PredniSONE and ulcerative colitis

I've been on prednisone for nearly 3 years continuously for Ulcerative Colitis. I've been on 60 mgs for quite a while but I am now down to 4 mgs. Once I went below 10 mgs. I started experiencing severe itching on my entire scalp and then upper back, ears and collar bone. I went to a dermatologist but she can't see any reason for the itching. Has anyone else had this side effect while tapering? It's making me crazy!

I'm 28 years old woman...
I was prescribed Ulcerative Colitis 5 years ago. I have been on prednisone 4 or 5 times since then for periods of three to four months experiencing the typical symptoms and side effects. I had a new flare up and 2 weeks ago my doctor prescribe prednisone again, but this time he told me to take 40 mg a day for 7 days and then stop it, TOTALLY.
He said that it was safe and even better than the old strategy of reducing the dosage slowly over a 2-3 months period, so I accepted.
I've never felt so bad in my life, not even when I was a moody teenager.
These days I have felt so miserable, so depressed...I am an optimistic person, really positive and easygoing but these last three days I have changed completely: anguish, anxiety, panic, alienation, it's like living in someonelse's body,...
Yesterday morning I couldn't go to work, I just sat for breakfast and start crying in front of my boyfriend in a desperate way...I spent two hours crying because I couldn't establish a connection between my body and me, I felt that I was trapped in a strange body...
The funny thing is that my doctor doesn't really acknowledge these sensations, he thinks that the emotional distress is due to sth else and not prednisone!
Apart from that, my bones, muscles and joints hurt terribly...

If you feel depressed, prepare herbal tea. It cleans your body and your sprit. Good options are mint and lemon zest, orange zest and chamomile

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

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

22 years old i have had Coltis for 5 years,flair ups pretty much the whole time, i have been on Prednisone a lot this last time has been the WORSE!!! All i can say is i hate it!! i was put in hospital the 4th time steroid thou the iv for 5 days sent home got worse again back to hospital then to try Cyclosporin thou the iv and also the steroid thou the iv. Ten days later they sent me home on prednisone coming off the iv was hard the pain in my legs was unbelievable!!! finally i was sent home on prednisone,coliform anemas,salfak anemas,and salfak granuls,i thought the worst was over but it was far from it... I turned in to a complete loony,crazy women i don't even know myself anymore my poor partner and kids. Having to deal with the pain and everything eles that comes with having a flair up but then also going though the side effects of the prednisone and the coliform was unbearable, i just wanted to die! My flair up was not getting much better and i hated myself as i felt i did not know myself with the mood swings, the crazy flip outs,crying all the time.My partner has been great having to pick me up off the ground and turn the crying reck into someone half normal. I hate the moon face,weight gain, im hungry ALL the time,night sweats,sleepless nights sore teeth,I have come off it now its been 4 days, so now all i need to stop its the coliform then i will be steroid FREE!!!!! i cannot wait!! For my face to go down and to be normal and back to the good old me! I forget what shes like... Coming off the Prednisone has been hard with the leg pain,muscle aches,head aches,mood swings,nausea. Its just hard as no one around me understands what im going though or what it feels like so i just sound like a sookie cry baby or a raving loony. does anyone know how long it takes for moon face to go away??? I wish everyone luck with there battles with Prednisone, its one of the hardest things i have had to deal with. =) your not alone. stay strong and be positive even throu your lowest times.

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

I was recently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and was hospitalized in March 2008 for pancreatitis - a reaction I had to Asacol. A week later I was discharged then went back to the hospital a day later for a severe flare-up. There, they started me on antibiotics and prednisone through an IV. When I left the hospital I started taking 40mg. The initial side affects were severe sweaty palms, racing heartbeat and dizziness. Within 2 weeks I started experiencing insomnia, acne, hair loss, extreme mood swings, depression, anxiety, and was OCD on top of the sweating to where the skin on my palms was starting to peel. It suddenly got out of control fast. I became suicidal - nearly attempted suicide twice. I was paranoid, had severe lack of concentration to the point that I felt cognitively delayed, couldn't do anything on my own, lacked emotion, and felt that I WAS crazy. Luckily my family was very supportive. During the second suicidal attempt they begged me to stay at a psychiatric hospital. I did and was there for about three days. A week later I was finally completely tapered off prednisone. Within 2 weeks I was completely normal and back to myself. My three months of hell was finally over. I tell myself I will never take prednisone ever again but the truth is it might be the only thing down the line that can save my life. I hate this drug and I don't recommend anyone take it unless it's the last option you have.

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in Aug of 2005 and in remission for 9 months. I came out of remission in May of 2006 and have been on prednisone since then until right now. I would go on high dose of steriods, try a new medication, and try to ween off and get sick right as I went off the steriods, so I'd have to do this rollercoaster all over again. For a year now, I have been on steady, high doses between 60-100mg daily with no break. I tried to go below 20 and got really sick again and have run out of medication to try, so I had my colon removed. Right now, we are trying to ween me off the prednisone (since i dont need it for my disease anymore) but have to go over 3-4 months and very slowly since I've been on it so long to prevent the body from doing all the fun things it does when you stop prednisone cold turkey, like a coma and stuff. I'm SICK of the side effects this drug has had on me! I have had countless sleepless nights, heartburn, night sweats, weight gain (i went from 140 lbs to 215 lbs right now), the moon face to where i can't even recognize myself, red face, weird skin, sensitive teeth, thinning hair, hungry ALL the time, stretch marks, all the weight is in my stomach, the buffalo hump, high blood pressure and high eye pressures etc. These are all the side-effects that have been horrible on this miserable drug. I'm sure there are a lot more I am forgetting, but these are the ones that come to mind. Hopefully they will go away once I am able to finally get off this drug!

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis when I was 20. (i'm now 26) I was on 80mg of prednisone for about 2 years. I again about 45 lbs, between water retention and just an increase of appetite and extra calories. I developed moon face and all the other horrible side effects. I was sweaty, bitchy and fat. Needless to say I was miserable. My doc put me on Remicade as an experimental drug, and it seemed to work well. We were able to wean myself off the prednisone and within 6 months the weight came off with the help of some Weight Watchers. 6 years later I'm back on the prednisone, but only 40mg this time, and hopefully for only a couple weeks. It's only been a week and I have insomnia, night sweats, mood swings (my poor boyfriend) rapid heart rate, and weird dizzy/nausea spells in the afternoon. My face seems a little bit fuller, but I think I'm being overly critical since several people have told me I look like I've lost weight in the last week. (it could be due to my flare up making me lose weight) My suggestion is that although this drug is horrible and makes you think you are losing your mind, it does help. Try and breath through the mood swings and remember it's not you. Ask your doctor for a tranquilizer if you have too. (The first time I was on prednisone, my dr. prescribed Xanax because I was so bad. It helped a lot) As for the weight gain, it's hard, and I'm trying to snack on carrot sticks and fruits instead of a whole bag of cookies. One good side effect I have noticed is that my complexion if the clearest it's every been. It's really incredible to be honest. Please know you aren't alone, and although you might not look like how you used to, your loved ones (hopefully) understand that this is a side effect and see you for how you've always been. It sounds sappy but sometimes we need to be reminded of that. I know I do. Good luck to you.

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2003, have been treated with Asacol ever since, and was in remission for nearly 5 years. I flared in December of 2007, and had my first experience with prednisone; I was on 40 mg/day for nearly 6 months. I gained 35 pounds, got the moon face, double-chin, tummy fat, muscle aches, extreme mood swings, excruciating headaches, night sweats, and UNCONTROLLABLE hunger. I, too, noticed the sensitive teeth, and now I feel like my enamel is really thin...almost see-through. Anyway, I've been off prednisone for about 5 months. The moon face went away for the most part, but my cheeks still seem a little chubbier than before, and my double-chin is a lot smaller, but still there. I've lost about half the weight, but only after joining weight watchers and working out 6 days a week. I feel like I can't lose any more weight to save my life. Does anyone have any suggestions? I never struggled with weight prior to taking this stupid drug. I'd appreciate any input.

I was prescribed the 4mg methylprednisolone pack along with 50 mg tramadol for acute tendinitis in my wrist. I took the first 3 days of the prednisone and only 2 doses of the tramadol over the three days. For a total of 60 mg of prednisone.

The first day I had hot flashes and insomnia but attributed it to the tramadol because I had never taken it before and had taken the prednisone several years ago for poison ivy with no adverse reactions. I didn't take the tramadol the second night and then took it again last night along with my daily dose of prednisone. I had extreme difficulty falling asleep, heart burn, hot flashes; and tossed and turned all night trying to fall asleep. At around 2am, I began to have difficulty breathing, tightening in my chest, confusion, and racing thoughts. It felt as though my throat was closing up on me. My anxiety progressed to the point that I was pacing back and forth. I woke my husband up and told him to prepare to take me to the ER. After calling my insurance's 24 hour help line, it was recommended that I go to the ER. I had an x-ray, blood work, urine drug screen, and echocardiogram. Luckily, everything was negative. The ER doctor told me that I likely had a reaction to the prednisone and commented that some people will experience these symptoms when taking it. He stated that he had a similar reaction when he took it and it felt like he was climbing the walls, which is an accurate description of my experience that night. He recommended that I either stop taking it altogether or call my primary care provider and cut it down. He prescribed me xanax and administered some to me at the ER which greatly helped. The next day I stopped taking the pred but am still having dizziness, chest tightness, hot flashes, and mental dullness. I have decided to never take this medication again. Fortunately, I don't have any of the physical sx that some have experienced, and my heart goes out to you. I think the mental symptoms were traumatic enough for me and can't imagine having both as I would be a basket case. I have mood swings, some melancholia, and am very fatigued.

I think it is imperative to research any medication that is prescribed to you before you take it. Many providers will say that side effects are rare, but my experience is that side effects are more common than rare. My prayers go out to those of you who are going through what I am going through. I hope that it clears our systems quickly because this is no way to live. I'd rather put up with the pain of tendinitis or carpel tunnel than to have these symptoms.

My daughter is 12 and just started taking Prednisone 5 days ago (40mg - she weighs 105lbs) .. I've been watching her salt intake - tonight she looks a little pale to me - is that a side effect? has anyone else experienced that? She has Ulcerative colitis (2 years this month) - started w/asacol, colazol, 6mp (gave her pancreatits) now is on methotrexate since Nov '07 - was put on prednisone because of a recent flare - to me none of these medications have put her into remisson - always goes 3-5 times a day - sometimes blood - sometimes not - don't know if prednisone will help - so afraid of the side effects -
Dr. said if it doesn't - Remicade will be the next option - after that surgery - only thing - my daughter has never complained of pain - except when she was on 6mp -
sorry for babbling - just so scared...

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 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 been on prednisone for 5 1/2 months now, I was hospitalized starting in February until like the 25th of March for a bad exacerbation(sp) of my ulcerative colitis. I have taken prednisone for 9 1/2 months out of the last 17 months. I have experienced everything from growing facial hair I don't want to loosing what hair I do in a short period of time. Most of my hair loss started after I weaned off the prednisone about one week ago, or lets say it got much worse. I also while on prednisone got have got to experience the lovely side effect of pysicosis(sp) and am on meds to couter react what it has did to me. This is a evil and horrible drug, I hate it with a passion for all the harm it has did to me. I now have joint pain, restless sleepless nights, night sweats, tremors, not to mention the rapid weight gain. And to top all this off I am still not in remission, so this drug was used all in vain. Please be careful using this awful drug and if you have to use it, only use it for a few weeks at the time and not long term...the side effects can be horrendous and sometimes like in my case permanent to some extent. I do wonder about the hair loss, it has been worse this time than ever...I hope it stops soon.

Hi all. I would just like to agree that PredniSone sucks but it is the best out there for these diseases especially the auto-immune diseases. Drug companies do not make any money on prednisone because it is generic and there is no patent. I know I picked up 98 10mg prednisones yesterday for $5.00. Believe me when there is a better steroid that works as well and has less side effects it will be available to us all. It will cost tons but it will be sold. Researchers have been working for so many years trying to find an alternative, some have been found but do not work well enough. As bad as the prednisone makes us feel it does work on the diseases. You always have the choice to say no - that is why we should all have a health care power of attorney - just remember that when you decide not to take the prednisone you are agreeing that the disease may worsen and may be life threatening. I hate to sound so morbid but patients must be informed. When you are at the physician ask about the side effects, ask if they can give you something to counteract any mood swings, ask what lotion is best for the itchy skin (AmLactin works well for me and is over the counter). Also, my physician advised me yesterday that the side effects are worse on women due to our precarious hormones. I have told my husband to just stay out of the way and don't piss me off because I am not sure how this next 7-8 weeks is going to fare for him. I am 4ft 10in 110lbs and he is 6ft 1in 200lbs and believe me he is scared for his life. I am using prednisone for my ulcerative colitis so now that I am feeling better physicially I can return to exercise and that has definitely helped. So has turning up the music really loud and dancing and singing poorly. Yelling at the tv helps me whether it be politicians, soap operas or idiots on game shows who get the wrong answers. I also have been keeping a journal of all the rage I have and what kinds of things I could do to people who keep getting in my way at the store, on the road, in line at the pharmacy - I guess I need to put that in a safe place so it can't be used for evidence :}

PREDNISONE.... a word that is unknown to the naive and despised by the the knowledgeable. Before i begin i want to tell you that prednisone for lack of better word F***ed me up. So heres my story with the pill. About a year ago i was officially diagnosed with Minimal Change Disease, now remember i am eighteen at the time, and was prescribed prednisone to cure the disease. Now being unaware of the severity of the drug and disease i casually continued life while taking 80mg per day of prednisone. Well this was good and all because it did in fact put me in remission, but the side effects were starting go surface. My face ballooned up "moon face", started experiencing random series of depression, became insomniatic, and unfortunately gained several pounds. Well this was not the end of side effects as for me. I continued with the medication and after 6 weeks of 80 mg i began my 5 week course of 60mg. Then after that i started 4 weeks on 40 mg and began tapering 5 mg every 2-3 weeks afterwards. Toward the middle of 60 mg the drug started taking its toll on my body as my skin lost its elasticity so i started getting gruesome strecht marks all over my body. I also became constipated for whatever reason most probably prednisone was at fault. I became very frightened actually terrified so i started to research about the drug in hopes of finding ways to avoid some side effects. In doing my research i found out very disturbing information regarding prednisone. Along with all the side effects that i mentioned above, prednisone also causes cateracts, glacoma, diabetes via insulin resistance, and osteoporosis. Now these i consider as the more severe permanent side effects as the list unfortunately is much longer. Finding out about the side effects i became extremely paranoid and started a very strict diet to hopefully avoid some permenat side effects. I admit reading about the information on prednisone created my paranoia and/or possible phycosis which ultimately led to my stress which led to my severe depression. Now this wasn't any old type of depression, i was sersiouly in need of some help. Everyone around me could tell something was wrong and really i dont blame then for in fact i felt as if my soul had died, the very essence of my being. Now magin if you can someone taking away your youth from you, sucking the very life out of you... thats exactly how i felt. To add along with the depression my grades became a wreck in college as i dropped several classes, lost a friend, developed problems with my parents as they tired to help me, and disrespected family relatives with my uncontrollable mood swings. A few weeks in of dieting and exercising i lost a lot of weight (15-20 pounds). As far as side effects non had changed i still had to deal with all that was mentioned above especially with the fragile skin that was a real burden as i had even a few stretch marks on my face from sleeping on my side. At this point of my long and what seemed to be a never ending journey i become exteremly weak. My body had no energy to run on as i refused to eat and when i did eat it was either foods that are considered free foods or protein nothing else. Everything at this time had been taken away from me including smoking marijuana (marijuana drops blood sugar as this would cause me to start feeling faint and lightheaded), alcohol (same as marijuana drops blood sugar), and the fact that i was not comfortable in my own skin (literally). I was driving myself insane. Everyday i was behind the computer searching for more and more. I was obsessed and became my worst nightmare. Oh by the way half in the medication therapy i showed 1+ grams of protein in my urine which my doctor possibly thought it could have been a relapse. This news i did not take lightly i had lost it and was prepared of comiting suicide. I cant lie, i really did not want to live anymore i just wanted to end this and suicide seemed like a very real and convienent possibility. If it had not been for my parents talking to me giving me a 3 hour speech and lecture i do not know what i would have done. Suicide at that point became out of the question because i could not do this to my family. So i went and purchased urine dip sticks to monitor the protein. The doctor had given me a 2 week window or chance to get back into remission or else he was going to prescribe me cytotoxic agents aka chemo therapy drugs. This was horrible news to me. So as i monitored my protein i found out of a very interesting trend. I noticed that my protein levels in the afternoon were in fact positive for protein and were usually up and down as far as how much but in the mornings i noticed i was always negative. Now this give me a huge bit of hope because when in researching about MCD months earlier i found out that there is a coniditon called orthostatic proteinuria which affects mostly young adolecent males and is a condition described as for some unknown reason there is protein loss in the afternoon when the person is upright and active then when they are supine or laying down the kidneys do not allow any portein loss. This condition is in fact harmless. I was very happy from then news and i told my doctor, he was somewhat doubting, but i don't blame him he is looking out for my best interest, but sure enough after the 2 weeks had past i went in again for my appointment after testing and i was negative for protein as i had expected. We began tapering after that point and i continusouly monitored my own tests at home and eventually i got off the steroid, actually today is that day after a 9 month period of heartache and distress. You know people say that they went to hell and back in a hard moment in life, well i went to hell stayed there for 9 months then came back. I feel so everyone who as ever needed to take steroids for long periods of time, i know its tough but believe it as it is indeed a potent drug and in most cases a miracle drug. It gave me a second chance at life and no matter how hard it was or how much pain it put me through i cannot complain for it did in fact cure me and thats why i can never hold any grudges. So thats my story i kno its not pretty but what can i say it is indeed mine whether i like it or not.

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.

Hi everyone,

I am a 25 year old female who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease one year ago. I stumbled on this website and wanted to share my experiences to let others know they are not alone and that their side effects due to Prednisone are completely normal.

In Nov of 2007, I was in the hospital for a Crohn's flare up and was put on prednisone through IV (240mg/day). After a three days I was released, but one week later, had another flare up and was back in the hospital in December of 2007. This time, I stayed for 6 days and was on 240mg/day again through IV, along with taking Flagyl and fluids for my flare up and infection.

At first, I lost about 10 lbs due to the flare up and all of the medication I was on. However, within 3 weeks time, I gained 28 lbs and was a complete mess. I looked different, felt different and was emotionally and mentally drained.

My side effects included: Severe moon face, buffalo hump, increased appetite, hair thinning and severe hair loss, night sweats where I would have to change pajamas 3-4x a night, OCD to the point where I would have to clean my entire apartment (even if it was already clean), restlessness, anxiety, no sleep and sometimes I would go days without sleeping, increased thirst and dehydration, swollen eyes and headaches, depression and mood swings, upper and lower abdomen swelling and weight gain (28 lbs in 3 weeks), suicidal thoughts, unbearable muscle and joint swelling and aching, forgetfulness and memory loss, blurred vision and dark hair growth on my face near my sideburns and underneath my chin and on the bottom portion of my face. Bottom line: it was unbearable and nobody warned me about the harsh side effects of the drug.

When I left the hospital, I was put on 60mg/day and eventually weaned off Prednisone over the course of 2 1/2 months and took my last 5mg dose in mid- February 2008.

It is now 2 months since I have been off Prednisone and as of now, I have only lost 7 lbs, but much of the moon face has gone away and I don't seem as swollen in my chest. My appetite returned to normal the day I stopped taking the drug and my mood swings subsided one week after stopping Prednisone. I still have the buffalo hump, but it stopped hurting and I am now able to sleep through the night. The fluid retention seems to have moved south towards my legs, arms, and lower abdomen. My doctors say that within about 6 months after stopping Prednisone, most of the fluid retention should go away and they recommend walking for 45-60 minutes/day to help with the fluid/weight gain.

Overall, prednisone helped to save my life and put my Crohn's into remission, but is one of the WORST drugs I have ever taken. My heart goes out to anyone who has had to take this drug and trust that you are not alone--and the side effects are real and they are harsh. I am slowly seeing that it takes time for the prednisone to leave your system and my doctors say that every day there is less and less in my body.

Stay positive, stay active & stay Healthy!!

Been on Prednisone for 3 years now for ulcerative colitis. At first tolerated the drug quite well. But after a few months started to gain weight, acne. After 3 years of yo-yoing between large and low doses, each increase in dose made me feel worse. I am now at a state of osteopenia and of extreme tiredness and brain fog. I see 80yo with more energy than I. I cant walk up 10 sets of stairs without feeling tired out. I need to sleep 3-5 hours a day just in order to function. As mentioned before brain fog is amazingly bad. I'm a scientific researcher which can no longer work.

Prednisone has introduced to me what panic attacks are, mood swings, joint pain and swelling, extreme muscle fatigue and wasting, blurry vision, in habitual eating habits, depression.

This drug has ruined my life. I would have preferred having surgery to remove the colon and going to the toilet 10 times a day rather than not living as brain fog and tiredness that makes my life a dream-state nightmare.

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

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

I am 25 and I have a severe case of Ulcerative Colitis. I have been taking Prednisone for about ten months, about as soon as my little daughter was born I started taking it, and I have gained about fifty pounds. I am so depressed because before I was pregnant I had just lost a whole bunch of weight and was very happy and healthy, and had just gotten married before I became pregnant. Things were going great. Now I don't even want to leave my house because I don't want people to see me. I feel like a balloon. If I am able to stop the medication, will the weight gain stop and will some of the weight I have gained go away on its own or am I going to have to get working on a fitness plan again, because I am still pretty ill and it is difficult for me to work out. Help! I am so frustrated and I don't know what to do.

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)

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 to take 30mg/day (Prednisone) to try to reduce the inflammation brought upon by Ulcerative Colitis. I have taken Prednisone before....up to 60mg/day, when I was first diagnosed with UC. I don't really remember all of the side effects I experienced, but I do remember my calves and feet swelling, a bit a of moon face and very little weight gain due to the UC. Does anyone have any suggestions to how/and when I should take the daily dose of Prednisone (early morning, with food...what kind of food)? Also, I would love to hear from anyone with Ulcerative Colitis and how they are coping with the disease. From their diet when in remission to during a flare-up! Thanks...

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'm a 37 year old female and have severe asthma and allergies and have used pregnisone on and off for 30 years. I believe I am the poster child for the long term side effects. My immune system is shot to the point that my normal medicines for asthma (ventolin, advair) and allergies (tylenol sinus, claritan, visine A) and ezcema (elidel, hydrocortisone, etc. - - NOTHING works!

In the past 6 months, I have developed various infections that the doctors have not been able to identify. My eyes are swollen and red with large amount of white/yellow secretions. Vaginal secretions. Face swollen. Skilled covered in a rash with ezcema out of control. Sharp pains in my back and stomach. Constant asthma. Abnormal hair growth. It is to the point that it is impossible to function and each doctor just wants to prescribe more pregnisone. I feel as if my body is a walking time bomb and it is so full of all the cortisone from over the years and has just decided no more.

I admit that I too readily believed in the doctors when they would rapidly prescribe the pregnisone. Only now am I paying attention to the long term side effects.

Has anyone had tests done to test their immune system and other organs for damage? Thanks and best to our pregnisone club.

I am 21 years old and was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in my hands, fingers, and wrists. My doctor put my on 60 mg of prednisone at first and then had me slowly go down to 20 mg a day. I have since been trying to go off of it myself. I can't stand the side effects any longer. I have this constant charlie horse pain in my hips and legs, i am so hot and constantly flushed, i feel so depressed ( i am normally a happy all smiles kind of person ) i have done nothing but cry everyday for the past week because I just feel like so many people don't understand or believe anything I am saying. I thought maybe some of this was all in my head until I found this site. Is there any other medications out there that don't have all these terrible side effects? I feel as though the pain from the arthritis is far less worse than this.

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.

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

I am a 19-year-old female pre-med student who has been taking this nasty drug for exacly 1 year now.... The amount I am on continues to change, for my disease keeps returning and leaving remission. I finally get down to 10mg from 40mg, and have to go back up when symptoms return!!! This is SO discouraging. The worst part is, no one understands the physical and emotional agony this drug brings on. I'm 19 and feel like I'm 90. My body aches, my weight is constantly fluctuating, I bruise from simply being poked (being a clumsy person, I look like I am beat!!), my bones feel as if they are about to break, and I am SEVERELY despressed. Being in college and taking rigorous classes, this is just too much for me to handle anymore... My 5-year relationship with the love of my life/best friend is falling apart because of my horrible mood swings.. don't blame him for leaving. I feel as if this drug has ruined my life more than the disease itself...Does ANYONE know if one's body and mind returns to "normal" after FINALLY being off this drug??? I pray to God the answer is yes... I would appreciate someone's reply and/or insight, because my Dr. fails to tell me about ANY side effects until I mention something. PLEASE REPLY!!!

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 am really hoping someone can help me with the side effect issues I am having after taking Prednisone to cure a tumor on my larynx.. I was on the drug for six months.. taking 60 mg a day. It saved my life and at the same time it was just about to kill me, I am not kidding. The horrible effects it had on my body was really worse than the tumor that was taking my life. It would have almost been easy to die.
But today I'm very grateful for the miracle it did on my throat. I did not have a voice for many years.. today I can sing and that makes it's a great gift.
I was wondering, after being on it for so long and coming off nice and slowly, should my joints be in this much pain? My body aches are horrible.. all the muscles hurt and that never seems to go aways. Is this normal?

I am a 25 year old female who has been on and off prednisone for 5 years for ulcerative colitis. The first time I was on it, I was taking 30 mg for about three months and then tapered down 5 mg a week until I was done. I have always been super thin and athletic and I gained about 20 lbs in 2 months. My face used to be very defined, but I lost my cheek bones and my chin. This is what they call moonface I guess. And I wanted to eat all the time, even when I was full. I had never had bad acne before either, but I had breakouts constantly. I also had more hair growth in places hair shouldn't grow like on my chin and my nipples. I got stretch marks all over my hips and stomach area because the prednisone apparently makes your dermis lose elasticity and that was combined with the weight gain. I also became very moody and depressed and part of it was because my physical appearance had drastically changed. The next few times I was on the pred, same amount, I learned from my mistakes and exercised constantly, watched my diet and drank more water. It helped but it's hard to fight the hunger pangs and you still get moody. If you can, try to use something other than pred. In my opinion, it's poison. I'm now off it for good and I'm taking another immunosuppresant called azothioprine and so far so good. Good bye prednisone...forever!

I've had ulcerative colitis for about 12 years now and I have been on prednisone at least twice a year since. I've kind of gotten used to the feeling when I am on the drug and just deal with it. It is hard with the blurred vision, fatigue, sweating at night, and trying not to yell at my kids but I think I get by pretty good. I am currently on 60mg now and have been for about a month, I think the older I get the worse it is trying to deal with the side effects. I am experiencing all the side effects everyone has talked about and can wait until I start tappering off. Working out helps when I feel up to it. It's also hard trying to get my family to understand what I am going through.

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!

My husband has been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. He is only 37 years old and has lived a very healthy life so far. Two weeks ago he started showing colitis symptoms and between Monday, Jan. 29 to Wed. Feb. 7 (9 days!) he lost 28 pounds! He was given a shot of Prednisone in the ER and prescribed a short regime for it with a gradual decline to ween him off of it as soon as possible. He seems to have the worst and oddest side effects. Has anyone ever experienced this with Prednisone...He slurrs his speech, drools almost constantly, has trouble swallowing, and his face from the upper lip down looks like his face is hanging there. (I had his doctor check for stroke and there was none.) That on top of the nausea, vomitting, dizziness, weakness, and being constantly sleepy. I know it all sounds real bad but he has actually improved since taking the prednisone. At least he's alive and getting better. Hope this helps.

I'm 17 years old, and I have Ulcerative Colitis. I was diagnosed at 15, and was put on Prednisone then for three months. I didn't gain much weight in my tummy that time, but my face swelled to huge proportions, and while ON the drug, my hair grew like crazy but was very dull and lifeless at the same time. The minute I stopped the drug, my hair started falling out. Within a month, I had lost 40% of my hair.

Well, I'm on it again, and this time it's worse. I started out at 40mg back in October, and am down to 20mg now, but it's just as bad as when I started. I'm VERY moody and snap at my best friends, who I am usually the calmest around. I often find myself just wanting to hit and yell at something. Before I started Pred, I weighed 138. I weighed myself yesterday... 150.2. This is very disheartening. I have a moon face, the makings of a double chin, unhealthy hair, I wake up about 5 times every night because I'm restless or I have to pee, I can't focus in school, my knees hurt, etcetera. I'm miserable.

I work out 6-7 times a week because I'm so concerned about my weight. I do 30-45 minutes of the treadmill and/or elliptical, and do all the happy little toning machines, in hopes that my tummy can be a bit more toned. But no. It's a useless blob. None of my favorite jeans or shirts fit me anymore, and this - not the drug itself, but the side effects - make me very, very unhappy.

after a hospitalization for ulcerative colitis.. i have been on prednisone for a month, i'm weaning off but my i am so over my side effects.
my eyes are hidden in my new puffy cheeks..
i get hand cramps that look like lobster claws
i have a constant throat/cough issue
i gained ten pounds this month (which was needed but did it have to all go to my tummy?)
i can't sleep
cold sweats at night
i was on 60 mg, now on 20.
i'm real weepy and starting to get depressed.

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

I have ulcerative colitis and have been on and off Prednisone for 3 years. Usually about 40 milligrams and tapering. I always noticed sensitive teeth and leaky leg veins/ swelling and discolored. That was all really. Then in April this year, during a bad flare, was put on 120 milligrams (accident by Dr or Pharmacist) for two weeks then 80 mg for several weeks then 60 until I could get on Remicade and finally get off the stuff in August. I gained 30 lbs while on a strict no sugar, specific carb diet, from size 12-18, moon face, triple chin, hump on back, big stretchmarks under my arms, fallen uterus and bladder now needing surgery, lost my voice, glaucoma and cataracts, cholesterol went from 189 to 318, leg and hand cramps daily and nightly, now am experiencing intense joint pain in every joint of my body. My legs and ankles swelled up terribly and now I have to wear support hose constantly. Since getting off Prenisone in mid August til now mid October, my face and neck have been returning to normal, friends mentioned last night my face looked more normal (I was hating seeing myself in the mirror or a picture). My teeth are terribly sensitive, even room temperature wine (acid?), hot or cold.

I have been taking prednisone for about a month now due to an outbreak of ulcerative colitis. I started off on 50 mg per day and have been weaning off week by week going to 40, 30 and now am at 20mg. The side effects I've experienced so far are a weight gain of 10 pounds, increased appetite and thirst, excess sweating, mood swings, and worst of all fatness added to my face and hips. I would not recommend being relient on this drug but most likely like me, you have no choice. I am only 14 years old, but hopefully this will help someone.

I suffer from ulcerative colitis and am currently taking Prednisone for the 2nd time in my life. It is highly effective in treating my flare ups but the side effects can be brutal. I am on 40mg per day right now and have not had any problems thus far (I've taken 4 doses at this point). However, the first time I took Prednisone I started out on 60 mg per day and it wreaked havoc on my body. First off, I barely slept for two weeks. I either stayed up all night or only got an hour or two of sleep a night. My heart pounded day in and day out. I was eating about 5-6 full size meals a day (I'm 5'4" and 115 lbs) because I craved food constantly. I had awful mood swings and flipped out on everybody and cried about everything. I was nervous and jittery all day and could not sit still. Once I went down to 40 mg all of those symptoms went away. Unfortunately my face got really puffy by the time I stopped taking Prednisone. I hope this will be the last time I ever need it!

I am on a short term dose of prednisone for a severe outbreak of ulcerative colitis. By day three, I have experianced severe hot flushes throughout my body and my face and neck are beet red all the time. Small price to pay I suppose to avoid hospitalization but I still can't wait to get off this medication!

I was on Prednisone for 8 months for Ulcerative Colitis, from 40mg on down and had a very hard time tapering off the drug. I am 45yo and still have joint pain in my elbow, knees, shoulder, a 20lb. weight gain, puffiness in my abdomen and face. I am afraid of bone loss and want to know if I should take Fosomax. How long does it take for the drug to leave the body and how can I accelarate the process.

I have been taking 40mg of prednisone for over a year. The medication was prescribed to help with my ulcerative colitis, but it has not. I have experiened terrible shakes and tremors to the point that Dr.s believed I might be having seizures. I have gained 50 pounds since I started taking the meds and look like Charlie Brown. I have always been thin, but now I weigh over 220lbs. I had to start taking a blood pressure med to combat the tremors caused by the prednisone. I quit taking the prednisone a couple weeks ago and feel better without it.

Greetings.....I have been on Predisone for a couple of years now.. I have Sarcoidosis and had double vision, lumps all over my body, had brain surgery because they though I had a brain tumor, but didn't. They sent samples to 5 big hospitals in the US and no one could find what it was. I had biopsies on my arm and it's Sarcoidosis.

Take the Predisone my sight can back in one day, but I have gained over 80 lbs., swollen severely, can't sleep well, and my body hurts.

I had Cytoxan treatments ....didn't work
I was on Remacade treatment and even the Dr. didn't realize how much better I was. It was stopped because of painful lumps on my middrift. Big mistake! Now all symtoms have returned and worse.

I was to go back on the Remacade but I had a rash and bleeding from my rectum. Is the bleeding from the Presidsone? Does any know? They said I shouldn't have the treatment because where the bleeding is I could get an infection. I also have/had Rectal Fissure, it that from the Predisone too?

I'm a miracle in Progree....Thank you and God Bless!