PredniSONE and steroids

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 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.

My daughter, 21yo, took prednisone off/on for 4 months, both oral and IV form, with the highest dose of 90mg over a two week period. The risk of bone death (Osteonecrosis, aka Avascular Necrosis) is not disclosed as a risk and 7,000 people a year get this from steroids! They gloss it over under the guise of "bone pain" or "bone fracture" near the osteoporosis risk so you think that by taking calcium and vit D supplements you're protected. What's really going on here is that the steroids cause the bone to die so if you have pain, PLEASE INSIST on an MRI because a regular x-ray will not show ON until it's in the advanced stages..and then you'll most certainly need joint replacement.
I'm not making light of the weight gain, or loss of hair or any of the myriad of other side effects that come with this drug, but when you're told that the joints in your body are dead...and that they'll eventually become brittle and break and cause so much pain it is often compared to bone cancer, then you'll really want to sue someone. But, I've tried that...it doesn't work. Because the drug is FDA approved...the manufacturer can't be held liable.

My daughter has ON in her right shoulder, both elbows, both wrists, both knees, and both ankles. She's considered "collateral damage" by the medical/legal communities because Prednisone is the "gold standard." This disease is a slow progressing disease which is often found as late as 10 years after stopping the steroid treatment. If you find it early enough, some surgical options exist to prevent the collapse of your bones, so if you have joint pain...PLEASE investigate with an MRI

I have long standing lung problems and after recent infection have just had 6 day course of 40mg prednisalone, which ended 3 days ago. since stopping the steroids i feel terrible my face is swollen i am in pain everywhere i have the runs i feel sick im dizzy by breathing isn't good. I telephoned the doctor to ask if he could leave me a prescription tili get to see him tomorrow and he refused as he says my symptoms are not due to prednisalone which i know are. ive been prescribed steroids for my lung condition for 30 years on and off so i know exactly what they do to me. i am so angry and depressed that i cannot get help.

This is an evil drug, far more dangerous than most illegal drugs. It ruined my life. I wish I had never been put on it. It was the first drug I, a teenager, was put on, having just been diagnosed with my disease.

I hadn't tried other drugs or other treatments; medical guidelines, I know now, say not to use this drug unless the disease is both severe and other treatments have failed. Well, I hadn't tried other treatments yet, so I shouldn't have been put on this drug. And yet the doctor I was assigned, Dr. Anne Sullivan at the University of Iowa's hospital, thought I needed to be on it, told me it was safe, that it didn't have any side effects, and that I would be completely healthy again in a few weeks.

If I had been told about the side effects, as doctors are supposed to do, according to both legal and medical standards, if my doctor had honestly answered my questions about side effects, I never would've taken it. And I'd advise others to never take this terrible drug. I would rather die than take this drug again.

It did nothing for my disease, but it did give me quite a few side effects, some which, according to the doctors I've subsequently went to, are permanent and long-lasting and there's nothing you can do about them; they're just permanent.

People don't talk about the psychological effects of steroids, but they should; they're serious. And, no, they don't just go away when you stop taking the drug. If the drug makes you bipolar, you're not just going to just go back to being you're regular self. Bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, these things don't just go away on their own.

I had no problem with mental illness before taking this drug, and yet I'm still severely depressed to this day, part of that, perhaps, is from what the drug did to me, that is, the physical side effects, but part of, I suspect, is just that it changed my personality, like it changed my brain chemistry.

Go here-******to learn about the psychiatric effects of prednisone.

Excerpts:

"Although a powerful therapeutic option, corticosteroids are associated with serious adverse effects, both physiologic and psychiatric. While the somatic adverse effects of corticosteroid therapy (Table 1) have been extensively researched and widely described, the neuropsychiatric adverse effects have received less attention."

"In our literature review, we found that the potential psychiatric adverse effects of corticosteroids span a symptom spectrum from subtle mood changes to full-blown affective syndromes and frank psychosis."

"The most commonly reported corticosteroid-induced psychiatric disturbances are affective, including mania, depression, or mixed states."

"Cognitive deficits, particularly declarative or verbal memory deficits, have been well documented during both long- and short-term corticosteroid therapy."

"More severe cognitive impairment consistent with delirium or dementia has also been described."

"In a case-control study of 20 patients receiving long-term low-dose corticosteroid therapy (prednisone, 7.5 mg/d for >6 months) and 14 volunteers with similar illnesses who were not receiving corticosteroid therapy, Bolanos et al9 found a 60% lifetime risk of corticosteroid-induced mood or anxiety disorder."

"The corticosteroid dosage is the most important risk factor for the development of psychiatric symptoms."

"Psychiatric disturbances can occur at any point during corticosteroid treatment, including almost immediately after initiation and even after cessation of treatment."

"Corticosteroid-induced psychiatric disturbances are common and include mania, depression, psychotic or mixed affective states, cognitive deficits, and minor psychiatric disturbances (irritability, insomnia, anxiety, labile mood)."

"It is important that clinicians in all specialties become aware of the potential psychiatric adverse effects associated with corticosteroids and explain these effects to their patients."

"Which patients will experience corticosteroid-induced psychiatric disturbances cannot be predicted. Dosage is the most important risk factor for the development of adverse effects, with patients receiving less than 40 mg/d at minimal risk, those taking 40 to 80 mg/d at moderate risk, and patients receiving more than 80 mg/d at high risk. Most patients will develop symptoms during the first week of treatment, and more than 90% will develop symptoms by 6 weeks."

Side effects: mixed bipolar disorder/manic-depression, suicidal ideation, cystic acne, scars on my face, panic attacks, severe anxiety, rage, euphoria, sadness, impulsiveness, confusion, memory loss, hard to concentrate and remember, thin skin, delayed healing ability, bruises, premature aging, rapid heart beat, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, higher cholesterol, thyroid disease, sweating all over, itching all over, joint pain, increased appetite, massive weight gain, stretch marks, hormones out of balance now, dry eyes, so dry my eyelids stick to my eyes, so dry I can't wear contacts any more, permanent red eyes, blurry vision, vision worsened, eye pain, eyes sensitive to light, migraines, and yellow skin.

I was prescribed a 6 day pack of 4mg Methylprednisolone (Medrol) at the ER for an allergic reaction I was having to a gel that I used on my sking. The Medrol worked great at stopping the allergic reaction. My swelling, pain, and rash began to rapidly clear up. Unfortunately I began to have many side effects. On day 5 I was unable to get out of bed I was so tired and dizzy. I had a headache and mental confusion and unclear thinking. I called my primary care provider on a Sunday to ask if it is okay to stop taking the steroid. She said it was and that it was unlikely the medrol was causing my symptoms. She told me I had a virus. I told her the symptoms I was having were listed as side effects on the drug info sheet but she did not believe me. IA few days later I made an appointment to see a doctor, not the same one who took my phone call. This doctor said all of my symptoms were from the Medrol. She knew because of personal experience she saw in her mother who was also taking steroids. She told me medrol can cause a manic response or a depressive, the latter is what I was having. As part of my exam she wanted me to have blood work but said I should wait at least 2 weeks to allow the drug to get out of my system. It is now 19 days since my appointment and I am still having side effects: nausea, complete lack of appetite, dizzy, and tired all the time. I put a call in to my doctor today and am waiting to hear back. I am sorry that I took this medication, will never take again. How long will it take for this med to get completely out of my system so that I feel normal again?
A friend told me her mother had a manic episode on steroids. When I was younger I took steroids for a brief period and had much milder side effects.

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.

I have had a skin rash called vasculitis; Have taken prednasone and my highest weight is 230lbs. I used to weigh 147lbs. I feel like jabba the hut!! If I don't take it I break out and feel like a lepper if I do take it I may still break out and gain more weight. It's enough to make you depressed and i have been. No one should live like this.

I have been on prednisone since November 2007 for minimal change disease, 65 mg, in May I started to decrease the dosage (per Drs. orders) and by the time I got to 15 mg all my symptoms came back and I swelled up again. I was again put on a higher dosage of prednisone and put on Cytoxan 75 mg. I am now decreasing prednisone, back to 15 mg every other day and will be off Cytoxan next month. Hopefully this will work. Right now my main complaint of side effects is chest pressure, anything I eat or drink makes my stomach swell and I feel like I can never take a full breath. I recently had chest and abdoman xrays and an ultrasound, all negative. Does anyone have this symptom? I also have moon face, weight gain, hump on back, insomnia, headaches, digestive problems ,shakes, night sweats, vision problems, extreme tiredness and hair loss. How long before all this goes away?

im 22. was diagnosed with dermatologist in November. its an auto immune disease...inflammation of the skin and muscles..been dealing with this for like 8 months now. been on prednisone through all of this the whole time. seems like it might have made my muscles better but does nothing for my rash really. i hate being on steroids. i never know how im gonna feel everyday. major mood mood swings. i was on 60mg ive moved down to 20mg a day now. i still have all the stupid side effects. hair on side of face, arms and back..swollen face..acne..and i now have stretch marks..i hate it and cant wait to get off of it. wish i was never on it.

Male, 43 yrs old, diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 18 years ago. Have taken Prednisone in 1996, 2001 and 2008 to control the symptoms from UC. Each time started with around 40mg per day, tapering down to 2.5mg per day, usually over a 6 to 12 week time period. Bottom line, it can be a life-saving drug for whatever it is prescribed for, but it has some SERIOUS side effects. For me, severe anxiety, nausea, headaches, and weight loss. You can be prescribed an anti-anxiety medicine like Xanax (as I am), but Xanax also has its own nasty side effects. (Namely addiction if you aren't careful.) You definitely don't want to go off Prednisone without "tapering down" on the dosage as your body will NOT be able to handle it. Currently, having just stopped my most recent dosage of it a week ago, I am still suffering from anxiety and sleeplessness (stopped taking Xanax too.) Lord willing, my body will be back to "normal" within the next few weeks, which is generally how long it takes for me,

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

I was put on Prednisonsone for Uveitis, inflammation of the eye. He started me on 20mg at 9 pills a day, then each week it was lowered to 6 pills then now i'm on 3 pills and then next week it will be 1 1/2 pill and i'll be off. I got the puffy face, my feet swelled, everytime i hate my stomach bloated and hurt, my face and neck turns red, i stayed hungry although i fought the temptation of eating for not wanting to gain a lot of weight, which I don't think I've gained any. But now I wake up in the middle of the night and severe knee pain, it feels like my knees they are in some kind of device that is crushing my bones they hurt so bad. i caught a bad cough and it's been around now for about 2 weeks and won't go away, i told the nurse about it and she says, i probably just got what everyone else has gotten, just a bad cough, well what's if it's some kind of infection? I look like a chipmunk, my face is so puffy. When i get off these prednisone in another week I WON'T BE going back on them, no matter what the case. I'm in more pain being on them and have more side effects while on them than the problem i was having with uveitis. I think some co workers thank I'm over reacting, but they're not here they don't see all the pain and frustration i'm going through while on this drug. The leg pain just started this weekend and i Know i can't deal with waking up everynight like this in severe pain. Everyone just makes me feel like i'm over reactin and it's nice to know that somebody out there is going through the same thing. Any comments will be great.

Are you aware about short and long term side effects of this Devil's drug??? Of course, everybody reacts differently while take or withdraw. But there are high number of people who react terribly bad!!! Doctors do not want to recognize and discuss this. They just keep silent... Do you know exactly how Prednisone works??? Nobody knows this for sure, even doctors!!! From my personal experience, and despite gradual withdrawal, I developed extremely high blood pressure, weakness, panic attacks, depression! Practically it ruined my normal life! Doctors have no clue how to deal with its devastating side effects. Steroids are not selective. When you take a steroid, the drug infiltrates the nucleus of every single one OF YOUR CELLS AND STARTS MONKEYING AROUND WITH GENES IT FINDS THERE!!! It probably plays with hundreds of genes. And just a small number of these genes control the pain and inflammation associated with inflammatory diseases, so steroids turn many of these genes off which is good thing. However, because steroids are not selective, they also regulate the genes that control kidney, liver, BRAIN, and HEART function - which is not good thing!!! It is likely that steroid treatment plays with other genes, too, including those we do not know about a lot right now...So, Prednisone pervades the entire body, which increases the likelihood of short-term side effects and long-term DAMAGE. My advice is: THINK TWICE BEFORE TAKING PREDNISONE!!!

I'm a 22 year old who was diagnosed with dermatologists a couple months ago. I've been on different doses of steroids ranging from 5mg to 60mg for 5 months now. i was on 60mg the longest and just went down to 40mg. i go down to 30 mg next month. so far my side effects are moon face, swollen areas around my neck and collar bone, weight gain like 15 lbs, always have to wake up in the middle of the night and pee, my knees get shooting pains sometimes at night, light hair by my ears like sideburns, tired, helps with my muscle weakness a little, my eyesight seems blurry sometimes, chest always feels tight. I'm also on Methotrexate, Bactrim, folic acid, and Fosamax. it might be a reaction form all these but i think its mainly from the Prednisone. i cant wait to get down to the lower doses. i look like a different person and even tho all my family and friends know its still embarrassing. i fell like a whole different person. i cant wait to be normal again.

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.

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.

I Have ms I just found out. They thought I had a brain tumor and the admitted me to the hospital and started treating me immediately with Prendisone.It has just been horrible do you hear me horrible!! after I weened off of them the moon face became horrible. I have knee pain and they swell. my legs and feet and stomach. I have swelling in my back that looks like a buffalo hump. It is horrible.please help me. I feel so unattractive I just cant help it. I am very grateful that it has helped me. I was numb on my entire right side that is another reason why they put me on it. I am glad that is gone, but I almost think I would rather deal with the numbness than I would all of this. It is really scary because nobody said anything to me about how it was going to effect me. Actually the nurses said that there were no side effects to worry about. well let me tell you it has been one roller coaster; i was pumped full of the Prednisone through an IV for thirteen days straight in the hospital,, then was sent home and was given the pill form. all together I have been on the Prednisone for 26 days straight. I will just be so grateful when all of this subsides.All I want for Christmas is to get this swelling off of me and get rid of the moon face and the joint pain. is that tooooo much to ask my goodness. I am so glad that I found this site. it has really been most helpful. I hope everyone out there has better luck with this than I have. it sounds like allot of people have problems. thanks

I have had all of the creepy crawlies and I have had severe dizziness and
my face looks like the face of a pig and my throat looks like I have a severe thyroid problem. My feet swell, hands swell and I put my wedding ring on and I could not get it off but my husband who has stood by me the whole way told me to use soap and I got my ring off but I am afraid to put it back on. I will be off Prednisone-Steroids Friday will be two weeks. I wish I had never took them but I have a severe Diarrhea problem since before Thanksgiving of last year and my Dr. used Steroids and I am on 5-600 mg. pills of Sulfasalazine and he says-Dr. I may never be able to get off this drug. I am just now getting a regular bowel movement. I have nausea, headache,stomach pains,depression and I am going to stay off of them even though I have these withdrawals.

Hi...

I'm having a tough day with these withdrawals....since 0330.
I want to just stop taking these steroids altogether.
I'm at 4 mg...this is day seven.

Yesterday, I was finally able to take a 3mg and it lasted till 4pm
(split dose) So I'm stubbornly moving forward.

I can't stand these side effects of the steroids....!!

I found a calculator for steroids this; *******



Current symptoms 24/7:

Creepy-Crawlies all over
Curious Buzzing all over and especially in my head
Ringing ears
Blurry Vision
Can't sleep properly
Head feels 'full'
Can't focus on anything
Making serious mistakes (IE paid two house payments this month and wondered why my account was seriously overdrawn)
Memory is shot
Feel like I have Alzheimer's
Can't make simplest decisions
Scary heart palps
Light sensitive
Sound sensitive
Brain fog
Severe, scary brain fog after 0900~doesn't go away in the afternoon anymore??
Chills
Hot flashes/sweats
Nausea
Pacing behaviors
Head pounding all the time now
Problems breathing
Anticness
Skin crawling all over everywhere
Thoughts of going insane by the day and never getting well...
Flu-like symptoms when I make a cut
Twitchy arms
Dry, flaky skin...especially on hands and feet
Feel like I'm dying

Here's something else I found
~Shan

Subject: Dr. Zashin's Tapering Schedule (4 mg to 3 mg and beyond)

Dr. Zashin's Tapering Schedule To Reduce Prednisone Withdrawal
In terms of a taper regimen, the longer one has been taking steroids, the slower the taper. I will typically taper patients:

by 5 mg increments when they are taking less than 40 mg of Prednisone
by only 2.5 mg when they reach 20 mg of Prednisone
by 1 mg increments once they reach 10 mg I may elect to decrease the dose on a daily basis for patients who have not been taking steroids long, to monthly in those who have been on them a while.
It is not uncommon, when patients first decrease the dose to feel some achiness or fatigue. These symptoms often resolve over 2- 7 days. If they do not, one may elect to temporarily increase the dose and taper more slowly. Some patients may have difficulty tapering off steroids despite incremental tapers of only 1 mg. Occasionally tapering on an every other day basis may be useful. For example, instead of tapering from 4 mg to 3 mg of Prednisone, one might try taking 4 mg one day and 3 mg the next day for one week.(i.e. an alternate day taper) Then if successful, try 4 mg one day and 2 mg the next and so on until you are on only 4 mg every other day. (e.g. 4 mg one day and 0 the next day) Then, try to go down on that alternate day.

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

I was prescribed 42 pills (20 days) of 10 mg Prednisone which I am to take beginning with 4 pills for four days and steadily decreasing every four days down to four 1/2 pill the last four days. I took my first dose yesterday and was told to drink lots of water. I do not wish to gain weight nor have a moon face. My doctor does not feel this will affect me in that way, but may have water retention (swelling). I am 73, and this regiment of Prednisone was prescribed to decrease inflammation due to a possible siatic nerve problem, which is causing extreme pain in my left leg. The pain is excruciating when I get up in the morning but eases down by mid morning with some pain all day and some nights if I move just the wrong way.Does anyone have a suggestion for the best foods to eat and what to avoid? I read that grapefruit juice may be beneficial.

My 12-year old son has been high dose prednisone for his asthma flare ups. I know that the "moon face" is common. However, since using this prednisone, he has bad acne breakouts on his forehead, cheeks, chin and even in his head. He also has broken out in a rash on his neck. Common or uncommon? There seems to be nothing to help with the acne, either.

Hello EveryOne out there...OK OK....

Now Why have I been out of touch since Sept 14th.... 2007???

I have been VERY VERY ill.....

Y'See, I went to see this new Doctor (Quack) for continued pain in my chest (sternum) area....that I have been having trouble with all Summer. (Severe Costochondritis/Fibromyalgia) By Sept 14th, this Quack who claims to be a Doctor had given me this prescription for Prednisone pills (20 mg each)....with orders to take mega doses of this toxic poison in order to combat the pain I was suffering. I was so desperate to get out of pain that I went ahead and filled the prescription and started taking the pills that eventful Friday night. I made the fatal mistake of trusting this Doctor!!!

If I had any sense God gave green apples I would have researched this a little before taking this medicine!! I would have run like all heck in the opposite direction!

I had been taking these reccomended large doses for approx two weeks back then per Doctor 'Quack's' order.... I have been hooked after the first week....and now currently desperately trying to get off of it with only marginal success!!

I have been on this Prednisone crap for some 49 days, currently and desperately trying to get off of it....with terrible side effects!! I have experienced every side effect known to the Devil himself and even discovered some new ones that I never knew was possible!? Case in point! I can't sleep night after night without terrible withdrawals all night long!!! I am forced to contend with them every night here. Not to mention I fight the withdrawals all days long too. I have this inept doctor and I am sorry I even went to him in the first place...!

The withdrawals I am now getting are harder to deal with than the original chest pain itself!!! Not to mention even eating the so-called 'wrong' foods sets off even more withdrawals almost immediately. I am now extremely sensitive to light and the sun~ not to mention.....noise....and stress....

I am much sicker from this Quack Doctor's so-called "HELP" than I ever was before....

I don't mind saying his name and trying to steer everyone away from this jerk Doctor here in Las Vegas who takes advantage of people in pain when they are desperate by feeding them toxic poisons and passing the poison off as something harmless thats gonna help them??? Just ask me who he is and I will tell you. I have no qualms about it....

Bottom line is I have spent this last month trying to get off this crap and I just found out that the withdrawals may bother me up to a YEAR after I take my last dose of this crap poison!! I have been going thru H***!!! A nightmare I would LOVE to pass onto this Quack who pretends to be a doctor!

I am down to about 7.5 mg per day now from about 180 mg that he gave me originally Sept 14 2007. Believe me this was not easy thing for me to do. I went "Toxic" on this drug weeks ago and it has affected my ability to process, think and reason properly. I feel like part of my mind is now missing or went on permanent vacation!! Dizziness,feeling like I'm gonna pass out, Brain Fog and Mass Confusion is the order for the day~depending on the time of day???

"The side effects of prednisone include adrenal suppression, which can occur with periods of prednisone use to surpass seven days. Adrenal suppression refers to the body’s inability to synthesize natural corticosteroids, resulting in a dependency on the prednisone taken by the patient. This is why doctors do not recommend the cessation of prednisone when the patient has taken it for longer than seven days. They reduce the dose gradually over a few days in the case of short-term prednisone use, and over weeks or months in the case of long-term treatment. Stopping prednisone treatment abruptly can cause the life-threatening Addison’s disease, in which in the body no longer produces sufficient amounts of adrenal steroid hormones"

I want to SUE this Doctor for making me this sick!!!!!

SDR

GRRRRRRRRRrrrrr!!!!!!!

I am 19 years old and I recently was taken off of it 2 years ago when I switched doctors. Prior to the switch I had been on it for 16 years. I prob have some of the worse side effects. Because it causes an increase in appetite I ate but I didn't eat all the time, and I ended up gaining over 100lbs. I have a black-brown ring around my neck and for the longest time I thought it was dirt that wouldn't come off so sometimes I scrubed my neck sometimes to the point that it was raw.I have bad acne on my back and its just horrible.I cry every single night because of the side effects.I just want to know if anyone on here can help me.

PLEASE REPLY! ok i wrote on this board about a month ago, and i was complaining about all the horrible side effects i was having.....however things have gotten much much worse since then, and i must admit that i have been bad. very bad. i am secretly winging myself off of the steroids b/c I cannot handle the depression and not being myself anymore... I've been on Prednisone for a year now and started winging myself from 15mg when I last wrote on here to now 10 mg... my hair is falling out in HUGE clumps, and I am NOT overexaggerating when I say I am going bald... does anyone know if this could be from tapering the drug, or would you say it is probably because of my condition possibly returning from tapering the drug too low???? I just want to know if IMMENSE hair loss is affiliated with steroids...I have not seen anyone else mention anything.

I am a 34 year old male. I have been on 80mg of Prednisone 7 days a week for 2 months now. I will be getting my dosage lowered to 60mg tomorrow but am having a difficult time dealing with the Moon face, eye bags, acne, and sleepless nights. I go to the gym 4 times a week and am in shape other than this freak fake head it looks like I have now. Has anyone been able to find a way to make the effects not so noticable..as in diurex or diet pills. I would like to try anything but want to be safe at the same time. Thanks for any help and god bless. David

I've took a very high dosage of prednisone for 6 years, from the age of ten years old. 17 years later, i still have an extreme moon face. The only thing that has ever helped me was a facial exerciser (a microcurrent devise), but those results can be hard an expensive to maintain. As anyone else ever had a moon face that wouldnt go away even after stopping their prednisone usage after a long period of time? Does anyone have any advice for me, on how i can finally get rid of this horrible extreme moonface? my face and all my facial features are swollen, including my eyelids, this has been goin on for years. I also have suffered for years from severe chronic diarrhea from an illeostomy reversal. Please help me.

I am 65, suufering from ulcerate colitis. Imuran kills my lever, I had to take a strong dose of prednisone.up to 60 mg. now after ten days I am on 30 mg.
it helps for colitis but I am not sleeping. I took sleeping pills, I can sleep about 2-3 hours in 24h.
Who could help me to be able to sleep again ? What kaind of sleeping pills or tranquilisers are recommended ?
Thank for answering also directly to my Email ******

Thank you.

Severe hair loss/thinning. I've been on a low dose of prednisone for 11 years. My dose varies from 5/10 depending on the flare up. Before prednisoe, I had A LOT hair on my head.... thick, curly,healthy, shiny hair. I have about half the hair left on my head that I had before. It's now dry, brittle, lifeless, and damages very easy. It's hard to get any length on hair, because as it grows, it's breaks off...it's quite thin and has been ruined by prednisone.

I was a very healthy 23 yr old female. I cant believe that I finally found someone going thru almost what I am going thru. My name is Liane and My life changed on July 7th, 2007. I went to the hospital for frothy urine. They told me it was a UTI and gave me Levaquin for 7 days. I took it for only 5 days cuz ( I was allergic too) then were gonna start me on macrobid. Mean time my hands,face, and bottom half began to swell up. Me thinking it was from my period but this was different. I work in a jewelery store and once my rings that are a size 6 DID not fit at all I panicked. I had extremely bad back pain, high blood pressure. I did not feel same. On July 13th (Friday) I went to a hospital here in southern california and talked to a doctor and she said.."sweetie u don't have a UTI, I don't wanna scare u but I think that U have a Kidney Disease called Minimal Change Disease"!!!! WHAT!!!! Am I gonna die? She says no but come Monday u need to see a specialist and confirm. Now here is a Lasix pill to help take some of the water weight that u have gained away. Its already about 1:30am on Saturday the 14th. She says u will not sleep cuz u will be urinating all night. I said well anything to help me, i had went from a very healthy 5' 7" 155lbs woman, I worked out in the gym 5 days a week with my boyfriend who is a Police officer and bodybuilder for fun, so me swelling up and devastated me. I took the pill. and went to sleep. Nothing happened to me. That meant something was wrong. Later that day Saturday I felt BAD. My face kept swelling, blood pressure kept going up, heart racing. I went to E.R and told them I felt like I was gonna die, I think I have minimal change disease I need a specialist now. They admitted me for 5 days. My specialist came in and saved my life. I had a ultrasound and kidney biopsy and they confirmed what I already knew. I had Minimal change Disease. I ended up being allergic to Dilaudid, and compozine in the hospital. I was released on the 20th of july. and now began my treatments. 3 x's a day of Prednisone at 20mg each, simvastatin 20mg once a day for high cholesterol now, lasix 20mg once a day, and omeprazole 20mg once a day to prevent ulcers from the Prednisone., I hate the Prednisone. I broke out so much on my face. And its not pimples it bumps. I wake up every morning at 5a.m with nasty heart burn. then wake up every 2 hours after. Doctor told me to take all my meds at once and it helped a bit but still not completely. I too feel bloated in the mid section. I still suffer from edema in my legs down to my ankles. During the day gets worse but once I put my feet up and elevate them I'm OK. I have bad mood swings I don't know how my loved ones put up me. One minute I cry, 20 minutes I'm happy and wanna go out for a walk. This drug is gonna help me but then Do I really need to put myself thru this? But there is not other way. Just thought of sharing my story.

It was comforting to read the stories from patients whom have the same issues with the prednisone as myself to assure me I AM NOT CRAZY. I am 43 years old and have severe asthma. Just this past April I was hospitalized for a week with asthma and was given so much steriods via shots, pills and IV drip that I have gained 25 lbs since April 16. Have swelling of the face, facial hair, swollen legs and a bloated belly. I cannot take it any more. I do not feel attractive and am in constant pain from the carpal tunnel I have developed in my hands, wrist and arms. I wish there was some way to return back to my normal active life and my normal body.

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

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

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

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

Good luck everyone.

:)J

My doctor prescribed me Prednisone on May 3. I'm on 10 mg. I start out on 3 tabs 2x a day for 4 days, then 2 tabs 2x a day for 3 days, then 1 tab 1x a day for 2 days. I was put on this for a sudden attack of joint pain/stiffness/swelling of my elbows, wrists, hands, knees, ankles and feet. I was in extreme pain. So far this drug has given me no side effects other than needing to urinate a little more often than usual. My pain is gone, as is the swelling. I'm almost scared to go off this b/c of the fear of the pain coming back. My blood tests came back on Friday and my doctor told me that I had Rheumitic (sorry, I know that's spelled wrong) inflammation and if the pain did come back after I stopped the Prednisone that I'd have to do more blood tests. I just turned 30 and I'm scared to death what else might be wrong with me.

I have been on Prednisone for 27 years for Addison Disease. If you take more prednisone than needed for you system you will get the moon face, weight gain and even the shakes. My immune system is very low due to the medications, my legs cramp and make is very hard to sleep. I have found that after taking prednisone for so long, it will start to deteriate your muscles, blood vessels, bones and teeth. At this point I have no choice but to take this medicaiton as it keeps me alive. By the way, if you are on Prednisone too long your Adrenial glands will stop producing the steriods that your body needs. This medication is very hash. Please advise if any one else has Addison's disease and are taking medication other than prednisone for the illness. I feel for anyone that has to be on this medication.

I have crohns disease which has spread outside the bowel, and have started taking 40mg a day. i started 2 days ago and my head has been raging with pain since a couple of hours after i took the pills. I am Writing this at 2 am because i can't sleep. Paracetamol and codeine won't work and i dont see how i will last 5 weeks like this! its like having my head permanently in a vice. Last night My legs were aching really bad i couldn't sleep. (any clues to why this happened?)
A few years ago i went on prednisone but not for long as i swapped to budesonide (which is a muuucchhh better drug for the intestines) but now my crohns has spread outside the intestines i have to take prednisone again! I gained about 15-20 kg last time and it causes me great depression and self confidence issues. (just a note that the budesonide is just as bad, perhaps worse with the gaining weight perspective, personally i kinda miss not being hungry or not being able to eat. LOL)
It made my crohns pain subside but are the side effects REALLY worth it? i don't think so... I like to avoid steroids as much as i can...

I'm sick of looking like a chubby kid (i'm 18 but when im on steroids my face looks like a chubby kid's face and its embarrasing)

I have never taken Prednisone, but when my daughter was 18, she was stricken with ulcerative colitis and was on prednisone and then 6-mp for quite some time. She nearly died from the 6-mp and even after 8 years, she has horrible "growing" pains in her shin bones from the prednisone. She had psychotic reactions to the prednisone almost a year after she was weaned from it - such a severe reaction that she spent a week in the psychiatric ward of the hospital. Of course, the doctors said there was no connection btwn the episode and the steriods, but I know better.
She eventually had her colon surgically removed, and was fortunate enough to have a j-pouch created at the end of her small intestine so she does not have a "bag"! I am afraid that she will always suffer some residual side effects from all of the drugs she was on, and may, in fact, be sterile.
She has not yet attempted to get pregnant, so we will see.
anyone on these meds for more than a couple of weeks needs to research their condition and find some alternative treatment! These drugs should only be a last resort!

I was just diagnosed with Crohns 7 days ago. They started me on 125 mg of Prednisone for 2 days over IV and now 60 mg a day. So 20 mg 3 times daily. I'm severely tired but I think that is just from being in the hospital for 2 weeks and not being able to sleep and I am just now getting home. The main problem is after I started the steroid I have all this white stuff in my mouth. Like the plaque you get on your tongue but it is all over my tonsils, cheeks, back of my throat and my mouth feels really raw. I cant eat because everything burns. The GI siad to gargle with mouth wash but nothing is working. Is the thrush from the high dose of steroids? or because now I have no immune system so I have a yeast infection in my mouth??? Any help would be great. Has anyone notice rapid weight gain with in the first couple of days of being on th ehigh dose????

I have been on pred for 6 days after takin solu medrol dose pack for 6 days for an allergic reaction. The med helped the rash and itch immediatly but as soon as i taper down the rash is back full force. I dont know what to do I cant take the steroids anymore, I am a rotten crabby person on these, i have heart palpitations and sever muscle spasms, it has to be from the steroids. If anyone knows how i can feel better please let me know. I also urinate constantly and only sleep in broke up cycles with wacky dreams..........

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

Be careful,the guy who had the sensative teeth,it doesnt go away, over the course of 5 years since taking that poison,ive had 2 hip replacments,lost some of my eye side and now its affecting my teeth,steroids do that,youd think doctoes would know,but im having to have total reconstructive surgery, they dont tell you about the other side effects,bastards

Been on prednisone for over 6 mos...started at 60 mg a day for COPD's, major lung infections at times. Yes, it helped clear that up, but as mentioned by all of you, the side affects are about to ruin relationships with friends/family. I am supposed to start weaning down to 40, etc...for at least two weeks, then 30, and so on, till off completely, but so far, once I get down to the 30, the infections start back and I end up back up to 60. Weight gain, major hunger, major burning where they go in and where they go out...eyes watery/blurred vision. Personality has become very agressive and have lost two friends this week because of my outbursts. It's like I know what I am doing, yet can't control it. I have never been so depressed, and I am on Wellbutrin but doesn't seem to be helping. Steroids leave permanent enlargement of neck and the new look on face remains for the most part...I believe you call in moon face...I just look in a mirror and don't even recognize the person Ihave become.
age 57/f

I am 24 years old and have suffered from Irritable Bowel Disease for 22 years. I have taken prednisone 4 times in my life, but I always had to take high dosages for a very long period of time and then the weaning period lasted for months. In 2004 I had such a bad flare-up of Crohn's that I almost didn't make it. So I say Prednisone is my necessary EVIL.
I gained 40 pounds and was a MONSTER with my mood swings. The lasting side effects have been hard for me to handle.
The Prednisone cut off blood to some of my bones which now are dead and very painful as a result. I am having major knee surgery in a week and a half because of this (which is called Avascular Necrosis). I have AVN in both of my ankles, both knees, and most likely in both wrists. I will most likely need a Total Knee Replacement, but because I'm so young my doctors are trying every other type of treatment first (otherwise I would probably end up in a wheelchair by my 50s) I am in constant pain. I had never even heard of this as a side-effect until 2004 and after I was already on a high dose for a month.
I also have cataracts from taking steriods.
I feel MUCH older than I am. I have battled a disease for 22 years but the side effects of Prednisone are harder for me to deal with.
Although prednisone essentially saved my life, I wish I would have been more informed of ALL the possible side effects.

Against my wishes and not telling me the truth while I was in the hospital, a doctor was giving me steroids/prednisone. I began to lose weight and find it very frightening as I have never heard of anyone losing weight on prednisone. Everyone complains of weight gain. Even though I am now off the Prednisone I am having a difficultl time maintaining my weight. I just am unable to gain and too frightened to tell the doctor, afraid of what they may find. This weight loss started while on the Prednisone (shots, then pills). I cannot find anywhere where weight loss is a side effect. Has anyone else ever heard of this? I found a few references and they pertained to cancer, which is why I am frightened. I know I did not have this problem until I was given Prednisone.

I HAVE BEEN ON PREDSONE FOR SIX YEARS TO KEEP THE ARTIERS OPEN IN MY HEAD I STARTED OUT WITH 60 MGS AND NOW IN THE LAST TWO YEARS TWO 1O MGS A DAY I HAVE BRUISES ALL OVER MY BODY AND MY BONES ARE JUST WASTING AWAY EVERY DAY COULD THAT BE FROM THE STEROIDS? AND I CAN JUST BE TOUCHED ON ANY PART OF MY BODY AND IT GETS A BIG BRUISE COULD U GIVE ME ANY INFO ON THIS THANKS GOLDIE DAGNAN TN

I have been on 60 mg of Prednisone since Oct. for FOcal Segmental Glomuruli Sclerosis. I think Ihave had every side effect you can imagine. I have gained over 50 lbs, I cannot sleep, I have steroid induced - insulin dependent - diabetes, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, hair loss, strech marks on my stomach, legs and under arms. I hae horrible mood swings, and joint pain. And to top it all off - the disease I was trying to fight is still here and all this seems as if it were for nothing. I am finally being slowly backed down off the steroids - but my dr. says it will be May before I am completly off.

Hiya. I was on prednisolone for 8 months 40mg a day. I have been of the steroids for a month now and cnt beliveve how much weight i have piled on. I don't eat excessively but have put on a stone and half since taking this horrible drug and it wnt shift regardless of excercise and healthy eating. I'm defo going to try some of your suggestions, hopefully the moon face and swelling may satrt to decrease. Fingers crossed eh!!

I don't think that 1 grapefruit per day can do the bladder infection; I was eating or drinking 3 grapefruit servings (juice or fruit) 3 days/day. I am using an Italian salad dressing with vinegar to try to offset drinking it!...but I did start the cranberry juice yesterday...good luck to all....

I just hope my 'new' doctor doesn't put me back on any steroids...it just seems that each of the (4) doctors I saw 'gave up' and put me back on them for lack of what else to do...the last one had me on prednisone for 2 weeks and then wean down on those and start on a low Decadron for 2 weeks to hopefully prevent the hives from returning...then this new doc took me off all of them ...I've been off a week now, just on antihistimines and Dixopen...so far just a little, bearably, itchy...

i have been on this drug for 8 months for my ashma . before this i would be on it maybe 6 times a tear for a week or so but i am now steroid dependent and cant live without thse . my klfe has changed so much be cause of these steroids . i went from a very confident person to someone who cant look in the mirror at myself. i have deperession , and fly off the handle cant sleep and my skin is transperent and bruid=ses so easily . i at my lowest ebb because of these drugs.

I took steroids for around 4 days, to counteract hives. The hives were evidently brought on by a skin reaction to artificial strawberry favoring plus stress (my mother-in-law died.)
I had erratic mood swings while taking the med. It did stop the itching and the hives. was taking benadryl also for the hives.

I never finished out the entire package of steroids, due to the mood swings.