HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Bad pred side effects: Do I skip my 2nd dose 2night?? HELP!

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/17/2012 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,
I need HELP! I started 200mg of Imuran 2 weeks ago. So far, not too bad. The problem is the prednisone. I am trying to wean off 60mg (where I was for 4 days after Thanksgiving). Currently, I am at 37.5..I take 20 in the morning and 17.5 after dinner. When I dipped below 40 I started to get a little blood during the am. Not too bad.

Here's the problem: I am starting to have really bad side effects :bad moon face (it is affecting my vision) but worse, I was up all night with the worst leg muscle spasms and really bad racing heart. It was very scary. I tried 3 tylenol, to no avail and than I had to take 2 vicodin. That ended the pain. I called the doc this morning and he does not think it's the Imuran, but the pred. He thinks I am potassium deficient.

My hubbie wants me to go off pred cold turkey, but that is obviously not an option. I don't need adrenal problems too.

I was just at Midas getting service done and my heart went crazy again and I had pain. On the way to Midas, I stopped at Walgreens and bought potassium. I took 5000 mg (rda for all is 4700). I also ate bananas, yogurt and oranges.

I just got home and took a hot "jacuzzi bath" which definitely helped. I am still having back pain, and mild leg pain. I did not work out today b/c of this and I have been really hydrating well. Here is my question:DO TAKE THE REMAINING PRED TONIGHT?? MY DOC WANTS ME DOWN TO 30..SO I COULD JUST TAKE 10

Of course, online, I see that Potassium deficiency can be fatal. Should I go to the ER? I'd really like to avoid those germs as I am on Imuran. Anyone have these issues? I am due to dose in 2 hours, so any help would be great. Thanks!!!!

~Cita
Posted 12/17/2012 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
     First of all....calm down.  Your anxiety is not helping with those palpitations.  I think it is the prednisone too.  The side effects from that drug are horrendous.  I would take only 10 mgm tonight, but tomorrow take your entire dose in the morning.  You can do that.  I found out this info from my GI doctor's associate, my doctor never told me that rolleyes .  What is your tapering dose?  My doctor always had me taper 5 mgm per week.  Is this too fast for you?  NEVER NEVER NEVER QUIT PREDNISONE COLD TURKEY!!!  I had a girlfriend who suffered from Crohn's Disease and did that and it threw her right into Addison's.

     I was on 6MP for seven years but my dose was only 50 mgm.  When my doctor increased it to 100 mgm I thought I was going to die.  I had horrible flu like symptoms, my pancreatic and liver enzyme levels were sky high.  My doctor stopped the 6MP for a few weeks until the limits returned to normal and then placed me back on the 50 mgm.  It never kept me in a long term remission.

     As for the potassium...why didn't your doctor send you to the lab to have your levels checked?  One more thing...I noticed you are 48 yrs old...are you by any chance going through the change?  I used to have horrible heart palpitations during those years.  After my periods stopped, away went the palpitations, BUT the prednisone could be contributing.

Posted 12/17/2012 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
     OH....I forgot...stay away from anything with caffeine, if you haven't already.  Good luck!
Posted 12/17/2012 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
All of this is from the pred tapering. You cannot quit pred cold turkey. You could literally throw your body into shock and some have died. It makes me mad when doctors do not warn you about the potassium thing ahead of time. Same thing happened to me the very first time I was on pred. When I reported the excruciating muscle pains that's when he told me about the potassium. The cure is simple. Eat foods high in potassium like the bananas you already ate. Do not take potassium supplements as they can be very dangerous themselves.
Posted 12/18/2012 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
Definitely a pred side effect. I was on 100 mg via IV in the hospital once. The leg cramps and spasms were almost unbearable. Sometimes a heat pack works. Sometimes an ice pack.

Definitely don't stop the pred cold turkey.
Posted 12/18/2012 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Gary and Christine...I am calmer now. The tylenol with coedeine kicked in and I"m functioning...I just didn't want to go the ER. I am trying to eat a lot of potassium rich foods. My doc is very deferential about the slow taper. I think I'll go down my 2.5 every 4-5 days. So, tonight I'll take 10....and tomorrow am 35 for 4-5 days and proceed from there.

Christine, it could be th3 "change" too....thank you so much for you comfort!!! I really needed it as my husband just lost his grandmother a few days ago and is seriously depressed about it....he 's flying out to PA tomorrow for the funeral without me. I have to stay with the kids..
Posted 12/18/2012 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Dont skip any doses!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply

HealingWell

Connect With Us
© 1997-2024 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.