very long so I'm sooo confused. I was also told at my 2nd ER trip that they didn't believe I could have an allergic reaction very impossible.

I started Prednisone Feb 7,2009 because I Have inflammation in my ear and other problems because of the disease. He started me on a high dosage. I take 3 pills a day. My doctor warn me that I would gain weight but Im not concern with the weight gain because prednisone helps me feel better and I know it's working. I'm always hungry,my face is Moon shape, and I feel fat but what have me scare3 is I can't sleep(insomnia) any more and I have severe join pain.My muscles feel weak, My leg and knee aches and I can barely walk sometimes! Im scared I might get avascular necrosis!and my blood pressure go up and down! I never had high blood pressure but the last time I went to the Doctor my pressure was high! Also I get abdominal pain, and feel very sick to my stomach!

i am taking prednisone for sarcoid. 40mg for 3 days,35mg for 3 days weaning down to 5mg for 3 days. This is my 2nd day and i haven't slept for 2 solid nights. My daytime is great, i have so much energy, but when i try to sleep my body still want to get up and get going. My legs seem to twitch terribly in bed as if they don't want to stop moving. I have tried nightol which is a sleeping remedy but its not working. I am typing this at 2.in the morning. Help! I think ill phone the doctor in the morning and ask to swop these for another alternative. I love my sleep!!!

I'm 16 years old, and in November of 2008 i was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, or FSGS. i started taking the preds starting at 60mg, and last month i started weaning off. i'm at 20 mg right now. i noticed that i started getting the common moon face right after i started taking the meds. and i hate it so much. also, i've had so much trouble falling asleep at night, but then when i do, i sleep for so long. i've also had the dreadful hair growth, REALLY bad mood swings, headaches, and for sure, increase in appetite. i've gained 30lbs since ive been on the preds and even when i exercise daily, i still cant loose a single pound. normally im a really fit girl, i ran track and i was a dancer. im just really worried that all this "fat" wont go away. i really hope it does. it just feels like prednisone really ruined my sophomore year of high school. and i just don't feel like doing anything anymore. i just wanna wear swearpants, curl up in a ball and lay in my bed and wait until this nightmare is over. But im just glad to know that there are a lot of other people out there that know how i feel.

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.

I started in November 40 mg a day for sarciod this has not been a pleasant experience. I was doing great with the weaing process until this past week. I started headaches throughout the day. The fatigue came back from before not being will rested or could sleep all night and get tired in the middle of the day. I think that is the worst is the diarrhea that comes with this. Nobody tells you about these things are going to happen to in the process. I am glad that i looked at this site because I was headed for the doctor tomorrow because I thought I had a virus or something. I am experiencing pains in my chest now so I really don't know iF i should continue to get off them or not.

I was giving prednisone for only 5 days (not sure about dose, but it tapered to one pill on the last day) for a bronchitis induced severe asthma attack. I have only had asthma twice in my 50 years, both times associated with a bad case of bronchitis. The "doc in the box" reduced his original dosage due to the 3 corisone injections I recently had in my spine. After reading these posts I feel grateful I wasn't on a higher, longer term dose. I have some of the same side effects listed here including uncontrollable appetite, fat gain around the middle, water weight gain, constantly having to urinate, superhuman energy, heart palpitations, and approximately two weeks after finishing, I began to get a mustache (hairs that were previously white became brown over a two week period). I have read on the internet and been told by my pharmacist that this is temporary. I have also read and been told that the 2mg estradiol I take every day since my hysterectomy causes the body to retain and not rid itself of the steroids as it normally would (estrogen is actually listed as drug interaction with prednisone). The doctor in the box apparently just ignored this interaction and prescribed it anyway. However the main reason I am posting is a very strange possible side effect that occurred approximately 1 week after my final dose. I was awakened in the middle of the night with SEVERE pain (felt like bone pain, not muscle) in my right knee that lasted until morning. By mid morning it was gone. The next night I had the same experience but in both knees. It lasted about 5 more days, gradually tapering in intensity, and then just went away. I do have severe arthritis in my lumbar and cervical spine, having had surgeries to repair injuries from a snowmobiling accident. I have normal arthritis elsewhere for a 50 year old, but have NEVER had issues with my knees. Has anyone had this strange symptom? None of my doctors (internist, rheumatologist, physiatrist - who gave me the injections and prescribed physical therapy for my spine) had any explanation. The only explanation I have is the prednisone because I had taken the Z-pac (antibiotic) with no side effects several times in the past. Weird!

Incidentally, I am off the prednisone for about 5 weeks, am still hungry all the time, still fat, still bloated. Unfortunately the extra energy is gone. Best of luck to everyone on this strange drug. My heart sincerely goes out to all of you on long term therapy. God bless.

Well, let's see, I am 37, I just had my third child a year ago. When I had my first child at 19, I entered the world of Rhumatoid Arthritis, I did not take anything for it, it just seemed to go away by itself. After the second child it flared up but not long enough or hard enough to remember. After the third child at 36, wow did it get bad, so bad i couldn't get her out of her crib. That was the day I started 10mg of pred a day,,it made all the symptoms of the RA almost disappear...almost...which was a miracle,,,but it made all the side effects of the med start,,,,weight gain BIG TIME, bad moods, maybe 2 hours of sleep @ night,,,hair loss which scares me the most, blurred vision, buffalo hump looks like I'm looking for something on the floor all the time,,a wonderful neck that looks like i swallowed a couple bananas whole,,hmmmm,,,,let's seeeeee,,what else, easy bruising thankfully I like the color purple, oh, and me and mr. potty have become well friends. At first, the doc thought it was hypothyroidism because I also had 2 periods a month, but a blood test told threw that theory out. I just want to say,,,,I like that my RA is better because of it,,,but I am as of yesterday taking myself off of good ol prednisone, and sticking to a high dose of IB or Tylenol. It's just not worth it.

hello, im 25 and was diagnosed with lupus nephritis 4 years ago, among other meds i was taking 60mg of pred for about 8 months with chemo for my damaged kidneys. in three years my dose went up and down between 60mg and 15mg. the side effects i had were at first extreme water retention, my skin was like play doe, swollen vulva, swollen leaky breasts, hamster cheeks, extra chin, i had extreme hunger cravings , wanted to eat every thing in sight but my husband helped me to maintain a proper diet and i did not gain any weight except for my face and breasts and water retention for around 5 months after diagnosis. i also had all the other effects like racing heart, chest pain , breathlessness, tiredness, excitement, bad mood swings. now after 5 years i have CAREFULLY weaned MYSELF down to 5mgs a days the moon face has gone down but i have the fatty deposit at the top of my back at my neck that happens with long term use, but only i can really notice it, i get nose bleeds cause skin is thin up my nose, i use glycolic moisturiser and have glycolic peels on my face to help with skin renewal keeping ageing at bay and also have factor 50 sunscreen on prescription, take zinc for my hair loss (prescription 220mgs) has helped a lot with hair loss, use pure glycerin on my body to keep the skin soft and less delicate( glycerin can be quite gloopy and stickes on the skin for a good hour before soaking in but does wonders and is in most mosturising creams, use mouth wash for gum desies to keep the bleeding at bay and keep the teeth strong, i buy probiotic yogurt dring and pills for digestive system to get rid of the gas bloating and constipation/diarrhea, take meds to prevent bone problems, drink a pint of full fat milk with some nesquick mixed in every day, i get bad headaches after eating sweet things sometimes that can last all day, i just live with them. don't take pain killers, they just go after ive slept
im constantly finding new ways to cope with the preds, and am now 3 and half months pregnant with my first baby, doc told me 4 days ago that he wants to start putting up my steroids to protect baby and me, so im panicking a bit about the moon man coming back, and hair loss has started again big time also cause of pregnancy. once ive had the baby im going to start back on my routine. perdnisolone is a nasty drug but also a life line for many people who cant get off it and need if for the foreseeable future until something can take its place, so im jus trying to stay 1 step ahead of the drug, the only thing i struggle with is exercise , starting to loose my memory more often, and eye sight is playing up, keep going cross eyed!!! gonna try that mangasteen stuff, worth a shot...
thanks for reading, sorry bout spelling.
love l.

Hi,
I have been taking 40 mg. of prednisone a day now for about 3 weeks for inflammatory lung disease. My doctor says I will probably be on this dosage at least a year. I have been having the insomnia and anxiety, but that has decreased since I started taking St. John's Wort in the morning with my dosage and a Valerian, hops, scullcap herbal mixture for sleep (available at health food stores) about an hour before bed. Thought this may help some of the rest of you. God bless you.

hi got put on prednisone 6 days ago for breathing difficulty was on 30 mgs, after day 3 had to stop taking them , felt like i was going crazy couldn't sleep and the thoughts going through my mind are frightening been off them three days and still having to focus on not thinking these horrible thoughts , been down the road of severe depression before and just hope this hasn't triggered it again will i go back to normal????

i am a 36 year old female taking it for the swelling in the brain because i have a brain tumor called the acoustic neuroma. the swelling has happened after gammakniffing..the mri shows dead spots in the tumor but it has increased in size due to swelling causing a lot of problems. i took a tapered dose for six days but the docs said i ll be needing more ,so now i am 20 mg a day for 6 weeks. i am having insomnia and occasional nausea.now i am scared after reading the other reviews.

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.

Interesting earlier post about hearing pulse in ear.
I heard my blood squirting through my veins in/around my ear yesterday.
Didn't start prednisone until today. Figure that one out?

I am writing on behalf of my elderly parent, Carmela, who has been diagnosed with Lupus since 1991. She has been on a small dose of prednisone since her diagnosis in 1991. In the last several months she has developed very many odd hazey type grey spots all over her body. Dermatologists and doctors are not giving her any answers. They took her off predisone because they THINK this may be the cause. She is on an inhaler and does not like it. She wants to go back on the prednisone as she is feeling chest congestion and lethargy. I read an article on the internet that describes prednisone may cause unusual bruising. I'm not sure if this is what her spots are. They are only the color grey and appear to be beneath the skins surface. They are soft or hazy looking. They are small, about the size of a dime. Has anyone heard of this before in Lupus (prednisone) patience. Any info you have is sure appreciated. S. ******

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.

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.

Hi everyone.
I was prescribed prednisone for a hand injury that the swelling would not go down. I took it for 4 weeks. In the end of the first week I started breaking out in a rash that itched like crazy. They were small bumps that had nothing in them and they itched so bad I scratched them raw in my sleep. I informed the doctor about the rash and he told me it was to late in the game to get any side effects. This medicine also caused me to become very irate from any little thing. It also made me to lose my job while under a workers comp doctors care. This was about 6 years ago and I still am battling the rashes. They come and go but when they are apparent they take a long time to go away. I used to heal very fast but now it takes forever for an injury to heal. I have had blood work done and even had my liver checked out. They say I am as healthy as a horse so to speak. The rashes have scarred me all over. The bumps would turn to sores that took about 6 months to heal and they hurt, burned and itched all the time. I tried everything to control the itch and pain. I finally mixed aspirin with alcohol and some lotion together and this helped enough to get a fairly good night sleep as I was becoming exhausted. I am learning to deal with it in time but I will never be the same. My thinking is far from my normal thinking.
I had a list of side effects from prednisone and it was four pages long and the very first one was, Instant Death! The only side effect I was told by the doctor was that I might become easily irritated. In my opinion I think all doctors should give you an option after he has presented you with ALL the side effects of a prescribed drug and let you be the judge if you should take it or not. I now have a different doctor and he has prednisone as a drug I can not take. This medicine might be good for some people but it can have life changing effects for those that can not take it.
I feel for anyone that has had bad effects from it and hope you get over it some day.

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!!!

i have been an asthmatic since the age of 2 years old i am now 24 years old. preds as i call it has been a part of my life since then. i have a number of reactions to it from gaining 30 lbs in les than 6 months to almost definitely hallucinating. i urinate frequently,my hubby says that i'm a leaking tap. i cry and grumble at times for no reason: yes mood swings like rain in spring time. i even threw away my wallet after a dose of preds three months ago. i laugh uncontrollably. i get depressed. sleep for long hours one time and then become insomniac for days. i am super hyper. i am creative and expressive and get even better for a few hours after taking preds. also i appear to have an attention disorder at times. i have acute hearing i.e i hear like a fox really well and then some day si behave like an 89 year old with a hearing aid. i get rashes on allergic reactions to things i've been using all my life like band-aid.i don't like it in fact when the doctor gives me 8 to be taken 3 times daily for a week, i take two and feel better without all the side effects. i am so fat its a shame. i was tall and lean and sexy now i am tall heavy and my hubby still says sexy. we all hate it don't we?!

Started taking prednisone about 3 months ago for a serious flare-up of my Sciatica. My Sciatica was so bad that I couldn’t even stand up. After a couple days of prednisone, I was able to walk, but still had pain on my left side, from my back down to the tip of my big toe. Symptoms started getting better, but then the side effects started. Gain 40 lbs, can’t sleep, muscles are so weak it’s hard to walk, blurred vision… one day (laying on my bed) I noticed I couldn’t even see the clock on the cable box anymore. Lumps started appearing. One on my wrist and one big one on my upper arm. I cut my finger 5 days ago and it still hasn’t closed up completely yet. It even still bleeds. I know on the side of my pill bottle it says “This medicine may lower your ability to fight off infections”, but man! It sucks when you have a little cut that just won’t heal. Anyway, I’m sick of the side effects and they only seem to be getting worse. I’m stopping today! I would rather fight through the pain of my Sciatica than to deal with all these side effects. I just hope (and pray) that the side effects go away without doing (if not already) major damage.

I have asthma and have been prescribed prednisone several times for it. Every time i take it i break out in an awful acne looking rash all over my arms and my chest and sometimes even my face. it doesn't start until about 3 days after i have started the medicine and it doesn't go away for about 2 weeks and it itches the whole time. I told my doctors that every time they would try to prescribe it and they did not believe me they said no one could be allergic to prednisone but it has happened to me 6 times now and it has never happened before i had prednisone or on many other medicine since then.i finally got them to switch the steroid to a different kind but every kind seems to do it. i had to refuse steroids the last time i was in the hospital for my asthma they just would not accept that i could not take the medicine.