Prednisone side effects?

I was recently diagnosed with UC and my doctor wants me to start taking prednisone for 6 weeks to get it under control. My doctor described side effects of prednisone to me, including insomnia, weight gain, manic depression, acne, as well as several others. I really need to get my symptoms under control but I'm really worried about taking prednisone after he described the side effects to me! Has anyone taken it? What were your reactions to it?

Lots of us have (I am on it now) here-and the side effects are different for different people. Some have lots and some don't-but it is definitely not a fun drug.

I have a moderate/severe case, which is how I ended up back on pred. But if you were recently diagnosed-I question why the doc would go directly to that? How bad are your symptoms at the moment? What other meds are you on or have you tried? There are so many options-it seems there could be something better to start with rather than jumping right to steroids. There are the 5ASAs drugs, both oral and rectal, or even steroid rectals, which are steroids as well, but wouldn't have as many side effects. Without knowing much more about your diagnosis, current symptoms and meds, it is hard to say what you should do.

As for side effects, here is a list of mine: weight gain, particularly in the belly area, moon face and fat neck, back hump, general swelling, facial hair growth, acne, jitters/anxiousness, muscle weakness, blood sugar issues (this is new this time, I didn't have it last time), sleeplessness (which I combat with OTC things like benedryl), mood swings, loss of menstruation.

When I taper, I have different side effects, and if you are going to be on it that long, you will have to taper. I should start tapering soon, but here is what happened last time: SEVER joint pain, hair loss (about half of my hair fell out-that stopped when I got off and it has since grown back), hot flashes, paranoia and delusions, menstrual cycle issues, and I think there were a couple others. The swelling, moon face, acne and most all of that went away when i tapered, but it was rough.

I hope this helps!

I have been on 60mg for 5 weeks and I have experienced: moonface, insomnia, joint stiffness and craziness. I am also now having severe right sided pain and burning in my upper abdomen and possibly a stomach ulcer. My GI has me starting my pred. taper today because he feels the prednisone has started hurting me more than helping me. Although, I did also go in for blood tests today to check my liver, pancreas, and white cell count and am having an ultrasound of my gallbladder tomorrow afternoon. So, there could be something else going on. The mood stuff was mildly annoying until the last couple of days now I am completely losing it... so, as the others have asked what else have you tried?

Keep in mind I am on 60mg. Really high dose!

I can't imagine with how far my two flares got (the second to a lesser degree), that I could go without stopping it with prednisone. Perhaps if I didn't let it go that far, the 5-ASA, rectal, oral, etc, basically throwing the book at it without pred might turn it around. I pray that could be the case next time. I'm very concerned because my GI is gunning for 6 mp. I'm getting a second opinion. Quincy said, (i think it was her) that I was set up for a failure on Asacol, by following his recommendation to cut my dose from 12 to 6 Asacol once I got off pred and trying to taper too fast on pred in the beginning. I'm doing well on this pred taper -- 25 mg -- dropping by five for now every five days. I hope adding rectals, suppositors and 12 asacol will keep me in remission for a long while.

My symptoms by the way on pred have been anxiety, sleeplessness, moonface, hair growth then loss, depression and general aggravation of my bipolar symptoms. I'm controlling my basic bipolar issues with Lamictal, and the bipolar anxiety and depression, which I believe led to my second flare, with Zyprexa and getting my sleep with Ambien.

Ellen

I get mood swings, muscle cramps, insomnia, cravings and weight gain...not a fan but at least I can somewhat function.

Hi,
I've been taking pred for five years and I have weight gain, acne, muscle cramps, high blood pressure (due to weight gain), moon face, loss of bone in my spine, teeth have gotten to the point were they chip and decay easier.

On the other hand I can breathe (I take pred for severe asthma) and I'm alive.

I started taking a vitamin b 50 complex and echinacea along with 1500mg of calcium and 400 UID of Vitamin D and my lung function is better.

I have been on prednisone for 8 years now. Crazy I know! Anyway, i'm only on 5 mg right now which doesn't seem to have any major side affects because it is such a low dose. However, not to scare you but those side effects are pretty accurate, they were for me at least. When I was first diagnosed I was put on 40 mg and I definitely gained weight, it was most noticeable in my face, i also got severe acne and was very, very moody. I have found over the years that if it is was under 20 mg I didn't have many of these symptoms. However it all depends on the person, age, weight etc. Plus if you're only on it for six weeks maybe you won't notice it as much, this was over a period of several months for me.

This is my first (and hopefully only) encounter with this potent pyschoactive drug. I had an unexplained allergic reaction, started to swell in the throat. So I went to the ER and was giving a steroid injection in my butt cheek. Hurt like holy hell. Then was given a 40mg a day prescription of prednisone for 5 days. Today is day two of insantiy!

I'm 20 years old and have been on antidepressants for a few years, not for any bi-polar tendencies, just typical depression. I was totally caught off guard with no warning about the side effects of prednisone. A few hours later, this all happening while I was alone, I became suicidally depressed, weeping for no reason, wanting to die and hurt myself. Then I swung into a manic, paranoid, wired and confused state I haven't encountered for years. I definitely liken the experience to amphetamine psychosis. Minor visual hallucinations (blue flashing lights and motions unexplained), and talking and whining to myself, madness! Shakiness and twitching ensued. My jaw became tight and I chewed and gurned my teeth.

I thought it was a great idea to jump in the car at 2.00am to buy some hair dye, as I was apparently delusional and out of touch with reality. Drove around lost and confused for 45mins in circles. It was like having a psychotic breakdown! I looked like I was twicking on meth. I could have seriously injured myself or another, as I was a danger on the road. Got home (eventually) and cried some more. Then swung back to manic, dyed my hair and cut it and put on make up at 3am. Insomnia. Aches and pains my body hurt like I was having withdrawls. My eyes couldn't focus and my brain was in a stupor. It brought back my dermatillomania (I was scratching and itching my face til it bled). Then I was angry, irritable and irrational at my mother and my poor cat through no fault of their own.

The next day I started to research, and found this blog. The experience was very scary and frightening. I can deal with the acne, hunger, pains and all physical symptoms, but the psychological and emotional rollercoaster I couldn't handle alone. I told my mother and now she is helping me through my medically induced insanity. If I'd known earlier the effects of prednisone I would have at least asked to be watched for such disturbances.

When I started taking prednisone, I felt extremely wired. I couldn't sit still- my apartment was spotless, I wasn't sleeping, and I was talking everyone's ear off (VERY unusual for me). I don't think the kind of reaction that I had is that unusual but the rapid-cycling that you are talking about is cause for serious concern. Please call your dr now.

I would like to thank everyone that left a message on this fourm about prednisone. BETHLEMONG, I feel just like you!
I have been on prednisone for about 2 weeks now. Before I got put on prednisone, stress/anxiety became an issue with being newly diagnosed with UC. So i was put on a low dose of xanax two weeks before then I started prednisone. Only after being on this steroid for 2 weeks, I have had severe mood swings. The xanax doesnt seem to do anything now.

I am exhausted yet wired, jittery hands, sweats, headache, heart racing, mood swings for nothing...... get depressed, then angry, then cry uncontrollably, want to jump out of my skin, restlessness, burning in base of neck/top of shoulders, weakness in legs and arms, blurred vision, memory issues, "melting brain" feeling. In all I guess to sum it up, I feel like im going stupid and crazy at the same time.
Last night I thought i was experiencing signs of having a heart attack. I went to ER, EKG normal as well as the chest xrays. I also informed them I didnt know if it was heart related or effects of prednisone. I am taking 35mg at this point. From reading the post by others it seems that once they started tapering off the steroids the side effects lessened. I dont know if I can wait for the tapering.... this is some pretty severe crap!!! Yesterday was the worse I seen from the side effects, as I feel that I was seriously going to die. Sad thing is that prednisone was the only thing that has helped keep the UC flares under control.

So does this mean we all have to make the choice of either being in pain from the UC being off the prednisone or be symptom free from the UC but prednisones devil child from all of its side effects?

Cause I feel Im robbing peter to pay paul. Paul seems to need alot!!! lol, have to try and laugh at this, cause these side effects are unreal!!!!!!

So to the people who couldnt deal with predinsone, what were your other medication options? did they help? how are the side effects?

I am sorry to hear that you are going through all this but also thankful that you posted your story! I feel the exact same way. I know this is not a laughing matter but I laughed while reading your post because I didnt feel alone in going through the same thing as you. It is crazy that these things happen in a blink of an eye. I just called my mom as well to tell her about all the thoughts and mood swings. I need people to be out there for me so I dont go off the deep end. I will be praying for you and myself that we can get through this. Just know you have a new friend in the insantiy world! bethlemong said...
This is my first (and hopefully only) encounter with this potent pyschoactive drug. I had an unexplained allergic reaction, started to swell in the throat. So I went to the ER and was giving a steroid injection in my butt cheek. Hurt like holy hell. Then was given a 40mg a day prescription of prednisone for 5 days. Today is day two of insantiy!

I'm 20 years old and have been on antidepressants for a few years, not for any bi-polar tendencies, just typical depression. I was totally caught off guard with no warning about the side effects of prednisone. A few hours later, this all happening while I was alone, I became suicidally depressed, weeping for no reason, wanting to die and hurt myself. Then I swung into a manic, paranoid, wired and confused state I haven't encountered for years. I definitely liken the experience to amphetamine psychosis. Minor visual hallucinations (blue flashing lights and motions unexplained), and talking and whining to myself, madness! Shakiness and twitching ensued. My jaw became tight and I chewed and gurned my teeth.

I thought it was a great idea to jump in the car at 2.00am to buy some hair dye, as I was apparently delusional and out of touch with reality. Drove around lost and confused for 45mins in circles. It was like having a psychotic breakdown! I looked like I was twicking on meth. I could have seriously injured myself or another, as I was a danger on the road. Got home (eventually) and cried some more. Then swung back to manic, dyed my hair and cut it and put on make up at 3am. Insomnia. Aches and pains my body hurt like I was having withdrawls. My eyes couldn't focus and my brain was in a stupor. It brought back my dermatillomania (I was scratching and itching my face til it bled). Then I was angry, irritable and irrational at my mother and my poor cat through no fault of their own.

The next day I started to research, and found this blog. The experience was very scary and frightening. I can deal with the acne, hunger, pains and all physical symptoms, but the psychological and emotional rollercoaster I couldn't handle alone. I told my mother and now she is helping me through my medically induced insanity. If I'd known earlier the effects of prednisone I would have at least asked to be watched for such disturbances.

Refused to go on pred again! Just started on Humira this week. Couldn't do another round of that evil pred. Feeling good, no side effects yet. Blood stopped. Things really quited down. Have my fingers crossed!

Moonface...man, it does not sound good. My side effects (I also have diabetes to deal with) include very high blood sugar levels (to the point where I have to now shoot up insulin until I'm off the prednisone), agitation/irritability (and I was never Mr. Sunshine to begin with), insomnia and a general malaise that sucks. Gotta love it!