Prednisone Side Effects Can Be Disastrous

Are you taking any medication and this is a side effect? Or you must be allergic or possible you are sensitive to something or some food. Check out.

For many years I had recurring sinus infections, then I had children and quit working and my infections disappeared. At the time, smoking was still allowed at the workplace and I realized that it was the bad air in the offices making me ill or that I'm allergic to cigarette smoke. I would recommend having allergy tests. Good luck.

Years ago I was given prednisone (I don't know the dosage) in the emergency room for a severe anaphylactic reaction that affected my ability to breathe and caused massive hives. Although the treatment may have been necessary, I too had a severe psychotic reaction and when I finally went to my own doctor and had blood tests, my blood chemistry was all over the map. I had to continue the tapered dose till I was done but I wish someone had warned me of possible side effects so at least I wouldn't think I was totally crazy.

I questioned my ability to drive, slept constantly, and was quite volatile. I had to take a day off from work. Knowledge is power, people should be warned about possible side effects so they have the information should side effects occur.

I was given prednisone for severe bronchitis and I will never take it again. I was wide awake for 3 days and took three twenty minute naps in them 3 days. I was highly agitated, very fidgety, irritated etc. I was washing windows at 2:30 in the morning (the outside windows). I could not sit still, needed to be doing something all the time. My daughter is the same way when she was given it too. It's an awful drug but some people need it. I've told my Dr. never to prescribe it ever again because I will not take it.

I also had a very bad reaction to Prednisone, not only that but Prednisone increases blood sugar if you are diabetic, mine went up to 450!!! The bad thing was that the Dr. didn't care when I called her, and didn't do anything (I never came back to her)

For me, I'm grateful that prednisone exists. Over the past three years I have taken various strengths of the medication for different conditions. I was closely monitored by my primary care physician and my rheumatologist. Blood work was done regularly. For some of us, prednisone is a God send.

My wife was prescribed prednisone for her ulcerative colitis. Unfortunately she had to be on prednisone for an extended period of time in order to properly treat the UC. Yes she did some things that she would not normally do when on this medication. However, the real down side was that she eventually contracted shingles which another gastro doctor said was probably a result of the prednisone lowering her immune system and thereby allowing the dormant chicken pox virus to become active.

She is now in her seventh month of pain from shingles. I only wished her original gastro doctor would have warned her of this possibility as she would have never gone on prednisone knowing that contracting shingles was a possibility. Her life has been one of 24 hour pain and the use of several pain medications. So far there is no end in sight.

I have polymalgia, a painful form of arthritis. Also ulcers on my ankles from the polymalgia. Prednisone erased the pain, and is healing the ulcers. I am closely monitored by my doctors, and have blood work done monthly. Prednisone has been a miracle for me.

I also have polymalgia (PMR). I have had it two years. I started taking 15 mg of Prednisone. Now I am taking 5 mg for about six months. I thought I was over the PMR and slowly tried to take 2 1/2 mg with my doctor's permission. I began to to have pain again in my shoulders and hip area.

I went back to 5 mg. I would like to try to decrease the dosage again because of the side effects of the drug. The doctor said I am on such a low dose, not to worry. I agree it has has offered wonderful relief from the pain.

I was diagnosed with PMR 8 years ago. The last four years I was on prednisone 5mg and under, but then pain would return. Now my sed rate is normal, but I have chronic upper arm pain. What now?

For decades I got four or five sinus infections a year. I did three things and now I NEVER get sinus infections. 1) Daily rinse-out of sinuses using a product called Sinus Rinse by NeilMed. Quick and easy. 2) Put filters on all the a/c - heating units in my apartment. (I use 3M) 3) Put a Venta-Washer (humidifier/aircleaner) in every room of my apartment. This both cleans the air and adds moisture to it. Now I never get sick. It's great.

I've been prescribed for a bad case of poison ivy. It worked wonders -- and I got a great bonus in feeling remarkably energetic. Got loads of gardening done before I went to work, since I couldn't sleep.

I actually loved it, but, yes, that lack of sleep did lead to a crash, especially as the prednisone was tapered off.

But I do remember that it took care of the terrible itching AND gave me a wonderful round of high energy.

Hypertensive, agoraphobia, panic attacks, light headed, confusion, weakness, intolerance to heat, IBS, shaky: all started the day I stopped the drug. It has been 7 days, not much improvement. Hospitalized for 3 days. I pray I do not EVER have to take Prednisone again... EVER. Hoping I get passed this. Quality of life stinks. I took 30mg 1 day 20mg 2 days and 1 mg 2 days. Absolutely HATE this.

I have MS and receive infusions of a form of prednisone every couple of months and for 5 days after the infusions I need to take a taper of 60 mg each day. This causes extreme acid reflux which I have already. I take Protonix regularly and on the days that I am taking the taper I take an additional 300 mg 2 times a day of a different acid blocker (can not remember the name at the moment) and I still suffer. Any suggestions?

TO BK. your wife, may be should try natural ways to treat u.c. like coconut or... (check this website)

CPMT: Yes we tried all of the natural products first but that didn't seem to help. Even some of the initial prescription drugs did not control the UC problem sufficiently so different levels of medication was tried. Unfortunately each level affected the immune system more which resulted in the shingles to occur. It's been a long road that my wife has traveled and while she is on minimal meds for UC the shingles is still present and very painful.

Like UC we have tried many natural products but to no avail. The pain from shingles has subsided somewhat from what it was in the beginning but is nowhere from going away. Thanks for your input.

I sympathize with all the people who have had a bad experience with prednisone. But I'm just the opposite. I have been on prednisone now for 35 years. I had a kidney transplant when I was 21. To me it's been a miracle drug. Yes in the beginning when I was on a higher dose I had the moon face big appetite and mood swings. Over the last 35 years I have gotten colds less then anyone else around me. Flu's even less.

No serious infections that the normal dose of antibiotics didn't cure. I have had 2 sons one which was the year after the transplant, both have produced children 5 in total. So much for making you sterile. I do have my bones hurt at times but I'm not sure if its old age or the medicine.

I do know my bone scans have all come back normal. I have been for the past 25 years and have never called out sick. My primary care doctor told me he didn't even know if I still needed to take either of my medicines (the other imuran). So the past couple of months I really cut back on the dosage. Since then my skin been itching almost like poison oak. After reading these articles I think after 35 years its not good to stop the medicine so I'll go back to my normal dosage 10mg every other day.

SKF-

How are you doing now? I too ad the same exact effects when I took it on Jul 1,2011 and am still suffering from major anxiety. I am really scared and I don't know what to do.

I'm having Prednisone side effects for about 3 days. My doctor prescribed me last Thursday. She prescribed 20mg twice daily for five days. I was sleepless for three days in row. The day number 4 after I have a short nap. I awake feeling so nervous, crying, my hands was shaking, and my heart was beating so hard. I also felt that my heart was bigger. There were a very awful feelings. Dr. told me I will feel that way for about nine days. She didn't show any care about me. She also said I can go back to work (and drive long way) the next day. But the way I was and I am feeling I'm not daring to drive even one block.

I do not understand why she prescribed that medicine, without any warning, for a small allergy I had. I mean the medicine was worse than my illness.
Anyone has an idea about how long I'll be feeling the side effects? or I'll be that way lifetime?

Thank you

I had similar reaction and similar story. I changed my Dr. immediately. She put me in a very dangerous situation (in my case) Sorry, but Some Dr.'s... should not be treating people or animals. My blood sugar rose to 450 and 500, and when I called her, she didn't care and she didn't do anything about it.

I was in bed for several days without knowing what to do. I couldn't drive or anything. If that happen again I will call an ambulance.

ah, There are some home remedies and other ways to help you with allergies. Did you try ACUPUNCTURE? depending what kind of allergy... sometimes this alternative medicine or naturopath or.. etc.. can help.

CPMT,
my allergies aren't serious, I just was hoarseness and my chest was a little bit tight. I could take any over the counter medicine. I do not have any medical history of allergies. That is the reason I cannot understand why the Dr. prescribed me prednisone.

Today I complete 8 days feeling heart problems. I had to go back to the Dr office and after she gave a EKG, the results shows something wrong in my heart. I have to go now to see a Cardiologist. Hopefully, my heart is ok, and as soon the prednisone leaves my body, I will be fine.

I was on 20mg twice a day of prednisone for a sinus infection. Had I known anything about this horrible drug I would have never taken the meds and let my sinus infection clear up on its own or fester into bronchitis - that would have been better than these side effects.

I was not told to taper the dose, so I took as prescribed 20mg twice daily for 7 days. The day after stopping my whole body hurt to the touch, as if I was black and blue all over. I was swollen, red and had a lump on my neck, not to mention being very disoriented. I went back to dr, and he insisted this had nothing to do with the drug. What a quack.

I checked myself into the ER where they put an IV drip with benadryl and the like. I was discharged that day. No change. Next day, didnt hurt to the touch anymore. New effect - rash from head to toe and severe indigestion. Following day, rash subsiding, indigestion getting better. Still feeling a bit loopy, but I am told by next week I should be back to myself again.

I am warning everyone i know not to ever take a steroid unless your life is in danger. iIt is a very scary feeling - all for a sinus infection.

I was prescribed predisone for two weeks. 40 mg for one week and 20 mg for the second week. I still feel lousy after three weeks being off it. Was prescribed for swollen tongue which did not take down the swelling and wonder if the tiredness and just plain feel lousy is a result of getting off the predisone or what was bothering me in the first place.

I have read on other posts that it can take up to 8 weeks for your body to regulate. I did have the swollen face and sleepless nights and feel different than I have felt before however I guess after three weeks I do not feel as bad but still feel somewhat not the way I used to feel. So it would be nice if people would post more often after so many weeks or days off predisone. It would help us figure out approximately how long it would take for our bodies to return to a normal state. I have three weeks I am hoping after 8 weeks I will be totally feel better. thanks.

Patty:
It sounds odd that you went from 20 mg every day for a week to nothing. Normally you need to take progressively lower doeses of prednisone before you go off of it completely. That may be the reason you body is feeling lousy or it could be from your original problem.

Years ago I was put on the prednisone pack which lowers the dosage over time. After feeling good for a couple of days I skipped the last several pills which I found out later is something you don't want to do. I had funny reactions for doing this for months afterwards. Nothing serious but it did affect me but nothing like what you described. My wife had sleepness nights when on prednisone and the doctor said that she may do some odd things that she normally wouldn't do. He was right. One she got up and tore down the wall paper in our bathroom:):) We still get a laugh over this one.

Patty - hang in there, I was on 40 mg for 7 days and it took about three weeks for me to finally feel better. Give it another two weeks. I know how you feel, I was starting to think I was never going to be me again. Then one day, I just felt like I was back. I'm sure of your situation, but I hadn't had any coffee since I wasn't in my regular routine and one day I woke up and had the desire for coffee.

Since that day I have felt better - not sure if I wanted the coffee because I felt better, or if having the coffee somehow helped. It might sound silly and it was probably just a coincidence but I know I was desperate to try anything so I am sharing everything I did. I still have some weird joint pains once in a while - but not sure if they are related. My mental health is back to normal though. Take it easy and try not to stress and think more about it. also, drink A LOT of water - obvious I know, but I really had to force myself to drink half a gallon a day.

taking 20mgs a day hard to sleep but my back pain went from a 10 which was crying in pain to a 2 or 3 witch is tolerable has helped so much.

I have been on prednisone for a month already due to rheumatoid arthritis. I started feeling better when it came to pain but i was Cleaning all the time none stop. It made me more active but it also made me gain weight. I gained 10#s in a month, I am also diabetic and it would mess with my blood sugar. Soon after starting prednisone, I started feeling anxious and would have mood swings. I was already being treated for anxiety but now I get more panic attacks every day. I started lowering my dosage and now I feel pain. Using prednisone is a blessing to help with my swelling but it gives me severe headaches, anxiety, mood swings, weight gain, messes with my sugar. I'm trying to get off them.

I guess prednisone is both a blessing and a nightmare. It helps, and it makes worse. I've been on it for 4 days and I have 8 more to go. Every little thing makes me so paranoid. I go into crying spells. I feel like I'm dying... I'm just absolutely depressed. I was kind of this way before, but the medication has definitely amplified the feeling.

I was also not warned about the side effects of prednisone. I just really hope when the medication finally reaches an end, I'll be much better, but I have a feeling I won't.

One of the disasters that can happen from prednisone use is acute adrenal insufficiency, or adrenal crisis. Fortunately this is not a concern with short term use of prednisone and so a prednisone taper is not needed with 1-2 week courses, but for long courses of therapy a slow taper is needed to prevent serious or even life threatening adrenal insufficiency.