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.
Thank you all so much as I thought something serious was happening to me, I was prescribed a 5 day dose due to an asthma attack and within 3 days started to experience a massive downer, never suffered from any form of depression or stress so the symptoms where unknown which just added to the anxiety, I cried for the first time in 20 years and had no reason.
Seriously this overwhelming sadness has just consumed me. Spoke to a doctor and he said this was likely due to the steroids, although intense and sudden not impossible. Without taking anything away from others misery I feel 100 times better knowing that I am not loosing my mind and this was out of my control. Your sharing has most definitely help me.
I was put on 40 mg of the medicine because I was diagnosed with Lupus in December of last year. I finally got off of it last week. So far the only thing keeping me from having severe side effects was that my doctor put me on Cellcept and Plaquenil a third to half way through me tapering down. So far the other medicines seem to be holding down the fort. I’m glad for the weight loss and decreases in appetite because when I first started my brain felt fried and all I could think of was food. I gained 40+ pounds and it was kind of hard for me to cope with. I’ve lost about 20 now and hope to see a decrease. The only bad side effects that I have are headaches and diarrhea.
I too have been going through a very difficult time after stopping Prednisone after about 3 months, going from 25 mg. to none. It was prescribed for chronic muscle issues in my lower back. The irony is it barely helped around the 25 mg level and once I was on it a couple of weeks, I had no choice but to taper. I messed up, though, thinking I could taper by 10 mg to 15 rather than 25.
What a mistake. That night I experienced the awful feeling that my stomach and whole rib area were on fire. I got muscle spasm all along my ribs and stomach. The next day I was so sore it felt as though I had been beaten. The problem persisted and my rump and hips also got extremely sore and stiff. The agony was an 8 or 9 on the pain scale. And I still had the original back issue!
My life became a never-ending struggle with the pain, night and day. I refused to stay on the Predmisone longer than necessary, going back to 20 mg and tapering by 5 every 5 days, until I got to 5, and then I went to 2.5, and then 1. I figured I might as well get through the hell now rather than delaying it. It is still bad, 4 months later. I get awful sweats on my scalp, face, and lower back.
They can happen anywhere and I have been very embarrassed by them. I feel like I have a low-grade fever most days. The burning in the torso area (it is on fire as I write this) continues, though it is not always all day every day now, just intermittent throughout the day. I guess that is progress. Some days my hips hurt SO BADLY I can really not get in and out of a car or walk very much.
This has made me so depressed (though I do not talk about it with my family because I do not want to be a burden or a whiner). I cannot ride a bicycle anymore at all and cannot walk much. I used to lift weights and do yoga–no more. I have spent out of pocket over $2000 to see a physical therapist. She has helped but it very slow going. I do see some improvement, and hope to be over this by Christmas this year.
What a nightmare, this Prednisone. Or lack of it, as is now the case. My body has not gone back to producing enough cortisol, I gather. This site has been incredible for me and I thank all who have posted. I would never have known what was the matter otherwise. I might have ended it all if you had not given me the information my health care people did not. God speed!
I just reread my original post. I had said I hoped to be better by Christmas. Well, I am better. The sweating and the burning in my stomach and rib area have abated (though I still get a return once a week or more). I am not near 100% but I am closer! Thanks for all these posts. I wish more folks would do progress reports though.
I’ve been on prednisone for 2 years next month. I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica – without this drug, I was unable to move. With this drug, I can move and live a normal life. I started tapering the drug about 8 months ago (was on 20 mg/day) and dropped it by 1 mg every 2 weeks or so. When I got down to 11 mg/ all of my symptoms returned. My rheumatologist (I have a great one) increased the dose back up to 15 mg/day, at which dose I was fine. I was on that for several months and am now dropping the dose 1 mg every 6-8 weeks. I’m down to 12 and will drop down to 11 next week.
A couple of weeks ago, I was in such severe pain, that I thought I would need to increase the dose again. Well, it turned out that the pain was caused by two separate issues: first, it turns out that I am allergic to the chemicals that the city sprays to control the West Nile virus mosquitoes – the day after they sprayed that, I was much, much worse. Not too surprisingly, after thinking about my symptoms and the timing, I am pretty sure that this disease was caused by the spray – I came down with it immediately after the city first sprayed for mosquitoes.
After that pain reduced, I took some family advice to try to help my body deal with inflammation, and started taking Curcumin (derived from tumeric, which is a natural anti-inflammatory) – my pain immediately returned and I could hardly move. Well, long story short, it turns out that I am either allergic to the Curcumin, or it doesn’t react well to the prednisone that I am already taking. I know this, because once I stopped taking it, my pain disappeared.
I know that a lot of you have had bad side effects from getting off of this. I agree with some of the other posters – once you start taking this, it needs to be reduced VERY slowly. Other than the incidents above, I am not having any of the side effect that many of you have as you reduce the drug. Of course, I’m getting off of it very slowly. And I am sure hoping that this will cause me to NOT have any of the nasty side effects that many of you have.
My suggestion is to be very careful in what supplements that you take. I have increased my intake of natural anti-inflammatory foods (cauliflower, etc.) and it seems to be helping. I certainly won’t try another “natural” anti-inflammatory until I am off of this stuff. You never know what supplement that you take could react badly with the drugs that you are already taking. Anyway, I’m glad that I found this site. I’m going to keep checking to keep up with everyone. Hope all goes well for all of you.
I am posting another comment about my withdrawal from prednisone I believe that people want to know how long it takes after a long period of being off of the drug to feel better. I’ve been off the drug for 15 weeks I have lost 65 pounds my joints and muscles still don’t work right I still can’t lift my arms. I can still only walk maybe 10 steps with a cane. I am fatigued all the time but things are getting better. When I first came off of prednisone I felt like I was run over by a truck.
I do not feel that way now I just feel fatigued with muscle aches. My hands seem to go to sleep a lot and if I get too hot I have a tendency to be nauseated. I still take vitamin C and calcium with vitamin D, and Tylenol in the mornings my hands ache real bad and they are hard to open and close however once I start moving around it’s much better. Although not so much moving around is just sitting up and working with my hands and taking a Tylenol of course. That seems to work best.
I still have not been out of the house in 5 months because my legs don’t work well enough. During the day I get fatigue quickly and have to lay down. Although I can only lay on the couch not flat in the bed it hurts too bad. I look back over my other three posts of 9 weeks 4 weeks and 4 days and I can see a big difference. I believe that by posting the dates of how you feel and then going back and looking at what you posted you can see a difference. I want my progress to be faster but it isn’t. I have good days and I have bad days
Still can’t lift my arms so I have to bend my head to be able to comb my hair at least it gets combed. It still hasn’t been washed so here it is 5 months and I still haven’t got to wash my hair, but it’s combed! In some of the instructions I see that you’re not supposed to exercise your supposed to conserve your energy however in some of the comments I see that a lot of people have tried exercising and seems to be a little better. I guess it’s a toss up if you can you can if you can’t you can’t.
So overall after 15 weeks I feel better at times, I do see progress. However I’m just as anxious and impatient as always to get better to make my legs work and to make my arms lift. I read somewhere that more protein helps. I should eat more protein however since I have very little appetite that’s a struggle. Like I said I’ve lost 65 pounds in 15 weeks. So for now good luck to everyone I hope this has gives you a little idea for a timeline and encouragement, although still there is a struggle ahead.
Hi Kristen, I took Prednisone and stop it cold turkey. After that I had almost the same symptom as you on both of my legs. I could not get in/out of my car without using my arms to lift it up, and I could not do anything with my legs without tears. After a few days, my wife who is a Chiropractor had decided to have Ultra Sound (This machine is using for soft tissue) on my legs , after 2 days all the pains were gone.
However, I still needed to use my arms to raise my legs to get in and out of the car for another 3 days. All the legs muscle and tendon were stiff and didn’t response. However, I am able to walk slowly after a week since all the muscle in the legs are response better. Thanks god! The Ultra Sound works for me. Hopefully, It works for you too.
To All persons Who have shared prednisone experiences: So far, this has been the best website for understanding that I am not alone with these side effects, although I don’t wish them on anyone. I got acute bronchitis August 6,2015. and went to an Urgent Care doctor as I couldn’t breathe well. He put me on antibiotics and 40 mg prednisone x 5 days, tapering to 20 mg for 5 more days, then abrupt withdrawal.
The bronchitis is thankfully gone, but the extreme fatigue, muscle/joint pain and mental depression, anxiety, brain fog, horrible nightmares, etc. – are worse than anything I have ever experienced. The worst of it is I have seen three doctors, this week. Each shifting the buck and my (new) internist telling me I need a psychiatrist, but none knowing enough to taper the prednisone.
Believe me, I am a 12 year breast cancer survivor, having had 4 operations to survive, and I NEVER, with chemotherapy, radiation, and the operations, went through what I am going through now. I feel completely abandoned by the doctors, and truly don’t know how long these scary side effects will last or what to do to find help. Thanks for letting me share. -Patti R
I have had several short courses with tapers of prednisone. It was a last resort drug due to autoimmune chronic idiopathic hives. Living with hives was hell. ALWAYS itching, burning, stinging with heat as well. Prednisone was like a life saver are the time. I felt very good while taking it. Even my joints had less pain and swelling. The last course was 60 mg a day for one week and no taper. Well like most of you, it has not been fun.
I am puffed up like a balloon, I hurt all over and my mood is downright nasty at times. So fortunate I don’t work. The good news is the new med (xolair) for hives is finally working. I am of two minds about prednisone. Very grateful it brought my itching to an end. NOT happy about the withdrawal.
It has been 5 months since my prednisone treatment and I have been reading these posts constantly, they are what keeps me feeling like I’m not insane. 5 months ago I was put on prednisone for 15 days for a persistent cough (30 for 5; 20 for 5; 10 for 5). By Day 13, I couldn’t sleep at night, my heart was beating out of my chest, and I was dizzy. I went off the drug and did not take the last 2 pills. About 20 hours after my last dose, I had a “crash.”
It started with severe diarrhea; extreme fatigue; stomach pains; dizziness; left arm pain; left breast pain; skin felt burning (in all different places); palpitations; numbness; chills; low-grade fever (100F) for 2 weeks; complete loss of appetite; head pounding; abnormal period (every 2 weeks for 2 months), ears pounding (could not sleep laying flat or with my head against the pillow); and an inability to handle any stress or loud noises. I am 39 years old with 2 little kids, so this was not easy. Most symptoms lasted for weeks.
I began seeing a gastro doc for the diarrhea and a cardiologist for the pounding. Thus began my journey of specialists and procedures. They ruled out heart issues and GI issues. 6 weeks after the “crash” I had my a.m. cortisol tested and it was normal but the lower end of normal. 2 weeks later had a 24 hour cortisol and a myriad of other tests including a head angio CT, pelvic MRI, balance test, and the list goes on. All normal. All labs normal. The pounding in my ears was terrible but has subsided some.
I started being able to cope about 10 weeks after the prednisone. I lost 25 lbs and literally could not eat for months (couldn’t even look at food) and the doctors found nothing abnormal in any test or labs. 5 months later, I am still not myself. I am thinking of going down the Lyme path (initial test was negative). My appetite is still not the same. I have good weeks and bad weeks, I actually have a few fatigue-filled days almost every week (usually toward the end). The strange symptoms just come and go. One week my neck hurts and the next week my nose pounds.
I have lots of left breast pain (had an ultrasound for that too). What symptoms remain? Neck pain, lightheadedness, left breast pain, fatigue, tingling, etc. I try to workout, but it just exhausts me. I was thinking “how can this be due to only 13 days on prednisone? Maybe I have MS, maybe I have a terrible autoimmune disease.” My internist (who is fantastic) and endocrinologist doubt it could be the prednisone alone, but I am at my wits end and just waiting to feel better.
Last week I walked 1.5 miles and felt great; but by the end of the week I could barely climb the stairs without my heart pounding and being out of breath. Over the last month I am slurring my words a little and I feel like my hands and feet are always tingling. I would love to hear from people who have been suffering for months after a very short dose like mine.
Kelly, Many of your symptoms sound just like mine. I was on Prednisone 20mg a day, twice a day, for five days. After stopping Prednisone, I experienced most of what you listed, including tremors, night sweats, internal shaky feeling, muscle twitches/spasms, ear problems, weight loss, joint pain, insomnia, tingling, and mild fatigue. Like you, I thought I also might have a terrible disease and spent countless hours on the Internet researching my possible illness (we no doubt read the same sites about Lyme and MS).
I’m no doctor, but I think what we both have is Prednisone-induced anxiety. Search “complete list anxiety symptoms,” and you will see many of the same symptoms you experienced after quitting Prednisone. The thing about anxiety is it has far-reaching symptoms that manifest in different ways depending on the individual, and when you’re already anxious, the Internet can make your anxiety worse because you start to believe you might have what you’ve been researching.
It’s been 4.5 weeks since I stopped Prednisone, and I feel a lot better, though some of my anxiety symptoms continue to pop up. Thankfully, they don’t last as long as they used to. If you have the time, please let me know how you’re doing. Since we both had similar experiences, it might help us gauge how long it will take for us to recover from the Prednisone side effects.
Kelly and Lynn, I didn’t have all your symptoms, but mostly the anxiety. I think your explanation Lynn is very powerful. I hope you two are doing better. Any update from your tests Kelly or your anxiety management Lynn is greatly appreciated.
I was given a burst of 40mg/day once a day for 5 days to help with moderate asthma – I don’t get attacks, per se, just shortness of breath and a painfully wheezy cough after strenuous exercise (I’ve been dancing ballet/tap/jazz for a year and it’s triggered the asthma like never before). I’ve had it since I was ten, but wasn’t diagnosed until July 30 of this year. I’ve been wary of doctors and medicine for two years or so.
I struggled with my weight in school (I’m 21 now) and was frequently ill and misdiagnosed with different things – because when I was 18, my mom and I started seeing a nutritional response therapist (holistic nutritionist who uses reflexes and electromagnetic waves to figure out what’s wrong within the body and what needs healing – and uses diet and supplements to heal it). I lost around thirty pounds within a year once I changed my diet, but the asthma never went away. Finally, against my better judgment, I went to the doctor and got diagnosed. They gave me the prednisone to kick off the Advair – which I ended up having severe reactions to without the prednisone.
So, without giving me another option for an inhaler, the nurse and the pulmonary specialist told me “just take the prednisone for now, it’ll help jump-start your lungs”. I was warned that it could cause acne and weight gain, but I was not given a taper or any other warnings – just that. I made it through the fourth day of my prescription and had to stop – the first two days were fine, but by night three, I was having severe insomnia and sleeping 3 hours per night, then fussing and having crying spells from anxiety the remainder of the night (I have anxiety as it is).
My depression worsened severely with two nights of little to no sleep, and I quickly found this page and discovered it was the prednisone. So…I quit cold turkey. Refused to take the last dose. And left a very peeved voicemail with the doctors, which they have yet to respond to. It’s day two without the prednisone, and I feel like I have the flu. I have always been one to keep going and going even when sick – but today has sucked. Migraine like no other, muscle weakness, continual loss of appetite (and I actually did NOT crave things on prednisone – it made me sick to my stomach) and nausea, lots of fatigue.
I’m now terrified that I’ll never get any better…I am completely scarred by the medical industry at this point. I’m blessed because I’m in pretty decent shape health-wise (minus the asthma), so I don’t think I’ll get too much worse. But right now, I’d rather shrivel and die than take another dose of prednisone. Or go to the ER/back to the doctor/whatever. I haven’t felt this bad in years…
What a lot of scary stories here! My ENT specialist prescribed Prednisolone 50mg a day for two weeks with no taper. I stopped two days ago. Miraculously my almost complete deafness because of blocked Eustachian tubes has disappeared! After one day the first ear’s hearing returned, then after four the other one. It’s been wonderful to have normal conversations, hear the phone and the birds. I am so grateful to him for putting me on it.
I felt very high on the drug, rather manic with lots of energy, but found sleeping very difficult. Feel a bit odd now I’ve stopped, with rather sore eyes, but sleeping better. Going to take it easy today so have cancelled a golf game. Not sure if the cold turkey has kicked in yet and how I will feel. I see the specialist again this afternoon. He’ll be amazed how good the hearing test is going to be. Do hope all the contributors to this thread will soon have their health problems helped.
I want to give some encouragement to people starting out on a Prednisone regime. The key is to remember that everyone reacts differently to any drug. My experience has not been too bad. I have an autoimmune disease renal limited P ANCA vasculitis and was prescribed 60 mg of Prednisone for 4 weeks. This high dose definitely gives you a big boost of energy but also makes you hyper and somewhat aggressive.
Sleeping was also a problem. At 4 weeks I went down to 30 mg and 3 weeks later to 15 mg. Every two weeks I was reduced again by 5 mg. The last week I went to 2.5 mg and stopped completely 7 days ago. Going from the high doses down to 10 mg I definitely lost the energy and the hyper feeling. Sleeping became more normal as well. Now that I am off completely I am starting to experience joint and muscle pain but it is not stopping me from doing my normal activities golf, kayaking, bicycling.
My major complaint from the 4 months on the drug is the loss of muscle mass and strength. I should mention that I am 63 years old but have always been very active. I have never had any mood issues other than the “up” hyper feeling on the high doses. No one wants to be on Prednisone but my experience has not been all that bad. Tapering off slowly is definitely helpful and my doctor’s recommendations seemed to have made the withdrawal tolerable. Not sure how long it will take to get back to totally normal.
I took Prednisone for cluster headaches and stopped on day 7 of a 10 day course as I felt I was going crazy. I cried all the time and was sleepy and hallucinatory. It’s been 3weeks and I feel AWFUL! I’m still exhausted all day but can’t sleep at night, I’m short of breath, and have horrendous pain in my legs from my buttocks to my ankles, but only in the back of my legs and as my husband will say, I’m still talking trash. I start to fall asleep and talk out weird dreams… never again!
I have been on Prednisolone since May for pulmonary fibrosis of the lungs. I started in 40mg reducing 5mg every 2 weeks – at the onset I had the energy of a rocket & my heart was racing at 180 beats per minute – I couldn’t shut an eye & was distressed. When I got down to 20mg 3 weeks ago I am now the complete opposite. I’m weak, fatigued, very short of breath (more so than with my lung condition), no appetite, nausea & very low in mood – I have had suicidal thoughts. My GP is taking a bit of a back seat as I’m under a respiratory consultant for my treatment. I am going to call his secretary tomorrow as I can’t function like this. -Elaine
Reading these posts has been very alarming. I began taking prednisone in October 2014 when I was hospitalized for respiratory failure, ultimately caused by an autoimmune disease called vasculitis. My rheumatologist hit me hard with big doses over 100mg/day to start, and basically save my life. The weaning began immediately. In the meantime, I cried every day.
I lost significant weight initially due to my hospital stay, but quickly gained it back plus about 25 pounds more than what I was at when I became ill. My weaning was at 5mg/week until I got to 20mg. Then it went to 2.5/week reduction. I’m now at 2.5 every other day for another week, and then off.
Since I’ve gone to taking it every other day, I’ve noticed extreme fatigue and weakness. I’m actually glad this is a withdrawal symptom, and not a product of other things. It’s a nasty drug, but it saved my life.
I was on prednisone for 3 1/2 years for chronic migraines. I was on different doses at different times depending on what my headaches were doing. Finally this year I GRADUALLY tapered off. It took me more than a year to get off this terrible medicine. It did help my headaches in the beginning and gave me great energy.
Then when I would lower the dose my headaches came back with a vengeance, so up the dose would go. I have now been off prednisone for 5 weeks and feel miserable most of the time. Depression is bad for me and very emotional. I have crying jags all the time. My psychiatric is onboard trying to help. I am achy in every joint and muscle and now wonder if I have arthritis that was being masked by the prednisone.
I cannot get out of bed in the morning. It takes me great effort to get out of bed before 11 a.m. And I go to bed at 9 p.m. I’ve tried to walk and can walk 4 blocks then have to turn around and walk home. Me feet feel like they are in molasses. It’s awful. I feel like I am going crazy. Please pray for my recovery as I cannot see it. Thank you.
I wanted to check in since very few people check in very far down the line. It’s been almost 7 months since I stopped taking Prednisone. I was on it for 2 weeks with a tapering does starting at 60mg (60 to 40 to 20). To recap, (cause my post is probably a bit lost up there ) the main complaint I have is the very day I started taking it, it made me shaky and my movements jerky.
I want this post to be a positive as possible, there is a very good chance that all of us will recover. Some will recover faster than others. Mine couldn’t be more slow than it is, but I have recovered some. Prednisone has the potential to affect your adrenals for up to you a year (that’s why medical forms as you if you have been on steroids the past year) and if I remember right, if you’ve been on over 30mg for any length of time than you can take a long time returning to normal. So don’t despair, it takes time.
It may take a while for some of us. Try and get on top of what’s going on. I really have no clue what Prednisone did to me, and I would like to. Doctors are pretty worthless because they love the stuff so much, so it’s up to us. I’m thinking about getting a cortisol saliva test to see what’s going on there. This can be a long road, folks. But take heart that the body can heal. We just have to figure out what happened and act accordingly.
How are you feeling now?
I have been on and off prednisone for many years for severe exzema. I developed a huge rash all over my body. It looks like I am sunburned, but feels worst. By reading all your posts, I realize I developed a reaction to Prednisone. My Dr prescribed a high doze (50mg) for two weeks with very little tapering (1/2 doze during the last week). The day I got off it, I started getting a severe rash on my arms, face, neck and chest.
So my Dr put me back on for 1 month, tapering down to 1 pill a day (5mg). My condition got worst as the days went by. I have palpitations, dizziness, upset stomach, heartburn, depression, joint pain, but the worst part is my skin. I have been off for 5 days now and I don’t see any difference in my skin. My face is swollen and I look like I’m having a severe allergic reaction. I take Benadryl at night to help me sleep. My skin is on fire. I saw my Dr and two dermatologists for this rash and they all said that I had dry skin and needed to moisturize.
Can you believe it? I was feeling suicidal at that point and they prescribed Methatrexate and Prednisone with lots of moisturizing cream. I read through all your comments and I didn’t notice anyone else with a skin rash. Has anyone else experienced this? I’m glad I found this group. It is helping me make sense of what is going on in my body. I can’t wait to be back to normal. Blessings to you all!
I am tapering down from a dose of 25 mg maintained for six weeks. I am currently at 15mg, down 2.5 each week. I took this course having taken a course in 2013 because of issues with nasal polyps. That course produced a complete remission of many years fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. Such that during the course I worked hard physically with joy and determination to restore condition…but unfortunately damaged tendons in shoulder so spent two periods in 2014 in recovery from shoulder repair operations.
Now the withdrawal. I know the biggest issues will be from 0.5mg to zero. 0.5 is near normal human production. ONE THING I HAVE NOT READ IN STORIES HERE IS A GOOD WAY TO GET THROUGH 5mg TO ZERO. Best advice from a neuroncologist for my wife way back was not to continue tiny taper smoothly but to do jolts. That is, go without for a day, give support for a day, etc. Follow what works best, keeping within the 5mg. The HPA axis has to relearn cortisol production management over a period. Jump the little doses around.
Several other things I do. Because prednisone rips mineral out of bone and muscle I take magnesium supplements which best enable getting calcium back where should be. For similar reasons I take lots of gelatin, the best restorer of protein. A half teaspoon or less in stews, scrambled eggs, stir fry etc. enhances taste too. 4000iu a day of vitamin D which we nearly all lack reduces pain too. Its been reassuring to read this article and thread.
I’m not sorry I’ve taken the prednisone. I’m sorry for those for whom it’s intolerable, despair that doctors too often have no clue about the intolerances. It has done wonders for me. My doctor and I hope benefits of the course may last. We don’t know whether I’m dealing with post concussion inflammation or other inflammatory etc brain issues. But its worked. At now 72 I have to work through issues of very low quality of life prior to prednisone on the one hand and osteoporosis and diabetes threats on prednisone.
The balance between perhaps fewer days but better days and longer life of crappy days. I suppose it’s easier to figure at my age than at younger age. Manage that end of taper carefully and creatively.
I developed IPF told it was idiopathic also asthma, I am male, 66 years of age. I started on prednisolone 50 Mg a day. It was like magic, I went from extreme shortness of breath to riding a bicycle 35 Km a day and I mean every day. Over 2 years I cycled 13,800 Km I also swam at least a mile every day. I stayed at 50 Mg only a short time and at 6 months was down to 25 Mg a day. I stayed at 20 mg a day for 18 months and then was told that the IPF was stable.
I slowly tapered the drug off until I was taking 5 Mg every other day, then 2 Mg every other day. I noticed that once under 10 Mg my performance on my bike started to drop back. Within a few weeks of stopping the drug I could no longer ride my bike, I had appalling joint and muscle pain, my legs became week, my hands would swell mostly in the mornings. My feet burnt and I had a sensation of walking on broken glass and I developed what I have been told is psoriasis.
I also got tendon problems, bursitis in my shoulder. I have been tested and tested for RA and am now on Sulphasalazine as a rheumatologist says I have psoriatic arthritis. I stand in the shower and the hot water makes me feel like I have sunburn, legs and arms. There is no doubt that I am depressed and majorly fatigued. I have got to the stage where I feel that my life is almost over. It’s a year now from the last steroid and I would have difficulty in walking 200 yards. Everything is an effort.
I live out in country Australia so a visit to a specialist is 1000 Km round trip. My GP seems to have no Idea what’s wrong with me. I keep saying that all this started when I stopped the prednisone, all he asks is “Did I come off slowly” ? Dont know where I go from here.
The Dr. Thought I had temporal Arterites due to neck and head pain (this is an inflamed artery in the temple.) They immediately put me on 20 mg of prednisone. After 2 vascular surgeons told me they didn’t think I had it..not the typical symptoms. I saw a Rheumatologist then a neurologist and they all agreed. So finally after 4 months of prednisone they tapered me off. Day 6 today of no prednisone, headache did not come back. Now I am dealing with fatigue, weakness, depression and I feel like someone beat me with a stick! Never again will I take this evil drug! It would have been nice if someone told me how bad the withdrawal would be. I’m not happy with my Dr. Right now!
I got a spider bite (3) years ago that resulted in a huge welt on my neck and a rash that spread across my neck and up my face–my eyes started to swell shut so I went to the ER and I was given prednisone and corticosteroid creams to put on my eyelids. That started a (3) year nightmare of being on and off of prednisone and using corticosteroid creams. This stuff is poison–no should take it and it is so protected.
The rash would go away and it would come back when I stopped taking the medication–so the doc would put me on more…and stronger creams. Finally I was sent to University of Maryland Head of Dermatology where they wanted to put me on stronger drugs and I said no. They told me I had chronic eczema and that I would be on drugs for the rest of my life–the doc was so arrogant. They put me on 60 mg prednisone with a slow taper schedule and I worked with a naturopath to try to deal with the systemic damage that had been done in my body.
Dermatologist only deal with the skin–nothing deeper. I got off of it August 7th of last year–and then my body turned inside out. My whole body turned red and I thought I was on fire. My skin constantly peeled off–where ever I sat there were skin peels all over. If you read about Red Skin Syndrome, you can get a lot more information about this. After of lifetime of never having any issue with allergies, I became sensitive to all sorts of foods/plants–I ended up in the ER (8) times–totally red, skin on fire (but no fever), skin dry and bleeding–then got infections–all they offered was more prednisone.
I was literally in the middle of a cross county move so I went back on it to just get across the country. The last hospital stay in April they pumped tons of it into me intravenously–they said I was close to organ failure given that my skin had stopped functioning. I was freezing in 85 degree rooms…IT WAS A TOTAL NIGHTMARE! Now I am working with naturopaths again and I pray it will work. I curse the day I went into that ER and I curse the doctors who just kept telling me to take more.
I had a history of being extremely sensitive to ay kinds of drugs–they don’t care–they just don’t care. I’m down to 15 mg per day and I have been told that from 10 mg on one has to go very, very slowly–even 2.5 mg doses. There used to be a test to see if a person was allergic to this drug but it is no longer available. In a “sickness for profit” medical system, this kind of thing will happen. I know that this drug has helped some people prolong their lives but for me it destroyed mine. I was one of the healthiest people I know–wish me luck.
My heart goes out to everyone who has shared on this thread and I wish you all healing. You won’t find it in the western medical system which is run by big pharma and insurance companies. Oh, and at the end when I was in the hospital, I had doctors looking at me and just shaking their heads saying they had never seen anything so awful looking and severe–and they didn’t know what to do other than prescribe more prednisone or chemo drugs……you truly are on your own when it gets really bad.
One dermatologist told me she wanted me to take prednisone, cover my body with corticosteroid creams, wrap myself in a sheet and sit for two weeks. That’s insanity. I went insane–I would sit in a bathtub for 7 hours out of the day, screaming and pounding the walls because it was the only place where I could stay warm and not have my skin dry out. I prayed every night that I would die. I just pray that it is over and, despite this post, I try to stay in a more positive frame. Again, my blessings to all–and to me! My advice: don’t ever touch this drug and walk away from the doc who prescribes it.
Hi Mary, Your story is tragic. How are you feeling now? Hope you’re getting better. I was in a similar situation. Due to a mild allergic reaction (unknown cause) I was given Solu medrol injection and oral Prednisone for 4 days. After about a week I flared up and my face swell and I was red, burning and itchy all over my body except legs. I curse the ER I went to.
Now it’s been a month and seems like my flares are alleviating but looks like I am nowhere close to being normal like before. Do you know how long did it take for your skin to fully recover? I am also having a healthy diet full of Omega fatty acids. I do not have any other symptoms of withdrawal except my skin being a big mess. Hope I am out of it soon. Can’t take this long.
Here is my story, 3 months after stopping Prednisone: I started a new job, which I found to be very stressful. This triggered my stress induced asthma. My doctor gave me a short course of prednisone. 2 days at 60mg, 2 days at 50mg, 2 at 40mg, and so on, with finally ending with 2 days at 10mg. The first day I took this, mid March 2015, I had INTENSE body/joint aches. Just a really, really bad ache deep into my bones.
Then that went away about the third day. Then started the crazy eating. I had the craziest, uncontrollable cravings, worse than when I was pregnant. And lastly they hyperness that I did not see, but those around me did. Besides the aches, I wouldn’t really consider this problematic. Sadly, while on prednisone I had no asthma whatsoever and it did return as soon as I finished.
The first days after I finished, I had horrible, horrible headaches, which eventually went away to just mild headaches. I was having wildly vivid dreams where I felt like I wasn’t sleeping. My new job was getting to me and I just kept getting this pain/heavy ache in my chest like if someone was sitting on it. I could never really take a deep breath. I was getting irritated with everyone and felt like not doing anything.
Finally about 2 weeks after finishing the prednisone, I ended up having a panic/anxiety attack at work, and ever since then I have not been able to shake the anxiety and I believe mild depression. Not to mention joint aches every now and then. The worst for me is anxiety. I would say that before prednisone I had healthy relationship with anxiety. But now, almost 3 months later, it’s an everyday thing. I started acupuncture about a week after my panic attack and I swear it has saved me.
After my first treatment, I immediately felt a difference in my anxiety. But that was short lived since I was pretty damaged. However, with each session I have been improving. Now for the most part, there are many days where I feel close to normal and I am much better than before. However, being a female, I noticed that the various hormonal stages of my menstrual cycle will affect my anxiety. I’ve cleaned up my diet.
No more caffeine, way less junk. Started exercising regularly. I’m not sure if these are making a difference. However, any stressful situation will make it worse. I still have bad moments, like today, where I just want to go lay down and cry. After my anxiety attack, I went to my doctor who prescribed the prednisone and he said yes, that my anxiety could be a side effect since I never had a history of anxiety.
He gave me an anti-depressant (paxil) and I have refused to take it because of the withdrawal effects I’ve read on those. They sound just as bad as Prednisone, so why start the cycle all over? So long story short, 3 months later, still having anxiety, but overall not as bad as when it started. I hope it is not a permanent thing. Writing this makes me question if prednisone was even the cause, but I do have to remind myself that I was completely fine before it.
I want to thank everyone for sharing their stories and experiences, but I really wish we could get more updates. Even if it is a year later. Even if you are only 10% better or worse. We all need that hope or that reality check. I pray that everyone is doing better.
Kristen I hope you are feeling better. Myself I was on and off Prednisone for 2 1/2 years. Up and down from 30m to 2 & 1/2mg. Off for a month if lucky and back on again. All of this for sinus issues. It told me to see my second ENT doctor and two sinus surgeries. I new doctor say we have to get you off the Prednisone for good. I have been off for 64 days.
Yes I know the exact amount of days. The withdrawal has been Hell. I have anxiety that just comes on and won’t let go also my Blood Pressure goes really high because of it and I get very dizzy. Finally after dealing with it for 45 days I went to my main doctor. Told her all the issues I am having she told me. Prednisone withdraw can last easily 3 to 6 months.
Mainly because of how it changes all your hormones in your body. It takes that long to go back to normal. So she put me on Zoloft 50mg for the next 3 to 6 months to help me also say unless I am dying I can not allow any doctors to put me on Prednisone until I fully heal. I will say the Zoloft does help I feel a lot more normal most of the time but I do have times still of being freaked out and not knowing how or why I feel that way.
I really hope you are getting better and I hope this post helps someone. It really is a live saving drug for most but can be a nightmare for others.
I was on a 12 day Predinsone pack that tapers off after 4 days. I didn’t feel any effect of the drug until I took the last pill. After that I experienced worse issues then I have had collectively my whole life. I ended up in the ER with what I thought was a heart attack only to find out that it wasn’t that at all. I was sent home that night still feeling really bad. Chest pains, pain in my jaw and down both arms. The next day I let like I had 10 lb weights tied to my arms and legs and I just couldn’t motivate. I had extreme headache for 3 solid days. I have been off the drug for at least 2.5 weeks now but still experience bouts of fatigue and anxiety.
Today was one of those days. I also have sores in my mouth and lips that come and go. My gums are red and irritated. this is probably the most aggravating symptom of all. I cannot blame these things on anything else. The only common denominator is the prednisone. I suppose that there is a chance that my adrenals are not kicking back in as they should. But who wants to go to the Dr after all this? I think I’ll take a healthier approach and continue with organic veggies fruits and lean chicken meats and fish. I will trust my body to fix it’s self if I give it half a chance. I’m so sorry for all of you guys! I know your pain and I will NEVER take this drug again. God be with you all!
Three weeks ago I was bit by a spider. The Dr gave me a steroids shot – put me on antibiotics and prednisone 20 mg. Finally started tapering off. Now I am dizzy; weak feel like I am sunburned on the inside – my mouth and lips are blistered. So tired and can hardly walk to bathroom. Also having problems breathing well. My Dr took took me to stop meds yesterday. I hope this stops soon. I don’t even if I should start my pro-vent inhaled in the am.
I finished my prednisone taper on June 13th after taking it since the end of January for a kidney auto-immune disease. When will this darn lingering depression go away? I am not experiencing too many physical side effects except my legs still feel a little weak. One day I am somewhat OK and the next day I’m crying all day like today. I just want to be HAPPY again and feel like a normal person. Before this whole ordeal with the prednisone I was a very HAPPY and POSITIVE person.
One year ago December (2014) I developed Polymositis/Rheumatica. Went through hell, saw one Rheumatologist and he put me on 15mg of Prednisone and I was to taper to 10mg in a week and 5mg the next week and see my Dr. I was in such agony with pain that I went to another Rheumatologist and he said I should be on 20mg and taper off within the year. March of this year I finished with the steroid and since then I have terrible joint and muscle pain and have to take Aleve (Naproxen). It helps some, so at least I can do some exercise and gardening. If I don’t take it, I just lie around all day and hurt. Hoping this won’t take too much longer for my adrenal glands to kick back in and I get some energy and the pain leaves my body. This is so tough on family as well.
This is Kristen R. I have left 2 message on my progress. The first I was off the pill for 4 days and I felt like I was hit by a truck. I did an update after 5 weeks. The symptoms had not lessened in fact they were more intense now here it is 9 weeks since I came off the drug I still have issues with my muscle I cannot lift my arms above my head. I try to comb my hair by bending over the sink. But very painful using my arms. Because of this my hair hasn’t been washed in two months because I can’t do it.
I still cannot sleep in the bed because again my muscles will not allow me to turn over. If I try to reach for something my arms feel like they just broke right out of their socket. The pain is intense. I just want to cry. it takes a couple of minutes for the pain in my arms to diminish. My legs are wobbly when I try to stand. I can still only walk maybe five or six steps using a cane. I still sleep in the chair in the living room however I have found that I can sleep on the couch.
Although when I say sleep I mean 10 minute cat naps… my bones will no longer let me stay there without pain. I have to use the bathroom 5 to 6 times a night. Which is totally painful to try to get on my motorized scooter to the bathroom and then move 5 steps to the toilet. I keep thinking everyday I will be better but yesterday I was so sick and nauseated I spent the entire day trying to lay down because I was so dizzy sick very sick I’ve lost 40 pounds in this nine weeks. When I I can only eat two to three bites.
Yesterday I had 6 tiny baby mini crackers with 1 teaspoon of cheese and and two jellos. I have developed hypertension stage 2 and my blood pressure medicine has been increased. I have kidney pain and another pain under my left rib cage. I still take all the vitamins and the Tylenol and now I have developed these huge blood vessels at my temples along with a headache and my eyes feel like they are bulging out. If the internet is to be trusted it says if you have protruding temple veins you may have arterial arthritis. And the cure for that is prednisone!!
No way will I ever do prednisone again ever. For anything. So after 9 weeks let’s be clear my hair hasn’t been washed. I can take a shower but I can’t lift my arms. I haven’t worn shoes in over 2 months. I cannot leave the house I have just been here inside, homebound. I can’t cook. I can barely make it to the bathroom. My clothes are a pair of shorts and a tank top. I do try to comb my hair but it tangles easily. Yesterday when I tried there was a big knot of tangles in the back of my hair.
I reached in the drawer took out the scissors and cut my hair. I no longer care what I look like. I have had no makeup on over 2 months. I have reached the point where pain has taken over so I don’t care what I look like. I want this to end..I too look for answers like everyone else but I see no one that has actually given a date when their symptoms stop. this is awful. I beg for a good night sleep without pain but so far not happening. At night, I sit alone in the dark. Doing nothing, just just sitting there.
I will say this one thing that is positive. I no longer feel like I’ve been hit by a truck my body hurts but not like it did when I first came off of prednisone the worst of all for now is my arms…the muscle in my arms when I try to reach and the bones that hurt when I lie down and of course the nausea. So a baby step forward. So for what it’s worth the side effects are not pretty. My side effects after 9 weeks have exhausted me. It has been a long time I just wish there was some relief in sight. I wish you all the very best. God speed.
I was on 50mg of prednisone for 5 days followed by a 10mg taper every 5 days. After 3 days at 50mg, and absolutely no sleep and nonstop anxiety I took myself off it. I didnt realize that they taper for a reason. But I figured it was only three days I should be fine. Couple days after cold turkey I was hit with extreme exhaustion, aches and pains, and numbness and tingling in the extremities. Now I can barely walk because my legs are numb and like dead weight.
I can’t feel them and they don’t seem to cooperate with my brain. Is this related to cold turkey stopping the prednisone or is this some thing new and unrelated? Should I go back onto the prednisone and continue the taper? I didn’t think it’d be a problem after three days. Am I wrong?
I have read through all of these post and I feel much better knowing that what I’m experiencing is normal. I have been on prednisone for 8 years and I have it tapered all the way down to 2.5mg a day. Like most of you I hurt from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. What I need to know or hear from someone is that all the pain eventually goes away. Am I going through all of this withdrawal pain for nothing? Can someone who has gotten back to normal please reply.
I was on 1000 mg of Prednisone for 7 days, then 60 mg for 10 weeks, then fast taper, then off completely for 9 months. I can completely relate to a lot of the comments posted about the lingering effects. I felt horrible when I was on Prednisone, and was looking forward to getting off of it – I had no idea what that it would be a living hell.
Since I’ve been off of Prednisone for 9 months now, the withdrawal symptoms are still severe, but finally starting to improve. I have read a lot about Prednisone withdrawal and some medical journals say 4 years… I hope that they are just being overly conservative. I can’t believe that I wasn’t warned more before the neurologist put me on Prednisone – as it turns now I never even needed to be on Prednisone in the first place…
Hi, I’m 17 and was on prednisone for my severe asthma and anxiety attacks. It did help, but I was also taking cough syrup, and my inhaler with the aero chamber for a good two weeks. I felt pain everywhere and my throat would tighten the more I would fuss, and my asthma was triggered by my allergies. Well, long story short I was prescribed prednisone and I took 5mg three times a day, with a me and felt fine, but did gain weight.
The fourth week my mother told me to stop taking it, which led to the “cold turkey” path, and I did not like it one bit. One day I just didn’t take it, I had left with my friends on a bus to a concert, and it took 40 minutes until I started feeling numb in my hands going all the way through to my chest and I kept shaking and felt my breathing pattern race, and had to get off. I was stuck in Koreatown getting food, still feeling faint, threw up and had diarrhea, got picked up, I couldn’t sit in a car without feeling numb.
It wasn’t until I got home that it was the side effect to prednisone. I still get these symptoms til this day and have to literally yawn to get a good breath, because I struggle to breathe. It did more damage than help, and I don’t even have medical insurance at the moment. If someone has any direct instructions on how I can get it out of my system PLEASE please help me.
I thought I would check the internet today before I called my rhematologist. I have been withdrawing from 5mg for a little over 2 weeks; one mg less every two weeks. I am 79 years old and have been feeling that the end for me is near. That’s how bad I have been feeling. I take lots of supplements. Perhaps that is helping. But I still have extreme fatigue, extreme weakness, worse aches and pains. My legs are particularly bothersome. I do have a very bad back.
I thought prednisone was a wonder drug. I felt so alive on 20mg when being treated for acute bronchitis. So we decided to try treating my arthritis and bad back with 5mg. Did feel considerably better. But my stomach got huge. I have metabolic syndrome tummy anyway. Couldn’t stand the weight gain and huge tummy, So we’re tapering off. Feel rotten. Thought something was terribly wrong, until I read your blogs. Don’t know what steps I will take now. Can’t stand to think of weeks/months of feeling like this. Oh, my emotions have been on overdrive, too.
Has really helped reading some posts but feel my symptoms are different to most and worry this is just me and I will feel this way forever. I was prescribed Pred. at 40mg originally for 10 days and then began taper at halving my dosage a week until final week at 2.5mg. I was prescribed for severe uveitis in my right eye. I am a 31 year old male and have no history of mental health problems and I am considered a pretty happy guy by all that I know.
However, after 8-9 days on this drug I suddenly started to feel really depressed, scared, and detached from the world. I went to doctor who prescribed me diazepam which helped me sleep and nothing much more. Stopped taking Pred on the 17th of may and still have really depressing outlook on life now, occasionally feel anxious and I am waking up very early each morning. Are these normal, or explainable by the Pred medication?
Any idea when and if I will ever be myself again? Would love to hear from someone who has an idea as every site I check is different regarding timescales and symptoms. Especially concerned as most appear to suffer really badly from physical issues and I had minor acne and thats all!!!! All my effects were mental. Any advice would be great. Thanks guys.
Well, Craig, I think you have explained it very well—the bulk of your symptoms are mental/emotional/mood changes. This is not unusual, just this is how it affects you. Knowing it is the drug withdrawal should help you to hold the course until you return to your normal self. Yes, you will recover, but it will take some time.
The responses & recovery from prednisone use are all highly individual, so don’t feel your situation is abnormal in any way – there are no hard & fast “rules” of normal here. I’m sure that mental health changes are very hard to cope with and somewhat frightening. Just continually remind yourself that this is not typical mental illness & that it will pass in time.
Keep in touch with friends & have a support system throughout your tapering who know what you are going through and help you to stay focused. Remember that the people who are tapering & experiencing ill physical health are also experiencing some level of depression because it is simply depressing to have your life put on hold because you are not yourself.
I stopped prednisone after a six month taper on March 7, 2015 & I am only now, three months plus out, beginning to have the odd morning when I wake up with only mild levels of pain. But I am convinced that as time goes on, there will be more good days than bad. My endocrinologist told me that my face and abdomen will continue to change after stopping through a six month period, going back to normal.
So I am confident that one day I will return to a version of myself that I recognize. I believe that you will too. Best wishes for a full recovery soon!
Craig…I have been on prednisone since the end of January starting at 80mg now today I am at 2.5mg. Have been tapering form 30mg since the end of April. Most of my side effects were mental too along with getting type 11 diabetes which I did not have before the prednisone. I experienced HORRIBLE mental side effects and I also could not walk a month after I started taking the prednisone.
Was in the hospital on three different floors during the whole month of March and spent the first two weeks of April in a rehab trying to regain my walking. Well I have been home 2 months today and happy to say I am walking and going up steps….by the grace of God! Also now that I am at 2.5 I am starting to feel somewhat like the old me. I’d say about 60%. Still a little depressed and some anxiety but not like a few weeks ago.
Now tomorrow I am supposed to stop my prednisone so I guess I will see how that goes. Hopefully not too many withdrawal effects. I had a couple of people respond to me when I felt like you and they said to just hang in there and eventually you will feel “normal” again and now I am personally finally seeing that in myself. So hang in there you will be OK. -Joan
Hi guys. Thanks so much for your feedback. When I hear about you having diabetes or not being able to walk, etc. – makes me feel like I should just shut up and get on with my symptoms as I have clearly got off lightly with mine. Still having depressed thoughts about my life, future and don’t seem to enjoy the little things I loved before like: music, sport and rubbish TV. If I let the thoughts in fully I break into mild panic attacks so just fighting with them just now and hopefully will eventually blank them out completely.
That’s me starting week five today and just stopped taking diazepam to try get drug free. Hope that helps me think straight as apparently its not great for depression. Finally, Roxanne and Joan – I don’t know either of you but just want to reach out and say you are lovely people. Wish we were all Pred-free but we will be again one day and what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger! All my love to you both and anyone reading this page for support. People will never know the horrors of this drug and lets hope we never have to again. Will keep you updated on my withdrawal, hope you’ll do the same. Thanks again for your support.
Craig….you will be OK! I know what you mean about TV I felt the same way so for the last couple months I’ve been watching the Disney Channel… reminds me of my daughter who always makes me feel better. I have just recently listening to music again after months of not listening. Try not to fight the thoughts that only makes more anxiety. Trust me I was where you are now just a couple weeks ago and today I still feel a little depressed but much better and I see my personality coming back and my friends do too! Just hang in there, you’ll get there! Have faith!
Hi Joan, thanks for your chat. I am so so happy to say, I am starting to see my symptoms lift after about 7+ weeks. Still feel like the depressed thoughts are trying to come into my head but I am totally able to fight them off and even become completely distracted from them when I keep myself busy. Strangely the evenings are when I am at my best.
I just want anyone reading through these posts who is suffering from my symptoms to believe what people on here are saying. It is so hard when your own head is messed up by these drugs. You think its just you, you think all sorts of weird things and you start to convince yourself that a] you’ve always been like this and b] you will never get better. I m telling you all, I am living proof that isnt the case. I had zero physical impacts from Pred. but after 10 days of my treatment at 40mg a day I was in such a dark place.
Had to leave my flat and go back and live with my mum. Everyday was a total battle with the most horrifying depression you could imagine. This continued through my tapering and for 6-7 weeks after my last dose. But I am getting over it now and I’m sure I will still have bad days to come as the experience has changed my mindset for so long but the good old Craig is fighting back and all my friends and family have commented on the change in recent weeks.
Just wanted to give some positive chat on here as so many people write when they are terrible and then never re-post when they are getting better and leaves those struggling with little or no hope of recovery, especially with issues of the mind. This site really did save me from madness at times and to all of you, brave enough to share your experiences, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless.
Been 3 months since taking two doses of 60 and 50 mg of prendisone. Had to quit cold turkey. Still having symptoms of being sick, dizzy weakness, weight loss. I can only go to work and back to bed. It appears to have caused me severe anxiety and messed up my HPA axis my 24 hr cortisol level was really high. I had a Negative Brain MRI and adrenal CT however. Not sure when this is going to end.
On a side note my doctor is looking into Lyme Disease as an alternative reason. Don’t recall a tick bite but did go camping in Northern California and horse back riding in the woods in Southern California a few months before my symptoms. A drug like Prendisone can allow a bacteria like a lyme to run amuck. The steroid does not explain my root symptoms, but I’m sure it didn’t help it.
Do you have any updates on your condition?
I have been on the prednisone/corticosteriod cycle for 50 years. I fear that I am permanently damaged and the doctors just keep wanting to give me more. It is the most excruciating pain I have ever had. I simply want to jump out of my skin.
This is an update of how prednisone has affected my life. I previously did a post that says quote “OMGI feel like I’ve been hit by a truck” and that was after only 4 days off prednisone. I have now been off prednisone for 5 weeks and yet my side effects continue. I am so fatigued I still can hardly move my arms I barely walk with a cane. Mostly I have been relegated to a motorized scooter. I take vitamin C, vitamin D 800 units, potassium, and calcium 1500 milligrams.
I drink lots of orange juice eat lots of bananas. Yet each time I try to eat I get nauseated. my vision seems to have bright diamond shaped lights in everything that I look at. I can no longer sleep in the bed at all because I no longer have the strength to turn over. My skeleton hurts, my knees kill me and my legs feel like they’re paralyzed…like heavy dead sticks. I sleep in a chair in the living room that has a motorized lift to lift my legs because I can’t lift them by myself.
My husband does the cooking and he still work. In the morning he leaves my vitamin and a bottle of water And gives me a banana. I do a lot of crying and I feel very very suicidal. This is no life for someone who was so active I haven’t left the house in a month and a half and I Live my life in this chair. Do not let your doctors put you on prednisone for anything you might as well be dead, because as soon as you come off of this drug you will feel like you’re going to die anyway.
The only thing that they can do for you is “nothing”! You take your over the counter Tylenol, you take vitamins, you drink orange juice, you eat bananas and hopefully your body will finally recognize that it has to make its own cortisol with those little adrenaline glands that sit on your liver. Maybe you will start feeling like a human being in a year so I hear… My God I hope it doesn’t take that long!!!
Here’s hoping you will never ever have to be put on prednisone because if you end up with withdrawal symptoms your doctor will deny and say, “Oh there’s no such thing.” You feel like you’ve been run over by the bus they just threw you under! So if this whole thing is scary to you, it should be. Prednisone is your worst nightmare!
Kristen. Have you tested your cortisol? Hyper cortisol levels like mine gave me similar symptoms. For me the anxiety was the worse. I found out my Adrenals are working but over producing cortisol. Also try to look into alternative reasons for your symptoms. Lyme disease for example. We’re you exposed? I’m not a doctor and this is not meant as medical advise. I was put on prendisone for an ear infection that did not heal and all heck broke loose. I had the body aches, insomnia muscle weakness anxiety. Still do 3 months later but some of the anxiety stuff is improving on antibiotics.
I had an endocrinologist work up and discovered my cortisol was high not low and my diurnal pattern is still working just stuck in a fight or flight mode for most of the day. I hope this resolves in time. I’m taking a natural adaptogen under my doctors supervision. If the moderator permits I can share the name of the drug. The one I’m taking is to reduce cortisol not raise it though. As far as the underline cause im in the process of looking in to a LD diagnosis. The treatments are very different . I hope you feel better.
I’ve been on and off prednisone for 10 years. Everytime I get on it I start trying to taper immediately. Right now I’ve got agonizing pain, that old muscle/stabbing pain and fatigue thing going on. Just miserable. I am now on 2.5 mg and have been dropping .75 mg. each week. I’m wondering if anyone has actually come off this stuff and done well? Most here seem to have horrible lingering effects. Does it go away? How long does it take?
Thank you for this. I thought I was going crazy with withdrawing. Been on it for over 5 months and well and beyond over it now. Everytime I drop dose I get so unwell. Sometimes have to stay in bed or at home away from people. I find everything or nothing makes me super emotional all the time.
I have written before. A rheumatologist gave me more specific type of withdrawal taper. When down to 10 mg, try 9 mg for four weeks, then 8 mg for 4 weeks, etc. So far it is working unless I forget to take the Prednisone or take it later in the day than usual. Unfortunately I have developed sores in my mouth and dentist has me on 0.5 mg. Dexamethasone (which seems like a cousin to Prednisone) mouth rinse oral solution, but am not to swallow it. Pharmacist advised that should not affect the prednisone withdrawal. My hopes are up.
I have been on prednisone since 2008 due to Rheumatoid Arthritis. I tapered for almost a year from a high of 60 mg a day. Took the last dose of 1 mg about 3 weeks ago. It seems as though with each passing day I feel worse, severe knee pain, terrible shoulder and neck pain, nausea, headache, muscle spasms, hip pain. I can’t seem to get either my RA or Primary doctor to listen to me, they both assume that everything is either due to the RA or depression, maybe I need new doctors.
I am just about at the point that I’m going to go to an acute care clinic and talk to an internal med doc or emergency room doctor. I’m supposed to start on a new biologic on Tuesday due to Remicade seemingly not working but that could be due to the prednisone withdrawal that was recommended by my RA doctor. I feel really horrible and sick. Is there any help or suggestions. It is so frustrating that neither doctor is listening.
I have been on a low does of prednisone for about 7 years now 5mg- 2.5. I am now down to 2mg and plan to taper extremely slow. I am now feeling anxiety at night and in the morning. I will stay on 2mg until June and then try and shoot for 1mg. My stomach is also bothering me along with nausea a lot I have been trying to combat this with ginger water.
I sure hope it works this time and my kidneys and brain function normal. This has been the best drug for RA but the worst for my body. I will post when I am fully off this pill and let you know what other side effects have happened. Thanks for listening. I am glad I am not alone. :)
I have read every one of your posts, and my heart breaks for the struggles you have had to endure. My experience was a bit different; I brought my misery upon myself. Cutting roots, with no leaves, left me with poison ivy/oak internally. Was put on 10 days diminishing dose of prednisone…finished meds, went to ER, thought I was croaking, got 4 more days, 40mg, no taper. Finished now, and not having terrible withdrawal…
I attribute it to the fact I have taken Thorne Adrenal Cortex during this whole ordeal, and feel that it has helped tremendously. I was introduced to this supplement through the website “Stop the Thyroid Madness”. (Have hypothyroidism for 30 years and use natural thyroid meds). Please investigate this adrenal support supplement; it has helped me tremendously. Good luck to all.
I’ve been on prednisone since 2002, when I became allergic to the mestinon used to treat my myasthenia gravis. At one time I was able to quit (briefly) but had a rebound reaction of coming up allergic to almost everything I put in my mouth. My doctor put me back on 2 mg. a day, which I have been on for about five years. I just decided, with my doctor’s agreement, to get off of the stuff.
One day of 1 mg caused depression that I couldn’t understand, as my life is great. Thanks for all the comments, as I will now take seriously my doctor’s recommendation to reduce over months rather than weeks. This drug has its uses, but is used far too frequently for mild problems that could be dealt with by other means. Poison ivy?? I’ve had that, and unless very severe, time eventually takes care of it. The prednisone is worse!
I’m also a myasthenia patient. I know prednisone saved my life when I was first hospitalized in a full blown MG crisis. I’ve tapered down from 60mg daily for about one year, finally off completely 3 weeks ago. Sometimes I feel like I want to jump out of my skin.
I have some good day and some days, I can hardly function. I do function but it’s not easy. Some days I just sit around and do nothing but sleep. I do not get depressed or too anxious. Just shaky, achy, and tired. Hardest part is the mental fogginess. I hate it.
I was on Prednisone for almost 18 months at 50+mg a day for a severe burn. I suffered every side effect known plus a couple of extra for good measure. It was hell trying to get off. Some of the side effects still bother me now, 15 years later. In the end, it took soaking in salt water and lathering in vaseline to help me heal and get off the drug.
PRD….just curious what side effects are you still having 15 years later! I was put on Prednisone 80mg the end of January to deal with my kidney disease. I was functioning for about two weeks and woke up one morning and felt like a different person who I did not even recognize. Have had depression and anxiety ever since. My kidney has got me down to 20mg now and starting 15mg tomorrow so I guess we will see how that goes. Hope you feel better soon!
Wow, no wonder I feel like I was run over by a truck. I knew prednisone was the problem, so after researching everything, I find it is true! Because I had a constant headache, neck pain for ten days, I was taking 12 to 15 Tylenol a day, NOT Good for the liver, but I couldn’t get rid of the headache, not even for 1 minute. I couldn’t sleep, I had to sit in a chair because my head hurt too bad to lie down. And how did my head ache start?
After spending 6 hours at JC Penny’s beauty saloon (beauty is a stretch) getting my hair bleached! The girl bleached it not once but 3 times, kept me in that sink with my neck hanging over the lip. After hours of this, it pinched a nerve in my neck. Then the headache began. Finally ten days later, I had to call a Neurologist. She put me on prednisone 30 mg a day for 5 days, 20 a day for 3 days, 10 a day 2 days, then 1/2 pill for 2 days. For the first week it worked, my headache was gone, and I felt great, but then…
OMG, on the night I cut back to 10mg I was in severe pain during the night, my knees hurt beyond belief, and I couldn’t move my legs? I had to reach down and physically move my legs. I literally, was half paralyzed. By the next morning, my shoulders hurt, to the point of having a hard time putting my top on over my head. I couldn’t even brush my hair. I hurt in every part of my body. I have a cane in my house, so I got that to support me. I felt achy in my muscles, so finally I got in the shower, turned the water on to scalding hot, and stood in there for about 20 minutes.
I could finally move, then I started my research on prednisone and I found an article that drinking orange juice helps. I started a regiment of orange juice. Yes, for a while it does help. This is now the fourth day off the prednisone, and still I am dizzy, I can barely raise my arms, and getting in and out of bed is truly a challenge. Everything hurts, including when I walk, (with a cane) even my – okay, I will just put it out there – even my vagina hurts when I walk! (You may laugh, but really this is a problem!).
I have a headache, I am sick to my stomach, to the point of vomiting, my blood sugar is low, and my vision is not right. This is so not right! I want to be better. I groan when I go to bed, I groan when I get up, I wince when I try to walk, and I have no energy. My back aches, constantly and since my last pill, I have to take naps all the time, I am just exhausted and haven’t done anything. Everyday, I want to feel better, but so far the pain is hanging on.
I now understand the steroids took over my body’s job of creating hormones, and until my adrenaline glands figure out that they need to work, I will have to deal with the pain, and take Tylenol again. (I can’t take Alieve or Motrien). The only thing positive I see in all this is, I might lose some weight. So for now, I will continue with the hot showers, Tylenol and orange juice. Good luck to everyone who has had to take this drug. I hope you are lucky and will remain pain free when you taper off it.
I’ve been on it for 5 yrs after I stopped using it I had bad mood swings, depression, couldn’t focus, shakes, clouded brain, forgetfulness, 5 years later still dealing with it. God keeps me sane. I wish I would have refused it.
I was diagnosed with PMR about 9 years ago and was put on a high dose of Prednisolone by a consultant who said that it would last about 18 months but I should take Prednisolone ona reducing monthly basis. Every time I got down to around 6 mg per day, the PMR symptoms returned and I upped my dose – no reference to the consultant who never recalled me – through my GP. This went on for years until my GP finally referred me back to a rheumatologist 2 years ago.
He wanted to put me on methotrexate but recognized that I needed to get off the prednisolone gradually. Not wanting to rattle I persuaded him to all me to do this before taking Methotrexate. Got down to around 3 mg a day when I completely seized up and couldn’t get out of bed. Result was him whacking me back up to 10 mg a day, to reduce to zero over 10 months and start 20mg methotrexate per week. My final 1 mg dose of Pred was at the end of last January.
Since then I have progressively got worse during this 3 months. I ache all over, particularly knee, hands and shoulder joints, and my thigh and upper arm muscles. I don’t see this improving without a return to Prednisolone or something similar. I think after such a long time on this drug my system has just stopped producing the right chemicals.
I have been on 80 mg of Prednisone for 14 months to keep me loosing my eyesight in one eye. I had lost the eyesight on my other eye a month before it started in my good eye. Four months ago I started taper ring off the prednisone. I have been off of it for two weeks. It saved the eyesight in one eye and I’m so thankful. The last two weeks have been excruciating pain all over my body. My arms are to weak and painful to push myself up and legs to weak and painful to stand up. I can’t do anything but sleep so I won’t feel the pain as often. No prescribed pain meds help. There some other withdrawal symptoms, but not as bad as the pain. Is there any hope of getting better? If so, how long should I expect? I pray our Father God in Heaven will heal everyone through His only Son Jesus Christ.
I was on prednisone for 2 weeks due to severe asthma. I have been off of it now for 1 week & have had horrible side effects. Thrush in my mouth so bad I could hardly swallow, face, feet & stomach swollen, dizzy, headaches, breathing problems, heart palpitations, shaking, panic feeling, even vision problems. This drug is poison! I’m wondering if I will ever feel normal again.
Currently going through the same thing. How did it work out?