Prednisone side effects?

[hopeandfaith]

Virginia Johnson wrote:

I had polymylagia reheumatica for 2+ months. 60mg of prednisone go me over that but as part of that disease, I have also been diagnosed with Temporal Arteritis for which I have gone from 40 to 30 mg./day with some improvement, but still have headaches, a surgin in my head fom time to time, can't touch wine, etc. and have the beginning of a cataract. Terrible insomnia - never through the night = tak any sleeping aid I can find that works which Dodtor says is o.k. right now. I must stay on prednisone as much as I hate it to avoid a blood clot or blindness. HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO STAY ON IT UNTIL I AM O.K.or don't need as much? NOBODY ANSWERS MY QUESTION EVEN IN A GENERAL WAY - PLEASE give me some kind if idea of what I have to look forward to. Thank you-ginny johnson

I noticed your post is from last year. I hope you are still looking at this site as I too have so many questions about temporal arteritis. I was diagnosed seven months ago, and I have been on a roller coaster ever since. I started at 30 mg. then tapered to 20 mg. then down to 7.5 of prednisone and relapsed. Then back up to 20 mg. I am now on 15 mg. and I am afraid to reduce the dosage and afraid to continue taking the prednisone as it is reeking havoc with my body. Are you having any urinary symptoms - burning feeling after urinating? I am terrified of blindness and so I am trying my best to come to grips with this disease. Anyone out there with temporal arteritis? I need advice. Thanks

[annet]

I have started about six weeks ago on perdinsone. Most of the side effects of the drug is how I felt before starting to take it. However, the moon face, weight gain in the stomach, mood swings are now present and some times flying off the handle at the poor dog. I emailed my doctor who advised me to increase my recreational activites was needed. He did not answer exactly why I needed to take the medication in the first place when I asked him. However, after seven doctors, he was the one who did not beleive the lab reports that I had nothing wrong with me. I have sjogrens, raynaud's, fibromyalgia, numerous nerve intrapment, radiopathy, all over peripherial neuropathy, possible vascitulitis, possible kidney-lung-heart invovlement due to the sjogren's. After six weeks on the predisone, I do not feel better, I feel worse. And after reading the increase of side effect when coming off of the drug does not sound to good. I am also worried about the adrenal glands stop working. I still hurt.

[Amanda B]

BE AWARE!!!! I just lost my mother due to prednisone. She was taking the medication to suppress her immune system. Taking the medication resulted in her getting B-cell lymphoma (cancer) which in return took her from us. Please be aware and really weight the benefits to the consequences!

[Maggie]

I was given prednisone for a severe allergic reaction on my face. I was quite miserable with swelling, but I would have been much better off taking Benadryl. My dose was total 6400 mg. over 18 days, 3 days each of 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, and 3 days of 10, 5, 5. The side effects were terrible: constant pounding pulse, vertigo, very high blood pressure, hot and red face, terrible insomnia (which I controlled with a tranquillizer at double my normal dose), lightheadedness, weakness and fatigue. I was constantly afraid of a long-term effect on my heart and a short-term effect of a stroke or heart attack. By the time I reached 20 mg., I decided any withdrawal symptoms were a better gamble than continuing, so I dropped to 15, then 10, then stopped on Day 14. I do have a few withdrawal symptoms, random leg aches, muscle weakness, fatigue, and tinnitus in one ear. However, my blood pressure has dropped to almost normal, my face, although still a little puffy, is almost normal, and I get a little less fatigued daily through walking (I started with 10 min. and now am walking 25 min.). The most important thing is that I am taking a mega-dose of B-complex, which includes pantothenic acid (25 x the RDA). Pantothenic acid is the vitamin that supports the immune system, and I'm trying to teach mine to forget about prednisone.
Advice: never take prednisone unless you have no choice; never take more than you need; and never take it for an allergic reaction unless it's life-threatening BECAUSE PREDNISONE IS ALSO LIFE-THREATENING. If your adrenal cortex isn't functioning, you cannot live.

[celticmomma]

I too found this site to answer my questions about coming off prednisone.I have been dognosed with temperal artritis in Dec. Started with 60mg, tried to decrease and got as far as 40and had to start all over again. Am presently on 30 and everything seems to be fine.I absolutely HATE the side effects like weight gain and moon face but the side effect that is almost debilitating is back pain that keeps me from doing much. Stand on my feet a little while then have to sit down till it subsides. Can't wait to be 100% off it and to have my "old" life back:) Will someone who has been off it for a few month please post and give us something to hope for????

[Les]

To further compound the problem, liquid health drinks are pasteurized to prevent bacteria growth. This ensures that the product doesn't become rancid before it's opened and consumed. However, pasteurization destroys many of the excellent natural properties of the mangosteen and may attribute to adverse drug interactions with various forms of medication.

In a recent medical study conducted November 2007, through research being conducted at the University of Alberta Canada, alarming findings regarding mangosteen juice were found.

A test of both mangosteen juice and a dried, powdered form the product yielded these results:

Mangosteen juice is very rich in natural and man-made added sugars. These sugars can have an adverse reaction towards those who are diabetics and those consuming diabetic medication. Diabetics should use extreme caution when consuming mangosteen juice. Mangosteen in dry powder form was not found to have any adverse reactions in our study.

Mangosteen juice blocks the effects of the body’s naturally produced histamines. These are essential, because they increase blood flow to injured or externally invaded parts of the body. Suppression of histamines can cause a major disruption in essential metabolic responses and therefore caution should be used when consuming mangosteen juice.
Mangosteen in dry powder form was not found to cause adverse reactions.
In addition to the problem noted above, greedy suppliers, brokers, and manufacturers frequently stretch small amounts of genuine mangosteen extract or powder to make dozens or even hundreds of liters of finished mangosteen liquid drink: reaping substantial profits with an vastly inferior product. The taste of the mangosteen juice, or drink, you experience is due to other fruit juices and compounds—citric acid, sodium benzoate, and artificial flavors—added during the manufacturing process of the mangosteen drink.

[Les]

Prednisone should only be used as a temporary solution.

[amy]

Lei wrote:

I'm having severe asthma stemming from a cold/flu which is now bordering on bronchitis. Can't breathe, Am very weak, no appetite and get panicky. My doctor prescribed prednisone 10mg in a decreasing scale for the next 10+ days. Anyone with asthma problems that prednisone helped?

i get sick this time of year every year from asthma/alergies and it always gets so bad my doctor puts me on 20 mg of prednisone for a week. it always helps

[Carol from Texas]

i have R.A. was diagnosed in jan. of 2008 i was on prednisone for 6 months then my Rhumitoligest put me on medrol im now been put back on prednisone have been on it now 3 weeks and got thrush. The side affects of the steroids have cause exsesive waight gain , skin thining .have trouble with my eyes now and have nodules on my adreinal glands. the staroids do a great job on the flairs of R.A. to a point the doctor is in the procese of takeing me off steroids after 16 months of use . in these 16 months i have been in flairs for most the time if i hant been on the steroids i would not want to know what shape i would be in but my famliy doc wants me off them the sooner the better im in flair more now going done on steroids at 7 mg a day right now. hopeing to find something that does what prednisone dose with out all these side affects and long term problems due to steroids

[john cilia]

can you tell me that she have to stopped pensordil tab of 10 mg after seven days or she can keep taking them
thank you

[Carol from Texas]

i have been reduced to 6 mg of prednisone and im on lyrica along with a daliy reg of other meds and monthly oricea when i went from 7 to 6 mg i have noticed my mood swings are worse i go off for no real reason is this the prednisone decrease or mabe my other meds the lyrica im on my 2nd script its also a had mood swings as a affect i cant stand this im spending alot of time outs so i dont put my family threw the swings

[Jody]

Carol from Texas wrote:

i have been reduced to 6 mg of prednisone and im on lyrica along with a daliy reg of other meds and monthly oricea when i went from 7 to 6 mg i have noticed my mood swings are worse i go off for no real reason is this the prednisone decrease or mabe my other meds the lyrica im on my 2nd script its also a had mood swings as a affect i cant stand this im spending alot of time outs so i dont put my family threw the swings

Prednisone can cause some people to to go off for no real reason, but if the Lyrica has also had mood swings as a side effect then you should probably call your doctor. Your dose of Lyrica may need to be adjusted until you are off the pred. If you read about the side effects of Lyrica, it will tell you that any mood swings need to be brought to the attention of your doctor. Good Luck!

[Carol from Texas]

ty so much i went to my doc wed. and she has lowered my lyrica but uped the prednisone its a endless cycle im in a flair atm so she concerend but im fightung to up the prednisone been on it far to long for my oppion and my family docs too

[Angela]

I also have severe asthma stemming from a cold/flu/virus, not sure what made it flare up so bading and it turns into bronchitis. Can't breathe, was very very weak, so my doctor prescribed prednisone 10mg in a decreasing scale for the next 5 days. I am on day number 3 and I breathing is much easier. I was having more problems at night, not able to breathe especially when I tried to lay down and the position didn't really matter. The only thing I did notice is that is was difficult to go to sleep last night. I am super tired at work right now, so hopefully I will be able to get a good nights rest.

[carol]

Angela wrote:

I also have severe asthma stemming from a cold/flu/virus, not sure what made it flare up so bading and it turns into bronchitis. Can't breathe, was very very weak, so my doctor prescribed prednisone 10mg in a decreasing scale for the next 5 days. I am on day number 3 and I breathing is much easier. I was having more problems at night, not able to breathe especially when I tried to lay down and the position didn't really matter. The only thing I did notice is that is was difficult to go to sleep last night. I am super tired at work right now, so hopefully I will be able to get a good nights rest.

i have been on predisone for 19 months what i have seen with me dont matter what dose im on the sleep problems are there the docs i have talk to say it due to the prednisone and as long as im on it i going to cotiue to have them im on a daily dose now of 7 mg and will be that way for a while im in the process of a med change so my rhuem. dont want to lower it at this point sence im still in a flair. I hope things work out for you and take time for you when you can thats the only saveing grace for me atm

[Joyce]

My heart goes out to all that has taken Prednisone. My doctor gave me Prednisone for a severe rash that I had all over my body. The doctor didn't tell me all the bad side effects it has. Just said it would make me feel peppy and I might have problems sleeping at night. I told the doctor I have anxiety attacks and would it make me feel worse. She said it wouldn't and she was right, it didn't seem to bother me. Latter when I read about all the side effects it caused, that seemed to stress me out the most. I wanted to get off of it but I was told I couldn't just quit. I had to take 3 pills for 3days, 2 pills for 2 days, 1 pill for 2 days, 20mg each pill. I will never take Prednisone again. My side effects were, nausia, blurred vision, trouble concetrating, restless, some depression, wobbly knees, bad memory, constipated, irratable, left leg felt heavy, dizzy, dry mouth, felt I had to walk and I couldn't bend down because my head would feel full and just felt really awfull. It's been one week since I took the last pill and I have, "Thank God", haven't had anymore effects from it. On the third day from taking the pill I felt like my old self again. I hope this post helps someone with anxiety or panic attack problems and is worried over taking Prednisone and is stressing over what is going to happen to me after I take this. Yes, I had discomfort but I did recover from it.

[Andrea]

Carolyn wrote:

<quoted text>
Kim, How long did it take and what side effects did you have? I took it for 5 days and and stopped it 7 days ago and still cannot function. Swelling in hands and arms severly, mouth dry, heart beating 90-100 bpm, palpitations, joint weakness and pain, hot prickly skin...so worried it is never going away. Doctors just blow me off. i can't get myself to work or anything.

I just wanted to tell you I have the same symptoms and have since day 2 of coming off a 5-day round of predisone... it's been terrible... prickly skin all over, now my calves are throbbing... anxious beyond belief! This is day 15 off of this... I had an MRI today to rule out other things, but this has been a nightmare! I hope it ends soon... I will NEVER take this again!

[me in colorado]

I was just diagnosed with moderate RA and my rheumatologist has prescribed 5 mg Pred/day for about the next 6 mo until I wean my baby from breastfeeding and can start a disease-modifying drug (DMARD). My question is if anyone has had any side effects on this low a dosage. I can function w/o it because i'm taking 1000mg Alieve/day for pain but it only takes the edge off. I have 5 children to care for need just a little more pain relief to be able to function better and sleep better at night. (the pain/stiffness keep me awake)

[MKAtherine]

Good Lord, this drug has been a nightmare for me!! I'm tapering as we speak, hoping I will gain some sense of sanity once this horrible drug is completely out of my body! I would rather deal with the pains of arthritis, then ever take this drug again! PLEASE get all the facts before allowing your Physician to prescribe this drug for you!!! The side effects of the drug are worse than the illness it is supposed to treat!

[steverow50]

MKAtherine wrote:

Good Lord, this drug has been a nightmare for me!! I'm tapering as we speak, hoping I will gain some sense of sanity once this horrible drug is completely out of my body! I would rather deal with the pains of arthritis, then ever take this drug again! PLEASE get all the facts before allowing your Physician to prescribe this drug for you!!! The side effects of the drug are worse than the illness it is supposed to treat!

Stick in there darlin' it does get better as the dose is reduced...prednisone is like a credit card...use it now but you'll pay later