HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Prednisone Devilish Side Effects

Support Forums
>
Rheumatoid Arthritis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/28/2009 11:37 PM (GMT 0)

I was recently diagnosed with c1 esterase inhibitor deficiency. about a year ago when I first got sick the doctors thought I had RA or Lupus but I tested negative for both. Now, I come from a family with RA. I have been on prednisone since October of 2008 and it's about a year now. I think I've had all the side effects of this drug...from moon-face, buffalo hump, weight gain, hair loss, mood swings, insomnia, diabetes, calcium and potassium loss, acne, blurred vision and lets not forget the horrible STRETCH MARKS...I'm tapering the dosage down and I'm now on 12mg daily but I feel like a FAT monster...Everytime I'm done with the prednisone I get a flare up and get swollen all over my face,joints and stomach lining because of the angioedema...Someone please tell me this will go away!!!!  

Posted 9/29/2009 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
Sheika, I struggled terribly to come off pred. I reckon it took 3 months to fully recover from the side effects, I lost a lot of weight and the moon face but I had to up my dosage of mtx to manage the pain. Goodluck, it was hard work but worth it in the end. Also used panadeine forte for breakthrough pain. hope this helps, golitho

Posted 9/29/2009 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sheilka and welcome to the HW forum :)
I have been on the dreaded pred for 6 years straight now and have all the side effects you listed, except diabetes (yet) and am currently down to 12mg like you.
Im flaring everywhere again and am slowly going down hill wondering what next also, heaven knows I dont want to up it again. Maybe take a strong pain med like Golitho suggested. Sorry I dont have any advice, but know I understand your suffering.
Jo
Posted 9/29/2009 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
 

Hi there

I agree, it is very difficult to come off prednosone.

The trick is to get the 1mg bottle and to come down 1mg a week. Day 3 will always give you a flare, but you have to get through this day by not doing too much, or maybe take another pain killer. Day 4, 5, 6, 7 should improve the situation. Then reduce another 1mg and repeat the procedure until you find your limit. I have managed to get down to 2mgs on occassions doing this. I have been on preg. for 12 years now. It is at 2mgs, all the side effects dissappear.

Diet and exercise do help with the pregnosone blues.

Take care and good wishes

Debbie

Posted 9/30/2009 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Would yucca root help any of you? I've used it off and on and it is a natural steroid used by the

Indians. I've used predisone for voice loss and it is about the only thing I don't react to.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply