pred and side effects???

I got the mood swings one week after starting.
Acne 6 weeks after starting.
Moon Face 6 weeks after starting.
Insomnia the whole time.
Massive amounts of energy the whole time.

The energy WAS great! But now since I've been off it...its back to the fatigue. I'm not loving this too much.

On a happier note, my acne and moon face are going away. The insomnia is still there though...it might not have been the pred.

OH YEAH ELAINE...I forgot about that...I was soooo hungry...I felt like the cookie monster. I promptly gained back the 15lbs. I lost during my flare. I have far less of an appetite now.

Hi, I am taking Prednisone and have been on it before.  Symptoms seem different this time around.  I am on 30 mg right now.  This time, I am experiencing insomnia and hunger.  Last time I don't recall this, I do know the last time when I took two courses of it back to back, I really felt like a basketcase with emotions...I did not like it.  Right now, not too bad except those things I mentioned...good luck with the medication.  Hope you get better real soon...

lambkins said...
Hi all saw new GI yesturday and he has started me on 60mg pred as flare is bad have never been on it before and was wondering when if atall i would be getting side effects i know everyone is differant but 60mg is quite high to start with so i think i stand a good chance of getting some bit worried as to what will happen will start to tapper in 2wks just hope it works or will have to go into hospital just so fed up of feeling so rough all the time.

You know I never got the problem until I got down to 20 mg.

As I sit here eating rice pudding between typing LOL!!  Hang in there - at least I bet you are not already 80 lbs. overweight like I am.

ElaineNY

I've been on Pred for a total of around three months. Started out at 40 mg and tapered 5 mg every week. I stayed the longest on 40 mg and while tapering on 15 mg because of worsening. All in all, Pred didn't help me at all with UC and that is why I say: Never again! I tapered it off, although I had almost most symptoms as when I started Pred. I didn't want to be on this drug in vain and we all know, Pred is a bit stronger than a handful of blue M&Ms ... .

Unpleasant side-effects I had include insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, feeling shaky and weak, crying spells for minor reasons (or no reason at all), anger/fury/bad temper, feeling loopy and unreal most of the time. The only good thing was that I had beautiful facial skin - baby soft and not a single blemish on it. I was coughing a lot too and I think that was caused by the taste of the Pred pill. Sometimes it swam around in my mouth and I couldn't swallow it fast enough, so that yucky taste of that pill made me cough all day. I don't think that's a side-effect though. It was just me being inept to down it fast enough. My bad.

I didn't have the munchies at all and didn't gain weight. I lost my apetite on Pred, so there is hope for you - if you are worried about the munchies, that is .

At least i could blame biscuits and chocolate binges on meds might get away with it lol good job we can laugh just have to stock up on the munchies for when the insomnia kicks in

I started pred today 40 mg a day for two weeks and then I will taper 5mg a week till I don't have to take it anymore. I am on mesavant also. I was wondering if this approx 2 months on pred will be long enough to have the whole water retention et moonface thing??.. I am a bit worried. I already suffer from anxiety I hope it won't make it worse....

And for the ppl who had the physical changes of cortisone, does it take a long time to go away once you're off the prednisone?

Thank you

Scarlet504 said...

Unpleasant side-effects I had include insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, feeling shaky and weak, crying spells for minor reasons (or no reason at all), anger/fury/bad temper, feeling loopy and unreal most of the time. The only good thing was that I had beautiful facial skin - baby soft and not a single blemish on it. I was coughing a lot too and I think that was caused by the taste of the Pred pill. Sometimes it swam around in my mouth and I couldn't swallow it fast enough, so that yucky taste of that pill made me cough all day. I don't think that's a side-effect though. It was just me being inept to down it fast enough. My bad.

Ah haaaa someone else whos experienced the shakiness, anxiety and weakness! I'm also very lightheaded when on my feet for longer than 45mins or so (not sure if related to Pred or just being unwell in general) I am experiencing this every day (currently just dropped down to 30mg Pred from 40mg.) I've also been feeling very emotional and irritable for minor reasons. My GP seems to think the lightheadedness/shakiness etc is unlikely all to be caused by the Pred but that is all she can put it down to as no other cause has shown up as yet. It all started when I was in hospital a couple of weeks ago on IV hydrocortisone, and then after 5 days put onto Pred. (Although I have experienced similar symptoms a couple of years ago but again not sure of the cause)

I'm glad to have found someone else with these random Pred side effects...how long did it take to wear off? And how much did it affect you day to day?

qwerty,

the shakiness/anxiety/crying spells completely stopped for me when I was on 10 mg or less. However, everytime I change the dose (down or up didn't matter) the shakiness/anxiety/crying spells worsen for two or three days until I got used to the new dose again.

I understand what you are saying with standing longer than 45 minutes and with feeling lightheaded. It could be from the anxiety too. If it gets too bothersome, you could ask your doctor for anti-anxiety med. I couldn't have made it without it sometimes. It effected me big time. I don't know how to say otherwise, but I felt like coming down with Tourette's syndrome. I cussed everyone in a bad way and I just blew up with the slightest thing. I am not like that at all. I explained people around me what was going on and that I can't control the anger and said sorry in advance and it helped being a bit relaxed about the side-effects - not as an excuse for being such a biotch, but an explanation.

Scarlet504 said...

qwerty,

the shakiness/anxiety/crying spells completely stopped for me when I was on 10 mg or less. However, everytime I change the dose (down or up didn't matter) the shakiness/anxiety/crying spells worsen for two or three days until I got used to the new dose again.

I understand what you are saying with standing longer than 45 minutes and with feeling lightheaded. It could be from the anxiety too. If it gets too bothersome, you could ask your doctor for anti-anxiety med. I couldn't have made it without it sometimes. It effected me big time. I don't know how to say otherwise, but I felt like coming down with Tourette's syndrome. I cussed everyone in a bad way and I just blew up with the slightest thing. I am not like that at all. I explained people around me what was going on and that I can't control the anger and said sorry in advance and it helped being a bit relaxed about the side-effects - not as an excuse for being such a biotch, but an explanation.

Thanks for your reply, can I just ask how you define anxiety - would it be your heart randomly beating fast sometimes, and getting the shakes etc? Thats what I get. Its interesting you say the anxiety can cause the feeling of being lightheaded - maybe thats what my problems been all along!

Thanks guys... I am hoping it gets better soon. I really just want it all to go away so I can start living my life lol.

Elaine- I'm not 80 pounds overweight....yet, but I'm 40 pounds overweight and I miss being the weight I was ONLY a year and a half ago when I got married...right now I'm 192...I was 150 when I got married. darn freaking prednisone I can't get away from it. It helped me the first time...It's not helping me at all right now. I am terrified of this stupid Imuran. I wanted to start a family, but that seems like a lifetime away with all these crazy meds. I just wish I could have surgery and take it out of my life. I know I've only dealt with it for 4 years, but I am so tired of it...all the trial and error..not being me...I want to be ME!

My other symptoms with pred... huge temper/anger...tons of mood swings... anxiety(but I have that anyways with the disease), weakness, joints hurt, EXTREME FATIGUE....which is unlike pred, acne, hair falls out... I am always hungry... no matter what dosage... I drink tons... gain weight, hold water and salt, and blow the heck up in to a HUGE BALLOON and i hate my body right now (sorry that just came out, but I need to say it to someone) It's changed my body COMPLETELY. I've never had a tummy EVER and I look like I have a 6 month term baby in there... I feel so unattractive.