Prednisone

I have PMR & have taken this for the past 8 months beginning with 40 mg. I am now down to 10 mg per day. The doctor tried reducing it to 5 mg but I ran into problems. I haven't had any side effects except my skin is thinner & I have noticed it doesn't heal as well.

I am on my second round of Medrol, since Feb--for muscular weakness, inflammation & high CPK numbers--possibly linked to Zetia, a virus, or Myositis. Leg biopsy & other tests are inconclusive. Weakness went away after several months of a daily dose of 64 mg. of Medrol. Within 4 weeks, the problem reappeared--almost as bad as before. It continues to worsen each day, and the side effects of Medrol are devastating! Losing weight, hair, thin skin, seizures, insomnia, tremors--so very bad. Any suggestions? Please.

I took Prednisone several times for Respitory infections. I was started on 60 mg. for three days tapering off to ten. Each time, I ended up in the hospital for rapid heartbeat (A-Fib) and high blood sugar levels. I always feel worse while I'm on it. Doctor says I will feel worse, but it wil improve my lungs. I am on several other medications, Coumadin, Cardizem, Gly/Met.,Metropol. Simvistatin, Digitek.

I am on Prednisone for RA. I have been on 5 mg for two years. Last summer I tried to reduce my dosage but ran into flares with my RA, so now I am back to 5. This spring we are going to try again. Is there any other drug that I could replace the Prednisone with to assist me in getting off the stuff? I feel fine on it but have gained weight and would like to get back to normal. I also take Methatrexate, 25mg and 300 mg of Remicade. I supplement with Foxamax weekly, 1500mg calcium, 1mg of folic acid daily.

Thanks for any information that you can give me... k. tate

I'm on prednisone 10 mg for pain in back and neck. On day 3 of taking the medication, I had an allergic reaction--red spots and rash. I understand that I can not discountinue the medication, so I took benadryl after prednisone. A friend told me to discontinue prednisone and start with benadryl. What should I do?

I am taking prednisone for ulcerative colitis. I was off of the prednisone one month of Febuary 2008 and had to be put back on. I am taking 40 mg, and then I will go down to 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5 mg. How long can I take prednisone for ulcerative colitis, because I will have a flareup with my disease? I have been told by my GI doctor that you have to be on it for a short period of time because prednisone is a steroid and it is not good for anyone to be on for so long. It has helped me with my bowel movements. When I have diarrhea and blood in the stool, any other medication that is over the counter will not stop the diarrhea or the blood in the stool. I would like to know your advice. Prednisone has helped me to stay better. Plus I am taking another medication with my disease and it is called Lialda.

My mom is taking prednisone for her inflamed and itching legs. She is 90.

She is having bad headaches now. Is that from the prednisone?

I was on Prednisone from November '07-April '08 as part of treatment for Non Hodgken's Lymphoma. I experienced stomach pain, possible ulcer while on it. I took an incredibly large amount of different drugs most of which gave me side effects. I'm done with chemo but I continue to have problems due to all the drugs. The worst is vomiting & I never know what may cause it to occur. Also I get dizzy from time to time. Anyone out there who went through treatment for Lymphoma I'd like to hear from. I was on RCHOP.N.L.

Several years ago I broke out in hives. My Internal Medicine Doc put me on Prednizone and the hives went away immediately. However, within several days of finishing the dose pack, the hives came back. We went through this about 4 times.

I had two serious reactions. One I was taking an antidepressant and became suicidal, two I gained 30 lbs and have not been able to drop more than 10 lbs. I finally went to an Allergist who put me on a simple antihistimen--no more hives.

I do need to acknowledge my IM Doc had tried double doses of Claritin which had no effect.

I was given Pred initially because of a particularly awful whole-head sinus infection and have had 2 surgeries, one for the delightfully-named fungus ball removal. I finished the 12 day course 2 days ago and feel pretty crummy. Also on a 21 day antibiotic which has no ill effects at all.

During the course, I was an energetic powerhouse getting all kinds of projects done around the house (ripping up landscaping, cleaning out closets, snapping my family's heads off) Now I cry spontaneously, feel all-over joint pain and body ache akin to pre-flu symptoms. And I'm clenched in chills off and on.

The upside is that I'm breathing like a carwash vaccuum and I did regain a sense of smell that was missing for countless years. I never realized dogs smelled so... pungent. I heard electrolytes may go off track during Prednisone, so I choked down some Gatorade.

I am not thirsty but must make myself drink more. I read of adrenal/cortisol being affected and hoped there was something found in nature to help balance out this withdrawal. I'd like to avoid another surgery or dose of steroids, though they did help.

Thank you so much!

I am 28 years old and have had Rheumatoid Arthritis since I was 5 years old. I've been on prednisone since I was 7..never having been able to completely get off of it. I had a very bad flare up when I was 17 which caused me to almost go into a wheelchair and I couldn't even eat because it hurt my fingers to hold the silverware.

My doctor couldn't do anything for me because we tried so many different therapies but nothing worked. So I started researching things myself. You all should really Google this information about Natural Remedies for your diseases because there is sooo much out there that can help you. And it breaks my heart to hear so many of you in so much pain, even with the meds you are taking.

I'll tell you that BCQ (bromelain, found in pineapple, Curcumin and Quercitin, is an incredible combination that works just the same in the body as prednisone. Granted natural supplements do take longer to start working before you feel results...but long-term it's definitely worth it. BCQ has been tested and been proven to work just the same as what prednisone can do your swelling and such.

I also used to take Methotrexate and tried a few Remicaid therapies but found I was allergic to Remicaid. I also used to take Tolectin.
You'll find that there are so many natural remedies out there that will indeed help and thus you will be able to taper off your chemical medications.
Pain from joint swelling, gout, etc - tart cherry juice. Tart cherry juice has the same effects as taking Ibuprofen.

Swelling from RA, arthritis, etc. - BCQ

Low energy especially due from the effects of prednisone - B-complex. this also helps to stimulate the adrenal glands, which slow or completely stop working depending on your dosage and duration of a corticosteroid drug.

Also, with any medication you're taking, your liver can become very taxed, so a good liver support is Milk Thistle.

My husband has been struggling with Psoriatic Arthritis for 8 years now and when he learned about Milk Thistle and Dandelion Root healing so many Psoriasis victims, he started taking it. He's covered head to toe with Psoriasis and after being on this for only 3 months, he skin is about 1/3 cleared up.
You should also look up the benefits to drinking fresh vegetable juice. Read up on the Healthy Cell Concept.

Also, research how emotional issues and stress can affect or even create physical ailments and diseases. You'd be so surprised to see how strong the mind is and plays a role in your physical health.

There's tons of information out there everyone. And, unfortunately, the Medical Field will disregard and even deny any claims of natural things working for diseases. Please, before hearing the negatives from these doctors, do the research yourself. Read the blogs and chat groups from people who have experienced health and healing from natural ways. You all DESERVE to live healthy and be free of your disease.

I'm not a doctor of any sort. But have researched and LIVED through experience with all this for the past 10 years. And have lived with the disease, itself, for 25 years. I've also worked for and studied under two Naturopathic Doctors for two years.
I don't mind sharing my story with you or sharing any information I know based on what I've learned and studied.

You deserve to do something better for yourself. "To have something you've never had, means to do something you've never done."
I wish you all the best.

I have PMR which was diagnosed in Jan. 2009. I've been on Prednisone since then starting with a very high dose. I was able to get it down to 9 mg per day when the PMR came back with a vengeance two weeks ago. It began on a day I had vertigo and started taking generic anti-vert (Bonine). Within two days the pain got unbearable, especially after taking Bonine, so I stopped the Bonine and upped the Prednisone to 30 mg. The pain is still there but not as bad although it is affecting my ability to walk, so I'm using a walker to keep the pressure off my left hip and leg. Anyone out there with PMR and advice to give about interactions with Prednisone? I want to get off this stuff. It's awful.

I agree, it is awful!! Thrown up all morning, nothing really . I will lose weight at this rate. I am so lethargic, my husband asked me why I was talking funny. I feel so crazy, I hope it goes away. I could not live like this. It is terrible and I can hardly keep my eyes open to type this. It SUCKS!!!
Please help me,
Thanks in advance.

HI, I am a 42 year old female who was diagnosed with RA in April of 07, I take Prednisone and methotrexate, with vicodin as well (I will explain the vicodin in a sec).

I have tried to slowly come off the prednisone but when I get to 5 and 6 milograms, I start to get very inflamed and hard to walk on my feet, can't bend the fingers yadayada yada the norm others get as well.... I seriously went from never even taking aspirin to mysteriously over night taking a boat load of meds.....

OK In Jan of 09 I was hospitalized for 8 days from having 3 pulmonary embolisms (yes am a lucky survivor:) walked around for 10 weeks with them... so now we find out I have a FactorX deficiency, (blood gets thick) funny, why wait to hit when 42 and not when younger with smoking, and birth control... anyways wondering if all that is related to the medicines I am taking...

I am now on Coumadin for life, which brings us back to why I take the vicodin, obviously can't be taking the Motrin, Aspirins, Naprosin anymore being on the Coumadin...

So my question really is: Will I ever be able to get off the prednisone or is it always going to be a song and dance with them, always increasing the dosage of the methotrexate..... I want my old life back, exercise, forget it. That flew out the window, I tried to walk to work only 2 miles away, got half a mile had to call husband to pick me up and drive me back to my car...

Anyways just curious if anyone has a diet I can follow that goes along with the coumadin diet as well as the RA diet. I can't eat anything with K in it, which is most of the greens family:( Salad, spinich, brocoli,etc.. Husband just read a story published in our Daily buletin today on RA.. Bravo to that article, he now understands a little on my RA and the drugs taken associated with it... any feedback would be fabulous, thanks for listening and sorrry so long:)..
Charlotte
Chino, CA

Do you take BCQ as a supplement, and if so how often and where do you get it? Also suffering from RA and want to stop taking meds. Thanks for any advice

Hey kirk,

I am taking prednisone and Lialda as well 60mg 3 times a day for my flare ups. The minute I try to decrease I have a flare up. This drug is very serious and shouldn't be taken for a long period of time. I now have every side effect known and looking into other alternatives and doctors. The side effects are just as bad as your flare ups, believe me try to get off if you can. My doctor is recommended me to take shots of steroids to help with my condition.

Hi my name is Rahwa and I am so shocked by your story because I was diagnosed with JRA when I was 10 years old and I now 23, so it had been 13 years. I was on all the medications you can think of. I recently had a reaction to remicade and a medicine called lefluniomide, which was the first time I have ever taken that medicine. I am not stable with my condition and medicines. I have been on prednisone off and on for so many years and was jus put back on it a couple months ago with dosage increasing because of my condition getting worse. My doctor is going to have me try another infusion and hopefully it works. I am a college student wanting to work in the medical field, but due to my condition getting worse I have to better my health before trying to help others I guess, so I had to recenlty change my major to social work, which I am glad I did because I love to help others. Anyway, if you do not mind I would like to know more about this natural remedies because I am gaining so much weight being on prednisone. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks!

Rahwa N.

Well you really didn't give much detail on why you were taking the prednisone... You should contact your doctor... Mixing the benadryl and the prednisone is fine in itself, I have to do it because i have uticaria (basically I break out in hives every night, it's more of a condition like eczema, but with itchy hives) and that is something I've had for years. Now I am taking the prednisone for the sinus infection I have which has nothing to do with the hives, so I have to take both.

But with you, you need to find out from your doctor if the reaction that your having to the prednisone is dangerous, because if it isn't he may want you to keep taking it, and just use the benadryl or a less drowsy antihistamine to cope with the side affects. If he has you stop the prednisone all together he may be able to prescribe you something else.

For the past 10/15 years I have had difficulty walking and breathing.

At first I could walk about 600 feet and would be out of breath and legs would ache, now I can only walk about 30 ft and am gasping for air.

Yearly doctor visits are the same,have 'BLOW TEST'-'PULMONARY FUNCTION' -'RESPIROLOGY' tests and the results are always the same "you're doing fine". Now I'm on Viagra to widen the artery to my heart, so far I've taken 150 20mg pills (3 pills daily) no change, now I'm on Prednisone 5mg x 8 daily. ANY THOUGHTS OUT THERE? Maybe I should count my blessings, I'm 84 years old.
Jade

In '85/86 I had two trans-sphenoidal surgeries, the last removed my pituitary gland, I have been on prednisone ever since. I also have a bone infection in the sphenoid bone and now have a fungal infection under the nail of my big toe.

Recently I have found it hard to fall asleep at night and have become extremely itchy. Could this be the result of being on this med for over 20 years? If so what can be taken in place of it?

hi,
I have taken prednisone on & off for 2 years to shrink nasal polyps.
I have had surgery, & now they are growing back. I find that when I take
it, low dose of 5mg for 6 days, I feel fine, but then after a few weeks I'm
back to feeling lousy & I can feel the polyps coming back. I want to try something else that will do the same job as the prednisone. I don't' want to take it anymore. It doesn't sound healthy. I still feel achy, lethargic, & the docs say just keep taking it. What to do??????
thanks,
deb

Did you ever find a solution to your problem? I am completely where you are and now facing surgery. Please let me know what your next step was. I am reaching out wherever I can. Thank you.

Hi Jade;

I kept having severe shortness of breath.
My pulmonologist told me that I was having panic attacks because my PFT was normal. He told there was nothing wrong with my heart because he did a stress test. Unfortunately, he referred me to PT but they wouldn't listen to me when I said I didn't feel well and I got chest pain. I had to be hospitalized. I took 10 mg Prednisone a while ago.

I wrote to the Medical Board and the pulmonologist keeps saying that I can't possibly have CHF-it's all in my mind. Finally, I had to get a letter from my cardiologist. Evidently, he is world famous and can never make a mistake. I suffer from OCD.

I am being tested for possible RA. I have been told many times in the last two or three years that I have it, but now am referred to a Rheumatologist. He is giving me prednisone, and I am having an embarrassing side effect. (I smell) Has anyone had this experience, and if so, what did you do to remedy the situation? Thanks.

I developed PMR 8 years ago. I began on predinisone and added methotrexate. I reduced methotrexate, but still had pain, so began prednisone again and reduced it to none - and still had pain. My sed rate now is normal, but I have severe pain in the upper arms. Could this be a side effect of long term use of prednisone?

charlotte g. I too have ra when I have flare ups I can't move, can't feed myself. just pain. they couldn't figure it out for long time to be sure cause I had symptoms of gout, lupus you name it. but after several blood test and doctors, I was put on methotrexate once a week. and arthrotec with medrol pak.. the two together have worked great. with these meds I have gone from about 10 pills a day to just these. I still have to take ibuprofen 800 for pain. my main help was limiting my red meat, I gave it up completely for bout 6 months now I let myself have small amount once month. I eat ground turkey, season it just like hamburger meat, fish, eat lots of cantaloupe and cherries, all fruit is good but mainly cherries and cantaloupe. and because ra attacks the immune system it goes crazy and that is what puts the inflammation in the joints. the immune system doesn't know good germs from bad germs so it just keeps attacking itself. I found a whole food supplement that works wonders. I found with immune system so screwed up I am now wheat intolerant. I stopped wheat and it helped me loose 16 pounds in a month and lot of pain has eased. so you might try staying going wheat and gluten free for a month or so and see if it helps. good luck

I developed Chronic Pericarditis 4 years ago and I've seen numerous specialist about this problem. Nobody can figure out what is causing it and all my tests come back negative. I have 2 small pockets of fluid around my heart, but the Docs say its not enough to cause my severe chest pain and shortness of breath that I've been experiencing. They have me on Prednisone for the inflammation around my heart and this seems to keep it in check, but when I get off it the Pericarditis flairs up.

There seems to be no end to my nightmare. Is there anyone out there that has been going through the same experience that I've been suffering with?

I was on 40mg solumedrol shots for 5 months and 5 moths before that 30mg pred for shortness of breath, I have no insurance and now no doctor. I've been trying to taper down and get off this before my meds run out, does anybody have a regime to go by so I don't experience these headaches and even tooth aches with tightness in legs and pain? please reply

A month ago my husband and I (senior couple) took our morning walk on an open path leading into a thickly forested area, which deteriorated to no path and we forged ahead through thick undergrowth, including blackberry vines, grasses, fallen logs, deer areas, and most likely poison ivy/oak, sometimes taking five minutes to progress 3 to 4 feet.

I had on 3/4 pants and light canvas shoes and t-shirt. Arriving home we didn't change our clothes right away. We had no knowledge about poison ivy. We had a few small scratches For the next 6 days I had no prickles or pain, but then began to feel itchy, which developed into rash and bumpy skin on legs, but nothing major during several days. Then I got sores on my legs in a tracking pattern, and one became very large and infected over the next week, which became abscessed.

Meanwhile I went online to study poison ivy , etc., saw Dr. and he prescribed prednisone for poison ivy. I had neck, scalp, behind ears, breast area tried hot water soaks, different soaps, tea tree oil, olive oil, etc. Oil made it worse, as did a gauze bandage. I kept getting new spots, and a rash covering my back, scalp, upper arms, parts of legs. Help! Is this an allergic reaction to prednisone? I'm allergic to tinacton.

M. Flores,

I have MS and have found it has moved into a progressive form. I am currently within a flare-up that has lasted over a month and is compromising every system of my body. I just started a mega-dose of prednisone (1250mg a day for 5 days). I will say that after 1 day, my condition has been slightly improved (cognitive functioning and some motor skills are slightly improved with the only side effect, a mild headache), and I will be finishing this course of tx.

But with your research and background history, I was wondering if you had run across anything recently about long-term tx remedies for progressive MS through natural remedies. I have yet to start a chemical long-term tx plan, but I will be seeing my neurologist next month and exploring those options; I would like to have an idea of natural options, as well.

After reading the main article here, I have become concerned about adrenal gland function after taking this mega-dose, and I was also wondering if you might know of anything that would assist re-regulation of the adrenal gland.

Thank you for any insight you can provide. My aunt has promoted a million different natural remedies to me and have tried and failed researching on my own that I feel lost as to where to even begin with them!

In Gratitude,
Audrey

My daughter was diagnosed with vasculitis as the condition, but was never told Why she has it. The doctor said to put her on Prednisone. 60mg a day For 6 months, then taper to 30 a day after that..

Results: my daughter gained 45 lbs of water weight, she looked like a fat Chinese baby. the hump on her back was so big, that she couldn't raise her arms. She gained man hair grossly all over her body, especially her face.

emotionally her mood swings were so severe, in the end the doctor said she now needed anxiety and depression meds.. but to continue the Prednisone... FOREVER..

her blood pressure was normal before this, and now was 154/112, and her chest pounded painfully if she even walked down stairs..

RESULTS: congestive heart failure/ right heart failure High blood pressure, caused back flow edema especially in the upper body.

What we did about it as parents... Stopped this insanity of a devil drug
we researched the web, as the doctor would NOT taper her off this drug. And did this our selves.. slowly over 5 months my daughter got off this..

She lost all the 45lbs of water weight.. oh yea, during the Prednisone treatment, the doctor would NOT give her water pills, so she would not gain so much.. told her she didn't need it.. and the side effects were worth the control of vasculitis, that she never told why she had it in the first place.
The spots on her body pechia, were gone in 3 weeks after taking Prednisone.

RESULTS: Her own adrenal cortisol level at time of blood test is normal, but with surges of epinephrine, which make her blood pressure sky-high..
She lost all her man-hair..

But now is so nausea's from the heart damage, that she gets sick, and the lack of protein being absorbed has dwindled.. She now has lost most of her hair on her head.. The new doctor calls it alopecia. This has caused severe self image problems..

Now the new doctor wants to give her anxiety depression pills... Even though we went there, because her chest is hurting her so bad, when she walks...

If you get anything out of this.... If a doctor will not tell you WHY you have something, and only wants to treat the symptoms but not the underlying cause.. THEN FOR THE LOVE OF PETE.. DO NOT TAKE Prednisone!

M. Flores

Thank you so much for your story and advice. My 15 year old son was recently diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and he has been in and out of the hospital 3 times since the summer. I see the effects of the Prednisone and I am so tired of him feeling like crap every time I am starting to wean him off of it. I took down some of the info you mentioned about the natural remedies and I just got a package from my brother from I-Herb and I am staring down at this B-Complex bottle of vitamins as well as Raw vitamin E, B-12 and green blends to detoxify the body. The only issue that I have is that Im afraid that these remedies may interfere with all of the meds that he is currently on(6-MP, Omprazole and the Prednisone)

Thank you again for the advice. Your story has been a blessing to me tonight and I know there is HOPE for my son!!!

I'm having the same problem. I have chronic hives and have been on pred for months and no one can seem to help me. I went to a dermatologist but will now make an appointment to see an allergist.

On the article above it says not to take with Coumadin.