Prednisone Side Effects

[mickeyboat]

I had an MRI a couple weeks ago because of some weird headaches I was having and the doctor discovered some sinus issues and sent me to an ENT surgeon. I saw him yesterday and he put me on antibiotics, a sinus rinse and steroids.

I will be on the antibiotics for 3 weeks and the steroids for 12 days (tapering after 3 days) and I am petrified of the steroid side effects, particularly since I have lost 30 lbs since February and I don't want to gain it all back.

Any experience? TIA

Denae

 

[BCV513]

I take prednisone when I have asthma flare-ups. I've never been on it for more than ten days at a time.

For most people, the side effects can be: increased appetite, puffy face, temporary weight gain, moodiness, things like that.

I have to say, I feel WONDERFUL on prednisone. I feel good from the inside out. I lose my appetite, I usually lose weight, my skin clears up, my hair gets shinier, I just feel good. It's probably because I can breathe well, but it's a great drug for me.

I do have very vivid dreams on it. Not nightmares, just very vivid dreams that I always remember after.

Also, if you're on a high dose, make sure you taper off at the end. Don't just stop it. You can get very bad body aches if you go from a high dose to nothing at all. It happened to me once and even the clothes on my skin felt like a lead suit.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

ETA: Sorry, I just saw that you are tapering. That's perfect!

 

[mickeyboat]

I take prednisone when I have asthma flare-ups. I've never been on it for more than ten days at a time.

For most people, the side effects can be: increased appetite, puffy face, temporary weight gain, moodiness, things like that.

I have to say, I feel WONDERFUL on prednisone. I feel good from the inside out. I lose my appetite, I usually lose weight, my skin clears up, my hair gets shinier, I just feel good. It's probably because I can breathe well, but it's a great drug for me.

I do have very vivid dreams on it. Not nightmares, just very vivid dreams that I always remember after.

Also, if you're on a high dose, make sure you taper off at the end. Don't just stop it. You can get very bad body aches if you go from a high dose to nothing at all. It happened to me once and even the clothes on my skin felt like a lead suit.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

ETA: Sorry, I just saw that you are tapering. That's perfect!

Thanks so much! I was reading too many horror stories, and your post just gave me a little hope!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

My DD was put on prednisone for her asthma a few years ago. (She might have been about 9 at the time). Again, it was for a short duration -- maybe 10-14 days. It did wonders to help the asthma and she didn't experience any side effects. I do work with a woman who was on prednisone for quite some time and she the increased appetitite, bloating, etc., but the benefits far outweighed the side effects for her. Good luck!

 

[Enchanted_Mama]

I have been on it twice for sinus issues. I, too, experience euphoria when I am on it. Nothing, I mean, nothing, can put me in a bad mood.

No other side effects for me, though I've only been on five day (tapering) regimens.

 

[gate_pourri]

I was on prednisone for 12 days this month (3-days of 20mg, 3-days of 15mg, tapering down every 3 days) for some ear problems. I'll admit I freaked myself out looking up possible symptoms, but I had no noticeable side effects. If anything, I actually felt like my appetite was a bit less than normal and at my follow up, my doctor told me I was a bit more chatty than normal, but that was it. I slept as normal, I didn't gain any weight or anything. I am now off of it and had no side effects going off either.

 

[CoP Luv]

My DH has been on it for about 6 years now! He takes it for colitis (I don't know if I spelled it correctly.)

At first he did have increased bloating, but that went away about 6 months after he started on it. He has had some headaches fbecause of all of the different medication that he is taking...not sure if it is directly related or not.

This is the only drug that works for him. When he tried to get off of it completely, his boidy doesn't react well. But has has been on some very low doses and is fine.

 

[kt_mom]

If you are only on it for a short time I wonder if some of the worst side effects will have time to bother you. I was on it for over a year in highschool and the side effects were horrible. I had terrible weight gain and my face was huge and puffy. My skin was also very very dry as well as my hair. The weight gain is the main thing I remember aside from the pain of coming off of it.

It helped a lot with the pain of the JRA but whenever they would try to taper me off of it the pain was excruciating. Your body can become addicted to it very quickly I think. To get off it my mom was decreasing my doses by taking the tiny little pills and cutting them in fourths and reducing them by a fourth every week or week and a half. Sometimes we would have to go back up becuase it was too soon and the pain was unbearable. I cringe now just seeing the word prednisone.

But like I said I was on it for over a year and had serious medical issues along with it. But I don't think it's something to take lightly either. I know the weight gain affected me very quickly, I'd say within a month of going on it I had gained like 15 or more pounds and probably a total of at least 30 or 40 over the course of taking it. I did drop the weight fairly quickly when I went off of it too, but I was on Methotrexate which probably helped with the weight loss.

 

[AnimalKingdomLover15]

I have nothing but horror stories,( I was on 60 mg for over two years) so will not go into detail. For what you are taking it for, I would not even be worried at all. Just watch your sodium intake and watch your diet! You should be fine

 

[Tikitoi]

I had an MRI a couple weeks ago because of some weird headaches I was having and the doctor discovered some sinus issues and sent me to an ENT surgeon. I saw him yesterday and he put me on antibiotics, a sinus rinse and steroids.

I will be on the antibiotics for 3 weeks and the steroids for 12 days (tapering after 3 days) and I am petrified of the steroid side effects, particularly since I have lost 30 lbs since February and I don't want to gain it all back.

Any experience? TIA

Denae

DD has had to take prednisone at times for her Asthma, and if you are Type I Diabetic, watch out. Your insulin won't be effective at all. Or maybe just very very little.

 

[lessit]

It all depends on the dosage, person, length of time and reason for taking it. Many people (70+ years old) take it for years at low dosages (<10mgs/day) with only a few manageble side effects.

 

[Aimeedyan]

For that short of a time, you probably won't have any problems. You didn't say what your dosage is but if it's low (20mg or lower), that will also mean you likely won't have side effects.

 

[BCV513]

Thanks so much! I was reading too many horror stories, and your post just gave me a little hope!

My pleasure!

I read somewhere (I think here, actually) that the problem with reading on the internet is when someone has a bad experience, they will likely run to post it, but when they have a good experience, they're much less likely to think of reporting it.

 

[RadioNate]

Horror stories here too. In fact so bad that I'm living with chronic hives rather than go on prednisone again to stop the flair ups. I manage on antihistamines and just knock myself out for days on crazy high doses to minimize flair ups and live with the rest.

I will tell you that I was on high doses 60+ mg for weeks at a time and then the accompanying taper. Short courses are much better!!!

Abruptly stopping prednisone can kill you ... it just isn't managing side effects as the reason for the taper. Even with the taper I get sever joint pain.

I always love the 1st week or so. More energy, a real "go get em" attitude, the feeling like you can conquer the world (which IS a documented side effect.) etc etc. It is when the moodiness, insomnia, body aches, paranoia and general crabbiness set it that I hate it. I won't tell you how much weight I gained, and still haven't lost.

 

[Robinrs]

My father started driving sporadically, we had to stop him from driving while he was on it.

Chipmunk cheeks is also a horrible side effect to long term usage.

My doctor suggested I take it several times during my gastro illness. I refused to take it. They prescribed to my Mom, Dad and cat during that same time and it amazed me how different each illness was but they managed to find a way to prescribe prednisone to each one.

 

[Crankyshank]

I gained a lot of weight when I was on it long term, which I still can't lose. But I was on it for almost a year so you won't experience that side effect.
I wish I experienced the euphoria. I'm just finishing up a 10 day course of it due to severe bronchitis and have itchiness (skin crawling), joint pain, and moodiness.

 

[mickeyboat]

Thanks everyone for your insight and for sharing your experience. I think I have to agree that I will probably not have major issues since I will only be on it for 12 days.

I am starting at 60mg / day for 3 days, then 40 for 3 days, then 20 for 2 days then 10 for 3 days.

I am glad you guys mentioned the sense of euphoria, because I think I am experiencing that with only one dose. I can't believe how much I have gotten done today that I have been dreading and putting off for weeks. Woo Hoo!

But it looks like I need to stay out of the stores and stay out of restaurants!

 

[AnimalKingdomLover15]

Thanks everyone for your insight and for sharing your experience. I think I have to agree that I will probably not have major issues since I will only be on it for 12 days.

I am starting at 60mg / day for 3 days, then 40 for 3 days, then 20 for 2 days then 10 for 3 days.

I am glad you guys mentioned the sense of euphoria, because I think I am experiencing that with only one dose. I can't believe how much I have gotten done today that I have been dreading and putting off for weeks. Woo Hoo!

But it looks like I need to stay out of the stores and stay out of restaurants!

uh, yah! one prednisone episode I had one time, I spent over 700 bucks for nightgowns!!
It was awful!

 

[GoodFairies]

I took a short, tapered course once, and I will never take it again.

 

[johnsontrio]

I feel so good when I am taking steroids that I joke "why would anyone do heroin when you can take prednisone?". My house is clean (think Everready bunny), I feel good, I'm eating everything in sight, but don't really notice a weight gain... Now for the down side.

My hearing seems hyperacute when I take steroids. At night, I am awakened by voices inside the neighbors house, can't really hear what they are saying, more like a muffled tv or something. I know it's real because I can see them up and about and DH confirms it. If not, I'd think I was crazy.

Once after taking steroids for about 2 months and being weaned off, I had joint and bone pain so severe it hurt to walk normally, bend my legs etc...

This past November I had a 5 day run of steroids after being on non-steroidals for several months due to herniated discs in my neck. Had the surgery the beginning of January but am still having issues with the gastritis that developed from the meds. Watch your stomach... Be sure you take your meds with food and not just one or two crackers and if you want to be on the safe side avoid caffeine, mint, chocolate and the usual offenders. Good luck. Hope you feel better.