prednisone crash

I was on Prednisone for two years, and it just really does a number you, so I totally sympathize. My GI put me on Lexipro for the depression. While the difference it made was subtle, it was a huge help. I no longer found myself crying out of the blue. And while I wasn't suicidal, I wouldn't have been all that bothered if the proverbial bus had hit me. I was in a flare for much of two years, had bad reactions to many of the medications, and suffered a lot of side-effects from the Pred. Remicade made a big difference, but even then, it was over a year of infusions before I actually achieved a real remission, which I am enjoying now. Prior to the Remicade finally kicking in completely I had pretty much made up my mind to have the surgery, which I will probably do if I ever flare again -- I cannot go through another spell of what I experienced before remission.

You haven't posted what your medications are, but it can be really hard to nail down what combinations of medications and supplements will do the trick for you. If you haven't already tried an antidepressant talk to your doctor about it.

Meesh

I've been on it almost 5 months and feel like this is pushing it let alone a year or more. I'm almost off it but I feel like it's slowly getting worse again as the pred leaves my body. I'm hoping my doctor will agree to put me on Humira again so hopefully I can enjoy at least 3-4 months of remission. I will likely have surgery in the next year because these medications are unacceptable.

Hi, I'm new here and haven't been online in a while due to being in a bad flare, but now I am doing much better. =)

I am currently on Prednisone, but only doing a short dose this time. I started at 40mg and I am tapering down each week. My GI and I are hoping that this will jump start my system without having to be on it for a long time. It's strange because even now I have become very emotional. I let things bother me way too much and end up crying. I did this recently at work when I found out there is a possiblity of being layed off - this also makes my stress go way up which is not good either.

I was previously on Pred. back in 2005 for about 1 year. I had a very bad flare. So I know what it's like to have some serious side effects. I had tons of shaking, increased appetite - weight gain, became depressed. I was so weak back then that I could not even get up very well without holding onto something and struggling. I am glad this flare is not like that at all!!

I sympathize with you rowana! Hang in there and I hope to hear soon that you get your meds straightened out, and things become better for you. Take care.

This is why I always read the product info sheets that you can ask for at the pharmacy. Not all doctors think about stuff like the mood swings and how they affect people because the are so focuses on the bowel problem.

Rowa\ena, I didn't have the surgery -- last year I had pretty much resigned myself to the j-pouch surgery, did all the research and really got my mind wrapped around it, but then the Remicade finally kicked in good and my last colonoscopy showed my colon was just about healed, so I have put the surgery on the back-burner for now. I am self-employed and run a mobile dog grooming business by myself. If/when I have the surgery I will have to shut down while I recuperate and then hope my clients will still be there. There are several other mobile groomers in the area, and while my clients are very loyal, they do want need their dogs groomed and if I am unable they will go elsewhere. In this economy I wouldn't want to have to rebuild my business.

That said, I am not happy with all the medications I have to take for what could be the rest of my life. So right now I am saving as much money as I can to finance the two months I would not be working, and as soon as this downturn is behind us I may well go ahead and have the surgery, which is considered the cure for UC. At the moment I live in dread of losing our health insurance or if the benefits change for the worse as my meds are so expensive. My husband says he supports whatever I decide I need to do to feel well and at ease with my condition.

The one thing I worry about is if I do go ahead and have the surgery, which is permanent, then say a cure comes along that allows one to keep one's colon, such as stem cell research panning out and being able to provide a properly working immune system or UC-free colon. So I guess the longer i can remain in remission with medication the better.

But I will not go through another two year flare again -- if I start to flare and can't get it under control within a few months, out goes the colon!

Meesh

I have been on 40 mg of pred since Dec.  I started tapering to 25 and started flaring again.  Went back up to 35 and now and tapering to 25 again.  I can't believe it but today the urgency started again. 

I don't feel depressed on it though.  I just go crazy around the house.  I have painted the entire house, every cabinet is organized and I am very obsessive compulsive.  If I could get up at 3am and run the vacuum I would.  It's wierd and I can't wait to get off them.

Can being off prednisone for more than a year still cause some of these side effects? I feel I am depressed, have swinging moods, and a short fuse. Just curious. :)

Heather