When Do Prednisone Side Effects Wear Off

Welcome!  Sorry to hear you have AIH.  I am surprised you still have the moon face.  Mine went away when I got down to 10mg as did the hump on my back    I had gained 45 pounds on the pred and finally got off it after 22 months.  So maybe the moonface wasn't fully gone but I had gained a bunch of weight so my face was chubbier.  The really round part of the moon face did go away at 10mg though.

Were you ever on a diuretic to help remove the fluid accumulation?  It doesn't help that all this happened during puberty which might also be playing a role.  How often do you see your hepatologist and have blood work?

It does sound like you are doing really well aside from the moon face after effects!  Is everything else OK?  Have you had any joint pain since you've been off the pred?  That happens to some AIHers.  You do know that you have to be careful regarding anything you do take like pain relief, cold medicine, etc...?

Do you have any more questions? 

Pred makes you crazy....irritable, sad, paranoid, just pretty unstable.  You may just be having residual effects from that.  It'll go away.  The best thing you can do is maintain a regular exercise regimen.  You're super young so I'm guessing you have PE at school.  Aside from that, try to go for a walk or run if you're feeling down.  Hang out with positive people.  Always remember that life is short and that it could always be worse which will help you with perspective.  You have your whole life ahead of you.  The only difference with you and others, no alcohol!  You won't need to worry about it for a few years but don't ever let your friends try to convince you to have any.  Look at the positive sides...no hangovers, and you can be the designated driver.

I think it's great that you're reaching out and learning more about AIH.  There are, surprisingly, other teens in your spot and most seem to be pretty level-headed young folks!  I know of kids younger than you with AIH as well...I don't think there's ever an easy age to deal with it and being a teenager has its own challenges but you sound like you have it together!

You could ask your doc about the diuretic but I'm sure she checks your ankles when you go in for swelling.  So you probably don't need.  All the pred effects will leave you and you'll feel pretty normal.

Welcome to theHW  Hepatitis Forum.  We are a group of folks either struggling with liver disease or caretakers, loved ones of someone with liver disease.

You have posted a reply to a really old message...likely found us on a search engine.

Can you cut and past your post into a NEW  topic and then folks will find you and give you lots of support.

My partner had a liver transplant after a long struggle with Hep C, Alcoholic Cirrhosis, and Heptocellular Carcinoma...and he took Prednisone for a long time.  It caused diabetes for a while, but once he got off the Pred his blood sugar returned to normal and he got off the insulin (but it was months!).

It will be wonderful if you can a get moving again and regain some enjoyment in your life.

You have come to the right place for encouragement and support.

Best,

Mama Lama

It is not uncommon for toxic hepatitis to switch to autoimmune hepatitis.  Especially if someone has a predisposition to autoimmune issues.

So am I right in understanding that you are no longer on pred?  Depending on how the wean was handled, joint pain can follow.  How often do you have blood work?  Are all your levels normal now?  Have you ever had a bone density test?  Pred thins bone so I would want to make sure your bones are in good shape before a dental implant.  I would also speak to your hepatologist about the dental work as some people, depending on what type of procedures they are having, will have a stress dose of pred so that the body doesn't have to work harder and potentially cause a flare.