prednisone side effects- how long do they last

[concerned]

How long did your side effects last after completing your round of prednisone????? I took a medrol dose pack for 4 days, then was switched to prednisone 20mg for 4 days, then 10mg for 4 days. It's now been 5 weeks and still have muscle weakness, and joint pain. How 'bout you? Let's spread the word to help others..... Thanks.

[concerned]

it took me 8 weeks to completely rid my body of prednisone

[Cindy]

Have nerve pain from knee to hip bone and prescibed prednisone and afraid to fill pres. First he pres. Lyrica and it give some relief from stabbing burning pain Have heard so many negative remarks on pred.

[concerned]

i don't recommend prednisone. I've heard some bad side effects from Lyrica, too. Be careful. Look up the side effects.

[Norm]

Lyrica "Lots worse" than Prednisone , 42 years on Prednisone , 23 days on Lyrica , Lyrica nearly killed me .

[concerned]

prednisone is horrible

[sunshine]

Predisone has the worst side effects as far as I am concerned, I have gained 15 lbs in 4 weeks and and have tried to stop taking it but the effects are unbearable .. I have two more weeks to go taking it and will just have to take whatever comes my way to rid my body of this horrible medication..

[Nan]

sunshine wrote:

Predisone has the worst side effects as far as I am concerned, I have gained 15 lbs in 4 weeks and and have tried to stop taking it but the effects are unbearable .. I have two more weeks to go taking it and will just have to take whatever comes my way to rid my body of this horrible medication..

I had the same weight gain and I am trying to figure out how long it will be before the medicine is completely out of my body. I have been off Prednisone for about a week. I am still very puffy and swollen and my breathing is still not good.

[Nan]

I have been off Prednisone for a week and I am still puffy and swollen in the face and belly. I gained 15 pounds in a month. How long will it take for the weight to come off with diet and exercise?

[sunshine]

Nan wrote:

I have been off Prednisone for a week and I am still puffy and swollen in the face and belly. I gained 15 pounds in a month. How long will it take for the weight to come off with diet and exercise?

I am stilling prednisone and have gained a total of 28 lbs since Jan 21 , 08 my face is puffy as well as my belly to, My eyes are constantly watering and I am noticing my breathing to be a bit different than usual, I was put on this after I had a lumbar microdiscectomy , I ended up with severe right leg pain and swelling as well as numbness in my right foot, it feels as though I am being pricked with pins and needles and or burning ... It is starting to all get to me the pills, my quality of life is totally different and its not for the better either.. I am snappy and feeling very mean for no good reason .. They also have me on neurotin for the leg pain ie nerve, My surgeon has done a mylegram , MRI with constrast, Cat scan ,X-rays and he sees nothing , he now wants me to get a nerve block and I have heard nothing good... Any one please please help ..

[Andrew]

The most dangerous drug ever known and invented! You just can take it if it's question of life! I had been taking it for RA for 3 months and stopped gradually. It does not matter! I developed extremely high blood pressure, weakness, panic attacks, depression! Practically it ruined my normal life! Doctors have no clue how to deal with its devastating side effects. DO NOT TRUST DOCTORS! They will never tell you the truth how dangerous this DEVIL's prednisone is!!!

[Andrew]

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

[Stephanie]

I have been prescribed prednisone on and off for almost 8 years. Just recently was on them for 3 rounds in the last four months. My sex drive hit the floor- i have gained a total of 70 lbs. I was an athletic 135lbs - i have a disproportionately large double chin, my waist line is almost as big as my hips. i have no energy, by muscles feel weak, my neck and knees pop and creak like an old person. I just turned 40 by the way. I have heartburn almost daily. When i tell my doctor that i wont take prednisone anymore because of my symptoms he tells me that the symptoms are not related to the steroids. I have had an MRI to check my pituitary gland and had tests run on my thyroid. Those both check out fine. Even my pharmacist says that the low dose prednisone should be symptom free. I am near tears almost daily with what this drug has done to my body. I am sticking to my guns this time... NO MORE PREDNISONE.

[Andrew]

Stephanie wrote:

I have been prescribed prednisone on and off for almost 8 years. Just recently was on them for 3 rounds in the last four months. My sex drive hit the floor- i have gained a total of 70 lbs. I was an athletic 135lbs - i have a disproportionately large double chin, my waist line is almost as big as my hips. i have no energy, by muscles feel weak, my neck and knees pop and creak like an old person. I just turned 40 by the way. I have heartburn almost daily. When i tell my doctor that i wont take prednisone anymore because of my symptoms he tells me that the symptoms are not related to the steroids. I have had an MRI to check my pituitary gland and had tests run on my thyroid. Those both check out fine. Even my pharmacist says that the low dose prednisone should be symptom free. I am near tears almost daily with what this drug has done to my body. I am sticking to my guns this time... NO MORE PREDNISONE.

Hi! I had been taking Prednisone for 3 month starting with 7.5mg. But it does not matter - when you exceed 5mg your body stops producing own adrenalin and your adrenal glands just become "lazy". When you start reducing the dose, it's a BIG QUESTION how long it will take for their recovery!!! And you,of course, will feel all "amenities" of weaning process including extreme fatigue, mood changes (sometimes even psychisis), panic attacks, depression, high blood pressure, rapid hertbeat and other well known side effects.Some people, including me, may need up to ONE YEAR to get back to normal physically and mentally! Again: IT'S VERY VERY VERY DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE DRUG!!! Always ask for other options(opinions) before you get cought and use common sense not just doctor's opinion. It's your body not doctor's...

[Helen]

Was prescribed high doses of prednisolone which were tapered off for granular mastitis which is seeming to work but the side effects were aweful but it was the only way to shift the lumps and absesses, I still have some of the side effects but they are getting better, they are better than the disease and not all of the side effects are unpleasant

[Maria]

After being on Prednisone off and on for about 2 years and gaining about 100 lbs. I weighed 135 before my struggle with Prednisone I was told by a Dr. not my primary care doctor Prednisone pretty much shuts down the immune system so be very careful if around sick people and it basicly shuts down the metabolism so to give your body a good 8 months to a year before you will see any noticable changes on the scale. This Doctor told me not to get discouraged, and sure enough almost 12 months to the day I figured I'd get on the dreaded scale and I lost 10 lbs. It is a nasty drug with some awful side effects but for me the alternative is death when my disease flares...as I have severe asthma. I just had to be put on it yesterday I'm not thrilled but at least I can breathe. I am however experiancing something different that I need to ask my doctor about...severe muscle pain like flu aches. I don't know what thats all about. I am on 40mg for 3 days, then 20 mg for 3 days. Good Luck To You All and don't get discouraged!

[michele]

Hi Andrew, any signs of improvement after your horrible experience with prednisone. Besides haveing high blood pressure, how has it affected your heart, brain? I had to be on in for 3 weeks, I am scared wonder what is going to happen to me. I now have very high blood pressure...I am worried..will this eventually get better once the horrible stuff is out of our systems. How long were you on it for? Hope you feel better real soon. Please let me know.

Andrew wrote:

The most dangerous drug ever known and invented! You just can take it if it's question of life! I had been taking it for RA for 3 months and stopped gradually. It does not matter! I developed extremely high blood pressure, weakness, panic attacks, depression! Practically it ruined my normal life! Doctors have no clue how to deal with its devastating side effects. DO NOT TRUST DOCTORS! They will never tell you the truth how dangerous this DEVIL's prednisone is!!!

[michele]

Hi Andrew,
I just wanted to know how long have you been on Prednisone for and how much? I had to take it for 3 weeks 40 mg. a day. I now have very high blood pressure, I never had it before. You had also mentioned about your heart and brain, what else is happening to you. I am very worried, please let me know. I am very scared. Thank You. Please get back to me as soon as possible.

[Andrew]

Hi michele!
I am not going to scare you about the prednisone, but... Unfortunately I had been on it just for 3 months for my rheumatoid arthritis starting with 7.5mg daily and monthly gradually down to 2.5mg and then stopped. Each dose reduction was like nightmare for me: shortness of breath, blood pressure 230/120, pulse 100-130bp/min, panic attack (never had in my life before). In emergency doctors had no clue what was going on at all. Be ready for that too. So, be prepared to have very "blue days" during this time. Real horror started after I stopped completely. I was so weak that could not eat or walk at all! Depression, steroid induced panic attacks, extreme fatigue, nausea, etc. My doctor never explained anything to me about this situation! Of course, everybody reacts differenly but there are huge number of people who do very bad on and after the prednisone. I have been off it for almost one year and still do not feel myself physically and mentally. My advice is: ask your doctor as many questions as you can, be patient and inform members of your family to be ready to give you support during this period. Be extra careful about withdrawal!!! Do it under close doctor's supervision. In some cases it might help. You can also check prednisone side effects at http://www.medications.com/
Good health, luck and courage!

[Andrew]

michele wrote:

Hi Andrew,
I just wanted to know how long have you been on Prednisone for and how much? I had to take it for 3 weeks 40 mg. a day. I now have very high blood pressure, I never had it before. You had also mentioned about your heart and brain, what else is happening to you. I am very worried, please let me know. I am very scared. Thank You. Please get back to me as soon as possible.

Dear Michelle! I am not going to scare you about the prednisone, but... Unfortunately I had been on it just for 3 months for my rheumatoid arthritis starting with 7.5mg daily and monthly gradually down to 2.5mg and then stopped. Each dose reduction was like nightmare for me: shortness of breath, blood pressure 230/120, pulse 100-130bp/min, panic attack (never had in my life before). In emergency doctors had no clue what was going on at all. Be ready for that too. So, be prepared to have very "blue days" during this time. Real horror started after I stopped completely. I was so weak that could not eat or walk at all! Depression, steroid induced panic attacks, extreme fatigue, nausea, etc. My doctor never explained anything to me about this situation! Of course, everybody reacts differenly but there are huge number of people who do very bad on and after the prednisone. I have been off it for almost one year and still do not feel myself physically and mentally. My advice is: ask your doctor as many questions as you can, be patient and inform members of your family to be ready to give you support during this period. Be extra careful about withdrawal!!! Do it under close doctor's supervision. In some cases it might help. You can also check prednisone side effects at http://www.medications.com/
Good health, luck and courage!