NEW MEMBER: Prednisone and Side Effects

Hello...

I have had crohn's for the last ten years  but was not officially diagnosed in September of 2010 (I was at the hospital with severe flare ups at least 100 times within those undiagnosed 10 years) and I have now been diagnosed with moderate to severe crohns.  I am on humira but was still getting severe flare ups so my GI put me on Imuran.  I had a severe reaction to this drug and ended up in the hospital three weeks ago with pancreatis.  I immediately stopped taking this drug.  Now my GI has put me on prednisone, I have been on this for a little over a week now.  I take 40 mg/day (8 pills) for two weeks and then I reduce one pill a week for the next seven weeks, for a total of 9 weeks on prednisone. 

Can someone tell me how long after starting prednasone will you start seeing effects?   The only effect I've had so far is just the "really doped" up feeling.  Not liking it so much.  I also take humira every two weeks.   

I am scheduled for resection surgery of the small intestine within the next six months.  This is all just so overwhelming.  Thank you all for your posts - they are so appreciated.

Calgary, Alberta   Canada

Post Edited (treasure022) : 8/10/2011 9:43:07 AM (GMT-6)

I think it varies a lot. I was on prednisone lots of times, and it didn't always work the same way for me. Early on, it would just about stop a flare after less than a week. Later, I became completely resistant and it didn't help at all. Then still later, it worked for me again (tried again in the hospital, I was shocked that it worked again), although not as well as before.

Generally, though, I'd see as good as an effect as I was going to in the first week or two. Then the issue was getting off of it without getting worse.

If it varied so much w/just me, then it probably varies a lot between people. Hope it starts helping you soon.

I have heard prednisone compared to a credit card -- really great at first, but then you pay and pay and pay..... it was like that for me sometimes. Doesn't sound like you've gotten any of the really good part, though.

Hi

I have had preds 3 times 2 of them starting with 40mg and one of them i had to increase the dose after a month or so and then I had 60mg. ( one because of AIH and two because of my crohn)
In my case, the longer period i´ve eaten it the worst sideeffects. Quite soon when i´ve started taking them I get restless and have a hard time sleeping. The last two times I´ve even had to take sleepingpills. When decreasing the dose I go tired insted realy realy tired. and as time go by my moods is the biggest problem a well as getting swollen and gaining weigth. A quite positive sideeffect for me s that my hair loves pred, it grows and thickens!

I´m happy there are preds and that it works even if I´ve also notised a decreas of its effects in time but I also think it is really a poison for your body. But what choises do one have? It´s like choosing between the plague or the choolera "LOL"

If it´s any comfort, the weight always fall of after I´ve finished the cure along with the moodswings.

Hope you don´t get all of these sideeffects. Good luck!

"abroad"