pred side effect or lo potassium

Prednisone gave me awful leg cramps. I was told that it was most likely due to an imbalance in electrolytes--magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium.

My potassium level was checked. It was normal, most likely because I eat bananas almost every day. So it must have been one of the others.

I have read that Prednisone depletes magnesium. It would be a bummer if this is indeed true, because magnesium is good for flares. I now eat spinach and sunflower butter. They both help.

Prednisone also depletes calcium. I take calcium supplements.

Prednisone increases sodium retention. I don't eat much salt.

Isn't Prednisone great?

The night sweats could be due to the inflammation. I got these too with my second flare.

The feeling out-of-breath could be due to loosing too much blood or just the body having to work harder to fight the disease. This happens to me too when I'm flaring or recovering from a flare.

You describe all the symptoms I get on prednisone, too. They are annoying but will subside when you taper off. I should think 5 per week is not too quick of a taper, and you are simply still experiencing side effects.