PredniSONE and sleep

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.

Hi I am a 44 year old asthma patient. I have had asthma since the age 2 and have been on & off prednisone since that time. As a child until age 20 I was on predinsone daily. My question is has anyone experienced nerve problems due to long time use? I do have muscle weakness and spasms, but I am interested in if anyone has had nerve problems. Please email me at ****** and refer to prednisone.

Hi everyone,

i need to tell you about what just happened to me, because it seems most people are definitely not informed of all the possible side effects of prednisone - not only just relating to the dose of prednisone you take but also for how long.

I have been using prednisone for almost 14 years now, the doctors all tell me i'm unlikely to ever get off prednisone now because i've been on it too long. I know all about it's usual side effects (water retention, mood swings, thinning of all tissues including blood, acne, anemia, etc etc).

One side effect i was not advised of, not even in any educational material about prednisone either, was that long-term dependence can lead to Acute Adrenal Crisis. Which is deadly if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Thus i nearly died two weeks ago. I became rapidly ill with vague symptoms that i now know are symptoms of acute adrenal crisis. *THE ONLY REASON THE ACUTE ADRENAL CRISIS OCCURRED WAS BECAUSE OF LONG-TERM USE OF PREDNISONE*. Not many doctors will warn patients in advance of this. It is however, very very important that people are aware that long-term use of prednisone needs to be very carefully weighed with the benefits of using prednisone (i was started on prednisone in 1995 to treat severe Crohn's Disease).

Acute adrenal crisis can happen over weeks, months or years - in other words, it can come on so slowly that by the time you know there's something wrong you're already very very ill and in great danger.

I am very glad to have found this website and i hope you will all refer anyone who has any experience with prednisone to this site - education and knowledge is power - the power to stay alive.

(by the way, the treatment for acute adrenal crisis is to load up on prednisone - seems i'll probably never be free of this drug unless i can get my adrenal glands to begin working again (as prednisone "takes over" for the adrenal glands and they effectively go to sleep, and this is especially true for long-term use)).

My sympathies to everyone who has to go through the many nasty experiences with prednisone, especially the young children (I had to start it when i was 16). It really does mess with your body and mind, and in my case, became lethal.

Please pass on all your information relating to use of prednisone to everyone you can - it really is that important and seems to be the only way to avoid most of the disasters related to prednisone use.

take care everyone,
Linda
(Australia)

I was put on PredniSone for a lung virus that i developed asthma due to. I had been border line asthmatic for 10yrs. Dosage was 6tabs 3days, 5 tabs 3days ...etc... I am two days from finishing my dosage and I have had sever leg cramps for the past week. I wake up 2 to3 times a night and have to walk around. I wake up at least 3 times and are able to straighten up enough and go back to sleep. I have also had to get up 2 to 3 times a night to urinate. This is uncommon for me. Hopefully with discontinued use these side effects will stop. I need to get a good night rest. I will never want to take PredniSone again.

Prescribed Prednisol & Predsol June 2007 for acute ulcerative colitis. Three months, oral and rectal, got it under control.September 07 got large fluid appearances both knees which took two weeks to subside completely.
Soon after & whilst playing golf got stabbing pain left Achilles. Repaired by op. Thereafter commenced getting aches in muscles and joints and generally across entire body structure. Extreme pain in rt hip, imaged and shown as necrosis of femur joint. April 08 rt hip joint replaced. Continual muscular pain overnight which abates with movement during day causes sleep deprivation and consequential lethargy.
Most interested in proven supplements and/or prescription antidote!

Hi

I just started taking 20mg of Prednisone for a shoulder injury. So far I have all but loss my appetite, which sounds strange to me since my doctor told me to expect to gain weight very quickly. I have also loss my need to sleep. I was up from Saturday 11:15 am morning the first day I began Prednisone and wasn't able to get to sleep until Sunday night around 10:00pm. I'm sweating like I'm constantly being rained on, it is so darn annoying. I also started to lose my voice last night and then again today, is that normal with is drug? I'm so full of energy all I do is clean our house, work out in my flower beds, etc. I'm kinda of scare of this drug and I'm glad I will be off of it next Tuesday unless my shoulder isn't better when I start physical therapy tomorrow. I wish you all the best while you are taking this drug.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Marlene

After a year of battling effects from an eye injury, an optho-neurologist finally came to the conclusion that I had orbital inflammatory psuedo tumor. I was told to take 60 mg immediately and then take 2-40mg doses (AM and early afternoon). On Friday, July 18th I took 60 mg at 6:30 p.m. and was so nauseous and barely slept. That next day I took 40mg in the morning and another 40mg around 2:30 p.m.. Although I had been, throughout the year, experiencing pain in my left eye and cheek..what I experienced by 4:00p.m. that next day was more severe than ever. I started having shooting pain and a headache so excruciating that I was in tears. (I had two children naturally).
By 10:30 I had several hours of this pain when the worst happened. The left side of my face drooped and I had difficulty speaking. By the time I got to the hospital I could not move my left arm and left leg. After five days in the hospital and every test imaginable (cat scan, MRI, EKG, etc) they ruled out all stroke, MS and anything else that would show up on these tests. During the hospital stay (although they did not cite prednisone for this event), they started tapering me off. I went from 80 to 50 in one of these days and thought I would DIE. There was no pain reliever/narcotic strong enough to take away the headache. I spent ten days tapering and prayed every day for the end. Sweating, no sleep, crying and did I mention...my headache has still NOT gone away. I have a couple of hours here and there without this pain but for the most part I have been in this hell even after my taper. The clincher is that NO ONE at the hospital or afterwards would admit that this was a side effect but they also could not provide a response. It took three weeks for me to work my way back to walking and using the left side of my body. Has anyone heard of this before? Good luck to all of you, it has meant a lot to read your comments.

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

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

My husband was stung by a wasp. He had a major reaction of hives and fainting spells. Naturally we went to emergency where the doctor prescribed.. you guessed it.. PREDNISONE !! sigh. He was told to take it only the next morning of his attack as the prednisone would make him too irritable to sleep. He woke up the next morning and all his rash was gone and he was feeling like a million bucks. NO more side effects from the wasp sting. We were always wondering WHY he needed to take prednisone for a wasp sting but wanting to listen to our knowledgeable and GOOD doctors, my husband took the prednisone. He was told to take 10 5mg pills in one shot, therefore, 50 mg. per day and then eventually wean himself off. Well, he took but the first 10 and within the 1/2 hour he developed an even greater reaction to hives than the day before. He became very agitated and moody... We drove back to the hosp. only to see the same doctor who'd tell us that he didn't HAVE to take the prednison if he didn't want to and that he was SURE that the prednisone had not caused this latest and worse reaction !!
For crying out loud. This is the year 2008. Couldn't the doctor have told us ahead of time that if the symptoms disappeared before even filling in the prescription ( which is what happened in this case ), THAT He should never have taken any drug? Prednisone is a killer. I know.. My mom DIED because of this darn drug only to find out that they were treating her for a disease that she probably didn't have after years of using PREDNISONE. These poor older people think that the doctors are GOD and that they have to listen to their every word. My husband, on the other hand, has thrown the drug away after just ONE USE. PLEASE, people, find other doctors and solutions and get second opinions.

My 86 year old father was recently started on Prednisone therapy for about 5 weeks to treat aggressive eczema. Since the initiation of the first does, he has had extreme mood changes. The worst one has been aggressiveness and irritability. He was on 40mg daily for 2 weeks and has been weaned down to 10mg this week and then 5mg next week. He also had sleep disturbances at night which kept the rest of us awake at night. Fortunately, the geriatrician gave him a prescription for Seroquel to calm him down. When he became angry, he had the strength of many men. He was paranoid and was verbally inappropriate. All I can say is that this is not my father and I have 2 more weeks left of drug therapy. With chronic renal failure, he is likely to carry the side effects a little longer. I wonder if he will swing to the other side of the pendulum when the prednisone is completely finished! In any case, his eczema is almost resolved and the itchiness is gone.

All that I can say is anyone taking this medication, be prepared. I am 24 years old and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. I was in a severe flare up and was prescribe Prednisone. I looked like a balloon in the Macy's parade. Along with looking like I was 500 lbs in the face I was a woman on a rampage. I would blow up at the drop of a hat. I could not sleep, I was not the person to be around. Even after I was taken off of it, it took some serious time for me to be back to my normal self. This is an absolutely HORRIFIC drug and whomever invented it should be jailed for what it does to the people taking it.

im a 20 year old male who was given prednisone to reduce the inflammation around my spinal cord in my neck from a herniated disk. 60MG in the morning for 4 days and 40MG in the morning for 3 days...... no real weening process which im seeing probably should have been administered. while i was on it the mood swings were nuts and i noticed feeling muscle weakness and joint pain along with the occasional burning or tingling. ive been off it for 6 days and now the muscles in my legs and feet twitch and im still crazy in the head with little sleep and sinus headaches that don't quit. how long does this shit go on?

I started taking 80mg a day for a rash I developed after the Celestone didn't work. This has been the worst hell I have ever gone throught, I would much rather have given natural birth. 80mg a day for 5 days, 60mgs a day for 5 days, 40 mgs a day for 5 days, then 20, and 10 for 5 days. I am on the3rd day of 40 mg. My face is so swollen. I have had to cancel social events as I cannot even carry on a decent conversation. The nervousness is over whelming. I cannot work . I come home and drink alcohol to take the edge off, which the affects are greatly exaggerated, but no hangover in the morning, which I'm sure is putting my body through hell. The Dr. gave me 25mg of vistarill to help me sleep. Wonderful drug! If it wasn't for my dogs, I would be insane, as they are the only living creatures I can stand to be around. I am going to cut my dosage to 3 days instead of 5 to start weaning myself off. I read on another web site that the moon face should start to dissapear when I go down to 10 mg a day. Thank GOD!

Hi my son was on Prednisone for 20 years on and off for allergies now he is allergic to the Prednisone that the creams would help him was crap. At no stage was he or I told of the side effects. Now he is in intense pain has major skin sores, swollen knees and ankles, night sweats and sleep problems. This medication is terrible and now he sits hunched up like an old man his skin is so sensitive he needs painkillers for a bath or shower.

I've been on in a little over one day. The 6 day treatment. 5mg pills-6 the first, 5 the second, and so on and so forth. I have been SO HOT! I didn't sleep for very long, and woke up a couple times in the middle of night burning up. For me, the mental side effects have been HORRIBLE. I'm a 20 yr old fairly healthy female. 5'3'' 110 lbs. I have had unbelievable depression.... really really irritable and angry. I've just felt like hitting someone 24/7. I don't want to talk to anyone, I just want to sleep, I can barely keep my eyes open. I don't know how I'm going to take 5 more days of this. I also experienced the extra sensitivity to heat that others described. I read online that photo therapy... or sun exposure will help speed up healing and can be used alongside prednisone. I just really want this all to be over with. I look like I have the plague, and I feel worse than I look on the outside. Every little stress or worry just makes me want to end it, though I know that that isn't the answer. I'm a Christian, and I'm just going to pray about it. God will take care of me. I'm BURNING UP AS WE SPEAK! I've also been extra thirsty and my skin feels so dry!

I had been on a prednisone dose pack (not too strong??) about a month ago for a neck injury to take away some inflammation. No side effects to mention and my neck felt tons better. Yesterday I went back to my dentist after 5 days of pain from a root canal. He put me on a prednisone dose pack saying there was some inflammation in the bone, very common, and the prednisone should take care of it. I took my dose yesterday, didn't sleep well (common side effect it seems) but then today my heart is racing and feels like it skips a beat. I have read this happening to folks on much higher doses, anyone have this kind of side effect with 20 mg/day?

Hi. I was diagnosed yesterday with Bells Palsy, (the entire right side of my face is completely paralyzed) and given prednisone, a tapering dosage. I started my first dose of only 20 mgs last night and went to 60 mgs today, will keep on that dose tomorrow as well as one more day, taper down to 40 mg for two days, then 20 mgs for two days. My heart feels like it's going to beat out of my chest! I can feel it it's beating so hard and I can also hear it when lying down .Very freaky. My blood pressure today was 164/107. My normal bp is 110/70. I take medication for high blood pressure but it's not doing much good. I am also a diabetic and my sugar is whack! Had to increase my Metformin. I'm assuming since no one has died from taking this HORRIFIC medicine, we'll all live through it but at times, I feel like I am going to have a frigging massive panic attack! I have to calm myself down, listen to music, meditate. That does help some but not enough .I will be sooooooooo glad when I'm done taking this SH*T! Another thing I've noticed is I am bone weary weak, like I've run the Boston Marathon, competed in the 1000 meter butterfly medley and then played 3 sets of tennis on top of that! GOOD GRIEF, HE INVENTED THIS CRAPOLA?

I have been on prednisone for one week for poison ivy and I cannot get more than one or two hours of sleep a night. I have taken sleep aids, benadryl, phenergan and nothing is working. My skin still iches like crazy even though the poison ivy is gone. I also have substantial mood changes. I am extremely laid back and nothing bothers me. My company lost their entire customer database and orders and my response was "sucks to be you" normally I would be stressed and trying to fix it. I also drank while on prednisone because the bottle didn't warn against it. I don't think I need to explain how stupid I made myself look. Does anyone know how long it takes for this stuff to wear off?

i am a 21 yr old female taking 60 mg of prednisone for to much protein in my urine i am having severe nightmares and to look in the mirror i tell everyone i am ugly cause i have moon face and buffalo hump along with a lot of other symptoms i am looking for answers on to how to decrease or eliminate my nightmares i am in nursing school and to wake up with a nightmare till i get back toi sleep its time to get up for school and my exam grades have gone down hill since i started taking it cause of wanting to sleep all the item and not study now i sleep and my nightmares wake me and i am afraid to sleep if u have ne suggestions let me know i would appreciate it

Hi all,

Well since my last post on April 23rd at 5:24, so far I have been coughing a lot. My throat is so sore just from coughing, I've been coughing up thick yellow mucous. Going into the 3rd day being on Prednisone, I couldn't take it anymore. The doctor originally requested me to take 3 pills a day for 4 days, then 2 pills for 4 days and then 1 pill for 4 days, I decided to change it. I took 3 pills for 2 days, then 2 pills for 2 days and 1 pill for 2 days, I couldn't take the side effects of severe insomnia, coughing, very dry mouth and shortness of breath going into the 3rd day. Since being prescribed Prednisone on Monday, I found myself today to be miserable. Whenever I cough my head feels like it's expanding, soon to explode and my brain hurts, I fear coughing because my throat hurts as does my body. I don't ever want to take this drug again, it's toxic. As for me now, I plan on going and laying down and sleeping like Rip Van Winkle and make up for lost sleep I didn't get during the week. Only being on this stuff for one week definitely made me sympathize with many of you who used it for years, one week was a rude awakening I don't ever want to experience again. Now I am going to go grab my stuffed bunny and crawl in bed for restful sleep.

I was on prednisone for four months. 40mg a day most of the time. i was taking it for an allergic reaction to a cosmetic tattoo that i had done. i miscarried a child while on prednisone. grew hair all over my body,which still almost two months later hasnt stopped. had trouble sleeping and chills. also have weird purple lines on my legs and severe muscle pain. Does the hair growth eventually stop?

Hi my name is Jessica an I was diagnosed with Chrohn's on 3/4/08. I started with the Entcort for two weeks and that did nothing for all the pain and suffering that I had been going through since November. The put me on Prednisone at 40mg a day. I have been on it for about 3 weeks. After 3 day I noticed the moon face because I had lost so much weight because of being so sick for so long. I still hardly eat and am still losing weight. I can't sleep more then 3 hours at a time unless I take something to strong enough to help me fall asleep and if I sleep for more then 5 hours I will be up for the next 20 before I can even try to lay down. I have OCD which I have never had and cant stop cleaning when I feel up to it (kinda like this side affect). I have been haveing awful leg cramps and walking into stuff all the time. I forget what Im doing or were Im going. BUT the WORST PART is the ACNE... I am an Esthetician and I never had anything like this. I mean I have breakouts during the normal times ect... But this is bad an everyday there are more of them. I use really good stuff on my face to begin with an the things I would use on a client are not the same for treating acne that is caused from this drug so those things are not helping either. Right now my makeup covers it ok, but Im going to be on Prednisone for 3 more months before they will start weening me off and then going on 6-MP drug. I cant go 3 more months if this is going to get worst. PLEASE IS THERE ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHAT TO USE TO CONTROL THIS ACNE ????

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!!

I was on Prednisone for a year and weened myself off because of the side effects.I'm back on it now and can't wait to be off again.Not that i felt that much better off of it.They started giving it to me through my i.v. in the hospital about 2 weeks ago.I was admitted for a Crohn's Colitis flare up and dehydration.The first 3 days were ok but then i felt the Prednisone kick in.It wasn't that bad until i left the hospital and started 40 mgs by mouth.I couldnt really sleep at all.Really bad panic attacks.Crazy dreams, hearing voices.I'd wake up every 20 min. dripping with sweat.I'd panic all day and night.Now I'm being weened off and am taking 20 mgs.I'm really weak.Can hardly type this.Its hard to walk.My arms and legs feel so weird.I'm having a really hard time concentrating.I feel like I'm on drugs all the time.Really dizzy,every things funny looking.Its like a really bad panic attack that never goes away.I have 2 more days then I'm down to 10mgs.Then another 7 days then I'm off.Hopefully this will all pass and i can be normal again.I can't live like this.I don't even know if any of this is making sense.I hope all is well with everyone of you and will keep you in my prayers.Hopefully we'll all be normal again soon.God bless,Carl

Hi! I was diagnosed with wegener's in Dec. 2007. I was hospitalized for 6 days. When I left the hospital I was taking 80mgs of pred's. After 8 weeks I am now down to 60mgs.{per day} I found it amazing how the doctors didn't inform me on the very well on the side effects of pred's. Plus bactrim,actonel,protonix,vitamin-d and cytoxin chemo once a month for six months or more.{i have had 2 four hour infusions,getting ready for my 3rd one in a few days}.
I have severe moon face,buffalo hump. My neck and throat feel full. Almost as if I was drowning.I've gained 25 lbs.,I have severe pain in my legs and knees,my back between my shoulder blades from the massive hump that I have,which by the way makes it hard to sleep. I am puffy all over,I feel like a huge sponge in the ocean!!!!! I only hope that when the med's are over I will return to normal. I cry a lot because of all the changes to my body! I don't feel like getting out, afraid people are laughing at me, my clothes look horrible,and my memory has been fading! I sometimes feel like I'm in the "o" zone.
I am grateful for the wonderful care my doctors have given me,I just wish that they would of prepared me a little better for what I was facing for possibly a year!
For every one out there that are facing all types of effects,just remember not to forget who you are and things will get better.

This is my second course of Prednisone after several UC flare-ups. First time I was on 40mg for 2 weeks, then tapered down for two weeks. My first few days on Prednisone were great. I finally had energy, I was in a great mood and finally felt like I was living again. After 4-5 days, the weight/bloating began. My fingers and ankles began to swell, then my face. I no longer felt "alive" anymore, more slovenly. None of my clothes were fitting either. I developed a very noticeable "muffin-top" that made buttoning my pants difficult and wearing and snug t-shirts embarrassing. I returned to my doctor after my two week course (prior to tapering) and found that not only did I gain 12 pounds in two weeks, but my blood pressure had increased dramatically. I was assured that once I quit the Prednisone, my weight should return to what it was, as well as my blood pressure. Sure enough, they did.

I would have to say the very worse part of taking this medicine, for me, was not the two weeks that I was on my 40mg course, nor was it the two week taper, but the two weeks after stopping the medication. My energy level was completely zapped, but I couldn't sleep. I also had the worse headaches and mood swings. I would snap at my family for the smallest of reasons. This medicine introduced a side of myself that I never want to meet again.

Unfortunately, here it is 2 months later and I have been prescribed another course of Prednisone due to another colitis flare-up. I thought I was prepared for what this medicine will do to me since I experienced it once before. However, this time is nothing like the last. Unlike last time, I have yet to feel "on top of the world". My bloat came on quicker this time, as did my mood swings. I am depressed and really hating what I have become. Fortunately, I have enough sense to realize a lot of my depressive thoughts and mood swings are a result of the Prednisone, but it doesn't make it easier. My vision is blurred and for the first time I understand what others are talking about when they speak of foggy brain. I am physically present, but definitely not coherent. I just want this medicine out of my system. I would rather deal with the intense cramping and bloody stools from my colitis, then have to ever go on this medicine again.

My mother was put on Prednisone 3 weeks ago because of severe muscle pain (15 mg at first and increased to 60 mg). After she starting taking it she began to have weakness in her muscles/joints and was unable to walk by the end of the week. She also had severe water retention and could not catch her breath. Most of all she was very weak all the time and could not seem to sleep at all. She wound up in the hospital and was classified with a type of Congestive Heart Failure due to the excessive dosage given by a pain doctor. She had to be admitted to a Rehabilitation Center where they have now cut her down to 10 mg a day and she is trying to take Physical Therapy to walk again. She is fighting with depression and overwhelming feelings of anxiety. She still cannot sleep and wonders if she will ever by back to normal again. Just a month ago she was living a normal life and because of the pain, was given this medication. I wonder if the benefits outweigh the horrible side effects she has experienced. After reading some of the responses above I see others are having similar side effects.
Any encouragement from someone with a positive long term outcome would be beneficial at this time to her. She feels very helpless in her situation.

I don't have a new side affect with Prednisone but just want to share my feelings. I was diagnosed with Temporal Arthritis since last July 2007. I started taking 60 mg of Prednisone for 1 month. Didn't notice the side affects then. Weaned myself off through my doctor's instructions. But relapse occurred when I was only on 2 daily. With Temporal Arthritis, you get delibating and horrendous head pain which is caused due to inflammation of the main artery in the temple. I am back to 3 daily.
Besides my moon face, I am bigger. I really don't have a lot of the other side affects you all talk about. I am sorry you all have to go through that.
My depression is better. My sleep is horrible. Now I am going to a sleep study to see if I have Sleep Apnea.
I consider Prednisone a wonder drug. Although the side affects are horrible, I have to admit, I feel much better, most of the time. I do have inflammation in the neck. Not sure if that is pred or temporal arthritis, but am seeing a rheumatologist for that.

Teena

I started Prednisone 2 weeks ago and gradually started having leg cramps. They have gotten worse over the last couple of days. They are in my ankles and feet and I have to get up several times a night just to sit until they relax. We plan to decrease the dosage in two weeks, but this is most annoying. Of course, it's far better than what I was experiencing with pain and sleepless nights and had gotten so I could barely move. My hands were swollen and tight, my arms ached with every move and movements were very limited. My bones in my feet felt (and sounded) as though they were shifting around when I got up to walk. My knees were weak. I was just diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica. I feel 70-80% improved. Just wondered if anyone else has had these symptoms on Prednisone. It didn't do this with the dosepaks.

Hi I'm 26 years old and just started 60mg pred treatment for Kidney condition called Nephrotic Syndrome. This is my 8th Relapse since i was 7years old.

Started Tabs 27th Dec and now they are really kicking in with side effects! I have a beautiful little boy and just got married and was soooo Happy. Now I'm feeling so depressed, I cant sleep , My Face has started swelling and I've eaten all inside my mouth cause I'm so hungry!! Been having a few Cramps but nothing like I've experienced in the past.
I'm trying to reduce the tablets myself so I'm not on them too long but its just not working!
I just WISH I could stop the moon face I'm developing, Its the main problem for me (causing depressed thoughts)

My daughter is a chronic asthmatic and has been on Prednisone for over one year. Since then she has experienced headaches, nausea, sleeplessness, depression, extreme anxiety, mood swings, blurred vision, aching... just about all of the side effects listed. Of particular concern to me are the mood swings, which at this time we are considering having her evaluated. I didn't realize that this drug could do soo much in terms of her behavior. Please help me to understand what is going on with her. She is 12 years old.

Hello,

about a week ago I admitted myself to ER because of terrible breakout of hives (never had them before) but was covered from head to toe.

Doctor prescribed PREDNISONE 80mg for 4 days, and gave me an IV with the drug a week ago Saturday night (don't know how much was there), 12/29/07, I took my daily dose 80mg Sunday noon. I only slept about an hour or two. By new years eve 12/31, I have started getting cold chills, feeling unbearably cold, then the next day 1/1, I felt like I was 100 years old, all my joints were stiff, I couldn't get up from bed, couldn't sleep much but there is still more.

By Wednesday I have felt even more stiff and hives were not going away, I went to the doctor (my stiffness went away after couple hours in the morning) he prescribed more PREDNISONe for another week, luckily I have stopped taking the medication after 5 days of 80mg, plus whatever they gave in in an IV but I still have what I think are side effects from taking it.

Ankles are still sore, I cannot sleep because an extreme numbness sets in my left hand middle to index finger, it is no numb it hurts like an elephant is sitting on it, that is why I am still up at 4:30 in the morning. When I am up it just tingles. Not sure what to do but can't sleep at all for last 3 days and getting really tired.

If I knew what Prednisone does I would never take any of it, I'd rather deal with hives oh and they still didn't go away, I have had them for about 10 days now, they did stop itching. Honestly I felt very very sick a day after taking it, I didn't associate this with Prednisone, until I found this website. Please if you can stop taking it or see for yourself how much you should take 80mg is definitely too much, for me at least.

Did anyone have to deal with joint stiffness, and numbness how long does it take for it to go away. My wife says to to ER again because I can't sleep I am just very uncomfortable with the numbness and rattle in bed, but guess what they could shoot me up with more Prednisone.

I found out that I had a brain meningioma almost two months ago. I am currently being treated with CyberKnife technology and thank God this nightmare will soon be history. In the meantime, I had to take Prednisone, through IV in the hospital and then in pill form after. I am weaning off now, but the side effects are terrible. My normal weight is 106 lbs and I don't even want to know what I weigh now and it was only two months of taking that pill. While on it, I could not sleep, and I ate every carb possible. I am so bloated in my abdomen, and my face looks like a balloon. Now that I am coming off, I feel like a Zombie, I fall asleep everywhere and I feel like I am in a constant fog, not to mention the headaches. Does anyone know how long the side effects last after you stop taking the Prednisone?

12/13/07 I took Prednisone for 5 months and now my face has finally went back down but not the weight. I got back on it again but this time I wont be on it as long, I have already notice within 3 days of taking it I can't sleep at night. I am taken 20 mg , two in the morning a day....

I've been on Prednisone after and allergic reaction to penicillin (Amoxicillin) (bullous pemphigold - large blister on my arms and legs, some on the back and very little on the stomach) I've been on the medication for three days (40mg/day) I cannot standup or move my hands, my entire leg hurts and the foot is swollen (it could be from the penicillin). I'm hoping it will go away after I come off prednisone but has anyone experienced long term pain from this drug?

I'm pretty sure my pain is from the allergic reaction. Has anyone had long term pain from any type of bullous reaction?

Today i was proscribed with 50 mh prednisone ,5 tablets .4 times a day so that is 1000mg of prednisone a day has anyone had same thing .i was dyagnosed with optic nuritiritis.i am really scared to take this medicine and so many mg a day. please help!

I have been on prednisone ( for lichen planus) for about 6 weeks starting with 20 mg twice a day for a month. Now I am taking half a pill once a day... My face and neck are SO swollen I have gained So much wait I have mental and emotional breakdowns all the time I can't sleep ( so the doc prescribed seroquil) now I don't know if I am coming or gong. I will be so very full and still shoving food in my mouth. My knees and legs hurt badly I have had a horrible headach and my teeth and mouth hurt and now 'm growing facial hair at 27 yrs old. HELP ME!