Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is used to treat a variety of conditions including: asthma, adrenal insufficiency, Cron’s disease, inflammatory diseases, some types of cancer, hives, nephrotic syndrome, lupus, Meniere’s disease, and hives. It is also used to help with organ transplants by preventing bodily rejection to the new organ. This is a drug that is also used to help with severe migraine headaches, leukemia, lymphoma, and various types of tumors. It works by replacing steroids that are naturally produced by the body.
Essentially this is a drug that mimics your body’s natural hormones produced from the adrenal glands. When prescribed in significant doses, Prednisone works to help suppress inflammation. In the event that a person’s immune system is attacking its own tissues (as is the case with autoimmune diseases), this drug can help reduce activity by suppressing immune system functioning. It affects the “HPA” or hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis when taken longer than 7 days.
Although Prednisone can be a life saving drug when used to treat certain conditions, others that are on it for a less-significant condition may be extremely unhappy with the drug’s side effects. If you can no longer cope with the side effects as a result of Prednisone use, it may be time to withdraw. Once you have spoken with your doctor about withdrawal and have made up your mind, you will want to educate yourself on the potential symptoms that you may experience upon discontinuation.
Factors that influence Prednisone withdrawal include:
When it comes to any medication, there are factors that influence the severity of withdrawal. Various factors that will play a role in determining how difficult the withdrawal process is include: time span, dosage, individual physiology, and whether you quit cold turkey or tapered. If you experience a very severe withdrawal, it is likely due to one or more of these factors.
1. Time Span
How long have you taken Prednisone? In general the longer you are on this particular steroid, the longer it’s going to take your body to readjust to functioning without it. If you are on it for longer than 2 weeks, it can affect your adrenal glands’ ability to produce cortisol. Therefore your body and brain become dependent on the Prednisone for everyday functioning when taken for an extended period. If you are only on this drug for a couple weeks, you should have a much easier time coping with the withdrawal compared to someone on it for months and/or years.
2. Dosage (2 mg to 80 mg)
Since this drug is used to treat a variety of conditions, the dose that you are taking will depend on the condition that you are treating. The maximum recommended dose per day is 80 mg. Most people are taking somewhere between 2 mg and 30 mg per day. In any event, the greater the dosage you take for an extended period of time, the more severe your withdrawal symptoms will likely be. Someone that is on a very low maintenance dose of Prednisone should have a much easier (and quicker) time withdrawing compared to someone who is on the maximum recommended daily dose.
3. Individual Factors
Since this is a powerful corticosteroid, it likely will result in withdrawal symptoms in nearly everyone that took it for an extended period of time. However, the severity of those symptoms can vary depending on the individual. People that were on very high doses for a long term may have a very severe physiological response upon discontinuation, while others may have less of a reaction.
Just know that what you experience may be more or less severe than someone else – as everyone’s situation is different. One person may recover from their withdrawal within a few weeks, while another may experience aches and pains for months following their last dose of Prednisone. The recovery time varies among different individuals.
4. Cold Turkey vs. Tapering
It is never recommended to quit taking Prednisone “cold turkey.” It is thought that if you quit taking this drug cold turkey from a relatively high dose, it could result in potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms. If you were on Prednisone for an extended period of time, your body likely has become fully dependent on this drug for functioning and providing cortisol.
Since your body has stopped naturally producing cortisol, stopping Prednisone cold turkey can be a recipe for disaster. Why? Because your adrenal glands may not be able to kick back in and produce cortisol. Therefore it is important to gradually “wean” off of this drug to give your adrenal glands some time to pick back up with natural production.
In order to prevent doing damage and or experiencing a nasty cold turkey withdrawal, some have recommended reducing the dosage of your medication by 5 mg every 7 days. If you are unsure about how to taper, be sure to talk with your doctor and voice any concerns you have. If you were on Prednisone for a very short term (i.e. 7 days or less), it is alright to quit cold turkey.
Prednisone Withdrawal Symptoms: List of Possibilities
Below are some common withdrawal symptoms associated with taking Prednisone. Recognize that these are some symptoms that you may experience upon discontinuation from this particular drug. Also understand that you may not experience every symptom listed below and that the intensity of withdrawal will likely differ based on individual circumstances.
- Abdominal pain: Many people notice intense abdominal pain when they first stop taking Prednisone. This may be in the form of intense stomach aches and/or burning sensations throughout the stomach.
- Anxiety: Many people report depression, but a lesser reported symptom is that of anxiety. You may feel somewhat nervous and/or have relatively intense anxiety during withdrawal. It is thought that this is a result of hormonal changes and HPA functioning.
- Body aches: Many people report severe body aches when they stop taking this drug. These aches may last for weeks following your last dose of the drug. If they become too intense, you should consider tapering more gradually.
- Decreased appetite: Since Prednisone is associated with significant increases in appetite, when you stop taking it, you will likely notice a major decrease in appetite. You may have constantly felt hungry while on it, but when you quit taking it, your appetite will significantly drop off.
- Depression: Another common symptom to experience upon discontinuation is that of depression. You may feel very depressed in conjunction with significantly low levels of energy. This is in part due to lack of stimulation. Your adrenal stores need to build themselves back up for you to feel normal. Just know that your brain and body will eventually fully heal as time passes.
- Diarrhea: Some people report diarrhea when they first come off of this drug. If you are experiencing this, be sure to pick up some Imodium (available over the counter) – it should help ease this particular symptom.
- Dizziness: This is a common withdrawal symptom from any drug. If you feel dizzy, just know that it should go away within a few weeks. The most intense dizziness should subside after the drug has been out of your system for a week.
- Fatigue: Most people end up having to deal with extreme levels of fatigue and low energy when they quit this drug. If you feel fatigued, just know that it is a result of your body withdrawing from a drug that it has depended on for functioning for a long period of time. Additionally you no longer have adequate amounts of cortisol to provide the body with energy. It will take some time before these homeostatic levels are reestablished.
- Fever: Some individuals report having a fever when they stop this drug. This is your body’s way of trying to readapt to functioning without Prednisone. The fever should not last more than a week or so after your last dose. If it persists, be sure to consult your doctor and/or another medical professional and consider a more gradual taper.
- Headaches: Since this drug actually helps many people with severe headaches, coming off of it may result in even more extreme headaches than initially experienced. Some individuals report constant headaches, while others report full-blown migraines during withdrawal.
- HPA Changes: Anyone who has taken this drug for an extended period of time will exhibit changes in their HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis). In other words, the adrenals are no longer producing sufficient levels of cortisol because they have become accustomed to receiving the Prednisone. Therefore even if you gradually taper, it will take your body awhile to get its natural production of cortisol back up.
- Joint pain: It is extremely common to feel pretty intense joint pain when you stop this steroid. This joint pain is caused by lack of natural cortisol production. In some cases it could be due to inflammation during withdrawal. Avoid excess physical stress and activity until the pain subsides.
- Low blood pressure: Some individuals experience blood pressure drops when they discontinue this drug. Although it increases blood pressure while taking it, many people experience rapid reductions if they discontinue too quickly. In some cases if blood pressure gets too low, it can lead to dizziness and fainting. Be sure to monitor your blood pressure when you quit this drug.
- Low blood sugar: Many people experience low blood sugar when they come off of a corticosteroid like Prednisone. You may want to monitor your blood sugars when you discontinue and keep some sweets around in the event that it dips out of the ordinary.
- Mood swings: People feel fatigued, low energy, and have depression as a result of their withdrawal. It is no wonder that some individuals experience mood swings and/or changes when they quit taking this drug. Just know that these should stabilize when the body heals.
- Muscle soreness: Some people notice muscle soreness and/or pain that does not go away for an extended period of time. The best thing you can do for yourself is to take some sort of over-the-counter pain relief to help yourself cope with this symptom.
- Nausea: You may feel extremely nauseated when you originally stop taking this drug. The intense nausea should only last for a few days and then gradually improve. Assuming your doctor conducted a gradual taper off of Prednisone, the nausea should not be long-lasting.
- Shaking: Many people have reported uncomfortable “shaking” in the limbs including the hands and feet. This is not as common of a symptom, but one that has been reported that can make life uncomfortable for awhile.
- Skin rash: In some cases a person may develop a skin rash when they first quit taking Prednisone. Some hypothesize that burning and/or itching skin could be a result of nerve irritation beneath the skin. If you are experiencing a skin rash or irritation, just know that it’s likely from the withdrawal.
- Suicidal thoughts: When you first quit taking this drug, you may notice that your depression becomes overwhelming to the point of triggering suicidal thoughts. If you feel suicidal at all during withdrawal, make sure you talk to a professional about it. Just know that as your adrenal stores build back up, your depression will gradually subside and your thinking will return to normal.
- Vomiting: Some people report vomiting when they stop Prednisone. This vomiting is usually a result of tapering too quickly and not giving your body a chance to gradually adapt to functioning without the drug. If you are vomiting, it could just be that you are hypersensitive to withdrawal and/or are withdrawing too quickly.
- Weakness: It is common to feel muscle weakness and an overall sense of malaise when you first come off of this drug. It should take your body a few weeks and/or months to fully recover from feeling very week and achy. This is just your body’s way of reacting to functioning without a drug that it has received constantly over an extended term.
- Weight loss: Individuals that are on Prednisone for the long term tend to pack on a pretty good amount of weight. Obviously the amount of weight you gain will be based on your individual circumstances. Most people notice that they begin to lose weight a few weeks after they have fully discontinued this drug.
Note: It is thought that Prednisone stays in your system for less than 24 hours after your last dose – meaning it has a short half-life. Discontinuation symptoms are thought to be a result of the body attempting to recalibrate itself to functioning without the Prednisone.
How long do Prednisone withdrawal symptoms last?
The time it takes you to fully withdraw from Prednisone will depend on individual circumstances. In most cases, the withdrawal symptoms should clear up within 3 to 4 weeks after your last dose. The half life of Prednisone is only 1 hour, but most people report post-acute withdrawal symptoms lasting well after the drug is cleared from the body. A full recovery can take anywhere from a week or two (lower doses) to several months.
If you are experiencing pretty extreme pain as a result of the withdrawal, be sure to take some over-the-counter pain relief. In addition to OTC pain relief, most people recommend increasing the amount of salt and sugar that you eat. This is because when you stop taking Prednisone, your body usually has low blood sugar and low blood pressure. If your withdrawal symptoms persist for an extended period of time and/or are so severe that you cannot function, it is likely that you withdrew too quickly.
Anytime a person is on 5+ mg of Prednisone for 7 to 14 days, sudden discontinuation can result in an adrenal crisis. Work closely with your doctor, follow guidelines, get plenty of rest, and lay low as your body and mind recover. Eventually you will return to normal functioning once your body and brain readjust to functioning without steroids. It should be noted that some people report “Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency” as a result of taking corticosteroids like Prednisone.
In this event, it has taken people 12 to 24 months before they experience full “recovery” back to homeostasis. As was mentioned, the longer you are on the drug, the more gradual the tapering process should be and the longer you should expect withdrawal symptoms to persist following your last dose. As long as you work with your doctor and withdraw VERY gradually, you should be able to experience a full recovery. If you have experienced withdrawal from Prednisone or are currently going through withdrawal, feel free to share your experience in the comments section below.
Off predisone after two and a half years. Started with 10 mg for PMR. Came off slowly but now I have such sore legs and knees. Is this a common side effect or I may have developed osteoartitis? Haven’t been back to the doctor’s and trying to get through it.
I’ve never written on one of these before but if it can help someone else look at EVERY OTHER OPTION before taking this drug, it’s worth it. I was given 60mg for 7 days for bronchitis. No taper. My right side of my body got numb. My ears clogged. I was close to fainting. Felt like the flu and my head was in the most intense vise anyone can imagine. It was so intense it was effort to move my jaw. Scale of 1-10 in physical pain…an 8.
I did have to teach for hours on that day, once the 60mg got back in my system, I willed my way through and was able to stand all day. The next morning was a moment of reprieve. I was put back on an infusion on 60mg all at once to try to get me back for 2 days then 50 for 2 days etc til tapered to 5. It’s been 3 days and my head feels like it’s got a constant singe of fire on it. I’m sweating on and off. I can’t control the reaction to nearly faint and not be able to lift my head off the pillow.
I can’t trust myself to drive or be alone w my toddler because its like being on an up and down physical roller coaster I can’t predict or control. Suddenly I may not be able to stand and vision becomes a bit blurry. I HAVE FAITH this will all be a distant memory in a week or less. I am MADDENED at the casual nature with such potential POISON. Just weigh your options as I understand it’s not the same for everyone but you do take the chance and IF YOU DO…NO MATTER WHAT…TAPER OFF.
Thank you Roya. I took it for two days. This morning I decided not to take the rest of it and feel so much better for it. I was advised by my GP i did not need to taper off as it was a very short course. It was a strange place I found myself at and I did not like it. I was at work yesterday and I lost it. Could not remember who I was calling. Sort of high and confused. My heart was beating fast and I had blurry vision. Unpleasant experience. I did not sleep last night again and had even more confusing morning. Could not face another six days of it. As you say, any other option … Many thanks.
Just finishing my third course of pred since December last ( three courses in three months! ) each course was a week starting 40mg a day for three days and tapering off over a week. First time got great relief from bad cough and sinusitis with only mild side effects… cure didn’t last and was back on again after four weeks. This time side effects kicked in, but passed quickly enough and cough and sinusitis calmed.
Thought I was through all symptoms and side effects after two weeks and was getting myself geared up to normal life then bang! My husband caught a relatively harmless virus which only affected him for two days but it hit me like a ton of bricks and I was back again to square one, another dose of pred. My warning is, immune system is obviously very weak after a course of pred I was a sitting duck for every bug in the air. Just finished my last pred three days ago and withdrawals have kicked in big time…
Anxiety, hunger, no taste, blurred vision and dizziness, also troubling dreams and depression and barking at everyone for very little reason. I cannot understand why I was put on such severe medication for a virus. It is really tough getting it out of your system and from what I read here, this can continue for a long time. Never again, there must be some homeopathic alternative out there. Anyone heard of anything?
I was prescribed Prednisone 30 mg for 8 days, 2 days ago. I have taken it for two days but after reading this I am in panic I need to stop asap. I suffered from cough for 6 weeks and this helped me within 24 hours. Can breath again. I am prone to anxiety attacks and depression and can not even imagine going through that hell. I was not advised about tapering. I am going to start tomorrow and stop all together.
I should have been advised about this. I do have a head rush after taking 30 mg, eat a lot, am confused and disorientated. All in all I have taken 30 mg for 2 days and I ma going to take 10 mg for the next 2. I want to sop after that. Please help. Should I do this or should I continue the same (30 mg) for eight days and then cold turkey?
NEVER quit prednisone cold turkey. You could shut down your adrenals and die! Always…wean SLOWLY!
I’m so happy I found this site to help explain why I’m feeling the way I do, all due to the dreaded Prednisone. My journey began in late March of ’14, while outdoors grilling and I just happened to inhale a fuzzy tree spore, one of millions we have floating around during the early Spring months here in this area. They look much like snowflakes, but they’re not. Within 10 minutes, I began to experience the most annoying, tickling cough, and nothing would suppress it. In the hours and days to follow, my condition turned into what I believed to be bronchitis or something similar to pneumonia, though this was different.
I battled it for six+ weeks, continuing to go from bad to even worse with each passing day, and I was losing my ability to breathe, as well. Near the end of my first round of what I’ve now been diagnosed with as allergic asthma, I was unable to lie down at all, or much less get any sleep, until that April morning when I finally asked my husband to call 911 NOW to send an ambulance. He offered to drive me, but I needed the oxygen immediately or sooner! I could not draw a single cleansing breath, and I was literally dying. Thankfully, while we live deep in the woods, the nearest hospital is only about 10 minutes away.
I was treated with blessed oxygen in the ambulance, but all of my vitals were skewed. They first tried the nasal type of oxygen delivery, but had to slap a mask on me because I was slipping away (ALS-Level 1). Once I was in the ER, I’d never seen a staff work so quickly and efficiently, but while they were doing all of that, they’d given me a massive shot of corticosteroids, then some breathing treatments, had x-rays, blood drawn, the full work up. Shortly thereafter, once stabilized, I was prescribed Prednisone, and was then released. I argued profusely against it, asking if there was anything else I could take orally instead.
No. I’d heard horror stories about it several times over the years, yet never gave it too much thought because it really didn’t pertain to me at the time. However, I did not forget. I was on a tapering dosage for two weeks, don’t remember the mg strength, but as each of those fourteen days passed, I got a little more temperamental until the afternoon of that very last dose, when I blew up in a rage of anger over nothing. I don’t even recall what it was. Less than two months later, the same story was repeated, although I didn’t inhale a tree spore that time. Same scenario as before, however, the hospital kept me overnight for test results, more shots, respiratory therapy, and so on in an attempt to diagnose the underlying condition which was causing such life threatening asthma attacks.
Nothing was found, yet I had even more corticosteroids injected and another tapering round of Prednisone. That was in early September. It is now early December, and I’m getting it again. I’m still suffering withdrawals from my second attack, such as the considerably noticeable weight gain to where no clothing fits, the 8 months pregnant baby bump look (at age 56!!), the facial and general all over swelling and those awful “cankles,” in addition to high anxiety and dread, fearing I may have to begin the entire ordeal all over again. I flat out refuse to ever allow that (speaking only for myself) evil toxin to be administered to me in any manner, as I’m about half convinced I’m allergic to IT as well!
I have both home based and portable oxygen, emergency inhalers, a nebulizer, masks, etc., but nothing’s helping, and I’m scared to death of what the next few weeks have in store for me. Appears I’m allergic to breathing at this point, and also at my wit’s end. I’m hosting Christmas festivities for 30-35 family members and friends once again this year, and my plan is to keep fighting this. If I absolutely must go to the ER again, I’m hoping with all of my heart to hold off, if at all possible, and do it a few days before our gathering on Christmas Eve, because I shouldn’t have the unpredictable rabid, Prednisone crazies yet…I hope.
I have been on Panafcort for 16 years, between 10 mg and 5 mg a day dosage, I am desperate to get off because my skin has thinned on my arms so badly I only have to slightly knock myself and I have skin peeling and bleeding. I have been taking it for RA, but I have had enough. I just cannot do this any longer. I have to wear long sleeved tops all of the time because of the lacerations and bruising and I feel like a freak. Also after all of these years I am starting to develop moon face. Can anyone suggest anything, I will taper the dose of course, and not go cold turkey. Yes, the drug does help the RA, but it is a “good boy” / “bad boy” drug – a bit of a monster in reality.
I was on 25 mg of prednisone for 11 days. My doctor gave me a prescription for a slow two month withdrawal. Unwisely, because of severe intestinal symptoms, I quit the prednisone cold turkey. My symptoms are similar to many others above. Has anyone else had a similar experience, that is, the same doage and time on the medication? This is my third day off. Any idea of how long before I feel normal again?
@ Judie, I am so sorry you feel this way. I had posted above a few months ago. It took me a few months and I am still not normal. I went to a gastro doc which took forever to get into and I had an endoscopy which showed gastritis. My whole digestive system was messed up from Prednisone and a Cortisone shot in August. My gyno sent me to an endocrinologist.
Almost two months after stopping pred my cortisol was 22.It was the high end of normal and ACTH was 15. I just had it checked last Friday and my cortisol was 10.5 and ACTH 13. I have to now go for an ACTH stim test to see if I now suffer from Secondary adrenal insufficiency from this poison. Just keep an eye on your self and do not be surprised if you have anxiety weeks and weeks after these pills and feel crazy.I lost a bunch of weight coming off of prednisone.
It affected me differently than most. I am scared that I now will have messed up endocrine system for life. All of this was in a two week period and doctors assured me it was fine. It takes longer than the double time on it as they say. It really affected me. My hair has been falling out for almost 4 months now. It also messed up my menstrual cycles. I had them but theye were weird. Hope you feel better.
I read these comments with interest as I have been on prednisone for 2 years with Polymyalgia/Rheumatica but my depression has been increasing lately & putting a long happy marriage at risk. I need to get of these as soon as possible but looks like I still have several months to go without risking cold turkey. I hope everyone understands & keep patience with this Grumpy old sod in the meantime! Then they can finally start trying to guess again what I do have as the specialist has already told me he thinks the original diagnosis was wrong.
I have been on prednisone for two years and am now tapering at a rate of 1 mg per week. So far the withdrawal symptoms haven’t been too bad and I am now down to 4 mg/day. I have gone through periods of extreme fatigue, I believe the worst has passed on that front but there were days I couldn’t get out of bed and managed to sleep 18 – 20 hours a day. I now sleep 10-12 hours a day which is normal as I am struggling to get a rheumatoid arthritis flare under control. The only other withdrawal symptom from the prednisone is a full body rash.
Actually it’s more like a full body itch, constantly scratching, it drives me nuts. I’ll be glad when that goes away. I have noticed a big decrease in appetite which will hopefully translate into losing the weight I gained while on prednisone. A lot of people find prednisone evil. I tend to think of it as the drug I love to hate. It helped me so much to get my inflammation under control but the side effects were awful. Hopefully I’ll be off it for good.
I took a nasal steroid that caused all kinds of terrible side effects: Gastritis, muscular pain (neck, arm and chest), EXTREME fatigue, etc. It was awful and took me three weeks to figure out that it was the nasal steroid. This stuff is poison!! Tapered down–but it definitely messed with my blood sugar levels and blood pressure causing lightheaded feelings (which I despise) and dizziness. The fatigue is not as bad as when on the actual steroid, but I definitely am much more sedentary while ridding my body of this horrible med.
I too am coming off prednisone after being on it for 5 years for poly myalgia. Worked well but my specialist hates the stuff with a passion. I am currently on 2 mg a day having reduced slowly from 6mg a day but the nausea and lack of appetite has caused me to lose 6 kg in 1 1/2 weeks. That won’t hurt except for the nausea and today I have the worst headache I can remember. Two panadine forte seems to be working but I am desperate to get off the stuff completely. I have the start of cataracts and skin problems and I now have low bone calcium to the point where I have osteoporosis, and now I am being treated for that. -Jim
Hi, I am searching for answers to how long prednisone stay in the body after stopping the drug. I was on 80mg daily for two weeks for thrombocytopenia. It’s an auto immune problem where my platelet counts were very low. My levels dropped to 1000 count and had spontaneous internal bleeding. I was given prednisone and anti seizure meds. I didn’t experience the shaking and anxiety many people suffered from on prednisone.
I have been tapering slowly for the last 2-3 months from 80 -60-40-20-15-10-5 mg daily for a week span at each reduction. I did go a bit crazed with the blurry vision and the mind fog. Told the first doctor and it wasn’t taken seriously. Nagged her to give me a script for a glucometer. The prednisone increase my blood sugar levels and had to take more meds to control it. A second doctor recommended mylanta after breakfast and before the prednisone to soothe the digestive tracts.
Another side effect is I been gaining 1-2 pounds per week with prednisone. I look like I’m pregnant with the barrow belly and a fuller moon face. Been trying for 2 weeks to lose weight on elliptical but failed. Actually gained 3 pounds for my efforts. I do have joint pains but it’s not so bad. This is my first day off prednisone. So far, so good. Waiting for the drug to cycle out of my system so I can lose the weight.
In most cases, the prednisone should be fully “out of your body” within a day after stopping the drug. The half-life of prednisone is relatively short, thus it clears from your system quickly. The withdrawal symptoms are not from the drug still being in your system, rather your body attempting to revert back to standard functioning after the changes induced by prednisone. In some cases, it can take awhile before normative functioning is restored. Best of luck.
Quite frankly, I’m freaking out after reading these withdrawal symptoms. I have been on a 20mg dose for a week now, with no tappering. I was given the doses to deal with extreme canker sores in my mouth. I have read that almost everyone who comes off of prednisone have withdrawn symptoms. Today was my last day of taking this medication, I feel super healthy as of right now. But after reading all of these stories dealing with withdrawn symptoms, I’m pretty scare of the withdrawn affects that I have yet to feel.
Don’t freak out, Tom. I took 6 days of 10mg with a taper for an eye allergy. I felt great on the stuff with lots of energy. Today is my 2nd day off of it and I’m just tired (fatigue) and not hungry. But I keep a balanced diet anyway and stay lightly active (running errands, cleaning house). No other symptoms. It’s kind of like how you feel just before you get sick…a little rundown.
Just get plenty of rest and light exercise and eat balanced. Fruits, vegies, meat, and oatmeal seem to be really helpful in restoring my energy. And Balance Bars and mixed nuts are good to have on hand to help with the dip in energy. I even drink a few Cokes a week and they actually help a lot! :). Don’t stress. Fatigue is the main thing. It’s no big deal.
I have mild lupus. My doctor has tried several other medications on me to control the flare-ups. I was unable to tolerate them, so I was on prednisone which worked wonderfully for me. No side-effects at all. But, because I don’t want to be on any medications, I decided to wean myself off. I did it very gradually.
This is day 18 of being off. I am exhausted, achy all over as I am in a mild flare-up and fighting with depression. This site has been so helpful for me and given me hope to continue to deal with these symptoms. I feel so sad for so many of you as I read your stories, although they have given me hope.
My husband was put on prednisone for pneumonia. He was on a dose of 40 for awhile and then lowered to 30 for two years. Every time they would try to lower the dosage he could not function. At one point I could tell tell things were not right. Found out they were giving him 25 in am and 5 at night. Argued with doctor until he agreed to try it my way – 30 at one time. It worked. Have never found the root problem.
Took him to John’s Hopkins. The discounted all the local diagnosis. After a year he is down To 5 but is sleeping a lot. He has severe osteoporosis and has had 3 back surgeries plus many other problems. He was an extremely healthy man. Our family doctor has been very supportive. Knows the damage the prednisone is causing but he is a zombie w/o it. It has been a rough three years. We almost lost him 2 or 3 times. We will celebrate our 59th wedding anniversary today.
I just read through all of these comments, searching for a little ray of hope for my Mom’s symptoms. She was put on 40mg/day (20 in the morning, 20 in the evening), for one month. 3 weeks into it, she went down to 20/day because it was making her feel like she was losing her mind. After a week of being on 20, get Dr told her drop to 10mg for 3 days, then 5mg for 3 days, and then she’d be off of them.
This past Saturday (Nov 15th) was the last day she took it. Today is the 18th, only 3 days of being off of it, she was in bed almost all day. She’s been experiencing terrible nausea, upper & lower back pain, her ribs are hurting terribly, her one foot has some swelling, she went from eating everything to not wanting anything, she’s emotional, and completely miserable. Watching her go through this is scaring me a lot. I’ve never seen get like this before (she’s 66). I don’t know what to do to help her.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. She does have a regular Dr appointment this coming Monday, but I don’t know if we should take her to the ER, or if this is just something that has to run it’s course… and how long will it last. My fear is months or more. She’s having a harder time dealing with not being able to do anything. She’s normally a busy body, not one to sit much at all, so that’s very frustrating for her, too.
My daughter was 14 months when she had her first asthma episode. Then for months, a year afterwards I had her on prednisone via nebulizer every winter season – until I figured out how to get her off the drugs (changed her diet a million times until I got it right, took me over a year). Now almost 10, she is the same height as her 7-year-old brother. My husband and I are over 5’8″ tall.
Prednisone not only depresses the immune system, it stunts growth. My daughter caught every speck of a germ that anyone and everyone was carrying, which severely limited her play-dates and she had cavities galore from the nebulizer/inhaler use. I fear that the effects are permanent.
I was on 60mg tapering down to 20. Couldn’t stand it. Weight gain, puffiness in face, acne, unable to sleep, got everything you could think of. I became extremely argumentative. Anyway long story short my husband couldn’t stand being around me, he wasn’t supportive, caring, or compassionate. We are in the process of divorcing. I am off prednisone but still have the shakes. When will they end?
I was in prednisone for four years for Polymialgia Rheumatica. I have been off the drugs for eight weeks. I put on a huge amount of weight which I am finding impossible to shift. I am still experiencing a lot of pain but fatigue is getting less and I am finally able to do a little bit of walking again. I’m hoping my symptoms will go away soon. I’m determined not to go back on prednisone because it messes with your head and body.
Hi guys, when you wean down and get down to about 10mg it gets tough. Around this stage you might need to come down 2.5mg a week but I had bad problems and so my endocrinologist said try 1mg a week. I’ve been doing this but bought some 1mg tablets and cut in half. I do 3 days at say 9.5 then 3-4 days at 9mg etc and continually wean down. I also use lavender essential oils to help with sleep and chamomile tea to help with anxiety and occasionally 1/4 of a valium if it’s really bad. Currently on 6.5 mg and seeing Endocrinologist next week when I reach 5mg to have a blood test for ACTH to see if my body is producing cortisol on it’s own. It’s important to have this monitored if you have been on a high dose/been on for an extended period. Good luck everybody!
I was adamant about not taking Prednisone, but there I was, just diagnosed with Lupus @ 77, rash and itches over my entire body, but subsiding. Reluctantly filled script for Prednisone 5 mg 2x day,even though he said 1x a day. Took it for 2 weeks. Suffered severe abdominal pain. Just finished P.T. for a fractured sacrum and compressed lumbar vertebrae, leaking and encroaching my spine.
I made amazing progress, then decided to quit the Prednisone (just 5 mg). Hypoglycemia returned, after absence of many years, severe lower back pain, thoracic and neck pain. Waking in the a.m. with severe L neck and head pain which left me 3 years ago after a cervical discectomy, replaced with titanium basket. My surgeon was my hero. But withdrawal from Prednisone changed all that. I pray this will not last long. Still walking Andy, our beautiful Greyhound. He just got certified as a Therapy Dog.
Me too. My ENT consultant put me on an intensive medical management for Chronic sinusitis. 5 days of 40mg no taper, 100mg doxycycline, 10 mg montelukast, an antihistamine and steroid nose drops twice a day. I have never ever felt so ill. Coming off the steroid I went into severe anxiety with racing heart 155 beats per min, severe muscle pain and I couldn’t get out of bed for 5 days. Went to GP twice and he took me off everything. Feel a bit better a week later but now have cold sores and dry mouth. Never ever ever will I take prednisone again. With all that poly-pharmacy how on earth will the docs know which drug is causing what side effect.
In January this year I was diagnosed with Polymyalgia/Rheumatica and was put on 10mg of Prednisone and told to reduce it to 5mg in 2 weeks and see my GP after that. Nothing helped my excruciating pain, so I searched for another Rheumatologist and he said I should have been on 20mg and reduce over 6 months or more. I have been doing that and am now down to 4 1/2mg. I have been very depressed and extremely tired this last month or so.
I can relate to the person who lost their girlfriend over an argument, my husband is one of the most patient people I know, bless him. He has put up with my horrible mood swings and nasty remarks, I am hoping this will subside soon and we can get back to normal. I have read that it takes a long time for the adrenal glands to start producing on their own again, so am hoping when I see the Dr. again he will tell me I can get off this steroid forever. Hope everyone gets better soon.
I also wanted to know if anyone has experienced numb legs and feet from the knee down? I’ve never been told by any Dr. that this could be one of the side effects from withdrawal or they just don’t know!
Numb legs and feet are certainly produced by tapering off and stopping prednisone, I have them after taking prednisone for 6 years for PMR. Plus a few other symptoms which I do not care for, but not as bad as some of the other sufferers. And I tapered off over a period of a year as well. Joint pain and perpetual weariness are my main bugbears.
I was on a 5 day course of 20mg day, or short burst with no taper, for acute bronchitis. I was told by my doctor there should be minimal side effects since it was only a short course. After my last dose I immediately experienced extreme fatigue and nausea and had to eat every two hours to keep my energy levels up despite having a decrease in appetite. Now 3 weeks later I am still experiencing some muscle aches, increased anxiety, irregular menstruation, and insomnia. Hope these withdrawal symptoms go away soon!
Did the symptoms ever go away? I was on a short dose as well and it has been 2 weeks since I finished it. Just hoping there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Prednisone saved me! The side effects were not fun, but I developed shingles on my 7th and 8th nerve. This condition is called Ramsay’s Hunt syndrome. I had to do 2 rounds of depo medrol shots and 30 mg a day both times. Then tapered off. My paralysis is gone and the vertigo has pretty much cleared up. My condition lasted 3 months. The side effects were unpleasant.
Bad headaches, insomnia, stomach cramps and weight gain. Both times I finished the 12 day tapering off I slept 12 hours at night and found myself nodding off during the day. For the last 3 months I have either not been sleeping or wanting to sleep constantly. Without the prednisone I may have experienced permanent damage to my facial and vestibular nerves. Despite the side effects I would take it again under these circumstances.
I have been on 10 mil for 2 years. I had a dr apt which they asked me to bring all my medications to the apt with to go over everything and note what I’m taking I have memory problems but anyways I got home and forgot to put my medications back so I took them like I’m supposed to everyday and I when without prednisone for 5 days cold turkey I was shaking nauseous and dizzy and my stomach hurt I thought I had the flu until I realized wait I haven’t been taking my medication. I went and took my 10 mil prednisone and felt better with in 30 min. It took me probably 3 days before the withdrawals got bad but I thought I had the flu. Just thought I’d share of how bad it was in only 5 days for me cold turkey. I’m on prednisone until my dr says different he says because of my illness.
I am 19 years old and have had Crohn’s disease for about 6 years. I have been on prednisone at least once a year every year since I was diagnosed and it is always hell. Recently, I had a pretty severe bout and the doctor started me at 40 mg a day tapering off at 10 a week. I immediately received the all too familiar symptoms including the anxiety attacks and severe hunger. I called my mom last week in tears, telling her I was too stupid for college because I had a C in a class.
I have had the weight gain, the moon face, the insomnia, the acne, and many other symptoms from the prednisone. I wish I could say it gets better right away, but it’s definitely a patience thing. Sometimes when I’m on it, I will barely have any symptoms and will feel like myself again in a week. Other times, it can take up to 2 months to be back to myself. All I can say is hang in there, you will make it through this.
This is the worst drug I’ve ever taken. This is the second course for me and I’ve experienced severe withdrawal symptoms this round. The first round was fine. But this taper is crippling to say the least. Can’t get out of bed. My husband has to carry me to bed at times. Can’t walk. Everything that I eat pains my stomach and makes the withdrawal symptoms 10x worse so you resort to not wanting to eat because food becomes your worse enemy. The worst symptom that I experienced is severe severe abdominal pain — as mentioned above — to the point where I couldn’t stand up.
I would crawl to get my pills and food to eat in the morning just so I didn’t die from not taking them at all. Another severe symptom that I experienced was vomiting everyday. Nothing stayed down. My doctor finally prescribed a medication that would coat my stomach in the morning before taking it. I haven’t started it yet — tomorrow thankfully! But I am looking forward to continuing to heal and finally end this prednisone hell. My advice to anyone out there — if you don’t NEED to be on prednisone, and I mean need as in no not a flareup that you need to get under control but NEED as in if you don’t take it you’re going to die — then I would stay very very far away.
I have only been on it for less than one month and started tapering after week 2.5. Also be very skeptical of doctors who “freely” prescribe prednisone like its a benign medication sort of like a tylenol. This is a very deadly drug. My doctor (former now BC I got a new one) prescribed 60mg, then increased the dose to 80mg and when I told him I started to feel sick on 80mg, he tapered me off too fast. That’s when my body almost crippled. I am 125 pounds and my new doctor advised there is no way someone my size should be on 80mg even at my worse flareup (ulcerative colitis). Good luck. Please stay away from this drug.
@ UC girl: I am so sorry that you are also having so many problems. The prednisone actually has caused digestive distress fro me among all of the other problems. I had never used this drug before and I hope to never have to take it again. Doctors are uneducated about this medicine and even short term has caused me problems that I cannot overcome. I hope you feel better and you were put on a high dose. I started out at 40Mg a day for five days (only took 7 out of ten pills) and then on the 2nd round it was for 12 days (only took for 8 1/2 and took 24 out of 30 pills).
I started getting mouth sores and white gums while on it and my bp and blood sugar went up. Three days after stopping all hell broke loose. I have never been the same and that was almost 9 weeks ago . My doctor thinks I am crazy a bit still and I am sick of going to them to get answers. My blood work was off the charts a week after stopping but has since returned to “normal”. I can’t seem to get back . Some people have no problems on this stuff while others do. How long have you had UC? What are your symptoms? I think it is funny that they are using this drug to help your UC and it caused me a possible ulcer and prednisone induced gastritis that has occurred. Hope you feel better soon.
Hello! I have ulcerative colitis as well. I’ve been battling it for 13 yrs. I’m 30 yrs old and 128lbs. My doctor put me on 60mg for 3 days then 40 for 3 days and now I’m on 20mg. I have the most intense dizzy spells. I can’t even drive. I want to get the hell off this drug asap! Have you ever had dizziness?
Hi Krystle, Hope your dizziness has settled, I just started a dose of prednisone, stopped it after 2 days due to dizziness and nausea. Nearly passed out while driving and my heart was pounding. I can’t drive either at the moment, hoping it will pass sooner than later.
Well it has been 26 days since my last post and here is where I am at. I stopped the pred pills on 8-23 as you can see in my above posts. I was given a Depo-Medrol 80Mg shot on 8-3-14 at the beginning of this mess. I am still trying to pull through this. My stomach has gotten better but I am going to see a gastro doc tomorrow. It takes forever to get into them. I am on a 2nd round of antibiotics for a cough and sore throat that started just a few eeks after stopping pred. My vitamin levels are normal and my last CBC was on 9-25-14.
I gyno referred me to one of the top endocrinologist doctors in Cincinnati. I have headaches that come and go and baseline cortisol and ACTH taken early in the morning showed normal. This isn’t your ACTH stim test but some normalcy is better than none. I still DO NOT feel normal. I have learned so much from my experience. My family doctor seems to believe me now after blowing me off for weeks and several appointments after seeing that I haven’t been well. I was on prednisone and the shot for no more than two weeks adding it all up. I feel like it totally changed me.
I still have anxiety and the shakes. If you are a long time user DO NOT just stop taking this. You must wean off. Talk to your doctor about weaning if you want off of it. I will never willingly take this stuff again. I feel sorry for people who have been on it for a long time. Anything over 2 weeks starts long term. The doctors do not tell you what this does to your body as they are unsure. I would also think twice about getting that allergy shot. I had no idea I was actually given a steroid shot for poison ivy. These can take months to leave the body contrary to what any doctor says.
My doctor was honest ad said it can take months. Prednisone is evil but at least you can stop the pills and not have to worry about it lingering forever. Prednisone does stay in your tissues until it all comes out. I lost a lot of weight when I stopped and really gained only like 3 lbs. I still have a daily occurrence of the low grade fever that goes up and down and no explanation. I think my body may one day recover but it will be a while. I pray we all feel better soon. If you are given this medication please research before you take it.
It also can cause psychosis. I will try and update as time goes on and let you know what happens. I hope it hasn’t damaged me too bad. I didn’t realize that you can also get cancer from it lowering your immune system and if you had any hidden infection you are screwed. Good Luck everyone.
Wow, I must be really lucky. I was on 10 mgs of prednisone 3 months then tapered down to 5 mg for 2 months due to rheumatoid arthritis and haven’t had a fraction of the negative effects people have listed here. This drug was a godsend for me and kept me from quitting my job due to constant joint pain. I did have trouble sleeping while I was on it but this was minimized when I started taking it first thing in the morning.
To the people that say doctors are stupid for prescribing this, I doubt you’ve had an autoimmune disease. For myself and a lot of other people this drug kept me from being in a wheelchair at age 23. Yes the side effects can be life altering but for people who truly need it they are well worth it. At the same time, it does appear that some doctors give this stuff out at high doses for conditions that probably don’t call for it, such as poison ivy.
Thankyou for your post. I too have had great relief from prednisone for asthma (life saving), severe allergies to antibiotics, and more recently severe and debilitating onset of an auto-immune disease. I was gtting a bit annoyed by all the ‘poison drug’ posts. Most of the major issues seems to be from not tapering as per doctors instructions. Or not consulting their doctor for a longer/shorter taper period when it wasnt going well. I have had to up the dose during the taper period as my body wasnt adjusting quick enough or had a ‘flare up’ but ALWAYS with discussion with my doctor or rheumatologist first.
I was put on 60mg of prednisone for one week and then 50mg for one month, 40mg for one month, 30mg for one month, 20mg for one month, 10mg for one month, and then 9mg for one week, on down to one. I think my pulmonologist was right about the weaning process. I was on it for around 4 1/2 months. My Boop pneumonia has gone, but I’ve educated myself and found that the Macrolide antibiotics have anti-inflammatory properties, and have shown promise. Will take longer on antibiotics, but you don’t have all the hellish side effects.
I was in pure misery. The doctor did not even know about this. I did my homework and found out about this great antibiotic!!! If I ever get this hellish disease again, I’m going with the Erythromycin and other Macrolide antibiotics. Might take longer than prednisone, but this prednisone is a killer. I am achy, can’t exercise, still tired, irritable, depressed and I’ve been off this crap for over 2 months. I will never take this drug again. It is hell!
I have the same thing. But on the 3 months scan his wasn’t completely gone. It grew so rapidly the first 3 months that they thought it was cancer. Biopsy showed it was boop. Have five weeks left on steroids. Hope it’s gone on next scan. I feel terrible 6 months on prednisone
Hope things are getting better for you. I too had BOOP type pneumonia and have been on prednisone since last April. Had the pneumonia go from one lung to both on the second scan. 3rd scan showed almost clear and now am on taper off prednisone. Down to 30 mg currently. My back is very painful and I am thinking it is from the prednisone withdrawal. Can’t wait to get off of all these medications. Was your book a result of radiation?
I was diagnosed with BOOP last year after a lung biopsy. I was asked to take 60mg of predinsone but I took only 10mg. I didn’t get the weight gain but I didn’t get any better. Since then, I have listened to the Dr and have been on predinsone on and off (weened each time) and both of my lungs are still congested. I just want to get well. I am currently aching from withdrawals because I have been off for 4 months. Riding a stationary bike slowly makes my joints feel better and using light weights. I just want to breathe normal again….
I too had BOOP and ARDS. Was on a ventilator and medically induced coma for 17 days in March. While under they did lung biopsies and discovered BOOP. Put me on 120 mg prednisone. I am now tapered to 9 mg. dropping 1 mg per week. Other than a low grade headache, almost like a weak sinus headache and some tolerable joint ache I seem to be doing fine.
I will not trash prednisone as it saved my life. My question is, did they have discovered what caused your BOOP? Between my assigned pulmonary Doctor and a second opinion from Washington University Lung Specialist they still have no idea where it came from. It would be nice to know. I hope you recover fully. Looking forward to that day myself.
I was given a shot of steroid and then a 6 day dose that tapered down for sinusitis/ bronchitis and I was so dizzy as I started to taper down that I stopped a day early. Now I’m experiencing anxiety and shakes. I’m scared to leave the house because I’m afraid I’ll have an attack away from home. It’s been 5 days and thought I was doing better but ended up having another attack with terrible shaking. Am I ever going to get over this. I’m to the point I just want to cry when it starts happening.
Hoping to see the doctor tomorrow but it sounds like it just has to run its course. Not sure how much more I can take. All I can say is never again anyone will get me to take prednisone. Xanax seem to help but really don’t like to take them. I’m going to try vit C and more sugar/ sodium that some in this blog suggested. I’ll keep you posted it it works. God bless all that are suffering through this. Hope relief is soon.
I started on 60 mgs of prednisone for a very rare auto immune disease that affected all of my connective tissues. I started tapering almost immediately but 6 mos after starting we discovered that my disease had also attacked my heart, causing scarring which attracted clots. My doctors believed the prednisone stopped the heart disease in its tracks … It probably would have killed me if I hadn’t started the prednisone when I did.
So in an abundance of caution, I went on an extremely slow taper. At one point I experienced adrenal fatigue and had to go back up on my dose. It took 2 1/2 years but I finally got off in July. I experienced every bad side effect you can imagine… I gained 60 lbs, had the moon face and “buffalo hump,” acne, facial hair … It was a nightmare. By the time I got down to 5 mgs all the negative side effects went away and my weight started to come off in its own. I decided to put some effort I to it and really started focusing on diet and exercise and ended up losing almost all of my added weight.
I was riding my bike up to 10 miles a day and going to the gym doing cardio and weights. By Sept my daily schedule made it difficult to exercise at the same level and frequency as I was before. I started to notice that when I did exercise I would get aches and pains that I wasn’t experiencing before. Biking caused severe pain in my ankle forcing me to give it a rest. Then I started experiencing horrible pain in my hips and I noticed I’m unusually tired all the time. I get depressed and anxious.
I told my friends I thought it was a mid life crisis (tomorrow’s my 41st birthday), but when I mentioned it to my rheumatologist last week she said it could be lingering withdrawal from prednisone. I told her I just thought I needed to get back to the gym and maybe I’d feel better but it’s gotten so much worse just in the past week. I definitely feel like I did when I had adrenal fatigue before. I don’t understand it because it just hit me and I’ve been off prednisone for 3 months.
I was completely fine for at least 2 months after I stopped it. I’m wondering if it has something to do with the fact that I was exercising so much when I went off and now that I’ve basically stopped I’m hit with adrenal fatigue. It’s a catch 22 though… I’m way to tired and achy to want to work out but I do wonder if it would help.
I am currently on 80mg a day for almost two months. I was diagnosed with IGA Nephropathy which is a Autoimmune Deficiency and they said this is the first choice of treatment and the less aggressive. The next step if this does not provide my body with remission is a chemotherapy regimen. I have to say I feel like my body is going through Hell daily. First six weeks or so I had awful mouth sores, constant metallic taste in my mouth, facial and neck swelling, no more than 2-3 hours of sleep per night, and my mind wandering constantly.
The last two weeks we can add to the list so much facial swelling my head hurts, eyes swollen,distorted vision, abdominal bleeding ( doctors believe a ulcer) I am feeling fatigued, ringing in the ears and unbelievably thirsty all the time. The really frustrating part is that I sit here wondering if this is worth it. I have a appointment with my doctor in 3 days where I find out if this Hellish experience is worth it…if so I get to look forward to these awful withdrawal stories and if not…I get to look forward to the withdrawal symptoms while undergoing chemotherapy.
I really wish there were other/better treatment options but it appears from my reading and speaking with people there really isn’t. Every time I feel like why am I doing this. I look at my three daughters: 22,18,16 and remember that I cannot give up. It’s a pretty awful existence right now, but I trust that my doctor is doing what’s best for me. He was honest about the side effects and has called me numerous times asking if the quality of life is compromised to a point where I want to try the next step. I figure give this a two month course as originally suggested.
Plenty of time to explore the chemotherapy side effect boards if it comes to that. I feel for all of you who feel the treatment you were given hindered you more than it helped you. I certainly hope my experience is not the same, if this is the worst I will keep pushing on.
Claire, just had to respond. I too have IgA Nephropathy (diagnosed in 2005) & was told in August of 2012 that my urinary protein levels had climbed so high that I had to be put on high dose prednisone – no choice. So I took it. After a year or so, it became clear that the prednisone wasn’t working, so my nephrologist said I could get off prednisone & that I should take Cellcept instead. I wasn’t able to successfully get off the prednisone until March 2015 under the guidance of a very competent endocrinologist.
I wasn’t able to take the full dose of Cellcept, so I asked my nephrologist if a half a dose (sub-clinical) would be of any help. He agreed to that, I had been through many negative reactions to many other blood pressure meds, etc. I am doing great now, with normal clearance & good labs. But that is not owing to my meds. Right before I was put on prednisone, I had finally been put on a BP med (Tekturna) that actually made me feel great, with no side effects.
Consequently, I had started to cook for myself again, and began to eat eggs almost daily. Then my urine protein labs started going through the roof (14-17 grams/day). I soon correlated my eating of eggs with severe renal cramping an hour or so later, followed by the passage of a toilet bowl of prolific foam. I surmised that I had an IgA allergy to eggs! I was excited to know what (in my case) was prompting my trouble because I could do something about it – even if getting eggs out of your life is a difficult task (don’t forget immunizations–they may be at fault too).
Unfortunately, the immune damage had already created a runaway train which required heavy duty drugs. But as I worked to keep eggs in all forms – they’re everywhere – from my body, I felt that eventually, once the immune system was brought back into control, I could get better. (I had sought help from an allergist in 2010 to see if I was allergic to eggs or other things, but he branded me a hypochondriac & refused to even discuss testing). I suspect that several exposures to Zithromax may have been the original precursor to my IgA Nephropathy.
Now, I know every case is different, and I don’t know where you are in your labs & CKD stage, but I am stage 3. After 3 years of ordeals, my urinary protein output is now well under 2 grams, sometimes under 1 gram. I believe people with IGAN need to keep logs of symptoms, labs & foods they eat and any other possibly significant exposures to see if they can find a pattern that might reveal clues to your illness progression. As for treatments, explore every possible option with your doctors and research everything!
You can’t be your own doctor, but you have to educate yourself about your body, immune system, IGAN & about treatments. So little is known about IGAN that your observations, instincts and research are a vital part of your wellness picture. And God is much greater than any facts. Don’t give up & don’t give in. It’s so important to your family to see how you approach the trials & tests of life, including this illness. As a born-again Christian, I seek to God to help me with information & decisions, then I work with my doctors on a course that’s right for me.
Doctors often are prejudiced about where your disease is headed and will walk you down a garden path if you don’t guide the treatment process with your input. It’s your life, not the doctors. It’s you who stays awake nights sick with side effects, not them. Just make sure you research reliable sources – boards, while helpful, are not enough by themselves. We only get one life down here – it’s so important how we live it. Best wishes to you in your health journey.
I was given prednisone for a skin reaction to cosmetics that wouldn’t subside by an urgent care facility. It was supposed to be 40mg for 7 days–I started on a Sunday and by Tuesday I felt like my heart was going to pound out of my chest. I woke up to a pounding heart at night. So I was told to take 20 in the AM and 20 in the pm and if I still feel funny go down to 20 a day then 10. I did exactly that. Monday was my last dose of 10 – I threw the last few away.
I have had the worst heartburn/pain ever. It goes away with antacids to return again. Then I had pretty severe muscle pain of my back which was gone in 24 hours. I have tried everything for the heartburn – today the it subsided for almost 3 hours and in that time my skin is hot and itchy. I am seeing my Dr. tomorrow. Feel dizzy, anxious, panicky, my sinuses are shifting so much I have a headache and I am hungry but afraid to mess up my stomach even more.
Symptom after symptom and I stopped two days ago. I am so uncomfortable and the anxiety (another thing) keeps telling me I’m having a heart attack. I thought this was a good drug for the allergic reaction – that it would ‘kick’ it. But now I am riddled with a ton of new symptoms. Hope this all goes away. I’ll deal with the allergies with Benadryl or something!
I’ve recently experienced a series of adverse events while taking Prednisone for poison ivy and it’s very serious. I suddenly got very argumentative with my girlfriend on the day I completed the dose (I was tapering down but for whatever reason, I had 3 10mg pills left and took them remembering the doctor encouraged me to complete the dose.) That evening we went to the park for a jog, so I took two Aleve and some 5 hour energy.
The short story is she hasn’t talked to me since and she has moved out of the house and says she’ll never talk to me again. She dismisses that my extreme argumentativeness was due to the Prednisone. I don’t blame her for being hurt by my words and feeling frightened by my aggressiveness. It took me a couple of days to recognize that it was the Prednisone that was driving me to try and win arguments over two subjects that have challenged us in the past.
Uninhibited, I felt that I could convince her to see things my way. All I did was scare the hell out of her. Losing her has made the withdrawals even worse, I’m a basket case and went to see a psychologist for anger management. It can be extremely destructive to those who are sensitive to the side effects in this drug. Heads up, avoid potential heartbreak, ask someone to keep an eye on you when you’re medicating. Avoid interactions with naxporen and alcohol! Please be careful out there!
Hi Ken, wow that story matches mine with the arguments. I wasn’t on a high dose 10mgs for about 8 months weening of now. My wife walked out on me at Christmas due to me wanting answers to our situation (like a dog with a bone). 2 weeks ago I had the biggest headache in the world I thought it was all over I was literally sick which I never am even when drunk or in a hangover and crashed out for 2 whole days and the rest of the next week felt like crap. I have the shakes like mad too. I’m now down to 1.5mgs and don’t feel well but if it stays at this level I can cope. At the moment my message is do it slowly lets see what the next month brings when we come off completely. Good luck to you all stay strong and focused. -Richard
I’ve been in a very similar situation. My wife has almost left me several times due to my prednisone-crazies. All I can say is hang in there & get help from counselors when you need it.
Sorry this happened. As someone who gets into arguments even without predinosone, I think your partners should be more supportive! If someone is going to leave you just because of one fight, were they really the right person for you anyway?
Hi. I just finished reading all the comments on this page… some have been helpful… others, outright scary. My mother (50 years) has been on prednisone for 3 years taking 80mg. This year, she started weaning the meds until last month when she decided she was tired and stopped taking the then 30mg entirely.
For about a week now, she started facing serious joint pains and has been bedridden the whole day today. My mom is a very strong woman, and it breaks my heart to see her like this.
Can anyone tell me how she can help ease the symptoms and how soon the pain will go away for good? And also if the pain can get worse or life threatening. My mother is all I have and she means the entire universe to me. Kindly give any helpful advice you have no matter how little it is. We live in Ghana, west africa and most pharmacists and doctors we have been to know nothing about what she is going through. Some say it’s just menopause or old age. The internet is my last resort, and it has been the most helpful so far. Advice, support and feedback are more than welcomed. God bless.
Lyn I was just reading your comment and had to respond. Your mum really needs to go back to her doctor and go on a plan of weaning off prednisone the right way. This drug should not be stopped cold turkey as it could do more harm. I used to have a blood test every 6 weeks to check my inflammation level, ask her doctor to do a blood test to check this. There is so much information on the Internet which explains the working of this drug on the body, it helped me to understand what was happening.
I have never experienced so much pain in my life and just to make life more interesting I tripped over and broke my rib. My reason for wanting to get off this drug was the horrific side effects and it took me 6 months of nagging my doctor before he started to wean me off. From my experience to make your mum more comfortable, there are many arthritic linoments out there that would help to ease the pain of her joints, drink plenty of water which lubricates the joints, I also used to have a glass of warm water with lemon in the mornings to try and make my body more alkaline.
Pillows under legs when sleeping, hot water bottle also helps. Whole foods, fruits and veggies are good. When I was in severe pain and couldn’t get comfortable to sleep but felt exhausted from the pain I would listen to meditation tapes on Youtube by Louise Hay, this also helped. Because your mum has been on a high dosage she has to be weaned off slowly so her body can adjust, other wise your body can go into shock. It’s been 6 weeks now since I have been off prednisone, the first 3 weeks were the worse but I have been having acupuncture and I am starting to feel human again. I hope this helps you. Take care.
Thank you for your help Anita. My mum is getting better and she is following your advice. I appreciate that you responded, you have been so helpful. I wish you a full recovery in the shortest possible time. Thank you very much. Take care… ^_^
I have been taking prednisone for nearly 22yrs, ppl say they never heard of such a thing.. Yes I was.. Went to new endocrinologist and he took me off.. I was taking 5mg daily.. For adrenal insufficiency or addisons.. Guess what? He said I did’nt have either one. So yes, I was taking this stuff all these years for nothing.. Now I feel like a tin man.. I hurt like hell all over.. From head to feet.. and now it maybe years b4 I can get some relief. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know..
I can’t believe that a doctor would keep you on prednisone for so many years, that’s outrageous!! I know exactly how you feel when you mentioned “tin man.”
I was on prednisone for 1 year as a result from a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic which gave me PMR. I am going through the process now of eliminating this drug from my body. I can relate to what everyone is going through.
I decided to visit a Chinese herbalist, who put me on a course of ginseng tablets and herbs which I have to boil and drink twice a day for 2 weeks. I have also been having acupuncture, I don’t like needles so I have the machine, they put pebbles on a strap then put the strap around your sore points, which in my case are my knees. Then they have wires that connect to a machine which feels like little pin pricks, doesn’t hurt.
I have had 5 treatments so far and I definitely feel improvement. I also bought some ointment that they use called Wong To Yick which I usually use on my joints 3-5 times a day depending on my stiffness. The hardest thing for me is getting in and out of the car and bending to pick something off the floor.
I try and do a little exercise every day like walking stretching nothing too strenuous and nap when I feel tired.
The most important advice I can offer is listen to your body for only you know what your body is capable of. I hope this gives you some hope that their are other options out there that can help. Good luck and I will keep you informed about my journey to recovery. Keep positive.
I have been on Prednisone for years also. Past 2 years been on 5mg daily. I have lung issues… Anyways, I have recently stopped my prednisone and feel like I have been hit with a mac truck. I bent down to pick something off the floor and soreness in my muscles had me in tears. My stomach is swollen and hurting. This is all scaring me. I have read all of these comments and it’s making me wish I had not stopped them!
OK now I am scared I have been on Medrol (Predisone) for oh my god! Since I was 28! I am now 51! I have severe asthma and this is the only thing that works 8mg a day… my skin is thin, I bruise all the time, I look like a walking pin cushion :( from my doggie. Just saying hello I don’t think I will ever be able to get off this stuff. If I miss a dose my nose clogs up and wheezing and coughing starts right away as a reminder to take it. I screwed up taking it for so long :( I Pray you all get off this before it is too late to even try :(
I too have been on daily long term Prednisone, now 22 years this month. I have tried repeatedly to get off of it since about 9 months after starting it. I have Mixed Connective Tissue disease, Lupus symptoms and Chronic Inflammatory Peripheral Neuropathy.
After reaching a low dose, the pain from attempts to cut was intolerable. At one point, I was finally able to get to 1.5 mg daily, but the implantation of a cardiac pacemaker caused such a terrible flareup, I had to go back up on my dose. A replacement pacemaker also triggered the same reaction.
Prednisone has caused osteoporosis of the neck of my femur and I am constantly afraid I am going to fall and end up bedfast. The drugs prescribed for this are also frightening and I don’t know what to do. I am to the point where I do not trust any prescription drugs any longer and I also lack trust in many doctors.
I would not recommend Prednisone, unless there was just no other choice; in my own case, nothing else worked.
I have been on Prednisone for 15 years for Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus Nephritis. I have finally made it down to 7.5 mg for about 2 weeks now from 100mg being my highest dose in the early days of illness. I expected only joint pain as I taper but reading all of these responses has really opened my eyes.
I did not attribute the anxiety, heart palpitations, sleeplessness and weight loss to the taper. I drop .5mg about every 4-6 weeks, I can’t imagine how I would feel if I dropped by even a full mg. Thank you all for sharing your stories.
This is hell for me. I have been on prednisone for 15 years, have tapered off very slow and everything is going wrong. Shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, tired all the time, low blood pressure, heart palpitations, liver and kidney functions is not right. I have been off 1 month and no better. They say I have to tough it out.
How did the first doc diagnose your Addison’s? Because that is adrenal insufficiency. And they need permanent glucocorticoid replacement. What tests did new doc do to determine that it was not so? Adrenal crisis can be fatal. So be careful.
Came off a 3 months 5mg dose no taper and I was prescribed for carpel tunnel then gout. I have the worst anxiety of my life racing thoughts think the worst of everyone shaky hands I will never take prednisone again its been two week still no improvement. I hope to see a end to this soon. No one believes me when I tell them it was from the predisone.
it’s been a while since you wrote this Craig, but I want to validate you and all the others on this sight. I haven’t taken it but my sister is trying valiantly to detox from it and I am her fulltime caregiver. Your symptoms are as real as the idiots who prescribe it without understanding what it does or else not caring what it does. I am sorry for all of you and your pain and frustration.
I pray for you all and so far my research points to your body being able to heal although the process is lengthy. May God Bless you all with strength and hope and peace that is past our understanding. You all are strong to make it through this process. Hang in there and keep your eyes on the great physician who know what we need in spite of the messes mankind causes.
Thank you Ceal Shannon for your comforting words. “Ask and we shall receive” that is what the Great Physician tells us. My prayer is that some intelligent person somewhere will realize what a “killer” drug the prednisone is! God Bless you and thanks for sharing.
Here is another follow up from my previous posts. It is now week 5 1/2 and I am still running a low grade fever. Had so many blood tests ran. I even went to another doctor who was great but thinks that because the Prednisone was within a 2 week time frame that all should be gone. I am STILL not right. No one can find the cause of the low grade fever. Still losing weight. Before I had a hard time losing weight. I developed some weird white stuff(not candida) in my mouth and went to the doctor and dentist. The dentist said it was due to the Prednisone.
It has been 5 weeks! Why is this crap still going on??? My stomach did calm down from the beginning but just had an abdominal ultrasound done to check things in there. I still really have no appetite and as I mentioned before I way less now than when I did this crap. When it began I had an 80Mg shot of Depo Medrol for the poison ivy/Oak then a 5 day taper that I stopped after 7 pills. Then went back to my primary since the first stuff was from Urgent Care and they put me on the 12 day that I stopped at 8 days due to problems.
They say it should be out of my system but I don’t believe it. I really feel that I am messed up from this garbage . No one can provide any definitive answers. I keep hearing if it was two weeks you should be fine. Even the Urgent Care doc doesn’t believe Pred does this. Really??? Because i have a mountain of doctor bills to prove otherwise and this crap should not be administered for something like poison ivy.I had never taken this garbage before . I feel hopeless.
Yes I have asked about Adrenal Insufficiency asking if this is my problem and they are like ,no we don’t think so. I just want to be normal again is all.I am scared it isn’t going to happen. My immune system is jacked up now. Can anyone out there that has went through this provide some positive feedback? Please don’t say I will have to go back on the devil pills in hopes of correcting my body. This should not be happening still.
Darlene, how are you feeling lately? I’m now at 6 weeks and am still having major issues! Anxiety, insomnia, and just feeling overall terrible! Hope you’re doing better!
Darlene & all you ex-preds with issues…I took prednisone at high doses (60-20 mgs) for 2.5 years (to save my kidneys), but wound up on Cellcept when prednisone didn’t work. But getting off was a nightmare, partly because I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis & my GP was overmedicating my low thyroid so that my HPA axis was suppressed, TSH suppressed. When I asked for his advice in tapering off prednisone after a long term, he would never leave me on a dose longer than two weeks.
Even after bronchitis/pneumonia, he said to start tapering again after one week! Anyway, he nearly killed me, so I went back up to 5 mg (your body’s basic daily need) until I could get to a five-star rated (by patients) endocrinologist. She is the best dr I have (I know there are lots of bad endos out there–that’s why I resisted going to one for so long, heard horror stories.) But she tested my adrenals & thyroid (not just TSH), set my thyroid meds at a sane level without making me hypo, then said we would drop the prednisone by one mg PER MONTH!
She continued testing the adrenals at intervals to make sure tapering was still safe. I had a few foot problems that required temporary increases along the way, but kept going with the taper. Fortunately, my adrenals have woken up fully & my thyroid labs are spot-on where they need to be. Unfortunately, I wound up with prednisone-induced glaucoma which I’m still hoping will resolve. My last prednisone was March 7, 2015. I’m 3 months out now & labs say I’m fine. And in many ways I’m feeling much better now.
BUT just let me say that my skeletal muscles are wasted, my tendons are so fragile normal movement injures them & my joints (fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, feet) all hurt. I am still waiting for a morning when I can wake without pain, stiffness & infirmity. I don’t know if or when I will fully recover from these symptoms. But I am patiently waiting for a positive outcome. I was in almost constant pain during the 6 month taper, and have continued in pain the three months off.
But if I’m honest, the pain now is probably less than one or two months ago. I tell you all this to encourage you. Yes, it’s frustrating, but your body needs a patient ally – that has to be you. Find a really good doctor who will do the right labs and approach the taper off carefully. Then let your body have a year or two to heal if necessary. You may never be the same as before, but at least you can get better than you have been. Hope this helps some of you!
Roxanne, I, too, am experiencing mirror images of you. I was diagnosed with Addison’s Disease 5 years ago. I should say, misdiagnosed. Apparently, I now have adrenal insufficiency instead. No one can tell me what happened 5 years ago to start all this, but I am in the tapering stage now. After being on hydrocortisone for 4 1/2 years, now prednisone for 6 months and tapering off that, back to hydrocortisone and then a final taper from that is the plan.
I have a great endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic and she is tapering slowly and is very informative with information about everything. She has even given me her direct phone number for any issues that I want to talk to her about. I say this because yes I feel the drug itself is evil, but there are some very caring doctors out there willing to help even if it was another doctor’s mess they are cleaning up.
I am so happy to have found this site because even after research I have symptoms that I didn’t realize were related to the prednisone tapering. I’m sure, unfortunately, that this is only the beginning of my awful journey. I’m sure I will be doing this for at least the next year or so. I don’t know how I will make it through, but I guess the best advice is to listen to all of you and try to be strong and get through every day one at a time.
By the way, my worst symptoms right now are severe nausea, headaches, body aches and pain, numbness and tingling in my hands, arms and legs. They are going to do some tests to rule out other AI diseases, but the neurologist even said it all could be caused from the prednisone. Thanks to everyone and someone else said it best, God Speed to everyone and their recovery.
Your story sound just like mine. I was given 80 mg prednisone in the ER twice for hives I developed when I quit smoking. My joints hurt every day. I know if I go to my family doctor, he will prescribe something else… no more drugs. Going to try yoga and go the holistic route. I hate the pain. Only heat makes it better.
I was on Prednisone for about 3 months starting at 60mg and tapering off in the last 4 weeks that I was on the medication. I almost immediately was hit by joint pain and increased diabetic neuropathy in my feet. I am not about 3 months off the steroids and it has been a definite battle. I am feeling a little better. Joint pain is still there but getting better.
I had hives for a short while, but that seems to have cleared up. I am also having trouble with blurry vision, although I just had an eye exam and there are no problems. While this is a tough road to hoe, I think keeping as positive and attitude as you can is essential. It’s difficult when you are in serious pain and can’t sleep, but it does get better. I think the hardest part is that doctors don’t really talk about the side effects or listen to you when you are complaining about issues from withdrawal. In fact, I think that they may not even be aware half the time.
My endocrinologist looked at me like elephants were coming out of my mouth when I told him I thought I was having issues with my feet because of this. Bottom line – go to a doctor who will listen. I finally got a doctor who knew something about it, and it turned out to be my podiatrist. He prescribed Lyrica for my feet and it has taken my pain from a 10 to a 4 or 5. Hang in there. I am and I’m confident that I’ll feel better within the year.
I was on pred for 2.5 years. From 5mg to 60mg for lupus face rash. No Dr ever told me about the side effects of being on it (heart palpitations, anxiety, short term memory problems, eyesight issues, sleep deprivation, depression a terribly boated face and more). No Dr again (!), and I have several Dr’s, told me about the impacts of withdrawal! I tapered over MONTHS by 10mg then by 5 mg, 2.5 mg and by 1mg. So careful! But still, as soon as I hit 3mg, the withdrawal side effects started. Now it is 5 months on and I’m still having them!
It’s doing my head in! The anxiety and head mess up has finally dissipated but I am still plagued with fatigue, aches, bloated joints, particularly in the mornings, itchy skin (no rash though) (particularly after showering). The brochure talked about 5% experiencing depression on the drug, well I know others who’ve taken it and read a lot of online comments. It seems almost all people feel emotional impacts when on it from garden variety anxiety to depression and suicidal thoughts.
But there was nothing in the brochure about side effects coming off it other than be careful to taper so your body can learn to self produce the stuff again. OMG, 5 months of hell coming off the drug (still ongoing) and that’s after 2 years of hell, all for a subacute curtaneous lupus rash. I tried to come off several times during the 2.5 years but each time got lupus skin flairs. In the end, I was paranoid of lupus flairs and tapered over 5 months.
Suffice to say, tapering more carefully than I have read anyone else has did not, is not, has not helped to save me from the hellish joint pain, fatigue, depression, inflammation and itches that are ongoing now as I head towards month 6. If you’re not on pred, don’t take it unless it’s saving your life. Hives, rashes etc, not worth it! If you are on it, give your Dr a serve if they didn’t go through all the symptoms and withdrawal risks before prescribing it. Give them another serve if they didn’t explore all alternatives before prescribing pred. It’s a terrible medication. Terrible.
I finished very slow taper (stepping down 2.5 MG every two weeks starting at 20 mg) after 4 years of the stuff. It has been roughly two weeks. I continue to feel weaker and more horrific each day. How are you doing, Beck?
Thanks for making me feel better about the vision difficulties. I had double pneumonia with plural effusion. I did two rounds of prednisone, then was hospitalized ten days with IV steroids. Tapered down to 10mg. I thought I blew out my knee, but now know that, along with extreme fatigue, anxiety, is going to take awhile.
After being almost done with my menopausal hot flashes, they are back with a vengeance. I sleep horrible, my family wants the active me back, as I feel like an 80 year old lady, instead of a very active 55 year old granny. I worry about getting back to running my two businesses, and being able to get back to my gym to work out. Thanks everyone for helping me know I’m not alone.
(Finishing my comment)
I feel that the doctor should express to their patient just how important it is to taper down. Like everyone here i am experiencing symptoms. One i havent read mentioned is the in ability to watch tv without becoming dizzy from the movements. Not as bad as some of you but im still hoping for no surprises. After dealing with this for about 3-4 months now, i feel im starting to settle down to normal. Pray for me.
I pray all of you hang in there until your relief comes and that it comes real soon! The comforting part to me is that our bodies *can* recover. I was wondering about diet and vitamins and anything we can do to help our adreanal glands along.
Take care and God speed for a quick recovery for everyone here.
Sandra
My doctors idea of tapering down has left me unable to function without taking pain medication. I was on 60mg of predisone for the past 6 weeks. I have Steven Johnson’s Syndrome, which is an allergic reaction to antibiotics, and prednisone does help with that, as far as I know it is what saved my life this time. My doctor prescribed 60mg of prednisone and also some Hydrocodone pain pills, I still had a few of the pain pills left and hope he will give me a refill on them.
He cut me from the 60mg of predisone to 10mg of prednisone, just like that. I have such severe pain that I can’t even walk. I asked him if he thought it was the lack of prednisone and he told me no, but I know different. So here I am in so much pain that all I can do is cry and scream and can’t even get out of bed without a pain pill anymore. I only have 2 pain pills left. I tried OTC but they don’t even touch the pain.
I don’t know what to do, but I am at least glad to know that there are others like me and that what I am experiencing is real. Everything hurts and it feels like I have waves of pain wash over my body. I hope that no one has to go through the pain I am in, or that they have a doctor who cuts them 50mg all at once. I don’t hate prednisone, as it is what I truly believe saved my life, but I do hate the fact that I am now in so much pain because of it. Hope you all feel better quickly. -Amber
I have polymyalgia. I become ill with it at the end of 2013 after the shock of finding my partners mum had died before we managed to get to her. Couldn’t get over the Dartford Bridge so much traffic. The pain was so severe in my muscles that over that Christmas it was a nightmare. When I was able to see my doctor he put me on 20mg prednisolone for 4 weeks to try and taper down. I am now down to 5mg tried 4mg but pain came back so up 1mg again. To be honest I’m not me anymore. I have days when my head is so far in the clouds that I can’t drive or do anything sensible. I have prior to this never been ill, odd flu and sore throats but never anything serious.
I can’t take medication of any kind normally it has a very bad effect on my body making me more ill. So at 77 years old what do I do. I have always been small and full of energy so to have gained 2 1/2 stone in this past year is unbelievable. My stomach is huge, I now have a hiatus hernia which the steroids are making far worse. I hope to be off them come this summer but I know what the pain will be like and am very worried that I won’t be able to cope. I hope all of you out there manage to get your dosage down and feel better.
Hi Sandra. It has been 7 months since your comments and I hope by now you are back to your normal self. I have been on high doses of prednisone for PMR and GCA for 4 months. When I saw what this drug was doing to my health I immediately began the tapering process. I have now reduced my dosage from 50 mg daily to 17mg. I am experiencing some side effects and withdrawal symptoms, which mimic the illness I was being treated for. I have found that mega doses of vitamins have helped to minimize those symptoms.
I am taking evening primrose oil, zinc, and lecithin to help the hormone levels reach normal production as well as Vitamin C, Vit. A&D., Calcium, magnesium, Vit. E, and all the B vitamins. I am taking so many vitamins as well as still being on prednisone, I actually have made up a daily chart to help me track my vitamin and drug plan. I have found the vitamins very beneficial (especially the hormonal ones) and am hoping my symptoms do not worsen. I hope this is helpful to every one else trying to quit this “evil drug.”
I have been on prednisone as well since 2009 originally to treat a chest cold with fever, no antibiotics would work. I was put on 60 mg and made a recovery back to where I could function at work and live normally. During this first episode my blood and lung function were tested, my blood count was abnormal and lung function 50%. I was diagnosed as possibly having Churg Strauss Syndrome.
My eosinophyl count remained out of balance for most of 6 months then came back to normal ranges, blood and lung function tested normal. I tapered off 60 to 10 then was hit with other symptoms mostly related to sinus and allergies but some unusual ones as well. This was in Beijing China. Over the next 5 years I cycled from 60, 80, 100 then tapered, each taper ended badly.
One bout of hemolytic anemia, one bout of double vision for months, another bout of hemolytic anemia, one bout of sepsis. Prednisone seemed to pull me out of all of these episodes (each sending me to the ER). While going up on the drug life is wonderful to 30mg from there to 60 I would get a bit dizzy, at 60 my limbs would randomly shake and most everything was a mental fuzz, at 100 I needed to be close to someone while walking due to imbalance.
I never had anxiety, I was grouchy at times when over 30mg, developed chimumk face which disappears back at 10mg. I managed to maintain somewhat of a weight balance, cycled about 15 lbs around the 200 mark. I left Beijing in 2015, now in Cairo. I have tapered again, once I hit 5 mg I tapered at 1mg per 4 weeks. I had some uncontrollable shakes 2x along the way.
Now 2 days a 0 but with some aches and sinus problems, stomach is cramping and extended and I am slightly low on RBC. I can live with this at the moment. For me this is not a terrible drug but certainly has issues and do not want to be on it. If it will save my life I will gladly take it again.
Hi Bob, I have an official diagnosis of Churg-Strauss Syndrome that was confirmed by skin lesion biopsy in March 2014. I have been on Prednisone daily since then. Currently tapering down and am at 9mg, and came to this site after experiencing a very itchy rash on my inner forearms as a withdrawal symptom. I also have mood swings, disrupted hormones/menstrual cycles, joint aches, blurred vision, and fatigue with my taper.
I stubbornly remain active and utilize running trails and the gym as much as my body allows. I am determined to do my best to get off this stuff with God’s help! I hate Prednisone, but without it, I would have died in my hospital bed. Some of us do not have a choice but to take this. Praying that researchers can figure out some alternatives for those of us with severe/deadly autoimmune diseases.
Sandra, I too became even more sick from watching TV. I went in for slight dizziness and my (ex) doctor prescribed Prednisone. He told me 40 mg was the lowest dose available. But I see two mg is the lowest.
After the third dose I woke up at 4:AM sick to my stomach, intensely dizzy, sweating, and my blood pressure was very high. It took eight hours for my blood pressure to start to come down but it took two more weeks for it to get close to normal. This was six weeks ago and I have not been able to work or drive. I am mostly bed bound.
My new doctor suggest Ginger Root supplement to ease the symptoms and it does help sometimes.
I was prescribed 50 mg of prednisone daily for 5 days followed by a 4 day taper (40, 30, 20, 10). By the day I tapered to 20, I woke up at 4 in the morning with one of the worst headaches of my life. It has been more than a week since the final dose. I have crying spells every day. I am so fatigued I can hardly function. I have taken naps which I never take. Yesterday, I slept for 11 hours and still could hardly drag myself out of bed. I have weird muscle cramps in my legs and abdomen that leave my muscles sore like I have bruises. All this and I only had five days of relief from the pain of cervical radiculopathy. How can I feel so terrible after only 10 days of this medication? And when will my body start making its own hormones again? I am so very exhausted and in more pain than when I started.
I was prescribed 10mg of Prednisone for 4 days with no taper. On day 5 I experienced a pretty significant panic attack which brought me back to the ER. They couldnt understand why the previous dr. did not taper my dosage so they prescribed a short tapered dose ranging from 3mg to 1mg over 6 days. It’s now day 3 after and I have still experienced withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, clammy hands and feet, nervousness, and some low fever.
I will recommend to everyone from my experience that you not have caffeine or stimulants while you are taking Prednisone, and that you should monitor your blood sugar after the prescription ends as your blood sugar will most likely drop. I found this out the hard way, and supplemented gatorade to increase my sugar and sodium levels and it has helped alot today. Doctors should give more verbal warnings and aftercare advice about this medication as it can be dangerous and take a while to get over.
My daughter just experienced the same thing. At college she got a severe ear infection. The dr. put her on a low dose for 5 days and then cold turkey. Three days later – she is a mess. She was never given any information and as she is 18, I was not included in the treatment plan.
How long does it take for blood sugar drops to stop? Does anyone know?
My husband was on prednizone on and off for 2 months due to severe Asthma. He suffered many side effects including erectile dysfunction . Been off of it now 3 weeks, how long before he is feeling back to normal ?
My Dr. put me on 10mg of Prednisone for 7 days to help get rid of water and puffiness. Well, I have been off it for about 3 weeks and immediately following ending of the medication, I now have severe abdominal distention. I look like I’m about 6 months pregnant and none of my clothes fit. Wondering if anyone else had this reaction. I was diagnosed with Microscopic Colitis, but this doesn’t seem to go along with that. The Dr.’s don’t seem to know what’s going on, that’s why I thought it may be a reaction to the Prednisone.
Karen, how are you feeling now. I am experiencing your same symptoms
I too have abdominal cramping! My life is on hold… I’m off it now and on Carafate for one month. Taken before meals and at bedtime. Does not work and I’m afraid to eat. The cramping is worse than Labor. Any suggestions that might help would be greatly appreciated.
Drink as much water as you can hold to flush your system out. I’m drinking one glass of milk after another to rid me of one of the hazards of prednisone. Some people can’t tolerate milk though. I pray this helps.
I’ve been of of this med for about 2 months and am laying on the couch typing this with an extended stomach. All I had to eat today were several pieces of toast this morning and my stomach gets huge. I’m going for a walk in awhile and am trying to take as many as I can. I’m hoping this helps flush it out and also give me my muscle tone back. Tired of this mess, and the doctors tell us NOTHING. Good and bad days with stomach, sometimes the less I eat the better.
Stop the bread! I found gluten was the main cause of most of my joint issues. I have RA and was on 20+MG prednisone for over 20 years, (40mg for over a year, prescribed by a nurse practioner that obviously was not educated about the dangers of Prednisone). I have stopped all prednisone about 6 months ago and have gone through all of the withdrawals mentioned on this site.
It took years trying to reduce the dose down to 5mgs because of the side effects, extreme joint pain & depression. My main issue now is a cute urgent diarrhea (no control, BM’s are all water and lots of gas with a lot of abdominal pain). The doctors are telling me it is because of being on prednisone for so many years (one of the withdrawals from long term prednisone).
They can’t say the diarrhea will ever stop, if it does it might take months or even years. I now stay on Immodium so I can at least go out of the house. I had to wear adult diapers for several months because I didn’t have ANY bowel control. I have totally removed gluten, GMO’s and sugar out of my diet, I am now drug free except for Imodium until, hopefully, the diarrhea stops.
I don’t have any joint pain but I sleep about 10 hours a day, I think my body is trying to recover from the withdrawals of the poisons of prednisone, sugar, GMO’s and gluten. Two weeks ago I broke out in hives, I am hoping it is just the poisons from the prednisone leaving my body. Glutens, GMO’s & sugars are just more poisons approved by our government. Get them out of your diet!
Wow. I experienced a sudden onset of arthritis after a major stomach infection (or salmonella) along with uveitis in both eyes. The diarrhea lasted 4 weeks. Have been on prednisone for seven weeks, but feel no relief from the arthritis. My chiropractor recommended a naturopath and suggested that perhaps I may have also suddenly developed food allergies. I’ve gone from 60 mg and am now down to 10 mg.
I’m wondering if I can taper off at 10 mg or if I should do another week of 5mg. So glad to hear your joint pain is gone. What a miracle! I will finally meet with a rheumatologist next week. Hope to find out what’s going on with my body. So frustrating to go from healthy to horrible joint pain and an inability to function.
Uveitis is one of the symptoms of the disease that I have. It is called Behcet’s disease and is basically an inflammatory disease of blood vessels. Since blood vessels occur everywhere it affects every part of my body. It is a rare disease in the US and it took 10 years of escalating symptoms, with the finale being aseptic meningitis, for me to figure out what I had and get on biologics to control the symptoms.
In those years before I was diagnosed the only thing that kept me alive were periodic stays in the hospital on high doses of prednisone. Even after diagnosis I required 40 mg of prednisone per day in addition to my other treatment. Every time I attempted a taper my Behcets would come raging back. A few months ago my Behctes has been stable with 30 mg for 9 months.
I saw my endocrinologist who recommended 20 mg with the option to go to 40 if I was ill. I have done well with that. I had to switch to a new endo who is telling me that I should only be taking 5mg. When I asked about a taper he told me it was perfectly safe for me to drop from 20 to 5. I was worried about it and did not follow his advice.
After doing some reading, including this site, I have decided to: 1) Get a second opinion 2) Taper very slowly 3) Remember that these symptoms are temporary 4) Take lots of hot baths for their ability to aid in detox and pain.
I have had abdominal distention–I have been on and off of prednisone for (3) years–it has been a nightmare and ruined my life–I will do a longer post.
I went to the Dr. for chest rash, anxiety, headache, muscle ache, joint pain, stomach distension, neck pain, can’t sleep, always tired, intestinal cramps, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. He didn’t seem to know what was going on… did some blood and urine tests that I haven’t heard results from yet. After doing research on my own, I found all of you. I quit taking prednisone for sinus inflammation about 3 weeks ago.
I was on it for 4 weeks tapering for one of them. Since the last dose, I feel like crap and until now I didn’t know what was going on. Reading these posts makes me feel like I have an answer but am not looking forward to how long it looks like it takes to get this crap out of my system. Good luck everyone!
I just completed taking a 6 day blister pack of methylprednisolone with 21 tablets 4mg each, starting with 5/day tapering off to 1/day. It’s been 4 days since taking the last dose and I look like I have a beer belly. I feel full even when I eat very little or nothing. I’ve been reading that stomach distention can be a side effect so I’m hoping that’s what’s causing it and wondering how long it will last. The prednisone was prescribed for minor sinus infection!! Doc told me it was no big deal, that it’s what he’d prescribe if someone had poison ivy. A physician assistant friend couldn’t believe a doctor would prescribe it for a sinus condition! What’s the deal with these docs?
I too was given prednisone for a sinus infection and fluid in my ear. I was on the taper for 9 days. Since the last dose, I’ve had blurred vision, sleeplessness, not having an appetite now (while on it, I was eating like someone smoking pot), the skin on my feet feels like its burnt, my muscles and joints hurt like I’m being stabbed, oh yeah I broke out in hives! WHEN does it get better? NEVER will I take this again.
Hi Gene. I, too, took the same pack. 6 days, tapering to one pill on final day. I was diagnosed with lymphocytic colitis and was also taking Lialda. I felt GREAT fit the first week! Energy like crazy, although I didn’t sleep a lot. Then, I was prescribed 10mg for the next 2/3 weeks, tapering to 5 the following week. Now I’m on 5mg every other day, then every 2 days, etc.
I’m dreading ending it completely and pay I don’t have all the withdrawals talked about here. Oddly enough, I did start running a fever last night, with lots of aches and headache, like the flu. But this could actually be withdrawal, from what I’m reading. Some stomach bloat, but it’s not the major complaint.
I have had extreme headaches for nearly 10 years–called tension headaches and/or migraine. Every test and every med have been tried. the one thing that gave me any relief was a 6 day pack of Methylprednisolone or a cortisone shot in my aching neck. The pack did not last long but the shot gave relief when I was at the end of my rope. My doctor does not do the shots and does not px prednisone—he will allow the MP, but relief is short.
One night I was next to insane with the head, and I had some 5mg left over from a previous Dr. who px prednisone freely. In desperation I took 5=25mg. at about 3a.m–by 4a.m I had the most restful night I have had in 10 years followed by several days where I felt like living again, as I tapered down to 5 mg. daily. I believe I need a maintenance dose like this and since I am 85 would be willing to take it for life for the relief. It returned some quality, appetite, zest for life, — I will ask the dr. to reconsider and give me a px for 5mg/daily.
See a neurologist for your headaches. When my migraines go on and on, he gives me 3 days of IV prednisone (outpatient). This gets rid of the headaches and breaks the cycle. He will also prescibe medication not prednisone) for you to take when you start to get a headache and, if needed, prescribe medication to prevent the headaches. Please trust me, this is the best advice that you will ever get. YOU NEED A NEUROLOGIST SPECIALIZING IN HEADACHES. Please post back and let me know how you are doing.
A maintenance dose of 5mg a day is very common. There are very few side effects, and if at age 85 it gives you a life back, go for it.
My daughter, 13, was put on 50mgs of prednisone for just 5 days for a rash on her face…day 3 she started having anxiety attacks that would last for hours. We are now day 4 off the medicine and there is no end in sight. She is coming out of her skin with anxiety, racing thoughts, hysteria – crying, not feeling like herself and unable to cope. I asked her doctor about it and he said he’s never heard of anxiety with this med but ive found countless stories online of people feeling like they are losing their mind on less than 50mgs!! This cant last for months…she cant go to school, can barely make it through the day without me talking her down every second. I dont know what to do other than try to get her some xanax!
Jodi, How long did this last? My daughter is 13 and on day 3 of panic attacks after taking the medicine for only 2 days. I feel horrible for her.
Hi Jodi – I recently was prescribed prednisone for inflammation and ringing in my ear. 50 mg for 5 days. By the third day I was ok the following morning I woke up with my heart rate increased walked my dog and nearly passed out. Went to the hospital was told to stop taking it. I went again to the ER 2 days later for palpitations. I remember taking 20 mg pred for 10 days and when I got off also had palpitations. I did not think anything of it at that time after many Dr visits even a heart monitor on me for 1 month! And to top it off, on the recent 3 days of 50 mg per day did not help with my ears.
Kaycee, Oh I have been on prednisone for sinus infection and swollen sinuses. I have tinnitus-ringing in the ears- and been able successfully to keep at bay…since being on prednisone my ears feel like an electric current between my ears through my head…NEVER had it this badly. And you were ‘given’ prednisone to help the tinnitus? Goodness…I’m praying when I’m off this stuff my head will feel like my own again and my ear ringing will tamp down. Hope I’ve not kicked the buzzing off permanently loud!!
I was given prednisone for a 5 day round, 2 a day no taper. I will never take this again. It was given to me for an emphysema flair up. Didn’t really work and the anxiety and sweats and body pain is horrible. Xanax won’t touch it. Be aware everyone!
Debi, I have learned so much after reading all the many blogs. Most of them are exactly what I have been experiencing and it’s horrible. I intend to have prednisone permanently put on my medical chart as a drug I am totally unable to tolerate. I was on a ten day “pack” for a pinched sciatica nerve due to surgery. I began having withdrawal symptoms before I had even finished the “pack”.
I am so grateful as well as thankful that someone suggested reading these blogs and thank God I took the advice. At least I know I am not losing my mind or something else is about to happen. These blogs, thank all of you, have helped me get through the past 2 days and I believe that with the help of my praying friends I will be able to completely be prednisone free soon even if it takes reading more of these blogs for my sanity. Prednisone is of the devil’s work and NOT for me.
Jodi, Yes, show your doctor these stories. I have been on prednisone for many years, up and down in dosages and these side effects are real and happen to everyone. As do the withdrawals. We place blame on our children for being ADHD or bad etc. and we do not often think of some of the medications they are on. Like prednisone and any asthma medications it puts kids out of their minds and we as parents are not even warned about these effects other then on the paperwork from the pharmacist which NOW I read all of the time.
My daughter has been prescribed steroids several times for asthma issues when she was younger, pills, inhaler, and she went through hell for weeks on it and then coming off it. With kids they do not seem to taper the liquid form as much. It’s a killing drug, but its also a life saving drug as I can attest. I hate to take it for rheumatoid arthritis and especially the quantities I have had to, but it has been so many times that or shooting my limbs off from the pain.
Even pain pills, IVs do not help the pain of RA. Children, teens also do not understand WHY they are feeling this way so its even more confusing and also double the hormones because of the adrenal playing such a huge part when we take prednisone/steroids. I pray she is doing much much better and she does not have to take it again.
SHORT TERM USE CAN CAUSE WITHDRAWAL. AI have been searching and searching for someone ELSE that has had withdrawal from short term use. I was prescribed this freaking drug for a sinus infection, took he med for 3 days, missed day 4 and by the following day I thought I was going crazy. I was emotional, tearful, anxious, nauseous, dizzy, fatigued, insomnia, etc. The worst I had ever felt in my life! I will ever again take this drug.
OMG Thanks to everyone on this site. I know that it’s not me but this awful drug. I had a terrible asthma flare up and was give a 7 day 30mg prednisolone course. Took the whole course and now, two days later have dreadful stomach cramps, dizziness, headache and pins and needles in my hands and feet. Rang the GP who dismissed my concerns as nonsense. Hope I feel better soon but at least, as I said, it is comforting to know others have had similar problems.
Oh man I’m glad I found this! I don’t know how old these posts are but I was given 80mg for a week for asthmatic bronchitis. I’ve been off several days but it seems my fatigue is so much worse. My doctor was kind of nonchalant about the taper, because I’d taken prednisone in the past, and said I should take the high dose longer and do a shorter taper if I was still having chest congestion after a few days on.
So I kept the dose high! My partner had pneumonia at the same time and got 60 mg for 5 days, no taper, so I assumed it would be okay. So thankful that I’m not having anxiety or depression because I am a very treatment resistant depressive, but being exhausted all the time is making me sick to my stomach when I try to accomplish anything.
Sorry I’m rambling. Wishing you all a quickened recovery! At least now I can tell myself I’m not just being lazy and can try to be gentle with myself (very difficult to do). Hugs!
My daughter was given a 6-day medrol taper 2 weeks ago by an oral surgeon who took her wisdom teeth out. By day 3 on the drug she was calling me from her college town hysterical, raging and talking suicide. She does not normally have mental health issues. I didn’t know anyone to help her who was local, or what was going on, so I had the police pick her up and take her to the ER.
The doc there told her that psychosis was a not-uncommon side effect of prednisone and she should stop taking it. She was put into a 72-hour psych hold at a mental health facility. It has been 10 days since she took the last one, and she is depressed and having crazy mood swings still. I can’t find on this board how long this lasts. Your use of the drug seems to mirror my daughters, please tell me how long it took for you to feel OK again. Thanks.
I was on short term usage at 25mg for 5 days 12.5 for 5 days 10 for 5 days then 5mg for 5 days. Have been off a week now but still feel very tired, dizzy, with blurry eyes. Apparently this is quite common even when used short term. Hopefully will get back to normal sooner than later.
I started a 5 day 50 mg dose of pred. I haven’t slept all night. I’ve read all these people talk about mental-anxiety. My heart has been pounding since I took it 19 hrs ago. Should I just not take anymore? I can’t go 4 days without sleep. Especially since I have severe depression to start.
Oh dear, after reading all these comments I feel I got off quite lightly! I was taking prednisolone 80mg a day for 2 weeks for a severe chest infection. When I stopped it I felt awful, drained of energy, tired, weak and depressed. However, that has now cleared and I’m nearly ‘normal’ again but for now having very blurred vision?
I wear glasses all the time but am finding it very difficult to focus, driving is becoming a problem, even watching TV. It’s about 3-4 weeks since I stopped the prednisolone but after reading some stuff on here I’m wondering if my vision disturbances are a side effect of these drugs? Anyone else had this problem?? Thanks for taking the time to read my comments.
Yes. Vision can be impaired. This terrible drug causes cataracts for 1 thing and sometimes glaucoma. I’m getting off 4 years of this darn poison. I’m done. I’d rather just die and get it over with. P.S.: I just had cataract surgery and I can see again! I have other side effects too numerous to mention. (I did that a couple years ago in this trail of comments).
Yes I currently have hazy vision after being off of methylprednisone for 5 weeks today. I’ve never worn or needed glasses before.
I was on prednisone for a little over two years. I started to notice that my vision would suddenly crisscross, the things I was looking at would suddenly be seen as if looking through Kaleidoscope. I mentioned it to my eye doctor and he ended up putting prisms in my lenses to correct the problem. I also have moments with hazy, and blurry vision.
None of which I had prior to using the prednisone. I developed a condition called Steven-Johnson’s Syndrome from a reaction to a sulfa drug. That is when the prednisone came into play for me. While it did cure certain things, I have often wondered if time would have afforded me the same relief without all of the side effects I have faced over the past few years. Good luck to you.
I read that prednisone can increase incidence of cataracts & glaucoma. If you have cataracts, it can speed their progression. You should see an opthamologist if you’re on steroids and having focus issues.
Bobbi, I was on a 5 DAY 60 MG. dose with no taper for TMJ and sinus infection from January 25th-29th this year (2016). Today is two weeks since my last dose and my body is not happy! Two days after my last dose I was so tired and it has gotten worse from there. I have had every withdrawal symptom except vomiting and rash.
I thought it was the Bactrim DS I was also on for 14 days, so doctor told me to stop the Bactrim DS after only ten days (that was February 3rd), thankfully! Doctor told me it could not possibly be the Prednisone. Ha! Well, this last Monday, February 8th, found me in the EL with racing heartbeat, high blood pressure, anxiety, fear, panic, thinking I was feeling I was going to die, internal shaking from naval to sternum, weakness, fatigue, body shaking, hands, too, muscle and joint pain, horrible neck, shoulder and mid-back pain, especially on left side and anorexia.
I told the doctor I thought it was from the Bactrim DS (oddly enough the side effects of Prednisone withdrawal and Bactrim mirror each other a lot), and gave him a list of my symptoms, which he ignored, but my nurse looked at it and he seemed to think I was on to something. The doctor gave me a bag of saline and Benadryl along with a 40 mg dose of potassium, plus a prescription for 5 days of potassium and discharged me.
He told me to stay on the Benadryl as long as my symptoms lasted, but only ever 8 hours instead of 6 since I seem to be very, very sensitive to medications. At the ER, I also discovered I had lost 5 pounds in 5 days. On this Wednesday, February 10th, I went to the appointment I had scheduled the day of my ER trip. I took the typewritten list of my symptoms to my Family Nurse Practitioner and she actually looked at it!
As I was telling her my whole saga, she heard me tell her I was spotting or my menstrual was early and her demeanor completely changed . She looked me in the eye and told me it was not the Bactrim DS, but the Prednisone! Eureka!! She said it is very rare, but she has seen this happens to other patients and she told me she tries to never prescribe corticosteroids, especially Prednisone/Medrol to women because it can really mess up our systems.
She told me to finish my potassium prescribed by DR doctor and put me on the smallest dose of Clonidine possible, half of a .01 mg. tablet before bed. I have taken it the last two nights and have had insomnia and anxiety on it. I cannot win! Cox told me I could try Benadryl at night again and see if it helps. I hate the Benadryl, as it can wire me and make me woozy and foggy headed.
I am a self-employed massage therapist with a thriving practice and no insurance and I have not been able to work this entire week! My family depends on my income, so that makes my racing heart and anxiety worse at moments. I know this was really long, but people looking for help need solutions. One of my friends has been going through a similar thing since a cortisone shot in his wrist on January 7th, 2016 and he told me the racing heart and anxiety subside with time.
He has had symptoms for over a month. He recommended Calm Plus, which is magnesium, calcium, vitamins C, K and D3, which he said seems to help. He also suggested Hawthorn Berry for blood pressure but I am holding off on that. A client of mine has also recently gone through this. She said it took he three weeks to get through, but she got a cortisol manager made by Integrative Therapeutics, from our local Naturopath, that she said really helped.
I called the Naturopath, but he is out until Monday, so that is where I am at the moment. As I sit with my sweet therapy/nurse dog, typing and drinking tons of water I am feeling better than last night, despite little sleep. My case is rare, but I will do my best to repost updates of possible helpful treatments and my healing time frame.
Good luck to all and God bless us all! May we all recover quickly and fully! Feel free to reply and I will do my best to answer you!
Hi everyone! I was diagnosed with HSP in January of this year! A very rare kidney disease for a man my age 55! I started taking prednisone on January 18th. I was at one point taking 80mg’s of the prednisone! Yes lots of crazy side effects! I have a wonderful Internal med Doctor and an amazing dermatologist and kidney specialist!
I was warned by all 3 of my Dr.s about the side effects of the dreaded prednisone! I did my own research on the medication as my Dr.’s recommend. I have feeling of depression but I take medication for that which helps. Plus I see a Psychiatrist to help with the anxiety! And yes less energy!!!! I am just happy that my kidneys and liver are operating beautifully. Good luck to all of us! We can get through it! Tommy
I have been weaning off the prednisone for almost 2 months! Down to 20mg until May 27th! That’s after more blood and urine tests! And a final diagnoses of the rare kidney disease called HSP! Good luck to everyone on this blog! Tommy
Hi. I have been on prednisone for asthma. I’ve been hospitalized 57 days total of 3 times being admitted in last 20 months. In hospital IV steroids 240 mgs a day. Tapering to 80 then home and months of tapering down. I’ve lost 50% of my hair, my skin is peeling, ANXIETY bad enough they put me on Xanax and told me it was a side effect from prednisone, no sleep, blood pressure went high and I normally have low.
Just to name a few of this horrible drugs side effects. I hate it, but it’s either this or not being able to breathe. Now I’m off for 4 days and have terrible headaches with decrease in appetite… not complaining there as I gained weight taking drug.. And nausea. I’m glad after reading all comments on this site to see its all unfortunately pretty normal. Wishing you all better health and prednisone free days ahead.
I thought I was the only person on the planet that had this asthma problem that doesn’t want to go away! After almost 3 years pretty much constantly on prednisone, I hope I can get off of it someday, not yet tho! :(
I was prescribed a ten day dose of prednisone which was supposed to help inflammation for my pinched nerve. The first day I felt sleepy. The second and third day my pain was dulled, but I could still feel the inflammation radiating off my shoulder. Halfway through the week I started having MAJOR anxiety. I thought I was losing my mind, and had thoughts of suicide.
Decided to quit cold turkey. Muscle pain came the very next day, and my mind… I think I’m losing it. The only thing my doc said was prednisone might make me “edgy”. BULL! I don’t know if I’ll ever feel myself again, and still don’t know what to do about the pain! Don’t take this drug!!!
Prednisone impersonates cortisol in your body. Your brain/hypothalamus senses the “cortisol” level as being high/ok so it does not secrete ACTH which it would when levels of cortisol ran low naturally. So ACTH is suppressed. The adrenals are normally stimulated by ACTH.
Now adrenals make more than just cortisol. They make aldolsterone which impacts fluid and electrolyte balance, they make DHEA which is both a neurosteroid and the precursor to estrogen and testosterone (cut off the raw material and you have lower sex hormones, night sweats ladies… this is why), and lastly they make catecholamines like adrenaline and noradrenaline.
Normally this stuff is secreted in nice smooth tightly controlled feedback mechanisms. And it is diurnal, ACTH highest and cortisol highest in the morning low at bedtime. Prednisone or any glucocorticoid is bursty and affects all of these adrenal outputs.
I came of 1 year of high doses, finally quit cold turkey and almost died with pain. Went back to Rheumatologist and she put me on low doses for several months. I quit again recently but was back down to about 3mg. I have sore muscles, loose skin, my hands (of all things) are always in pain. I find it difficult to get in and out of cars, etc. I just wonder how long this will take to go away. And will it go away? I hate my loose skin also. Wondr how to deal with that. And everyone is right…..it is poison and I can’t wait for it to leave my body.
To Beverly Galante, I am tapering after 2 years on prednisone. I have PMR. I had what I thought was severe sciatica but now realize that it was prednisone withdrawal. I have been on 5 mg for a long time. My neck hurts, it feels like someone is stabbing me in the hip, my shoulder, fingertips, lower legs and toes have pins and needles. I can barely take it anymore. I have to talk to my Dr. to help me get off of this poison. I hope I can make it through the pain.
Thanks to everyone who has commented. I have been on Prednisone since 2002, currently 2mgs a day. I have been trying to get off the drug for almost a year. (I had temporal arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica). But my SED rates go to 30 or 40 and I experience many of the symptoms mentioned in the article and comments. I am really grateful because I will now power through them knowing I am not alone and what the symptoms of withdrawal can be!
Hi Ltnash, I, too, have PMR (self-diagnosed). I took Prednisone for 3 months and it was a huge help in combating the pain and inflammation. I weaned myself off from it as quickly as I could. I found that 4 foods trigger my inflammation; sugar, gluten, caffeine and alcohol. If I stay away from these offenders, I feel better. I wonder if any one else has experienced this.
Hi! I took prednisone for 10 mths. because of PMR. I did make a connection between flares and gluten. Of course, my rheumatologist looked at me like I was crazy when I tried to explain this to her.
Golly, you are talking about my four major food groups! But seriously, I also have PMR and others I’ve talked to who also have it have said the same…gluten, alcohol, caffeine & sugar have caused flareups for them, either one alone or in combination. I have only been on prednisone for 2 weeks. Only 6 hours after my first dose of 40mgs, ALL my pain was gone and total functionality returned.
(I had been bedridden the previous 8 weeks before finally being diagnosed.) My doctor is now reducing dosage to 15mg per day, so am very anxious to see how I’m going to handle the “weaning” process. My worse side effect since starting the prednisone is balance issues and my brain is foggy. Can’t stop darting from one project to the next; so wired all the time. These blogs have been very helpful!
Hi Sue. So glad to have confirmation of what I have experienced. I went to numerous doctors and even though I wasn’t diagnosed with PMR by any of them, the rheumatologist prescribed Prednisone and it was a life saver. Once I had the pain better under control, I started making headway healing. It’s been a year and I’m 85% better. I’m exercising to get stronger and trying to eat healthy, which is very hard. But if I don’t, I feel inflamed and achy. My prayer is for complete healing. When I weaned myself off of Prednisone, it was a slow and careful process. Don’t hurry it but keep moving forward.
I was diagnosed with Still’s disease 2 years ago and have been on prednisone for that time. I am currently taking 2mg and just about to come off completely. Reading all these comments has made me feel less anxious about the symptoms I have been experiencing since tapering down. I am constantly tired, experience lack of appetite and muscle soreness. I know the prednisone saved my life but am longing for the time when I can feel like my old self again. Hang in there everyone and continue to share experiences because it definitely helps others.
I wonder why there aren’t more therapists or doctors who specialize in prednisone / corticosteroid counseling and withdrawals. I think there should be a special type of clinic or even rehab type institution for people on and coming off corticosteroids, because it’s inevitably physiologically very confusing for our bodies which confuses our minds too, and we feel alone in it because most of our local friends and immediate family members have not had to be put on it much or ever…
Hello Ruth I’m also a rare bird diagnosed with Still’s in 2014 I’ve been on and off prednisone since July 2014 I’m going to share what has worked for me in the hopes it helps someone else get through their “treatment.” At first I had a lot of really bad side effects then we found some vitamins that I am not allergic to (Youngevity – Tangy Tangerine and Ultimate daily). I now take a LOT of supplements and I no longer get the pounding headaches and feeling like a caged animal.
I am currently tapering off from several months of 50 mg/day which saved my thumb and whatever was going on with my eyes, probably also a few things going on inside too that needed it. I have gone paleo hard core no gluten no starch still working on giving up tea gave up honey no sugar. Extreme diet it does make a difference even more than the prednisone.
I suspect a lot of the side effects are due to us being in a depleted state from poor nutrition and then the fevers make it even worse when we lose even more through the heavy sweats. I have been pounding on the vitamins and it really has helped still have side effects but they are not so intense. For the stomach cramps and pain I have been on Apo-Omeprazole 20mg each night works wonders I can’t tolerate the prednisone at all without it.
For sleep I have been using 10mg Melatonin 45 minutes before bed helps a bit, I can sleep for about 4 hours at a time and I need to have a nap in the afternoon. When I taper off I get a few days of you have been seriously poisoned a couple of days after my last dose where my body purges itself, I have to drink lots of fluids and again liquid vitamins to get through it.
Hoping I will not have to go back on it again ever. I am focusing on getting stronger and healthier and each day a little better and better. I use hot magnesium baths for the muscle ache stiff sore I can’t move times helps a lot. I only take the prednisone because the other drugs they want me on are even worse.
I was told outright by the rheumatologist that those drugs wouldn’t even work but I have to fail on them first before they can put me on the experimental not covered by any insurance $30,000/month “your now a guinea pig drug,” that might work. No Thanks. I am now looking for a new doctor. Hope this info helps someone God Bless.
I found a youtube video on lowering coritsol that others may also find helpful. https://youtu.be/L2fKo_dbXS0
Sheila, hope your pain has lessened some by now. I too was on prednisone for almost 3 years for a chronic kidney disease. After adjusting to all the many side effects, I did obtain relief of my kidney problems. I then went on a scaled reduction from 80 mg down to 5 mg then stopping all together. I am now experiencing all the painful symptoms your described. The sharp pain in my hips is like being stabbed by a knife. I wake with stiff shoulders, knees, and hands. When I mentioned my hip pain to my MD, she only offered to order an x-ray. So glad to learn that my joint & muscle pain is due to prednisone “withdrawal”. Hope it goes away soon – it’s been rough for the last 3 months!
Roy, Thank you for your post. I had a kidney transplant 2012 and part of the medications regimen is Predinsone. I detest this medication. I developed Cushing Syndrome (hump in upper back) Gout in both legs (my feet and legs was looking like pizza), gained over 75lbs, loss of vision on the sides and a laundry list of aliments. I made the decision to taper down until I am completely off.
Marsha – my question is, since you had a kidney transplant, don’t you think the prednisone helped your body KEEP THE NEW KIDNEY? If you had not taken the steroid for an organ transplant, you might not even be here today.
Marsha, I have been on 10 mg, alternate day since my kidney transplant in 1968. I may have had some side effects, but none of them life threatening as rejection would be.
Hi Sheila – I got PMR 3 years ago and went on 60 mg. All the sed rate tests made me stay on them but gradually after 3 years, I’m down to 4 mg for another 2 weeks. She said to decrease 1 mg every 4 weeks as long as my sed rate is in the 40’s. Can’t go off them too fast or you will be in trouble. I think the PMR has finally run its course after 3 years. It was a horrible time on those poison pills. Hope it doesn’t come back but she said it might. UGH!
I just came off prednisone after a year on a tapered dose, I was being treated for PMR but also have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Since I stopped it I have a discomfort in the pit of my stomach, burping a lot and a burning sensation in my chest. I’m wondering if the burning in my chest is more of an anxiety? After reading all these posts? Not usually an anxious person but recently moved and that was stressful and I discontinued it a week after moving, I had tapered down to 2.5mg 2xs a week. Thanks for any feedback!
I have PMR also, 68 and on prednisone since 2011. Have been reducing for some time now went to 2 mg last fall and feel like I have been hit by a truck most of the time, stomach issues, cold sweats, etc. After reading these I am wondering about going back up to 3 mg where I kinda felt really good. Thoughts or suggestions?
Sheila, I was on such high doses at first for Giant Cell Arteritis. Then after 2 years I got so many symptoms, my rheumi put me back on low doses. Today, I am on 2 mg a day and the pain in my muscles is driving me crazy. I am determined to taper in the next month to 1 mg and then off.
I hope you have gotten relief since the last time I wrote back a year ago. But it’s called PMR (Polymyalgia rheumatic) and it is devastating as well. No more poison after I’m all done with this. I would rather die too. Honest.
Omg! While I was reading your comment I thought it was me writting this, we are going through the exact same situation. I also was taking 5mg for 2 yrs. My last dose was the 2nd week of November 2015, here it’s April 2016 and I am still in excruciating pain, stabbing in arms, etc.
Bettie, how are you doing now?
Beverly, I turn 35 this Aug and I have been on prednisone since diagnosed with Lupus and Reynaud’s. I couldn’t use my hands due to digital ulcers. As much as it has helped me when I was literally dying in pain, is as bad as it has destroyed my body. Got AVN and just had a hip replacement. I am now losing teeth partly from Lupus but the prednisone didn’t help.
I have tried many times to get off with epic failures. After this past hip replacement I decided that’s enough. I am tapering very slow, currently on 2.5 now and man oh man I can barely get out of bed. All that keeps me going on with this taper is hope it will soon end. If I knew then… but I’m sure we all have said that. Also as a side note, I am a court reporter and also get major hand pain. I find what helps with the inflammation stiffness and pain is one of those foam stress balls.
Not a hard one that you need to really struggle but just something that uses that movement. I actually use my soba Kawa pillow (not sure of the spelling). I do it every night and it helps so much. Even a regular pillow just something you can hold onto and squeeze. Weird but I find relief. -Donna
I have been on prednisone for over 9 years. My doses have varied anywhere from 5mg all the way up to 80mg a day sometimes twice a day. They had me on a taper for a month, well I thought I was do e with my taper and wow have I been very wrong. I would not wish this pain on anyone ever. My entire body hurts so bad I want to throw up from this excruciating pain all over. I sure hope it all ends soon and that doctors can find another medicine that they can give to us “in need” other than this demon drug.
Wow. I was wondering if anyone else has been on prednisone for a really extended amount of time. I have been on it for 7 years, even during two pregnancies. Even with tapering, the withdrawal symptoms are hell.
Help! I tapered off prednisone after 7 years of 5 mg daily. It has been two months since my last pill and I have the worst aching and pain in my legs I have ever had! How long do these symptoms last?
I have just got off Prednisone after 2 & 1/2 years tapering very slowly. For 2 weeks I felt great then I got awful pain in my leg, which was unbearable, the doctor gave me painkillers which didn’t even touch the pain, but upset my stomach. After no sleep for 3 weeks the pain started to subside to being sore rather than painful.
After reading some of the posts it seems this is par for the course and is to be expected. So why don’t the doctors just explain this so we can accept it and deal with it best we can? Just hoping this adjustment to normal body functions doesn’t take too long.
It’s probably muscle pain and weakness from the poison. Take an over the counter pain med. Wait for another several months and I think you might see improvement. Take vitamins and I find that turmeric power (1/2 tsp) in milk with honey is very helpful for inflammation. Good luck.
Prednisone is poison. You will find doctors out there and online who continue to say that it is a perfectly wonderful drug for many things. I was given Prednisone for poison oak. I already had severe PTSD from a horrific trauma. I told the nurse practitioner and she told me there were “very few side effects” to prednisone. This is a lie. When I told my allergist this, she told me that there are so many side effects to Prednisone, they don’t even know what they all are.
She told me that someone like me should have been warned and that my Psychiatrist should have been called immediately. Instead, I was given a muscle relaxer to take three times per day and had to take more of my anti-anxiety than normal. Even with those things, this has been a nightmare. I have thought about suicide, it is so awful. I will never touch this drug again. I am thinking of having every part of my landscaping removed so I can never come in contact with poison oak/ivy again. Prednisone hijacks your central nervous system.
If you continue to search and see what HUMANS say instead of these doctors who are obviously getting kickbacks for giving us this poison, you will see that the incidents involving mental and physical breakdowns from this stuff is far higher than 5%. Do not take this. If I was ever in a health crisis and told to take prednisone or die, I would choose death. While withdrawing, I am having worse PTSD nightmares than I have ever had.
TDM, I just read your post again. I think that you could have taken mucho doses of Vitamin C for your allergy to poison oak/ivy. I’m so sorry this doctor was stupid enough to give you prednisone. I had a severe allergy to a medicine given to me at a hospital for a problem that they caused. I broke out like a Christmas tree. My husband called my naturepathic doc and he prescribed heavy doses of vit. C and it was gone in 3 hours. Let me tell you, I was BAD! It had me screaming into a pillow until finally the vit C kicked in. I hate doctors. I think that unless I am dying, I will just keep going to my naturpath. I take suplements now. I pray my symptoms of muscle pain, join pain and stomach aches go away soon. And good luck to you. Please know that even if I don’t know you, that you are loved. And don’t worry, you will get your health restored very soon.
Thank you all so much for posting your experiences. I really have felt like I’m going insane (although logically I’m trying to think my way through this crazy mania). I’m experiencing several of the side effects including a full blown panic attack today. Achy body, depression… this is the worst. I describe it as feeling like fear and loathing in las vegas is going on in my head. Complete chaos. Reading these other experiences helps. Beverly you are loved too! Thank you.
I am currently in the throes of hell coming off only one week of prednisone. Took 50mg a day for 7 days and felt really hyper and lightheaded with racing jumpy feelings. Day 2 of no drug and was not tapered and I am feeling crazy. Anxious and irritated like crazy sore muscles and spasms, winded and breathless at the slightest movement.
I was prescribed 20mg per day of prednisone for a mystery rash and stopped cold turkey after 5 days. This stuff is horrible! Never again! I thought I was having a breakdown. Jittery, angry, and out of control paranoid. I have never been on this poison and will never go near it. The allergist said I must be very sensitive since she gave me such a low dose.
Can’t understand why I wasn’t told of the horrific side effects. It’s been two weeks and I still feel a little strange but definitely better. My advice – run if a doctor wants to give you this evil drug unless it’s life or death because you will suffer! Also, I still feel like the water weight has not gone away and I am fairly slim but it’s mostly in my stomach. Another wonderful side effect that is holding on!
I too went through hell from having poison oak and being put on this prednisone garbage. It has messed me up. The doctors are idiots and think a short term course does nothing. I ended up in the ER from prednisone induced gastritis and weigh less now than before I started that evil drug from being so sick and not being able to eat after coming off and diarrhea. NEVER again.It has been 4 week and getting better but I am not myself as I was before. I had major anxiety and thought I was dying and still wonder if I am.
Darlene,
I feel the exact same way you feel. I was on this drug for two weeks. And had to stop because of anxiety. I have been off for a little more than two weeks and still feeling crazy. I haven’t slept right since I stopped. I also lost weight on this drug not gained. Bless you!
Andrew, I hope you have gotten better. I am still trying to get back to normal if that is ever POSSIBLE. It has been 5 1/2 weeks since the last pill was taken. I wish I could find a doctor that believed Prednisone was the devil’s pill.
Darlene, How are you feeling now? I have been off for 5 1/2 weeks now and still not back to my self. I have spoke to many people who had the same reaction we did. They said it takes time but you will be back to normal. I mainly have anxiety/breathing issues and feel tense at times. Hope you feel better! Bless you!
Darlene and Andrew! Thank God for people willing to share how they feel with others! I have been off this EVIL pill for 4 weeks+ and still feel so horriible – though sometimes I feel not so bad than other days. My MD says I don’t know what I am talking about, but I will NEVER take this again – I don’t care what happens to me, nor will I ever allow anyone I love to take it. It is from the devil I am sure. I am praying all day, every day, that you guys feel better soon. Pray for me! I need every prayer I can get. xoxx God bless!!
Darlene or Andrew, almost a year later, how do you feel? I last took prednisone in March 2015 (a short, but high dose course) and still have anxiety issues that I’m dealing with everyday.
Hi Darlene, Curious to know how you are feeling now and how long it took for you to get back to normal? Did you do anything to help with the process??
I have been on 5mg prednisone since diagnosed with RA in 2009. Haven’t been off no longer than 2 weeks at any given time. My doctor retired, and the new doctor on my second visit said sorry no more prednisone. The next words were this is the devils drug. Well I am in hell now and would rather die than feel this way.
I am only 4 weeks into withdrawals and I definitely do not see the light at the end. I am scared to death, when this will be over!!! If given the option prednisone again or death at 46 I would choose death. I have never dealt with anything like this before, I could not put it into words if I tried ???.
There are so many negative experiences that I feel I just have to share mine. I tumbled upon withdrawal symptoms for prednisolone by mere chance, so many people without symptoms will never even seek or find this place. I had a severe case of colitis ulcerosa where they considered to cut out my colon. I had lost all my iron deposits in my body and had lost over half my blood.
First they gave me 75mg prednisolone for 3 days, it helped slightly. So 4 more days. They discharged me. Then 7 days 60mg, then 50mg and 5mg less every week.Now, two months after currently at 10mg, what have been my side effects? Extreme hunger in the beginning, not so much now. I had lost a lot of weight because of the blood loss, so I gained 10kg (which was good) due to the increased hunger.
I’ve gotten some acne which sucks a bit, but it sure beats getting your colon cut out. I probably have been a bit moody, but nothing some self control and saying “sry I’m a douche” won’t fix. Again, beats getting colon cut out. Maybe I’m slightly tired on just 10mg?
I cant tell for sure, I used to nearly have no blood and couldn’t walk up stairs without nearly dying, and I’m 28 years old male, who was normally fit before. So from 75mg to 10mg my side effects have been very acceptable, thinking what it did for me. Prednisolone is a steroid yes, it’s a wonder drug really, a last ditch effort.
If they use it in high dosage, its usually because the other options are very unappealing. It might have saved my life really.Feeling a little sucky in the process after is completely acceptable. And sure beats sh#tting blood 15 times a day before.
Michelle, could you give us an update as to how you’re doing now? Would be grateful to know, looking for hope in my fifth week of withdrawal. Endo and ER have washed their hands of me. They don’t believe this is possible at this point.
When did you start to feel better? Just want to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
I would like to know about a light at the end of the tunnel myself. Have been going through the on/lower Prednisone game for about 5 years now and its literally killing me. I have been on a 15mg a day routine to try to control Rheumatoid Arthritis because no other drugs will work for me after some 13 years of suffering. In the last 2 months I have been on my “regular” 15mg a day and then due to RA flair ups this amount more: 2 courses of 60mg to 0 taper over 10 days, 2 IV’s of it at ER 60 mgs, 2 shots into joints just a week ago, and now I am trying to stay at only 10 mg which is is 5 less then my usual dose for the RA.
I had never realized before what my ups and downs on steroids was doing to me, and why, what was going on in my body physiology that caused all of these side effects. I thought I was just crazy with all of these symptoms and I am sure husband thought I was also over the years. Even with all of the “extra” doses of steroids to treat flair ups I always had to stick to the 15mg a day to somewhat control the RA and be able to move somewhat. Then I was suffering all of the side effects, and withdrawal effects. BOTH OF THEM!
It has been so helpful to understand so much reading this article and thank God I found it and all of your comments. All of you are short term users of steroids and have all of these effects, and I cannot imagine if I run across someone like me on it for so many years, or even just how much I have had the last 2 months, and read their story.
I just know its Thanksgiving and no one understands why all I can do is curl up freezing to death, sweating till I saturate my bed, sleep, dream, cry, hurt, stomach, well every symptom up there. And I need to go and make the stuffing! I hope you all feel better now and I hope there is someone to say that its all over, no more side effects, no more withdrawals.
Dee, Mary, Leigh, May God bless you all. I am 110%+ back to normal. It took about 9-10 months for my body to fully recover from this drug. I learned a lot about this medication through my experience. I can assure you all there is hope for you. Even when you are at your worst. It just takes a very long time for your body to reset after taking this med. You are all in my prayers. Bless you! If you have any questions please feel free to ask, due to my experience and knowledge gained through this time I periodically look back at this form just to pray for people going through what I went through.
Hi…I just came off of a 10 day, 50mg (once per day) diet of prednisone to help combat a moderately severe asthmatic bronchitis. The condition cleared up and I am thankful for that but now I think I am showing signs of diabetes. Dry mouth, peeing quite a bit(and long pees), blurred vision (yesterday and today), and generally just a very odd, somethings just not quite right feeling.
I’m a shift worker so I feel quite tired most of the time anyways. I will be going in to have blood tests done to see what our going on. The first time I took a prednisone I read about it afterwards..I was stunned at the long list of potential and serious side effects. I wanted to stop taking them immediately but I had bigger fish to fry that needed healing. I am 2 days removed from taking my last pill. I hope these ugly feelings go away.
Hi Andrew, Do you know whether DEPO-MEDROL causes similar side effects? I was given 40 mg on Nov 13, and 4 mg decadron. Even though I run a mile or two almost every day now. I still have some issues: tremors, agitation, pressure drop… Any knowledge on that? Thank you. -Denys
I was treated with methylprednisolone for 14 days also for an asthmatic bronchitis. I immediately noticed the rapid heart beat and decreased energy level. I’m done with the treatment but today I dealt with tremors and muscle aches. It’s been pretty painful. No energy either. And have even noticed a drastic change in libido :(… can’t wait to feel like myself again.
Hi Andrew, I have so many questions. Experiencing the same symptoms. It’s been nearly 3 months since I received a high dose of prednisone in the ER for anxiety. What did you do to help you recover? Did it just occur spontaneously?
I agree prednipoison is poison. It should be outlawed but since the pharma mafia runs the country, it will continue to be prescribed like candy.
I just wanted to add some balance to this conversation. I was mostly bedridden before my reactive arthritis was identified and I was put on steroids. My symptoms improved with each dose and within 24 hours I saw significant improvement. I agree that the side effects are awful, especially for some.
But without this drug I might have to deal with weeks or months more of being limited mostly to residing on my posterior. And that’s with two little kids to take care of. I’m very grateful for Prednisone. I’m also grateful for getting off them after 5 months of treatment and tapering. Hopefully it won’t be 5 months before I’m free of the withdrawal symptoms!
Doug- I agree with you. I have had literally no other options than to be on corticosteroid treatments long term, on and off, due to pulmonary & immune conditions. People who have Not ever had to experience NEEDING this medicine Long Term in order to survive do Not understand the PROS are obviously going to outweigh all the cons.
I too was diagnosed with Reactive Arthritis. I was put on Prednisone for 2 and a half years to help control the Arthritis, as well as a number of other ailments that were caused by a Sulfa drug reaction. I am far too familiar with all of the symptoms that you all are writing about. The other thing that Prednisone did for me was eat away the Femoral head of my left hip.
So while I was suffering from the side effects, I had to prepare for a hip replacement. I agree with many of you that this drug should be outlawed, however, there are some of us who would have suffered greatly without the miracle it can perform on some illnesses. It has been three years and my hip still bothers me a great deal.
Prednisone is a two sided coin. One bearing the face of a patron saint, and the other a blazing image of Satan himself. I wish you all blessings and well being. It is a tough situation to be in. Seeking help and finding a long period of chaos as a result. I’m praying for you all.
I agree, only thing that. Gets me up and moving. Been on it off and on since I was 42. Today I want to play golf. So in order to get my hands to work I take 20 mg. Tomorrow I go back on 5 mg. It’s the only way I have a life. I suffer from RA and asthma. Prednisone saves my life.
I’m so happy to hear these stories of short term use. I was prescribed this cursed medication from Satan in January short term for a week 60 mg. I had the several withdrawal symptoms every evening, I would tell my spouse,” Here comes the stomach cramps.” And proceed to roll on the couch with pain. Not to mention the Anxiety, it’s March I still suffer with panic attacks and I’ve not had a normal nights sleep since.
That is awful. I have a mental disorder and am just getting off of this drug and felt suicidal out of nowhere as well. I use EMDR to treat my disorder, which was developed for PTSD. Though this probably will not help with nightmares, as I sometimes have nightmares on the days I do the EMDR while the feelings are being processed, but I feel very good the next day.
Reading all these stories makes me realize I’m not crazy!! I have been sick for 4 months now. Am 31 years old and had a clot in my lung and both my legs. After months of tests we find out I have streptococcal reactive arthritis from a strep infection. I have been on 10mg of prednisone for the past 3 weeks and have never felt so sick in my life.
I am being tapered off it at the moment but I feel like I need to just stop cold turkey. I get the worst shakes, heart palpitations, nausea, light headiness, breathlessness and the list continues. I have now been put on methotrexate also. I will never ever recommend prednisone to anyone it is the worst drug I have ever taken in my life.
Melissa, please don’t go cold turkey. Even though I went off the crap slowly I think I should have gone slower. I haven’t slept more than 4 hrs at a time in over 3 wks. I also get shakes, mostly my legs & so dizzy & sick.
I’m sure we’ll all make it, especially knowing we’re not all a bunch of weaklings who simply won’t “suck it up”. As bad as the pain from RA & withdrawals is I think the deepest pain is people, even loved ones, simply not understanding. Keep the faith, kindred spirits!!!
I’ve been on this for 3 days and I’m quitting especially after reading these comments. I was prescribed after having an allergic reaction to something that made me extremely itchy. Today had the rapid heartbeat, anxious, dizzy feeling followed by a rash that looked like welts. I am a fitness professional and my life is physically demanding. Ugh! I regret not researching this prior.
I would NOT recommend Prednisone. I was prescribed over the holidays, though doctors were not sure of my true health conditions. Terrible stomach and intestines cramps, that ruined my life, from Thanksgiving until the New Year. I would not take, or recommend this medicine. I’d rather pay more, and go for a more natural alternative.
I thank you so much. I have PTSD and I am calling my psychiatrist right now. I am on day 3 and I am losing my mind. He will be able to help me, hopefully.
I was on it for 6 days. 7 pills first day then tapered off to one. Two days later I was in the ER with an anxiety attack that I thought was a heart attack. Feeling crazy anxiety and depression for two weeks now. Cannot sleep feeling like I’m dying. My doctor prescribed it for arm pain. Really would like to take legal action but probably not worth it.
Chris, I was also on the 6 day dose pack, but stop after day 5 after going to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. I am now 3 days past my last dose, and still have nausea and lightheadedness in the morning. I was finally able to get more than 2 hours of sleep since starting the pack. How long did it take before you started feeling normal again? I am so very frustrated… I will NEVER take this again.
This is an update. It has now been 2 months since my last dose. Since then I’ve been to the ER once, seen my family doctor 3 times (all tests normal) and had several tests done at my Cardiologists (including stress test, echo… all normal). My latest test from my OB was an FSH, which the reading was 129.2… Full Menopause!
I also have new food allergies which surfaced a month ago; these are either menopausal allergies, or caused by adrenal fatigue (both caused by the prednisone). I am praying that these will go away once my adrenals recover. I am STILL dealing with moments of fast heart rate, palpitations, and sleep problems.
I may be sleeping 5-7 hours a night, but I still wake up several times a night. I have also become very sensitive to medications. I may be feeling better, and finally getting back to my regular routine… I still have a way to go before I feel normal again… all this after taking these pills for 5 days. Prednisone is now on my record to not give again.
Just another update… It’s now been three months after my last dose, and I am still not well! I have developed SEVERAL food allergies, including allergies to medications like benadryl. I am down to a minimum as to what I can eat (potatoes, rice, turkey, beef, pork, chicken, cooked veggies (no raw fruit or veggies) eggs, milk, water).
I will be seeing and Endocrinologists to check for any hormonal or adrenal problems. I am sleeping between 6 to 7 hours a night, but wake up several times. I have also lost over 20 pounds; 18 in the first month. I am fortunate that my allergic reactions are minor (“just” minor swelling on my cheeks), but there is no guarantee they will stay minor, and I do carry an EpiPen now.
All because of a five day course of Methylprednisolone. :(
I agree. I will never take prednisone again. My doc said it was the only option for ulcerative colitis. Bull!! I have been referred to a gastroenterologist. I hope he has some different plan. Coming off prednisone is horrible. Tired. Anxiety. I can’t stand the feeling!!!
Ulcerative Colitis can be cured by good probiotics and diet. Please read Jordan Rubins book The Makers Diet.
I have a friend who cured her UC of 10 years with Sodium Butyrate. 2 caps 3x per day. Bodybio brand Amazon. Took months, but her gastro said zero signs after last scope. Butyrate is made by healthy gut bacteria normally, it lowers immune response by causing proliferation of T regs, and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
I have severe uncontrolled Asthma, Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema in other words I have COPD. I am on oxygen and I have what are called flare ups at least 6 times a year. I go on prednisone then to clear up the inflammation in my lungs. I have no choice I have to take the prednisone or I will die and I am not ready to die yet. I only have a few more years left on this planet before my lungs will give out and I am only 49 years old.
I normally start off on 10 mg 5 or 6 pills the first day for 5 days and then I go down to 5 pills for 5 days then 4 pills for 5 days and so on until I am down to half a 10mg pill for 5 days. I have never had any withdrawal symptoms until this time. They do not seem to be as severe as some of you, but they are severe enough when you can not breathe and you have other health issues. I am not for sure why this time after 30 years of taking this drug at least 6 months out of every year that I never had withdrawals until now.
I have made an appointment with my Dr. to find out. I wish you all the best of health and I hope you can find something else to take instead of the prednisone.
I am going on my 3rd year of continuous steroid treatment. Have been as high as 160mg in hospital and as low as 5mg one day 10mg next day, for treatment of severe asthma. Every time I get to 5-10 mg I can’t breathe! I have no other option than to up my prednisone and use my nebulizer. I feel like it will never end. Don’t even recognize myself in the mirror. Very depressed. Hope and pray I will be normal again…
That’s ridiculous, prednisone is super cheap, and ALL of my GI doctors try to get me to not take that and take the expensive, designer drugs like Remicade and Humira. They are not getting a kickback from prednisone, LOL.
True. Doctors are not getting kick backs – especially from prednisone. here in my city/towns most dr’s are very “anti-prednisone”. I have SEVERE symptoms without prednisone. I was taking it for my asthma at first, but then stayed on about 20 mg for 2 years! Went for about a week here and there without it but the joint pain and fatigue sent me right back to it – now I’ve been off it for about 3 weeks for the first time in 2 years, and I am having massive amounts of joint pain, muscle pain – especially from the waist down.
NONE of the doctors will give me ANY prednisone, and they’ve all been super reluctant to give it to me period but its better to breathe most of the time. The doctor I see at work now won’t give it to me at all. I’m taking Meloxicam for pain (NSAID), and alternating Aleve, and Tylenol – and I’m STILL in massive amounts of pain – gets better when I am able to move around for a while, but then I get swelling in my legs and feet. My abdomen has increased x 10 since I’ve been on it – I look like “Winnie the pooh” but it has not started to subside at all yet – which is very depressing.
My appetite has decreased, and I’m working long hours, and moving around and still not losing any of the weight I gained. The constant pain keeps me from doing a lot of stuff I used to do, along with the fatigue – I’d say I’ve aged 30+ years on the prednisone. I was active, and a respectable size 10 before just a few short years ago, and now I’m a size 20, and can barely move. Doctor STILL won’t give me anymore prednisone, and every doctor has been extremely against it.
Doctors are not as worried about giving it to someone for short term 1week to a month, because usually you really need to be taking it for a WHILE before you have severe symptoms, or withdrawal. The main side effect MOST people get taking it EVEN short term is bloating – you get MOON face, and your appetite increases so you gain weight and that causes a lot of the other symptoms. Your body isn’t used to you eating all that.
But most doctors won’t worry about short term – it’s long term you will start to hear them tell you horror stories about the prednisone to get you to stop taking it. Then they eventually put their foot down. The pain kept making me want to stay on it though. AND right NOW – I feel like an 80 year old woman – can’t move – I can’t lift my leg up high enough to climb into my damn car! lol I’m 50.
I was prescribed 1000mg methylprednisolone IV for 4 days for misdiagnosed mini ocular stroke. Oops, I have no vascular problems. Eye doc told me I was going blind. I took a fall down several steps and have partial loss of vision in one eye. I am on an excellent diet, holistic & in good health.
I am now experiencing sleeplessness, dizziness, acid reflux, wobbly legs, joint pain, headaches, neck pain. I had none of these symptoms prior to steroid injections. Bottom line: I have been poisoned. I am now drinking bone broth, drinking lots of RO water, taking supplements I am getting better.
Due to comments, I am adding massive doses of Vit C, taurine, and will add comino seeds. I think I need a detox, but do not know how to use. I have an excellent holistic internist that I see next week. Now where is that naturopath when I need one?
was prescribed 60mg of prednisone for 10 day then was to tapper off for a concussion. By day 4 I felt as though I was coming apart on a molecular level. (Like Sen. Kelly in the X-Men movie when he exploded into a liquid) By day 5 my joints, muscles and bones hurt like I had been running on pavement for hours. By day 8 called Dr in a whirlwind of emotion and hormonal vomit for lack of a better word. He had me stop with no tapper and I feel horrible. Seriously hope these effects do not take months to stop
I have also went through “short term” prednisone withdrawal hell. What a nightmare. It has been 4 weeks since I stopped . I tapered a few days earlier as I couldn’t stand to be on it. I ended up in Er with prednisone induced gastritis that messed me up amongst the other problems it created.
All because of poison oak!!!! I regret EVER taking it. I wander if I will ever be back to normal and if so WHEN? I lost 12 lbs in less than 2 weeks due to not being able to eat and being so nauseous with diarrhea. I thought I was dying. I had the shakes coming off MAJOR amplified anxiety. I cannot believe doctors are so in denial about the after effects of this drug and what it really does.
NEVER again. I also had to take a shot and a 5 day course which ended up being a 4 day course because family doc would not prescribe a few more pills over the Urgent care’s script. Then they had me do the 12 day taper that I ended on day 8 due to problems being on it. I also peed a lot and it made my bp go up. What an evil drug.
I am going through the same thing, and I just figured out it was prednisone that was causing my issues. I had gotten stung my a caterpillar and was covered in hives. My rheumatologist gave me a 5 day Medrol pack to stop the itching. It worked, but I have been having nighttime tremors throughout my body and now bad pain in my neck, ear and skull. I feel terrible. My anxiety level is high, due to worrying about my health so much. I feel like I am dying inside.
Going through the same thing. My anxiety level is high also. Glad this site is here for us prednisone users to share our experiences. I feel a bit better just by reading others posts. Wishing you all the best of health.
I have probably read this blog 500 times over the past month!! I m just waiting to hear someone say they’re over it!! I took the 4m Medrol dosepak for 5 days with taper. I took it exactly as prescribed. Finished last dose on dec. 19. Laid on the floor and cried all day Dec. 26. Had horrible depression and anxiety I can’t even describe. Nausea and headaches (still). I’m planning on a full 3 months to recover.
Hi Hilary, I realize this was a long while ago but I too have been experiencing bad withdrawal effects. Did yours ease with time?? My worst is the tremors :(
I too suffer from tremors especially durning the night. Plus rapid heart beat, down to 3 mgs a day but still suffer the joint pain as well. Cannot wait to get off this drug but it is a long drawn out slog! Would love to throw PRENISOLONE out but I know the consequences. Hope you soon feel better. Wonder if it will ever go away!!!! And to feel normal again.
You guys have it easy. I have severe ulcerative colitis. Been on mega doses if Prednisone oral, plus 4 hospital stays from January to May getting IV solution medrol in higher doses.
Janice Bloodworth, I see your comment is more recent than most. I too am having tremors and rapid pulse, along with debilitating dizziness. I was on Prednisone for three months, off now for one month. Can you update on how you are doing now? I would be grateful to know.
Same here, I have just finished a 7 day course of medrol 5mg twice daily with no taper, at the moment I’m feeling depressed,weak, anxious, can’t seem to stay awake as well thank goodness I’m not alone. Thanks Lovely People.
Thanks for sharing, I have never felt so strange. I had a rash we thought was poison ivy. I saw doctors at the er and my primary. On and off the prednisone for a couple weeks. My rash unknown is drying up. But I feel a ton of anxiety! Never felt so emotional before. When I get stressed my throat tightens up and makes me panic. It sucks. Feel like I’m losing it! Any advice?
I was put on Medrol for 7 days, 4mg tabs 4-6 times a day! It was a taper off pack, and I stopped two days ago. While on it, I had insomnia, MAJOR anxiety, jittery feeling, off and on nausea, weakness, and dizziness. I was so glad I finally got off, but the day after I was awoken at 4 A.M. feeling jittery, nauseous, and weak again.
Then tonight around 8, the same thing! I also keep having a weird tight feeling in my throat – and maybe it’s like someone else said, a reaction to stress & anxiety. I had NO idea all these symptoms were possible, and I certainly wouldn’t have taken it just to clear up fluid in my ears.
I’d been on Prednisone due to severe RA since Dec. & still had flare ups. I thought it was silly to keep taking it & still in pain. The Dr. never mentioned withdrawal. I’d been on a Z-pack several years ago for hives so I knew to taper off. Up until a week ago I’d never heard of steroid withdrawal & thought all the pain, fatigue & even moodiness were due to the stress of selling my home moving from DC.
I’m now trying homeopathic remedies like turmeric, hemp, flax & chai seed, & melatonin (for sleep) It’s been 4 weeks but it still feels like the Spanish Inquisition is having a party & I’m the guest of honor.
Feeling awful on a 5 day “prednisone burst” for respiratory infection. Five days 40 mg with no taper. The last last time I was on it was a pack with decreasing dosage each day. I felt great. This new dosage is not for me at all. Never again.
My doctor had me on 40 mg a day for seven days. No taper. The prednisone was for spreading poison ivy. It turned out to be ringworm and of course the prednisone made it 10 times worse. The cure was some simple over-the-counter antifungal cream.
My withdrawal symptoms began 2 to 3 days after I stop the prednisone. It has been three weeks and I still have muscle joint and tendon pain. The anxiety was high and I thought it was going to jump through my skin. That has passed but the pain is still there.
Unless I am dying I’m never going to take this drug again.
My doctor put me on 60 mg for a week, then 50, then 40. I was supposed to do this til I got to 10 mg. I didn’t make it past 40. I was so paranoid and couldn’t hold a normal conversation. Then I felt like I was falling apart. I started crying and couldn’t sleep or function. I ended up on 2 different depression pills that helped me calm down. I just got off of 4 & 1/2 months of starting out on 20 tapering to 10 every other day. Wow it made me extremely moody. Now I get to go through withdrawal. Has anyone went through this?
I too am tapering off a two week plus dosing. Started with a medrol dosepack. Then because of reoccurrence of asthmatic bronchitis went on Prednisone 60 times three days, 40 times 3 days and finished 20 times 3 days today…feel exhausted other descriptions..depleted, drained, lousy. Also had leucocytosis, a high white blood cell count, due to the Prednisone.
Just got up from an hour and a half in bed napping. Hardly feel like I can accomplish anything…too tired. Am going to try taking AirBorne tab in diet ginger ale now. That seems to perk me up…not sure why. My heart goes out to all writing here especially if you must work or look after others.
I am retired and have simply stopped my activities such as singing in a choir and caring for grand kids. Hoping time will heal me as well as all coping with this withdrawal from these drugs.
Hi Hillary. Can you tell me how long your neck pain lasted? I’ve had severe neck pain for 5 days now. Everyday I hope to wake up and feel better and it just won’t go away.
I have been on Prednisone since January first 40 MGM’s then weaned off. My kidney is messed up and my levels got higher so I had to get back on it. This time it was 60 mgms for almost 3 months. I’m down to 20 mgms for about 6 more weeks.
I have been sweating a wicked lot and a couple times coughing in the morning and not being able to catch my breath. Like asthma. Has any one else experienced this. I hate this drug. I’ve cried and been so emotional the whole time and it really sucks. Could really use some feedback. Feeling alone and damaged.
Elaine, hang in there… I have severe Ulcerative Colitis and have been on the Prednisone roller coaster for YEARS. Haven’t been ever able to get past 10mg without going back to a flare and going up to 40mg and now this year, 60. I am tapering down to 5o mg a day right now. My cheeks are fat, my stomach is a round belly, I sweat like a dog at night with night sweats, I will get moody and cry for no reason, I am extremely weak, low energy and fatigued. It SUCKS.
But, what doesn’t suck, is me having bathroom accidents 10x more a day with severe pain that makes me want to die! Sleep as much as you can, that is how your body heals, look into supplements, eat healthy, and do NOT beat yourself up if you can’t get everything done every day. Slow, patience and be gentle with yourself. These bodies are a pain in the ass, aren’t they? Ughhh. Ready for the robot body.
I also have severe UC and am tapering off steroids that I’ve been taking for 3 months now. What is up with the night sweats?! I get up 3-5 times a night to change my clothes!
Check out a website, google power of poop. No joke. In Europe they do fecal transplants not just for C diff like in US but for IBS and Colitis. Many do it themselves finding a thin donor someone with no allergies, no antibiotics for a year. Me I would pay an Amish soul for a deposit, they eat organic have near zero allergies and no meds. There are DIY instructions on that website.
HH Me too. On prednisone for years for Crohn’s. Max was 60 per day. Minimum was 10. Now I’m coming off and am at 5 every other day. Recently had cortisol shots in my shoulder and hip joints. Going for knees tomorrow. I had absolutely no idea this would happen. So much pain and fatigue.
HH – I have Crohn’s Disease and I was on steroids for the longest time with it. About five years ago I switched to Remicade treatments. Best thing I ever did. Thought I would mention it to you since it was a miracle to be off the steroids.
My husband had ulcerative colitis and the drug cocktail the docs put him on turned his colon to mush. He had two days to live without an ileostomy so I convinced him to have it. That was 9 years ago. He lives a normal life now (as normal as one can with an Ostomy) but at 89 he still rides a trike motorcycle, travels, and meets friends for lunch several times a week. Please talk to your doc and also people with an Ostomy. You can get your life back and be out of pain.
As you can see there are a lot of people sharing the same problem as you here, so don’t feel alone. I too have been taking prednisone 7 mg. for a couple of years now, along Cellcept 500mg for 3 times daily. Both drugs supposed to have horrible side effects on you and I’ve been so lucky to only experience a few of them.
Like you I have a dry cough, night sweats once in a while and some shortness of breath, but I think that’s all I can think of. I’m more afraid of the long term effects Cellcept will have on me, but my doctors refused to get me out of it because they’re afraid my lungs will start creating scar tissue again. All I can say is that God is the main source of my energy and He is the one that has been able to get me through all of these.
Also, maintaining a positive attitude along eating healthier and exercising as much as possible really helps. When I feel tired I rest, and every chance I have I take a little vacation. Through it I’ve been able to continue working and keeping up with home and family. I can only thank God for His merciful love and help. I hope this helps and I hope you too can rest in Him. He won’t let you down.
I just had to comment on your wall. You gave me SOOO MUCH HOPE! I KNOW THIS SOUNDS CRAZY AND MAYBE A LITTLE IRRELEVANT to what you are going through. First off thank you for mentioning that you could f do it without God I needed to hear that so bad! It was an inspiration to here your story.
This is going to sound crazzzzy but today was only day 3 of me taking 40 mg of prednisone BC of pain in my head and fluid behind my ear. Long story short I had to call 911 today as I broke out with hives everywhere and could not stop itching (and I mean crazy insane itching), following my mouth doubled in size, as well as my eyes swollen shut.
I’m supposed to go down to 30 mg tomorrow but I don’t think I can I’m praying this medicine does not wreak real havoc on my body. You’re an amazing person! Stay strong!!! Thank you for your support! God bless you! saying a prayer for you now!!!
Hi Patty. Sounds like you are a Sarcoidosis sufferer like me. I’ve been on 7mg of Prednisone daily and Methotrexate once a week. Finally I’m being weaned off the Prednisone, decreasing the dose by 1mg each week. My last dose is New Year’s Eve. He’s still kept me on the Methotrexate though. I find I’m having stomach issues and muscle aches during withdrawal. I’m looking forward to getting rid of this moon face and extra weight.
Hi I have been on prednisone for 17 months. Have been on cellcept for 5 & 1/2 months now 2 tablets morning and night. Weaned off prednisone slowly, it didn’t help. Pain started with in days of stopping. Has been happening for weeks, with no answers.. I have a strange lung disease. What can be done to help the symptoms, the pain in joints and muscles head to toes is a killer… any ideas, help?
Hi Elaine! YES! Same here. I’ve been on Prednisone for 1 year due to a rare severe and chronic autoimmune illness. My dose was low we went anywhere from 10mg to 40mg depending on symptoms all year.
My Dr started reducing my dose in Sept and I just reduced down to 7mg per day starting today. Anyway, I’ve been sweating like a farmer working the fields at high noon in the fields of Texas!! Ahh!! It is SO gross! It doesn’t help that I’m already missing my ovaries (surgical menopause), and my thyroid had to come out 3 years ago due to my illness. Ovaries, thyroid or Prednisone alone can cause excessive sweating. All THREE?? Holy Heat Batman! LOL!
Also, each time we reduce my dose (reducing by 1mg every 2-3 weeks) I have a weird deep random cough and shortness of breath. Oh, and the titer process has my stomach a little bit unsettled and I’ve had GAS! So yes – I CAN relate so please don’t feel alone and damaged. :( Prednisone really is a Deal with the Devil…it saves A LOT of lives and did give me back my quality of life in many big ways.
The first 10 months I was on it my side effects were mostly bruising and dry skin. Then, the dam broke and I suddenly gained 16 pounds in 2 weeks out of nowhere. This weight gain has upset me the most because I was always slim and non of my clothes fit right now. TG I am single right now…really. UGH!!! Oh and I cry randomly too. Fun with steroids! :D
Hi, I also took prednisone for 6 months at 70mg, and Methotrexate. I am down to 10 mg of prednisone and am feeling much better, but now with new withdrawal symptoms (restless legs, joint pain, tired) reading your comments helped a lot. Thanks.
You’re not alone. I have been on this drug for 8 months, about 5.5 months on 25mg and 2.5 months tapering off now on 3mg. Once I got below 7.5mg the withdrawals really started and below 5mg worse again even though I am reducing slowly. I am very irritable, anxious and depressed, when will this ever stop? I hate it.
I have never felt like this before. I am so lucky my girlfriend has the patience of a saint because I would be horrible to live with at the moment. The smallest, little things piss me off and I way overreact, but I don’t realize I’m overreacting until much later. The pain is also terrible I feel like a 90 year old man but I’m only 48.
The experts say this will all eventually go away but I could still be like this for another 3 to 4 months yet, it’s hell it been hard enough working part time and no energy left after work to do anything fun which leaves me bored and depressed. It’s a horrible drug but I was in so much pain before they put me on it I kept ending up in ER. You don’t appreciate good health until you don’t have it.
Hello. Been going threw withdrawals. Didn’t really notice much the first few days but now throwing up tired feel like crap all that good stuff. I had originally stopped taking cause I was sick and noticed I wasn’t getting better had a low fever that would wake me up sweating.
Didn’t think anything of this till I read your comment where I have been sick just thought it was that but woke up every morning coughing up stuff and some morning just like you said felt like I couldn’t breath or catch my breath. But I am a week past at least taking anything think I’m closer to two weeks and haven’t had any prob breathing and still coughing up a lil but getting much better.
I was only on ten mg for approx 2-2.5 weeks but stopped cold turkey not knowing. Still extremely tired and belly sick feeling haven’t thrown up yet today yay. And boy have I felt bad for my husband lol. But we have been trying to have a baby and I’ve had my period 3xs in a month and my hormones are all messed up and where I’m older worried my body won’t go back to normal in time to have a baby now.
Worst thing I have ever done in my life is taking Prednisone. Was taking for lupus flares which I guess is kinda important but so not worth it. But just wanted you to know your not the only one who experienced asthma-like feelings.
A, how long did your withdrawal from prednisone last?
Thanks Guys – been on 25mg for 5 days then 50 mg intravenously for 2 days then 25 and then 50mg!! God thought I was going to die!! Back down to 37mg after the anxiety etc turned me into a nut bag. Now tapering to 20 mg and feel like I am going to turn into a psychopath. Nails are like split revolting talons, skin is developing horrible raised brown spots, feel like hell. 5 weeks of this, please say it gets better!!
The brown spots are caused by ACTH from your pituitary gland overproducing because it is trying to stimulate you adrenals to produce cortisol. Maybe you should be doing things more slowly?
I have been on high dose Prednisone for over 15 years. They can’t get me off of it. My breathing issues get much worse and every joint in my body is screaming. I just went down to 13mg and will stay on that for about 3 weeks. Things end up getting so bad, they bump them up again. I’m determined to get off of them, but it is going to be a long road. I don’t want to get started on painkillers, so will tough it out as long as 8 can. Good luck everyone.