symptoms of predisone withdrawl

cherilyn · Silver Member Joined: 24 Jan 2002 Posts: 229

I know that Prednisone, a corticosteroid, similar to a natural hormone produced by adrenal glands. I had chance to find out it is often used to replace this chemical when body does not make enough of it. My doctor used it to relieve inflammation, or problems I had with swelling, heat, redness, and pain. I have to use this medicine but I am still worried. Can you tell me something about withdrawal symptoms for Prednisone?

jillie · Silver Member Joined: 21 Oct 2000 Posts: 273

Prednisone comes as a tablet, solution, concentrate, and syrup to be taken by mouth; I guess you already know this. Your doctor will prescribe a dosing schedule that is best for you, so all you need is to follow the directions. You have to ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand about Prednisone. You may mix taste with fruit juice or semisolid food, and the best is to take this medicine with your breakfast. It is important for you to know not to stop taking Prednisone without talking to your doctor. Stopping the drug abruptly can cause some of withdrawal symptoms, such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness. Some other symptoms of withdrawal are confusion, headache, fever, joint and muscle pain, peeling skin, and weight loss. If you take large doses for a long time, your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually to prevent withdrawals. This is going to allow your body to adjust before stopping the drug completely. You have to take care of side effects if you are gradually decreasing your dose and after you stop taking Prednisone. If these problems occur, you should call your doctor immediately.

avonette · Newbie Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 1

I am taking predisone I have been taking it for about 6 months. I have a rash all over my body could the rash come from using predisone?

Miia · Gold Member Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 388

Mary Ellen · Newbie Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 1

Good Morning,

I did a search to find support and knowledge about prenisone. Here I am. Sounds like some of you know a few things I could learn from. It's not an easy journey sometimes. Life gives us ups and down. We learn sometimes.

I've been on Prenisone for about 2 months now to give me relief from RA and OA. I had 3 major events coming up that I had to get through and there was no way I could. My doctor put me on 15mg of Prednisone and swelling went down and immediately I had some energy to do what I had to do. When July 1 came it was time to reduce the dose by 5 mg. The plan is to reduce by 5mg for one month, then decrease that by 1/2 for the next 4 months. The second day of the 5mg reduction I crashed and felt withdrawl symptoms such as no energy, pain everywhere, depression. I felt like a truck had run over me, something I've felt on and off for 8 years. My Rhem.MD told me to go back on the 15mg. So here I am in the month of July still on 15mg. That's ok with me because I've gotten to the point that I would rather have kidney and other damage down the road than be disabled today. That's sad but true. I'm on Areva as of June 14. When the Prednisone was reduced July 1 it didn't feel like the Areva was doing anything. So I"m kind of afraid to try reducing the Prednisone. Should they test my Adrenal Glands to see if they are working or had the Prednisone caused them to stop working? I don't know this at this point.

If anyone can enlighten me I'd be so blessed to hear from you. You have my sympathy anyone that is struggling with chronic pain. I've had 7 children and my body is tired. It seems to be falling apart.

Sincerely,
Mary Ellen Question

Guest · Guest

Please guys this is a warning about Predisone !!! My Neurologist has been treating me for a year and a half for Temporal Artiritist {Inflamation of Temporal Artery} come to find out i do not have that........I Razz

do have very bad Headaches..........I took it every day,even went for out patience treatment for IV Streoids.Well six weeks ago i had a heart attack,the Doctors in the hospital said the predisone caused.Last week was sent to see the Eye Doctor he says i have Cataracts from the Predisone from the Steroids........SO PLEASE EVERY ONE GET SECOND OPINONS DON'T BE GULLABLE LIKE I WAS.I SHOULD OF KNOWN BETTER CAUSE I KEPT TELLING HIM MY HEADACHES WERE GETTING WORSE NOT BETTER,SO HE WOULD JUST UP THE DOSE.WHICH MY DOSE WERE ANY WHERE BETWEEN 60 mg AND 100 mg FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.....YOU ARE NEVER SUPPOSED TO TAKE THEM FOR OVER THREE MONTHS WITHOUT A BREAK......I HAVE JUST LEARNED THIS........SO NOW I HAVE TO TAKE CHEMOTHEARPY NOW TO GET OFF OF PREDISONE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ON THEM TOO LONG.........
REMEMBER GUYS THIS IS FROM SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US !!!
GAIL

Guest · Guest

Ive been taking prednisone on and off for 10 years but recently now straight for 2 years and im quickly going off of it saturday being my last day and im scared i'll have withdrawls or all my symptoms will come back. But the long term effects scare me more...Are there withdrawls from prednisone like other medications have?

steve_n · Newbie Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 2

Hi all,

I notice some of you are wondering what happens when on prednisone, well let me tell you it is an awful drug It has a job to do but the side effects can be horrendous.

I was on 100mg of prednisone last year (2007) for just on six months, the effect on my body has been to say the least, damaging! I suffered a stroke and 2 heart attacks because my cardiovascular system was very much weakened by its use. Many other problems have manifest themselves as well including subcutaneous bleeding and extreme weakness.

I am on 10mg presently and trying to come down 1mg by 1mg to zero, I am stuck at the 10mg level because my body will not make the cortisone required for normal bodily functions. I have no idea how long the process will take but, the withdrawal symptoms are horrible! I had been on varying doses for 3 years prior to that from 5mg to 50mg. so the 100mg dose was the last straw.

Why was I on such a dose? I had a bone marrow transplant back in August 2004 and the expected graft vs. host disease (G.V.H.) broke out in my gastro-intestinal tract. Among other things, it was treated with corticosteroids including prednisone and Deximethisone, both corticosteroids. The G.V.H. has still given me hell since then.

Other side effects often overlooked by medical practitioners is the neurological side effects, one of them being severe depression. What ever you do, when you take this stuff make sure that at the first signs of anything untoward in your normal thinking, let your doctor know and see a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Hope this helps

Sincerely,

Steve N.
Exclamation

steve_n · Newbie Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 2

Hi to all again,

I noticed Gail mentioned about cateracts from extended use of Prednisone, yes I got those too! I had them removed August.

I have no idea what the fix will be though if I can't get of the Prednisone bit by bit, I am a bit scared to ask! Confused

Does anyone know what the likely course of action is?

Sincerely,
Steve N.

symptoms of predisone withdrawl

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