PredniSONE and withdrawal

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 must add my recent experience with Prednisone to this forum:

I have been suffering from constant lower back pain and a torn shoulder injury (rotator cuff) for the last several years. A week ago I got a slight case of Poison Ivy. My doctor gave me Prednisone - starting at 60 mgs. a day, tapering down to 10 over 12 days. I was unsure as to whether I wanted to be on a steroid , especially after reading some of the testimonies here at this forum. But I went ahead and took it. I must say this has been one of the most amazing experiences for me.
Not only did my Poison Ivy immediately begin to go away, but lo and behold, practically ALL my back pain and shoulder pain went away. I also found myself with this amazing positive mental attitude. I began to get up and enjoy my job everyday (normally I am somewhat depressed and stressed out). It was such a major change for the better - I feel like I have been living the resurrection!! Yet I know it is only due to absence of pain and increased energy brought on by the Prednisone. I feel like a happier, younger version of myself. Prednisone has even helped me sleep better! So, evidently, for some people, prednisone is a wonder-drug.
I did note a very slight manic edge at times, but never unmanageable and always very positive. As soon as I decrease the dose, the pain and inflammation in my back and shoulder starts to return. What a shame that this drug causes osteoporosis and other long-term affects. I wish I could stay on it forever!!

Has anyone experienced numbness or a greasy type of sensation on your tounge while taking Prednisone?

God Bless u Guest 14258
I'm so very sorry u r going thru this. I was on pred. for 4 yrs. and was taken off of pred. on June 10th of this year and it was cold turkey. I was not advised of the emotional trauma I would suffer nor did they tell me of the physical withdrawal. Many times I could have easily packed a suitcase and run away, didn't matter that I had been marrred for 23 yrs. I never did that. although u go thru many feelings of despair. Find a doctor, anyone that will help u deal with the withdrawal of pred. and get your husband to listen to u or both of u go and talk to someone. This is not your fault and it is the pred. How long had he been on pred.? How many milligrams did he take a day? Print out some articles , anything and let him read them. I've never heard of such a dramatic change, but with pred., anything is pssible. I got to the point I didn't care about anything, couldn't get interested in anything. Now, things r so much better and I'm getting back to my old self. Did your husband gain alot of weight? I sure did. It's coming off now. Please don't wait too long to get him some help, anyway u can. Take care of yourself in the mean time. God Bless

Hi gypsi!
great to hear from u again! I agree, please no insults here. Maybe there is an anger management site somewhere.
Anyway, moodiness does happen with pred. and sometimes it's hard to control but it CAN be controlled. It's not been easy for me at times. While I was on pred. I didn't get mad or angry. With the withdrawal it was really rough because everything upset me. I was so used to being on pred. I'm all thru that now. Thank the Lord! You have friends here if u want them, if not, well see ya. lol What ever happened to jules777? I hope gypsi u r doing better. Trailblazen

Hello,
I've been off of pred. now for 5 months. I'm doing alot better with the withdrawal. Had a serious Kidney infection in my transplanted kidney that went into my blood and made me septic. Very sick. I'm all better and my Kidney is just fine. I thought they might put me back on pred. but they didn't. My dark mood is improving and the hand tremors are going away. Hope everyone else is hanging in there.

When I was taking pred. I was always losing my balance and pitching here and there. I was on pred. for 4 yrs. and have been off of it since June 10th of this year. I know how u feel. Low blood sugar can also make u very weak. I have Diabetes and had a kidney transplant over four yrs. ago and that's why I was on pred. Be very careful when u excercise. I have a reclining stationery bike that also has the arm things that u use. I got mine at Walmart. Try to get one of those. It beats falling down, I know. To answer about muscle aches and joint pain, comes from the pred. It also happens when u go thru withdrawal from pred. It lasts just a while, not to long, but it also depends on how long u r on pred. All of u r in my prayers, keep me in yours,

Hi sanndiego Hi gypsi Hello everyone...............doing better with the pred. withdrawal. Almost four months off of pred. Still not sleeping tho. Take care

Angela,
It broke my heart to read your post. U sound just like me after I had a kidney transplant and had to take pred. I ballooned up so big. My face certainly had "MOON FACE" like I've mentioned in my other posts, I have three sizes of clothes. It's very depressing and no matter how much support u have, it's still your body and it is all about us. We can't help how we feel about ourselves. It's the pred. The self-esteem flys out the window. I've gone thru this so much. I was on pred. for 4 yrs. I have been off pred. for three months. I've lost weight but I have about 25 more to go. I gained around 75-80 lbs. myself. I've lost 33 now. I was so skinny before pred. because of dialysis. I don't want to be that skinny again, that's why I want to lose only 25 more. It's very hard to lose. How long do u have to be on it?
Withdrawal is very hard,also. No matter what people say, when we look into the mirror, it's depressing. I promise u, after u stop taking it, tho it will take time, u will lose it. U r in my prayers. I'm so sorry that u have to feel like this because I've been there, am there, and have a ways to go. Maybe as time goes on, your body will eventually will adjust. I assume u will be on it for some time. I certainly understand the depression. God Bless You Trailblazen

hello again gypsi!
I also had alot of water retention. I was very swollen and I still had solid weight on me. I cut out all sugar and had very low carbs in my diet. I got more physically active, on the days I felt good. For me, caffeine is a great diuretic. It has helped me alot with the water retention and being swollen. I really can't explain about how fast it has been. I just happen to have had a bad experience with pred. and now that I'm off of it I seem to lose weight faster than I ever have in my whole life. After I lose the rest, and I feel this will certainly takes its good old time, I'll have to watch the sugar and carbs more. I have days when I get on the scales and see 2 or 3 lbs. come back on and then in a day two it's gone again. Weird. Don't panic gypsi. I have three sizes of clothes in my closets and sometimes none of them fit! Other times I can go to a smaller size. It's going to be a while before I feel normal again. Who know, maybe never ha ha
Today has been a better day for my blood pressure. I know this problem has come from being on pred. so long and being told to quit cold turkey. It's been three months now off of pred. U r in my prayers gypsi. I know how u feel. I promise it will get better with the weight. I've still got a year or so of pred. withdrawal. I'm tough. We'll make it.... nice talking to ya keep in touch trailblazen....................

Hi i had been on Predisone since Jan and it has been a total nightmare. It was given as to help with Pulmonary Sarcoidosis that i have. I have suffered from numerous side effects
- night sweats
- frequent urination
- acne breakout
- upset stomach
- body cramps and muscle weakness
- hair loss
- mood swings
- weight gain almost 50 lbs
- lack of sleep
I have now been off of the Predisone for 15 day and is still dealing with a few sides affects and withdrawl effects....i have notices...since the i have a very bad trembling affect to my hands

To guest 13095
Don't worry about something else being wrong for now, the side effects and withdrawal are awful no matter how long or how much u take of pred. Hang in there. I've been off of pred. since June 10 and I was on it for 4 yrs. I'm having a horrible time with withdrawal. Be very thankful u were not on it very long. As with gypsi and others, the self-esteem seems to disappear when pred. comes into our lives. The weight gain, insomnia, moodiness, sweating, aching, fever, hand tremors, etc. All r a part of side effects and withdrawal. My blood pressure is going crazy, high and low. Does anyone have any advice on this? Take one day at a time and know u will get better. It does take some time to get over this, I have a long way to go and today I feel like going to the hospital,but, I know after while I will feel different. Check on some posts from jules777. I'm not sure about all the "natural" ways but what have we got to lose? I'll try anything right now to feel better. Today is miserable. Keep me in your prayers out there. Thanx, I appreciate it lots. Trailblazen.............

I need some feedback on a sideeffect I think is happening because of pred. withdrawl. For the last three days my blood pressure is low and I'm very dizzy. I've had some lightheadedness after coming off of pred. but now I have low blood pressure. Does anyone think this is because of pred. withdrawl? I was on it for 4 yrs. very concerned.....thanx

Well, the news is reporting that the placebo effect is not really worth it. Homeopathic ways are not really the way apparently. So, do some research about this and heed their warning. Still, you have to have gone through prednisone before anyone can tell us what is best for us. The "natural way" of healing may not be the best. Time will tell. As time passes by, so will the side effects diminish and so will the withdrawl. Maybe some natural ways might help. I,will listen to alot of things to determine about myself. When we post it benefits all of us to keep an open mind and take into consideration each of us are unique situations. All advice and experiences are needed here. This site has helped me alot. Thankyou...........How are all of you doing out there?

my son is suffering insomnia, real bad even meds won't make him sleep. He has bad tremors in his arm and pain ( not sure may be the disease) Really depressed doesn't want to do anything and moody or frustrated. He sweats real bad doesn't matter what he does his head is just soaked. Wish I had a clue what is disease and what is pred withdrawl but I guess its a waiting game. Figured most of the pred side effects would be gone by now.

Thank you for responding, you said your brother was on 80 mg and had trouble coming off of it. May I ask what kind of problems did he have. Right now we are having trouble figuring out what is the disease and what are withdrawl from the pred.

My 7 year old started 2 months ago on pred at 80mg, we have now weened him off, a special doctor we saw said he is going through really bad withdrawal that he never should have been on that much, and now that we have a some what diagnosis of a mitochondrial disease, he never really needed to be on it at all. He has bad tremors, sweats alot and still moody but its only been about 10 days, so I too hope that things will all go away soon.

Thankyou so much for the response about pred. affecting my eyesight. I'm glad to know it can get better. I knew it had to be the pred. because I never had a problem before and I've had all the other side effects. I wish we had a check list of the side effects and withdrawl effects to check off as we go through them. I could check every box ha Thanks again

To guest #12650 who inquired if Prednisone or withdrawal from Prednisone can affect your eyesight - YES!! While on Prednisone my eyesight deteriorated and when I came off it totally my vision became very blurry and I developed iritis. I have been off it for nearly three months now and have been checked every 2 - 3 weeks by my opthomologist. My eyesight is gradually getting better. I can now read a newspaper - I couldn't before and I can read my computer screen.

I meant to say come typo fingers fly fast on the keyboard
off of pred. going thru withdrawl getting better

has anyone had the withdrawl side effect from pred. of getting a fever every once in a while? What about muscle aches so bad u think u r getting the flu? By the way "jules777", don't send a message complaining of side effects from anything in your mind because we r not really here HHHHHAAAAAAAA DUH!

My 16 year old son has been on prednisone for 7 years for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Asthma, and Idiopathic Angio-Edema (deep tissue swelling/hives) with Chronic Uriticaria (Hives). He started on massive doses but in the last year decreased to 10mg every other day. 3 weeks ago we discovered he has developed scoliosis due to the long term use of prednisone. They tapered him off in 2 weeks. Now 1 week later he is having a type of withdrawl from it... weakness and no energy, nausea and headaches. He is never allowed to take prednisone again, and now the doctors are talking about putting him on cyclosporine. Has anyone experienced this too?

Peg,
I've been off of Pred. for 8 days and after reading all the others it may take a while because of the high dose u were on at first. I was on pred. for 4 yrs. My legs get so tired. I'm finding now that I feel like I have a dark cloud over my head. I know this is part of withdrawl but it's bad. Take one day at a time and keep telling yourself within time it will get better, and it will. It won't be easy but keep us updated and u won't feel so alone. Complain all u want, that's what this is for. Just go with what each day brings and don't feel like u r going crazy, you're not. wonderwoman..................