Experiences with prednisone?

B

Bunbun

Cathlete
I've been sick with a possible combo of strep and bronchitis (yikes, I know--waiting on test results). Couldn't breathe last night and wound up in the ER, where they gave me prednisone for 5 days. I'm scared stiff of this drug. Has anyone here taken it and what have your experiences been?

TIA!!
Bunbun
 
I've taken it several times (maybe 4-6 times over the last few years), each time on a 10-day course. Never had any problems or side effects, other than it is hard to lose any weight while taking it. But I also ate healthy, so I didn't gain anything while on it either. Hope this helps!
 
Thanks, I really appreciate it. It's only a 5-day course of it, so I'm not too worried about losing weight while I'm on it. Actually, my throat has hurt so much that the only thing I've been able to eat since Tuesday is soup, ice cream, and tea, and not much of anything, either. I do remember when my mom was on steroids when she was on chemotherapy for cancer--she had horrible horrible mood swings, and I'm worried that something like that will happen. That and I somehow have the crazy idea that I will blow up like a balloon on them.
 
You should be fine w/ 5 day course. It probably pretty low dose also. I am on it now, Tapering off from 40mg a day.
You really shouldn't have any mood swings with that amount either.
Really hope you feel better!!!!!!!

Maeghan AKA megadoo

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Thanks, it's a 20 mg dose, so I guess that's low. I'm going to take this whole experience as a lesson--I really need to find an allergist and get my allergies under control and make sure I don't have asthma. I know that I have tendencies that way, so enough fooling around with it. Pretty frightening to not to be able to breathe.
 
Glad to hear it. I think it took down the swelling in my throat a bit, because it's easier to swallow this morning.
 
I've had to take prednisone about 3 times when I've had asthma flareups. I had no problems with it. It helped to open up my lungs so I could breathe better.

Marcy
 
I have to take it when I get into poison ivy or poison sumac (which I obviously haven't eradicated like I thought) because I have a systemic reaction that usually doesn't stop until I get the drugs in me.

I just had to take a 5-day dose.

The problems I have with it are insomnia if I take it too close to bedtime (the pharmacist recommends NOT following the guidelines to take it before bedtime).

Last year, when I took a higher dose for 10 days, it was like my brain was turned on all the time and wouldn't shut off. I got a lot of planning done for future presentations at conferences (took lots of preliminary notes as ideas just flew into my head), but at best I got 4 hours of sleep some nights.

Once when I was on it, I seemed to gain about 1/2 pound of water weight a day (a 5-day course).

The worst problems with prednisone are if it is taken long-term, like over weeks and months, because, especially if you are not weaned off it slowly, your adrenal glands can stop making their own hormones.
 
My DH had to take it when he got a serious case of hives his whole body was covered, and he did great on that, the only side effect he noticed because he had to take it longer than 5 days, was that he gained weight and his joints felt stiff and tight. But other than that he did great, he is no longer on it and has lost the weight he gained from it
 
Marcy: not being able to breathe is really scary. Last night was the second time it ever happened to me. First time it ever happened, I had an allergic reaction to a drug and woke up in the middle of hte night trying to breathe. Not a very nice feeling.

Kathryn: That's funny that you say that about feeling like your brain is turned on. I was trying to fall asleep last night and as I was halfway asleep but coughing, in my head I was working on a project from work! I'm going to take today's dose earlier in the day, so maybe I can avoid that. I had to take Nyquil last night to get to sleep--ER doctor said to take it if I couldn't sleep from the prednisone and/or if my cough was keeping me awake.

LeslieMarie: Hives..ugh..I get them, too, from a lot of different things. Thankfully never full body. Glad to hear your DH is better.

Sorry if I've messed up the names. I think I'm in a haze this morning.
 
A question about the weight that is sometimes gained: is it real fat weight or water weight? What causes it?

Jeanette
 
I could be wrong, but I think that steroids cause you to retain water over the short term. Long term, I'm not sure--isn't there a syndrome where kids on steroids get a "moon face"?
 
>I could be wrong, but I think that steroids cause you to
>retain water over the short term. Long term, I'm not
>sure--isn't there a syndrome where kids on steroids get a
>"moon face"?


Jerry Lewis has been on steroids long-term for some back(?) problem, and he's puffy all over. 1/2 of my face looked like that BEFORE I took the prednisone this time!
 
I think you only get that face with continuous long term use? Also, I think I recently heard that he is finally off steroids. Can't be good for you to be on them that many years, but who knows if he had no other option for his back problem.
 
As I was reading the original post I immediately thought of the aforementioned 'moonface'. I had a family member on prednisone for a long time and the moonface was the first manifestation of water retention, then full body puffiness together with an incredible appetite. These drugs are really amazing in the relief they can give short term and long term but obviously no drug comes without it's side effects.

Bunbun, glad to hear swallowing is easier, sounds like you've had a rough go of it, hope your back to full steam very soon!!:)

Take Care
Laurie:)
 
Bunbun,
I was given prednisone for lower back pain, and I love the stuff. I can't ever remember feeling better in my life than I did on prednisone. I know there are negative long term effects, but 5 days is nothing, so I wouldn't worry about it. It's an anti-inflammatory and anti-inflammatories are like chicken soup: good for whatever ails you. Every ache and pain in my body just evaporated. Enjoy your five days.

-Nancy

ETA: I know some people gain weight, but I was so energized and active, that I actually lost a few pounds on the stuff. I was on it for several weeks.
 
I have had this strange combination of energy and tiredness all day--I assume the energy is from the prednisone and the tired is how my body really feels from this nonsense. Don't want to push it and make myself sicker, though. It's really hard to judge it.

Don't think I will be too active while I am on the stuff. Right now, I am defining "active" as sitting at my desk here at home and being on a conference call from work. Cardio is walking from the desk to nap on the couch and back again. Fortunately, I also have absolutely no appetite whatsoever. Today's food has been a strawberry fruit bar, some chicken soup and half an egg. Hardly ate yesterday and didn't eat any dinner at all.
 
You're definitely right about side effects, for any drug and for prednisone in particular. Amazing but dangerous stuff. Did your family member eventually lose the puffiness and moonface? Or is that sort of thing permanent?
 
Bunbun, I agree that the tiredness is from the illness itself, and not the prednisone. And yes, I think the "energy" is from the prednisone, but I suggest just ignoring that and catering to your body's tiredness. Take good care of yourself, and try to eat when you can. I hope you feel better soon!
-Nancy
 
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