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Will pred cause long term side affects if only taken 3-4 months?

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Posted 3/11/2012 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
I'm afraid I have to get on Prednisone (30-40mg) for the second time. I'm really worried about the long term side affects. I don't recall having any short term side effects other than I think irritability but nothing major. What I am concerned about are my bones and what other side effects come with it. I'm 22 years old so I don't know how that plays into that.

Basically if I take 40mg pred for 4 months, will I have any long term negative side effects?
Posted 3/11/2012 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
I am 31 and I have been on 15-40 mgs for over a year....My doc says I shouldn't worry about long term effects because I am so young.... He says long term effects don't take place till after 2 years, if taken at a young age, and even then you might not have any long term effects? He was only worried if I was older, in terms of bone decay and cataracts. BUT, he is from the old school, and I just switched docs because he retired.

Post Edited (nightside of eden) : 3/10/2012 7:57:08 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/11/2012 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
Nightside of Eden,

Your doctor is WRONG! Prednisone doesn't know age. If I were you, I'd find a new GI.

And long term steroid use is considered once you have been on it for 4 months.

Sue
Posted 3/11/2012 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
That is what I thought, but I'm not the one with the MD....I have another appt in 2 months with my new doc


suebear said...
Nightside of Eden,

Your doctor is WRONG! Prednisone doesn't know age. If I were you, I'd find a new GI.

And long term steroid use is considered once you have been on it for 4 months.

Sue

Posted 3/11/2012 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
i took it for 3.5 months and my foot is still numb from it. i had a very bad reaction to it though. i gained 40 lbs of water in 2 days and it totally cut of the circulation to my feet. i couldn't walk, and when i had to get up, i used a walker. i was in so much pain, and it definitely affected my joints.
Posted 3/11/2012 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
     Ah...WORRY!  Take it from me.  I was prednisone dependent for the two years prior to my surgery in 2010.  I suffered with UP for twelve years and was on and off prednisone more often than not.  It gave me full blown osteoporosis.  Not to mention while on it I had uncontrollable high blood pressure and prednisone induced type 2 diabetes.  TERRIBLE drug!!!!
Posted 3/12/2012 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
I agree! I was on prednisone a little longer, but after about 4 months I could tell it had affected my eye sight. As a result of having been on it for about 10 months I had terrible pains in my knees and ankles, moon face, weight gain, etc. Not to mention crazy mood swings. I call them satan pills.

My Ob wants me to have a bone density (which I haven't done) to rule out osteoporosis. They are no laughing matter.
Posted 3/12/2012 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
For women taking prednisone for a long time, how did it affect your menstrual cycle?
Posted 3/12/2012 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
I was 22 when diagnosed with UC. In the 14 years I had the disease I was only on steriods TWICE before receiving a diagnosis of osteopenia. The first time was at 22, and I was on the drug for 4 months. The second time I was 26, and on it for 2 months. Since, I was on it one more time for three months around the time of my surgery.

Every time I was on that drug I had the moonface, acne, and insomnia. This past time wasn't as bad with the moonface because I lost so much weight that my face actually looked normal while the rest of me looked like a skeleton.

Prednisone is the worst possible drug for me. It was a big reason I had my colon removed. I was so tired of always having it looming over my head every time I had a flare.
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