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Prednisone dose for 79 yr old?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/8/2011 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
My Dad who is 79 years old has UC and is currently in a bad flare. After being hospitalized last week and put on IV steroids, they now have him on 40 mg of prednisone a day. Is that a high does for someone 79 years old?

He is having possible side effects from it like a whirling feeling and hallucinations.
Posted 1/8/2011 9:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi usually when you are having a bad flare the doctors will put you on a high dose of steroids. eg 50mg then they will tapper them off until you reach 0mg usually by 5mg a week is a good way to tapper them. As far s i know it doesn't matter what age you are the treatment will be the same. There is always side effects from prednisone it will vary from person to person. I have a dizzy feeling when i am on them aswell. Along with lack of sleep to start, them i get really tired after weeks of steroids. I feel hot & cold at some points. mood swings. weight gain. headaches. Everyone is different.

Hope this helps. i have had ulcerative colitis for 11 years now and touch wood have not had any real complications that need surgery. But am always having flares and cant stop taking steroids. So good luck and i hope your dad gets better soon.
Posted 1/8/2011 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, age should be taken into account when medication is administered. The geriatric crowd tend to have side effects from medicines more often and more rapidly then a younger person would. If he just started to have these side effects after starting only the pred, then pred is probably the culprit. Please have him talk to his doctor.
Posted 1/8/2011 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
From what I know, 40 mg is a high dose for someone that age. As Sherry said, he should talk to his doctor!
Posted 1/8/2011 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
Elderly people with all sorts of autoimmune diseases have to take prednisone. The key is for how long and how high the dose.
Posted 1/9/2011 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Can Pred cause weakness, dizziness and anemia? My Dad got out of the hospital and he is getting weaker with an almost inability to walk. His anemia has become a little worse since leaving the hospital even though he is not bleeding anymore.
Posted 1/9/2011 5:10 AM (GMT 0)
Prednisone makes me jittery, lose focus, become very hungry and have terrible mood swings (angry/depressed). I've never experienced the symptoms you've listed, BUT, I'm only 26, and everyone differs in regards to side effects.

Checking another website, I see dizziness listed as a possible side effect of prednisone. http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/prescriptiondrugs/p/medprednisone.htm

I'm really wanting to help more than I probably can here. I hope someone else can list their personal experience for you.

Good luck.
Posted 1/9/2011 6:31 AM (GMT 0)

Jokerlola said...
Can Pred cause weakness, dizziness and anemia? My Dad got out of the hospital and he is getting weaker with an almost inability to walk. His anemia has become a little worse since leaving the hospital even though he is not bleeding anymore.

Does his blood test results show that his anemia is getting worse or is it his symptoms of anemia that are getting worse? The reason I ask is that his symptoms of weakness and dizziness could be from being anemic and they also could be from the pred.

Is he taking iron supplements?
Posted 1/9/2011 7:40 AM (GMT 0)
Yes. I am on steroid enemas and have been suffering terribly with dizziness and fatigue. Dizziness was the first listed side-effect on mt patient information sheet. When is your Dad following up with his Dr.? Please keep us posted.
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