Prednisone side effects

The only good side effect I had from it was an unbelieveably clean house! I had more energy than I have ever had in my enitre life... lol... Oh and it actually made me a happier person, but I could get angry more easily than normal...  Just that non stop energy was a real bonus for me.

When I was on Prednisone I immediately started to feel bloated and constantly hungry. The swollen face started a week or so after being on 30mg a day. But then I also had terrible mood swings, very depressive thoughts. I definitely didn't feel like myself. I got acne pretty bad while I was on it and I never had acne before. The acne was like little tiny bumps all over my face. I also remember being very jittery, my left hand would just sit there and shake on its own. I also had trouble falling alseep at night but I had tons of energy. I have been off the Pred for a few weeks now after tapering down and I lost the 8 lbs. that I gained while on it for a month, my acne went away, my moods returned to normal and my face is no longer swollen. I was only on it for a month though and I think the longer you are on it the harder it is for the side effects to dissipate. Still, even with all of the side effects, Prednisone helped tremendously with all of my symptoms and I think the benefits definitely outweigh the risks as long as you aren't on it for a long period of time.

I was eating a ton when I was on a higher dose. Now that I am under 10mg, I haven't been having many side effects. I am still trying to get rid of the extra weight I put on. The thing is, I was on 40mg and tapered to 2.5mg and had a reflare that was very severe and I had to go back up and start over so it's ended up being a very long course of prednisone and I think because of that my symptoms got worse and will take longer to go away. I am starting to lose some weight now but Im also starting to feel better and wanting to eat a bit.

As everyone else mentioned, Pred increases your appetite and you might experience mood swings and irritability. I didn't have trouble falling asleep, but it did give me insomnia. However, it really helped with the flare, which is what we all want. Hang in there, the effects will go away when you taper it down and finish the treatment.

Best, R

Type 2 diabetes. Muscle cramps. Osteonecrosis after long-term use.

You turn into the Hulk and it feels like Hell occasionally. Then there are times when I ok with everything in the world and would have so much energy I would start twitching and whatever else I could do at once.
I guess that would be mania.

Thanks for the input.

I did noticed an increase in my appetite the first few days, but that has evened out. I've also noticed an increase in energy, but I thought I was just back to my usual self after 2 years of no energy due to the UC, ha ha, always the optimist!

I've been on 30 mg for two weeks, and I've noticed less bms throughout the day (down from 10/12 to 8/6) but there's still a lot of blood. Any ideas on how soon I should start seeing less blood? If I still see blood doesn't that mean my colon isn't healing?

Thanks again!

I'm on 20mg of prednisone once a day right now. This is probably the fifth time I've taken the drug in the last 7 years...

Right now I am jittery, and restless. My legs hurt like I have growing pains, and I can't focus too well. This time around I find myself getting tired in the middle of the day, when I should have plenty of energy.

Previous times:
-I gained 20 lbs within a couple months, and then lost it quickly once I was off the drug. Hello stretch marks.
-I had extreme highs the first time I took the drug. I could stay up 'til 4am then get up at 6am and be good to go.
-I've been to a therapist twice in my life, both times I was on prednisone. I get bipolar, and if my life circumstances lead me to feel a little lonely normally then I get extremely lonely when on the prednisone. Probably a combination of having the disease along with the side effects of the medicine.

Those things being said, prednisone works when other things don't. I don't want to do Remicade yet... I worry about the side effects of it, and my insurance would only cover part of it, so I'd be paying a lot. So, my options are pretty small.

Good luck with prednisone. Make sure to remind yourself that the drug is causing your irritability; it will keep you a little calmer. Also, exercise more when on this drug. It will keep your weight manageable (or at least it did with me).

Again, good luck!

One side affect that I haven't seen mentioned is tooth sensitivity.  It's been about six months since I was on pred and my teeth are finally getting back to normal.

Thanks everybody.

I've started to notice I'm getting the shakes, in the afternoon mostly (I take the pred at 9, right after breakfast).

I don't know what to make of it, as the bm frequency has started to go down considerably yay), but what does come out is bloody and mucousy (so nice we can share this nasty-ness in this safe place). From what I can understand, mucus and blood means there is still inflammation, correct? Isn't the pred supposed to take care of that?

Grrr...

Chef Patrick: sorry to hear your woes. My doctor is hinting at the Remicade, I'm afraid to take the plunge... (i'm a chef too, btw)
Patkage: you're right about keeping an eye on the blood. I'm afraid to call the doctor and have him up the dose though :(

I started at 60mg a couple of times. Was on 40mg for months. I'd say the good outweighed the bad for me. I loved the energy. And it helped my UC so much (although I had a hard time getting off of it.) Some moonface, some acne on back, increased appetite but watched what I ate and didn't gain weight, some insomnia that I rememdied with tylenol PM or melatonin, and moody. I won't ever go on it again, though.

As everyone has basically said I am also experiencing most of those symptoms. Even with all that it helps with the flare up!