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Prednisone side effects

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Posted 11/13/2012 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I had to go back on prednisone and wasn't prepared for the insomnia and anxiety. I also had bad dreams! I hope this will go away soon. I am only on 10 mgs. I cut down to 7.5 and we'll see how it goes. I hated to have to take the prednisone b/c I was waiting to see my new doctor in 2 weeks but have been so tired and achy the past month I just couldn't stand it anymore. I hope I can find a good maintenance med that won't make me sick and help the pain and fatigue. Does anyone else have anxiety with prednisone? It's really bad too.
Posted 11/13/2012 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jeanneac,

I am on 7.5mg too. I don't have anxiety, but my face is swollen from the prednisone. I have been on it for 7 months now. Do you swell up from the med?
Posted 11/14/2012 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
No, I don't have the facial swelling or if I do, it's just a little. Now, I've got a cold. I can't believe it's from only 2 days on prednisone!!! I am worried b/c I work in health care on a prediatrics out patient floor. talk about germs!!!! I would think that any of the immuno supressive drugs they have to use on us would make us more likely to get infections.
It sure spikes my blood sugars, even at low doses. That's not good. Ugh!!!!! Two weeks till I can see a rheumy.
Posted 11/14/2012 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
Oh...Yeah i work in a day care, so its pretty germy too....kids with runny noses and all. Yeah i am going to talk to my Rheumy tomorrow about taking me off of the prednoisone cause my face is pretty swollen. Well I hope your Rhuemy can do something about that..it doesn't sound good at all!!
Posted 11/15/2012 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry you have to get back on the pred roller coaster! I was able to sleep just fine on the pred, but it did make me hungry and I gained about 10lbs, on my 10mg over the course of several months time.

Mally..I used to be an early childhood teacher...I became ill with an awful stomach bug and a couple of weeks later, very bad knee pain. Initially, the rheumy thought I had fifth disease, that was in 2006, and turned into RA. Yes, you are very correct...germs, germs, germs!

Posted 11/15/2012 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
momto3, yeah my knees don't like me...on the floor alot so its interesting to see how i get down and up! right now there is stuff going around and I hope that I don't get it....washing my hands alot!!
Posted 11/15/2012 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
Feeling for you two, I absolutely hate the prednosone roller coaster, gave me high blood pressure, high cholesterol, I put on weight, couldn't sleep, lost a tooth because it masks pain and I didn't realise it had got an infection,...

I also have been taking10mg for 3 days, had a mini flare, but today I am cold turkey back off the dreaded med, just don't want to go back there again. I am crossing my fingers I will survive this flare.

I feel so good on it too. Not fair that something that works so well causes such damage long term.

So to answer your question Jeannac, yes to all the above lists, anxiety running on high energy levels is all a part of it. Not sleeping goes hand in hand for me.

I guess I love the fact its there and works so well for times of need but my warning is be careful if you are on it for any length of time.

After being off it for 2 weeks I felt so normal again, back to my old self, lost weight, lost my appetite, but my pain levels have been way up. Price we pay.

Hopefully your rheumy will find a better solution for you.

Best wishes golitho

Posted 11/15/2012 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
Everytime I go on 8 day predisone burst the very next day I'm off I get rebound.
Everything goes in a flare for a week or more.
Posted 1/3/2013 8:13 AM (GMT 0)
I have had to be on low prednisone for seven years now because it is one of the few things that works for me. Be careful howling you use it, I have bone damage and because of that, some of my teeth have actually broke in half and I don't have dental insurance. Just be careful.
Posted 1/12/2013 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
I too have been on it for several years. It makes me want to eat everything in site and I gain weight. It does make me feel better but is not working quite as well now.
My problems have increased and Dr does not want to increase the steroids. That is why we are trying the Rituxan.
Posted 1/13/2013 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
After a epidural injection in the spine does anyone eles have extremely bad hot flashes.
After I get a shot I am miserable with them for at least a week.
Posted 1/15/2013 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on pred for over 10+yrs. Between 30-100mg. It's an awful med. When we get down to below 30mg, the lung disease flares and so does the heart. Over time I gained 50lbs, but I've lost close to 40lb with the gi complications.

It's the love/hate drug. I do make an effort to only bring healthy food into the house. Try to buy as few carbs as possible.

If you are on it longterm, make sure to have a bone density scan. Our poor bones are bad enough without the pred.

You may also want to get your eyes checked. I've developed cataracts in both eyes and will have them removed within the next few months. It's crazy that one med can cause so much good and then so much bad.
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