prednasone ugh!

[douglisa]

Vent
My asthma has been bad cause of a chest cold so my doc put me on prednasone again.
My emotions are crazy and I can not stop eating. When I am not eating I am dying of thirst. I have to be on a taper because I totally loose my mind if I do not taper. Prednasone really does a trick on my sanity!
Luckily I am not always on it as many who have asthma are. I totally feel for those people.

 

[DisMN]

Do you have anyone close to you who's aware of what prednisone does to you? That way they could keep an eye on you and if you get too "weird" they can get you to a doctor. It's a worry isn't it, to feel so out of control........we went through it with my sister and it was scary.

Good luck and I hope you feel better REAL soon.

 

[douglisa]

Do you have anyone close to you who's aware of what prednisone does to you? That way they could keep an eye on you and if you get too "weird" they can get you to a doctor. It's a worry isn't it, to feel so out of control........we went through it with my sister and it was scary.

Good luck and I hope you feel better REAL soon.

Thank you, that is very sweet. I told DH but he has no idea what he is in for, can't say I did not warn him! LOL Last time I was on it was right before I met him 4 yrs ago. I remember going to the pharmasists drive through and yelled at him that I was loosing my mind! LOL So as I sped off he called my doc who then called my family. I am working my last two weeks @ my job because I am going to school full time soon. Look out rude customers!! LOL

 

[DisMN]

Thank you, that is very sweet. I told DH but he has no idea what he is in for, can't say I did not warn him! LOL Last time I was on it was right before I met him 4 yrs ago. I remember going to the pharmasists drive through and yelled at him that I was loosing my mind! LOL So as I sped off he called my doc who then called my family. I am working my last two weeks @ my job because I am going to school full time soon. Look out rude customers!! LOL

Oh dear!

Throw away your car keys.......at least then you'll just go bonkers at HOME! LOL

Hang in there.....how long do you have to stay on the meds? Is "taper" like tapering off them, is that what you mean? (which if it is IS a good idea!)

 

[douglisa]

Oh dear!

Throw away your car keys.......at least then you'll just go bonkers at HOME! LOL

Hang in there.....how long do you have to stay on the meds? Is "taper" like tapering off them, is that what you mean? (which if it is IS a good idea!)

Yes, tapering off them. Instead of making me go full strength for a whole week they stretch it out over two weeks. I start off taking 4 a day for 5 days and then by the second week I am only taking one a day for the remaining time. If your sis ever needs it again I would suggest she ask for "the prednasone taper." The best way to do it is use a pill box w/ deviders or a ice tray and number each day w/ a paper on top w/ the number so she always gets the right dose. Unfortunatly I have to work till the first of May.
I am going to talk to my boss tomarow and tell her the situation.

 

[DisMN]

I'm glad you're in regular contact with your doctor........and good luck tomorrow. You'll be in my thoughts!

 

[mudnuri]

you are always suppose to taper prednisone (actually all steroids)

I'm not sure why if you have so many problems with this drug your still taking it- there are MANY other asthma drugs to take you might think about meeting with a pulmanologist, if its been 4 years since you needed a drug of this strength- i'm sure there is something else that would work

Brandy

 

[weregoingtodw]

I have to take prednisone periodically as part of my asthma action plan (if my peaks dip below a certain point in my yellow zone). It makes me achy, usually towards the end, but I've definitely never noticed the side effects you're describing.

Do you take the Medrol Dose Pak? Mine is spread out throughout the day, which may account for the fewer side effects. I would definitely suggest asking your doctor about it. I have to take it a lot more often than every four years unfortunately, but I would certainly have an issue if I had the strong side effects you're having.

Hang in there.

 

[douglisa]

you are always suppose to taper prednisone (actually all steroids)

I'm not sure why if you have so many problems with this drug your still taking it- there are MANY other asthma drugs to take you might think about meeting with a pulmanologist, if its been 4 years since you needed a drug of this strength- i'm sure there is something else that would work

Brandy

They usually only give it to me when I get really bad. I had to go to the ER this last weekend cause I could not breath. I had to take it 4 yrs ago because I had pnumonia. I had this cold for quite some time and I have been working so much I did not take care of myself like I should have. Prednisone does not affect everyone the same way. Not everyone has to do the taper.

 

[douglisa]

I have to take prednisone periodically as part of my asthma action plan (if my peaks dip below a certain point in my yellow zone). It makes me achy, usually towards the end, but I've definitely never noticed the side effects you're describing.

Do you take the Medrol Dose Pak? Mine is spread out throughout the day, which may account for the fewer side effects. I would definitely suggest asking your doctor about it. I have to take it a lot more often than every four years unfortunately, but I would certainly have an issue if I had the strong side effects you're having.

Hang in there.

I am going to call him today. Last night I could not sleep because I was itching so bad. I certainly feel for you having to take it so much. Usually my asthma does not bother me unless I have a chest cold or seasonal alergies. I have never heard of the dose pack. Usually I just take the albuteral and advair. I am very fortunate that it does not affect my life as it does many others.

 

[eh24fan]

Both of my kids are taking this stuff. DS7 goes haywire on it! He's boucing off the walls and generally just a pain in the rear. DS1 doesn't seem to be too bothered by it, thank goodness! Both of my kids have been sick all weekend and I'm beat! DS7 is taking amoxicillin and prednisone because he had a sinus infection with the chest stuff. DS1 is on a nebulizer with albuterol and just yesterday the dr. gave him an RX for pulmicort once a day with it. Plus the Zithromax they gave him at the ER to ward off the pneumonia or bronchitis that was brewing from what they saw in the chest Xray and the prednisone.

Now I've got the head cold part of it all.

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

I have been on prednisone for almost 9 years now. The lowest dose I've gotten to is 5mg daily. Right now I'm on 10mg a day.

I can be irritable and hunger is a constant battle. For me, the the worst side effect is the facial hair.

I keep hoping that I will find a drug that works well enough that I don't need it anymore.

I take it for rheumatoid arthritis.

 

[RadioNate]

I take it several times a year. It is awful and I completely agree on the side effects. I actually get more nutty as I taper. It is the lack of sleep I think. Because I'm so wired on it I hardly sleep and as sleep depravation sets in I think I start to lose it. I also get real achy near the end of the taper. Usually my knees hurt so bad it is hard to walk if I've sat for awhile.

As an aside, I agree that you should always taper. I've never seen prednisone prescribed without a taper. The risk of an Addison's crisis is too great w/out a taper.

My DD had some last week and luckily she didn't have any side effects. But they even had me taper her. That was thrilling. I'm hoping she never needs it again.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I have been there - it's a miserable drug.

I take it more for Crohns than Asthma. When I got to about 50mg, I was not myself anymore. I had a violent temper and didn't sleep for days. DH could hardly stand me, nor could my coworkers.

It's evil evil evil. But oh so necessary sometimes.

I hope you can taper quickly. Thankfully I am responding to other meds right now and don't have to stay on it longterm.

 

[laurabelle]

Boy I can relate. I'm on 60mg right now for Ulcerative Colitis. Things that help me: taking the whole dose not long after I get up in the morning, watching my salt, eating small meals throughout the day, sleeping pill at night (I'm currently taking Max. Unisom and have a script for Ambien waiting in the wings...)

 

[ckay87]

That is one weird drug. My DS took it once for bad poison ivy (in his eyes). At one point, he walked out into the backyard, laid down in the grass and fell asleep. It was bizarre.

 

[solferino]

I'm so sorry- prednisone can be really tough on you. I hope you find relief soon, for both the short and long-term.

 

[bunny213]

dr. started my on it, after a very rough time of achy joints and hurts in Feb. He ran every test imaginable...and gave me 10mg of it for 10 days...and after starting the pill the next day...I felt like a new person. I really did. I was able to get to renew the pres. 1 more time...then had another app't and he lowered the dose to 5mg. I hadn't taken all the ones I had...so I started cutting the 10mg in half.
I really haven't had any problems, and I'm still taking the 5mg a day - but the little aches and pains that occur now...I take a Tylenol, and that helps. I have a prescription for another renewal (5mg for 30 days)...but after reading what everyone is saying...it's kind of scary... ..I don't want to get addicted to this and I'd rather not take it at all. He made no mention of me "tapering" off....should I try to take only like one every other day?? I'm so confused.
Is 5mg...very much??? Thanks...Barb

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

dr. started my on it, after a very rough time of achy joints and hurts in Feb. He ran every test imaginable...and gave me 10mg of it for 10 days...and after starting the pill the next day...I felt like a new person. I really did. I was able to get to renew the pres. 1 more time...then had another app't and he lowered the dose to 5mg. I hadn't taken all the ones I had...so I started cutting the 10mg in half.
I really haven't had any problems, and I'm still taking the 5mg a day - but the little aches and pains that occur now...I take a Tylenol, and that helps. I have a prescription for another renewal (5mg for 30 days)...but after reading what everyone is saying...it's kind of scary... ..I don't want to get addicted to this and I'd rather not take it at all. He made no mention of me "tapering" off....should I try to take only like one every other day?? I'm so confused.
Is 5mg...very much??? Thanks...Barb

No. 5mg is a low dose. Don't panic. The reason you have to taper off of it, is because when you take it, it slows your body's own production of cortisol. So, while you taper, your body adjusts back to normal production.

 

[douglisa]

Both of my kids are taking this stuff. DS7 goes haywire on it! He's boucing off the walls and generally just a pain in the rear. DS1 doesn't seem to be too bothered by it, thank goodness! Both of my kids have been sick all weekend and I'm beat! DS7 is taking amoxicillin and prednisone because he had a sinus infection with the chest stuff. DS1 is on a nebulizer with albuterol and just yesterday the dr. gave him an RX for pulmicort once a day with it. Plus the Zithromax they gave him at the ER to ward off the pneumonia or bronchitis that was brewing from what they saw in the chest Xray and the prednisone.

Now I've got the head cold part of it all.

Thats too bad, especially when kids have to be on it. I read that it can stuny kids' growth! I hope you all feel better soon.