Need Information re: Prednisone

paragrap · 04-26-2003, 05:39 PM

I have been placed on Prednisone because of recurrent m/c due to auto-immune issues. I've been on it almost 2 weeks and have started experencing nervousness, insomnia and sometimes I can feel my heart racing. Has anyone on Prednisone experienced the same problems and if so did it eventually go away as your body adjusted to the drug? I'm on 5 mg twice a day.

Also, what are other side effects you have experienced? Any input or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Eva35 · 04-28-2003, 04:39 PM

Hi

I've been on Prednisolone for about 18 months now, due to my locah. I didn't really have any side effects with it, though.

Hope someone else can help

Eva

Doozer · 05-09-2003, 03:30 AM

I am a little behind on responding but I love to inform anyone of Prednisone.

To me its the DEVIL. I mean I take it for my asthma when it gets really bad. I usually start off with 80mg a day and then taper down over a month if not more. Due to the high dosage I gained 65lbs in a very short amount of time. Prednisone makes your appetite increase like you have never eaten before in your life. I also experience leg cramps in the middle of the night that are so painful I have woken the neighbors with my screams. My husband is used to sitting straight up the second I reach for my leg. He is great at getting them out!

I also experienced the nervousness, insomnia, and complete paranoia, but the paranoia was only at the highest doses. My family members also noticed it caused complete "*****" to come out. I remember being in the hospital, day 5 and my mom had come up. After yelling and screaming at her for not remembering my hair brush, she went to the nurse and said, "you need to give her something now or I and her fiance will leave and let you deal with her." Funny the nurse agreed and I was soon on Amytriptaline. Things got a lot better after that, I was only on the amyitriptaline while in the hospital.

The only time I had racing heart beat or hot flashes was when I decreased too quickly. For instance I went from 80mg a day to 40mg a day and it was much too fast!

Unfortunately Prednisone is the drug we love to hate. It does wonders for my asthma and is really the only thing that helps (as I am allergic to the most common asthma med, albuterol). 5mg a day WON'T cause nearly the problems I have with it, don't worry there.

I figured since you asked about it, I would tell. But again, all these symptoms were at outrageous doses! 5mg is my dream when I finally get there!

Goodluck!

MaLee · 05-09-2003, 03:59 AM

My grandfather is on it due to Emphysema. (Two of sisters are on it and suffer many the same side effects.) After taking it for a while, it has caused him to have swelling in the stomach area. Poor man looks 10 months pg with twins! ( He has the littlest bird legs and arms you ever saw.) His face is also puffed up. He has the shakes from it. He is on a contanst dose of 7.5mg a day (a pill and a half.) When the emphysema acts up, he is put on high doses for a few weeks. He also suffers from insomia. He has teh nervousness also. We say he is "on his high" when his dose is upped because he seems to have a ton of energy. But if the dose is lowered to quick - he crashes. He can become very iratable. The worse side effect is the bone density loss. His bones were very brittle due to predisone. He was breaking sometimes two a week from coughing. He is now on fosamax and extra calcium - it has worked wonders.
I don't now if that helped, but it is my only experience with predisone. I hope you do not have to be on it for years. He has been on it for probably over 5 years now. The side effects only seem to get worse not better. Good Luck and Best Wishes!

Joleen · 05-09-2003, 02:55 PM

I don't know if your doses will allow this but try taking it just in the morning so you can sleep properly. You will still have the shakes - I had it and got really scared. The doctor never warned me and I wish he had.

I should probably still be taking it but I don't like it.

paragrap · 05-10-2003, 03:50 AM

Thanks ladies for all your information on Prednisone. Most of the side effects you have described I've been experiencing except for the bone loss since I haven't been on it for too long. I really can't stand the nervousness and sleep disturbances. Luckily I will not be on it for much longer, I definitely do not want to have to have permanent problems. Thanks again!

Jennifer

Angie02 · 05-11-2003, 01:27 AM

I have also taken prednisone for asthma. Although it can do good things, it can also affect your cortisol levels and give you those symptoms. I can't take it for long without blowing up like a blimp and having major blood sugar reactions in addition to insomnia and "high emotions." You might want to talk to the pharmacist about your symptoms and see if they can give you a side effect list--they should have done that when they filled your prescription. I would also check with your doc to see if these side effects were his expectation or if your dosage needs to be adjusted.