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. Â 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. Â 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. Â 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. Â As long as you work with your doctor and withdraw VERY gradually, you should be able to experience a full recovery. Â If you have experienced withdrawal from Prednisone or are currently going through withdrawal, feel free to share your experience in the comments section below.
I too went through all these terrible side effects I’ve read about. I had anxiety so bad I didn’t want to be home alone. I never experienced anxiety before. I want to tell you, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there.
All those awful things happened to me from the 7 day pack. Had I known, I would never had taken it and will never again. Like that old saying, when a train goes through a dark tunnel you don’t jump off stay on because there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Well that’s not exactly how it goes, but you get the just of it. It WILL All get better. I experienced severe anxiety, migraines, diarrhea, dizziness, and so on. Remember you are loved and this WILL PASS. That hell is only temporary.
Hi, everyone. I was recently put on prednisone, 60 MG per day, for five days. For 3.5 months I’ve had a mystery illness causing fatigue, brain fog, vertigo, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, etc. An ARNP prescribed prednisone and it’s been 1 week since I stopped taking it. I feel 100x’s worse!
I feel like I’m dying. My vertigo is horrible, my brain fog and vision problems are worse too. I’ve had trouble sleeping, heart pounding, weakness etc. I can’t even care for my 2 year old son. I need 24 hour help with him and with normal life functions. My anxiety has gone through the roof.
I feel so hopeless, like the Dr’s will never find the cause of my original illness and depressed because it is so much worse now. Thank you all for sharing. It’s nice to know I’m not alone.
Reading your stories makes me feel so much better… took prednisone 20mg for 3 weeks tapered to 10mg for 3 days then went cold turkey. Feel tired all the time and always worrisome about my health. My tiredness becomes part of every conversation That I have I’m hoping to go back to normal in at least 3 months. I work in the ER and I’m currently being moved to a not so demanding department because of always being tired… I hope we all get better over time…
Dear all, thank you so much for all your comments. They help me a lot. I have ulcerative colitis and every time I have a flare up my doctor gives me Prednisolone. On my second flare up a few years ago I had huge problems with my adrenals after I reduced the drugs, dizziness, low energy, etc.
I had another flare up last year and have been on prednisolone for over then months, started with massive doses of 40 mg orally and 40 through rectal foam. I am on 7 mg now, reducing a mg each week, but apart from feeling exhausted, I have been feeling depressed. Yesterday I woke up with terrible thoughts, suicidal, thanks God they didn’t last long, but were scary.
Meditation and prayer helps me a lot. And understanding this is connected to prednisolone withdrawal helps deeply. It will pass. These depression, low energy and anxiety are particularly hard since both my elderly parents are very ill, and facing this is very tough. Last time I had withdrawal symptoms I read a book Adrenal Fatigue, by James L. Wilson, he talks a lot about helping the recovery of the adrenals with lots of vitamin C, as well as doses of vitamin B5 and magnesium, and habits such as going to bed before 11 pm.
Has anyone read this book and found it helpful? Thanks again for all your comments, I have faith these symptoms will pass. I will try to avoid going back to prednisolone if I have another flare up, the alternative according to my doctor is azathioprine, which also has its problems, but prednisolone is really tough. Thank you so much.
HI Alex, I also have UC and I also take azathioprine… this drug helped me finally get off the prednisone. I have had UC for almost 14 years now and my body has become dependent on the drug. Azathioprine helped me be free of that awful drug.
It works to stop the inflammation but the side effects and now the withdrawals are so life altering. I just have to live day by day and hope I am one day closer to relief. Thank you so very much for your comment… it is so nice to know someone else out there knows how I feel and I’m not crazy.
I am sorry to hear of the severe symptoms reported by others. I started taking prednisone almost 2 years ago for a kidney disease – FSGS. While I was experiencing the kidney disease and before the prednisone I was very weak and my legs became very swollen. I had trouble getting out of the car.
My normal is to be very healthy and capable of doing physical labor for several hours without issue. The prednisone halted the kidney disease but I had many symptoms such as weight gain, moon face, crazy sleep habits, unbelievable cramping of every muscle in my body and so on. But I am grateful because it kept me from dialysis or having to look for a transplanted kidney.
I have tried to taper off of prednisone twice now. The first time was with no accompanying medication. The kidney disease came roaring back, so I went back on the prednisone. The second time was when over a period of months I tapered to zero four days ago. This time I am also taking Tacrolimus, an organ rejection drug. I don’t believe the kidney disease is returning, but I am suffering from withdrawal symptoms – headaches, fatigue, muscle weakness, nausea, just feeling generally LOUSY.
But, I expect these to go away eventually. My summary on prednisone is that in certain cases it IS a very useful drug. But there are significant side effects to deal with, so it should not be taken casually. One other comment – In my past I have taken steroid packs for poison oak and they have worked remarkably well with no detectable side effects. So, the impact of prednisone on people is highly variable for sure.
It has been a godsend to read this post and the many comments about withdrawal and side effects of Prednisone. I was prescribed 60 mg daily to fight the antibodies that are eating my red blood cells about 4 months ago. The drug did not do what my hematologist had hoped and had no effect on my red blood cell recovery.
I have been tapering the dosage under doctors guidance after about two weeks at 60 mg daily. At first I thought I was on top of the world. Pain of my osteoarthritis diminished greatly, lots of energy and feelings of well being. But in short order I developed the droopy face of a basset hound and gained 25 pounds of a hard fought weight loss of 50 pounds I had struggled to achieve over the past year.
I was eating non stop and had no appetite control at all. I am weaning off slowly and am down to 5 mg per day for a week and then down to 2.5 for a week and then none. For the past two weeks I have been in absolute agony from muscle and joint pain, depression, shortness of breath, thinner skin, bruising more easily, bleed very easily, anxiety, muscle spasms that cramp my feet and legs, great difficulty in sleeping, fatigue and overall malaise.
I was about ready to go to the ER if this continued until I read this post. My eye doctor believes that the cataract that he diagnosed a week ago is also from the Prednisone. So now I have to have eye surgery for the results of a drug that did not even do what it was prescribed for.
Think careful and do diligent research and questioning before undergoing prednisone therapy… the withdrawal side effects are hell…
I was on prednisone for over a year because of my sever ulcerative colitis. Now that I have found a treatment that works I am no longer taking prednisone. I was on 30mg and tapered down by 5mg a week. I am experiencing sever abdominal pain, nausea, throwing up, diarrhea, sever mood swings and depression, fatigue, and just over all discomfort.
I was prescribed Prednisone for 5 days for a sinus infection along with Levaquin. Day 3 of taking both of these medications my heart was pounding out of my chest, chills, and the anxiety was brutal. I couldn’t eat anything thinking my throat would close up. I thought it was a side effect for Levaquin, but still continued my dose.
Today is day 10 off of the prednisone and I still have a problem with eating, and I definitely cannot tolerate any carbonated drinks nor caffeine. I have been drinking a lot of water and have kept my diet to a bland minimum. Side effects are subsiding but they are still lingering! I never want to feel like that again. I was literary crazy out of my skin!!!!
Have been on prednisolone for 1 year and 10 months – started on 60mg, went to 40mg after two months. Cant remember when I started reducing lower than that but have been reducing from 10mg down by 1mg increments every two weeks and am now off them for the last week. I feel as though I have a bad case of flu!!
I have bad pains in my bones of my fingers, hips and back but saying all this am delighted to be off them and hopefully can stay off them. The symptoms are bearable if not a little debilitating. The tiredness is something else, but if they are only going to last for a few weeks I can cope. The symptoms haven’t stopped me working!
I was on prednisone for 14 years for my kidney transplant. My doctor took me off it when I developed osteoporosis. It took 3 months, and today marks 4 weeks since my last dose. I lost 9 pounds in water weight the first week of weaning. I’ve had issues with low blood pressure and low blood sugar, headaches, and loss of appetite. These have gradually diminished, but I have recently developed joint pain, abdominal pain and nausea, and increased anxiety. I am not totally sure what to expect after being on it for seemingly longer than the vast majority posting on various threads.
Went on a lovely cruise but still felt withdrawal symptoms from Prednisone. Now it seems to be stomach related with belching, vomitting, weight loss, no appetite and something akin to general malaise. It has been 7 weeks since last dose. Now I am not sure symptoms are new or still withdrawal. See doctor next week to talk about it. Not much fun as this drags on and on.
Today marks 4 weeks for me, and I had abdominal and joint pain start within the last few days, along with nausea. I have a feeling this stuff can start at any point within a certain time after your last dose.
I was placed on it to respond to a severe allergic reaction I had to Zyrtec. I did not experience issues while taking the steroid, but I am currently in my first week off and I’m experiencing several of these symptoms. Sunday was my last dose, Monday I felt fine. Tuesday I woke up ache and tired. I did normal weight lifting and noticed immediate muscle soreness.
Later in the day I had to jog a short distance on pavement and my knees hurt worse than I’ve ever experienced (and I’m running about 8 miles per week). The soreness and fatigue continued into Wednesday. I left work early due to how horrible I felt, I had a fever, joint pain, and was fatigued. I did find some relief from massage, and extra rest.
Today I don’t have a fever, and my aches are lessened. I’m still fatigued, and ache but at least my joints hurt less. I’m suppose to run a 10K on Saturday, and I honestly don’t know if I should. I just want to feel well again!
I was on prednisone for 3 years for PMR -not a large dosage. Started on 20mg and very soon when to 15 mg for about the first year. 2nd year down to around 10mg. 3rd year just wanted to get off the drugs so tapered very slowly up and down until I was on 1 mg for about 1-2 months, heaps on soreness returned but I was committed to get off it.
Finally the day came, no more tablets – the soreness in my muscles returned big time even just from taking 1 mg a day – WT. Its been 8 weeks now and I still need to take pain killers regularly. But good news is – it is getting better every day. Hang in there – it will be worth it to be off this crappy medication.
I was on prednisone for 2 weeks, and weaned off slowly on the last 4 days. Now I’m having nightmares nearly every night, and some anxiety & shakiness during the day. It’s been 10 days since I finished. My painful gout finally left, but the rest of these symptoms are horrendous. Hopefully, I’ll get back to normal soon. Tears and depression are not pleasant side effects.
Hello All- I took pred. for 12 days to treat a severe migraine headache. I tapered down from 60mg daily to 10mg. in 12 days. My last dose was 3/18/16 and that very day I woke up with bilateral ankle pain that is alleviated with ibuprofen. I am now (1 week later) still experiencing body aches and anxiety. I have reported my symptoms to my PMD and prescribing MD. and they don’t think it is related to post pred. therapy? I am lost for words and hoping to find an answer. I just want to feel like my self again. I hope someone has a comment or has had the same symptoms. Thank you!
I am almost 1 month since my last dose and have had pain start within the last few days. In my case, it’s my hands, hips, and lower back. I tapered after being on it for 14 years.
I started taking prednisone at the end of October 2015 near Halloween due to a wound that would not heal. They started me out at 100 mg per day and the wound care doctors were surprised to hear I was on such a high dosage. Well since I first started taking these pills I had the worst abdominal pains ever.
My body finally adjusted to them but after taking them for so long and finally being able to taper off these pills those really bad abdominal pains are back. I can’t eat anything without getting sick to my stomach. While I was on the prednisone I gained 5 pounds and since I stopped taking them I have lost those 5 pounds plus have lost 5 more pounds.
I shouldn’t be complaining because I really need to lose weight but I am miserable. If anyone has any advice as to what medication is the best to take for this pain please help.
I have been off the prednisone since, Friday March 18th. I have noticed red blotches, that I don’t know if it’s a rash or just blotches. My body is starting to itch, I don’t know if it’s in my head or not.
My wife was given a long term course of Prednisolone for PMR – she is now in the process of tapering off – but is going through hell. No energy, unable to undertake simple household chores, those she does shatter her, she’s depressed (she is normally a lively and happy person) and almost sleeps the clock around. Surely there must be a safer drug/steroid than Prednisolone with fewer side effects – the list seems endless.
I also was put on a 10 day course of 30mg Prednisolone daily – when the course ended I went cold turkey. I felt so ill I thought I was on the way out! Violent stomach cramps, dizzy (fell twice), severe headaches and hand shaking, hot and cold flushes, severe sweating. My GP (not the same one that gave me the steroids – but it was on my notes) reckoned it was Gastroenteritis, err… but the symptoms match Prednisolone withdrawal to the letter, but I was told there would be no withdrawal after only a 10 day course – such utter rubbish.
It has taken 6 weeks to get back to almost normal, I still have a little way to go. Is this drug used due to it being quite cheap? To my mind it is a poison and should be banned.
I agree. I have never been so miserable in my life. I can’t eat anything without my stomach getting upset.
I am currently experiencing horrible withdrawals from Prednisone. I was prescribed Prednisone for Minimal Change Disease and started with 80mg. Within a few weeks I gained 23 lbs and had a bloated stomach that made me look and as I was pregnant. Since the Prednisone only temporarily helped with my disease my doctor decided to taper me down to try a different treatment option.
I went to 60 mg every other day thereafter for about 1 month, then 40 mg ever other day for about 3 weeks, then 20 mg every other day for 2 wks, now I am taking 10 mg every other day and I feel like hell. My stomach is still bloated, but now I am experiencing intense stomach pain, muscle aches and anxiety. I am switching to 10mg twice a week by the end of this week and cannot wait to be off this awful drug.
I am currently furious that all of this was never really explained to me, and to top it off the success rate for my condition, for treatment with Prednisone is only 60%. But the drug is cheap, so my insurance – I guess preferred it to another one that’s more expensive. I hope that other people will read before start taking this drug – because there are always better options that may be more expense to the insurance company, but they are available upon request – one just have to know about them.
I was prescribed prednisone for pain and inflammation in my back between my shoulder blades. The day after I stopped taking it my neck and shoulder muscles started feeling really tight and then I was in so much pain I could barely move. I had a squeezing pain in my chest and neck. My face, neck, hands, and feet were all incredibly swollen to the point where swallowing was difficult.
I went back to my doctor and he told me there was no chance the prednisone could have caused it. He wasn’t concerned at all with any of it. He told me he didn’t know what was causing it and wrote me a prescription for a muscle relaxer and practically pushed me out the door. I was also having really bad anxiety because it hurt to breathe and move and I was worried about how swollen I was. After reading a lot of these comments, I’m pretty sure it was the prednisone.
I was given prednisone for unexplained facial rashes. I loved it, I didn’t get the side effects others had. I felt and looked great… I worked 2 jobs and FT uni, eating wasn’t a priority, and was mainly eggs. Until I met my now fiancé. From there I started eating regular, breakfast lunch dinner and quit 1 of my jobs.
That’s when I started the weight gain, change in skin/hair health and shape of face change. I was off and on it from there but the rash wouldn’t let up. I’ve since found out what I’m allergic too after converting from a carnivore to a vegan, changing life choices, stopping sugar, tomatoes, strawberries and anything else I could think of… but I was determined I wasn’t going back on steroids. I went through hell and still am, the all over rash that bled for 2 wks, the exhaustion, fevers, joint pains, body image hatred, lack of enthusiasm for life and now the emotional I hate my life break down in tears.
Firstly I have a great life, a man that loves me and is caring for me through all this, kids who praise the ground I walk on, HDs at uni and I’m winning awards, I’m 41 as of yesterday and look 31. I will get through this, we all will. Good has come from this… I have discovered what I’m allergic to. As I haven’t been able to mentally or physically handle leaving my bed my hygiene levels drastically depleted along with my beauty regime.
Once the rash cleared it truly cleared… going over my diary of what the hell is happening to me I discovered the issue. Dates matched, only thing now missing from my life…As it turns out I’m allergic to my hair dye, the PPD and res stuff is highly toxic to me. Reading this site has given me the push within myself to get up and stop letting this drug take anymore control of me… It’ll be pure will power but today’s a new day.
A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who has posted here. I was afraid there was something seriously wrong with me because the Prednisone withdrawal couldn’t be causing all these problems 2 months after I quit, could it? Your posts have helped give me clarity on what’s going on. I was given Cortisone and Prednisone for a rash that sparked an immune reaction in December/January. (It was misdiagnosed as cellulitis and I was hospitalized and put on IVs).
When I was discharged, I was prescribed 40 MG/day. On the first day I ended up in the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. My heart was fine but racing like crazy from the drug. They reduced it to 30 MG/day for a week; then 20 MG/day for the second week; then 10 MG/day for the third week and finally 10 MG every other day for a week. My last dose was on January 20.
It’s March 8 and I’m still messed up from it. Deep exhaustion, moods, aches, pains, stiffness, eye problems. A mind and body that don’t feel like they’re my own. The doctor told me the drug would be out of my system in 48 hours and so would the symptoms. Hah! I will be fasting on juice and some days on water – my go-to method to help the body heal – and hope that will accelerate the recovery.
By the way if you are reading this and have arthritis, CFS or another auto-immune disease, I know from personal experience and direct reports from friends that the diet on drfuhrman works. Sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly, but it works. I have no affiliation, just sharing.
My husband had asthma when he was a teenager. Someone recommended him prednisone and he started taking 10 mg of this medicine everyday. He felt better and never stopped this medicine since then. Today he is 65 years old. He had some backbone issues and when we consulted the doc for medicines, we told Doc about steroids.
He said that too much prednisone had damaged his bones and he should gradually stop taking it. So he decided to take half a tablet (2.5mg) daily. But after two days he stopped taking even half the tablet. Since we were both unaware of the withdrawal side effects, we got shocked when they started showing up.
After consulting with the doc, we knew about it. He had to go through a blood check to find out whether his body is able to produce it or not and the result says it is showing 0.8. So now whether he should start taking prednisone again for some time and stop gradually, is the big question. Any comment or advice is appreciated.
My husband had asthma when he was a teenager. Someone recommended him prednisone and he started taking 10 mg of this medicine everyday. He felt better and never stopped this medicine since then. Today he is 65 years old. He had some backbone issues and when we consulted the doc for medicines, we told Doc about steroids.
He said that too much prednisone had damaged his bones and he should gradually stop taking it. So he decided to take half a tablet (2.5mg) daily. But after two days he stopped taking even half the tablet. Since we were both unaware of the withdrawal side effects, we got shocked when he started showing them up.
After consulting with the doc, we knew about it. He had to go through blood check to find out whether his body is able to produce it or not and the result says it is showing 0.8. So now whether he should start taking prednisone again for some period and then gradually slow down, is the big question. We will be seeing the specialist tomorrow. Any comment or advice is welcome.
Wow, amazing stories of great bravery and problems. I’m so grateful I found this site. I’m 61, and over my lifetime I’ve had prednisone a few times and really liked it just fine. I have fibromyalgia. I was put on prednisone Jan. 14th to treat a bone spur that flared up because in my efforts to be “natural” I quit taking Celebrex for a few days. (A few months earlier I took prednisone for an inflamed eye and, again, that was a fine experience.)
This time the prednisone has been very bad for me. I was only on for 10 days, 30 tablets of 10 mg with a good taper prescribed. It’s been almost 7 weeks since I stopped taking it. Insomnia, extreme nervousness, no appetite, sad, depressed, confused. My dr. put me on Lexapro to combat these symptoms, which is a reasonable course of action because I’ve been on and off anti-depressants for most of my life. The Lexapro has helped the depression, but so far it’s not helping the anxiety and insomnia much. It’s gotten better, but here I am, almost 7 weeks since I stopped and still half crazy.
It helps to hear your stories, thank you. It’s lonely, these symptoms. I don’t really tell anybody because after I told a couple of people I could tell that they just can’t handle it, don’t want to hear it. Or they sympathize, but then because it’s “only” a reaction to a drug, they seem to forget about it. I don’t blame them. I’m just saying this whole thing is HARD.
I also take medical marijuana, which has helped some with these new symptoms but not as much as I would have hoped. I use Indica-dominant, which is the kind that makes you relaxed and sleepy, but even that has not helped. I usually use it at night before bed so that I’m not “stoned” during the day, but today I’m thinking I might just get stoned all day and see if that helps, since I have no other plans.
This has truly been a very difficult and bewildering 7 weeks. I’m better than I was, so I have high hopes that I will soon be back to my own version of normal. Good luck to all of you! A follow up… My doctor prescribed Klonopin for the anxiety, but it is so highly addictive that she wants to be taper off of it, too, so I am. It helped, it helped a lot. But getting off of it causes it’s own set of problems, like feeling crazy and muscle aches. Can’t win!
Update: I took my last prednisone 12 days ago. My joint pain is worse at times. My headache continues intermittently. I rest a lot from fatigue but when I take my pain medication I feel quite well except for my thumbs and wrists. New withdrawal (or not) symptoms acne, swollen gums (hyperplasia),and loss of appetite. I’m getting tired of feeling like this and my heart goes out to all of the people who have written with their stories.
I recently had an asthma attack and I was given prednisone 10mg, take 3 in the morning and another 3 at before I go to bed for the next four days. I wasn’t awared of any of the side effects this pill had. I’m a junior in high school and it was very difficult for me to wake up in the morning. I won’t get enough sleep or get too much.
My doctor didn’t give me any warning signs. I’ve stopped taking them two days ago, since than I haven’t been able to sleep, getting headaches, blurry vision, and muscle pain. Having those side effects, it’s very difficult to sit down in a classroom for six hours.
Have been on prednisone for 2 months (mostly 12.5 – 15 mg, reducing slowly) for PMR with so far no negative symptoms and almost complete relief of numbing pain. However, I have researched every possible nutritional support for inflammation and adrenals. I take a lot of supplements and they make all the difference. I also eat a very careful diet, plant based, with enough protein, no sugar or gluten.
There are many things you can do so you can be healthy in spite of drug, and during withdrawal. Do your research, there is a LOT out there – try things. Proteolytic enzymes (Neprinol), curcumin, blue green algae, sprouts powders, probiotics, mangosteen, boswellia, plus the adrenal supports – there are many – are the ones that help me most.
I’m on my second day of 40mg prednisone for an asthma flare. The plan is 3 days 4omg, 3 days 30 mg 3 days 20 mg 3 days 10 mg, then stop. This is the third time I’ve had one of these tapered programs. The first two times, the medicine worked extremely well and I didn’t have any problems with withdrawals.
It was really a life-saver for bad asthma. But I’m much older now and have RA, CKD, and other problems. The first day was yesterday – already rough, with feeling overheated and sweaty, racing heart. Today is better, but I’m probably building up a tolerance, however still weak and tired. This is definitely not a drug to take for something minor like poison oak or hives; there are other drugs for that.
But for asthma attacks, it really is helpful if the usual asthma meds are not working, since even the awful side effects are better than suffocating from the lungs not working. I am worried about possibly experiencing the withdrawals this time. I hope you all are feeling better, and thanks for your blog posts; I really appreciate your sharing.
Update: The joint pain is more severe, the worst is my hands, feet, neck, and elbows. I have some stomach pain and a headache almost continuously. My eyes seem a little fuzzy and my brain seems slow. I am tired and nap readily. I have woken at night with heartburn last 3 nights. This is not fun but so far I have kept up activity level. I still am hopeful that I may be a lucky one and get over this quickly.
I was on a high dosage for 5 months and did a slow taper. I will absolutely not take prednisone again unless my life absolutely depends on it and there are no alternatives. It’s a horrid drug that literally destroys your body. On it I gained 20 lbs my face swelled up to twice its size (almost back to normal after 3 months off it).
I had heart palpitations as well as incredibly terrible cramps and weakness in my muscles. I also was incredibly moody and thank god my spouse is still with me. My bones were brittle and I have a cracked shin because of it which is still healing 3 months later. I’ve lost some of the weight but have a long road to go. Got my strength back and some of my sanity.
If your doctor ever recommends prednisone for something non life threatening run away!!!! Worst drug ever. Oh and they didn’t tell me before I started it that you can’t just stop that you have to do a very slow taper. You become dependent on this drug after a few weeks. If you suddenly stop your body won’t produce enough cortisol and you can die. So take a tip from me and avoid this drug like the plague.
I’ve been on and off presnisone for 3 years now. The highest I was on was 80mg a day. I maintained on 40mg a day for quite awhile. When I say on and off, I’ve been on them more than I’ve been off of them. I take it for flare ups with ulcerative colitis. It’s the only medication that will get it under control once in a flare. I just stopped again after starting back on it in December.
Started at 40mg and then slowly tapered down from there. Off presnisone for a week now and I have constant headaches and joint aches so bad that I can barely move some days. Hope I don’t have to go back on it anytime soon. Hopefully the dose of Imuran that I’m on will keep things in check. I never experiences bad withdrawal on medrol dose packs, only after high doses over past 3 years.
This has been a very helpful article as well as all of your comments. My teenaged daughter recently tapered off Prednisone that she was on at 20-30 mg for over a year for ulcerative colitis. She couldn’t wait to finally stop this medication due to increased appetite and weight gain, steroid acne, and gastric reflux.
She has had longer-standing troubles with anxiety and depression, but has been making steady progress in gaining control over difficult emotions. In the last few weeks, however, her depression has worsened and she is having sporadic crying fits and thoughts of suicide. This regression seemed to come out of nowhere (certainly some teenage issues cause her stress, but they haven’t seemed proportionate to the severity of her depression) when I started thinking about the gradual tapering of steroid use.
I thought mood problems would be more likely when she began steroids, and never thought about this being a potential withdrawal issue. It makes sense now thinking about her adrenal glands need to get used to functioning on their own without the daily Prednisone that she took for well over a year. Telling her about this article seemed to help a bit so that she can attribute her symptoms to a physiological source and hope for relief as time passes.
I have taken prednisone for 19 years and find now it has caused diabetes and I can not get a handle on the blood sugar. I asked my transplant surgeon if I could go off my 5 mg dose of prednisone. He has me taking the 5 every other day for 2 weeks then stop. I’m a little worried about it.
But so far have only had some minor aches in joints. My last pill is in 2 days. I read a lot of the comments and did not see anyone taking prednisone this long or even as an anti rejection drug for a kidney transplant so I do not know what I might expect. I will try to comment next week.
These comments have been very helpful. Unless you’ve been through it, you wouldn’t understand. I have been on and off prednisone (mostly on) for over 1 year and am tapering (again!). Down to 5 mg and have many of the symptoms described in previous posts. Keeping my fingers crossed!
I am simply amazed that we were all were treated with this poison! I was prescribe this for acute bronchitis so. I could breath. Within a day or two I wanted to climb out of my skin! Every side effect, anxiety, nausea, diarrhea, rash, fatigue, loss of appetite, insomnia, depression,and more. My god! I thought I was sick before I went to the doctors, but now I was dying!
I could not been make myself finish the last day of the Prednisone, I quit cold turkey and it has been 5 days of hell, inching my way back to normalcy. Why in the world is this being prescribed?! I will NEVER in my life take this drug again. Wishing you all health and happiness.
Was prescribed prednisone for back pain, 40 mg 3 days, 30 mg 3 days and so on for 12 days. By the sixth day I was in ER with chest pain cause by GI problems. After finding out it wasn’t heart related I persevered. Three days later I started to turn into a basket case. Anxiety, and mood swings I wasn’t in any way able to control.
Missed the second pill that evening and called my doctor the next day. Surprise surprise she told me I was intolerant! Three days later I have not taken any more of this stuff. I’m tired, still have Gas and GI chest pain. My legs and feet are burning and I have zero energy.
I would hope it improves, but would like to thank all of the open and honest people on this forum, I now know that I have to tough it out. May god bless you all and may he give you good health and peace. Thank you…
James, I can relate to the chest pain omgosh!!! I now know to take Tums whenever I am on steroids. I am a pro with steroids unfortunately. The mood swings, unnatural energy, non satisfied appetite, weight gain, then EXHAUSTION to top it off when tapering. I would never recommend just stopping it. I strongly recommend a new doctor to take care of you. This is not a medication to mess with OK?
I’ve been on steroids for 6 weeks due to a herniated disc in my back. The lowest dose was 2 mg once a day and my Neuro said I could stop anytime. Wrong! Severe withdrawals: body aches, Nausea, weakness, fatigue. The pharmacist said he should have tapered me off slower to once every other day, then once every three days because I had been on it for so long.
It’s been a week and I am slowly feeling better. Still have the muscle soreness and moon face, but I haven’t had to take ibuprofen in a day. What I wanted to tell everybody who’s been pre cubed steroids for poison ivy/oak, try this first! I use OTC Calagel. It’s beside the calamine lotions , but it’s a clear gel. I used to get poison ivy about three times a summer. And every time prescribed prednisone.
Evil stuff! I tried the Calagel. Amazing!!! Stops the itch and redness within minutes!! Clears up within days. Love this stuff, no more co-pays or steroids. They invented this for the troops in the Vietnam war, because of all the sumac the encountered. Genius stuff! Please try this before going to the doctor. I haven’t been to doctor for poison ivy in 6 years now. And yes, I still come in contact every summer.
I was prescribed prednisone for a viral rash that suddenly appeared over my entire body. It looked like if someone whipped me intensely. The doctor I saw was at the Texas med clinic and she prescribed me 40mg for 5 days. It really helped with the itch but by the 3rd day of taking this devil of a drug, I was very depressed. On the 2nd day of taking this pill, I did feel my body feeling really weird it was only by the 3rd day is when I would cry for no reason. I became so anxious, depressed, and very irritable. I will never take this drug ever again. It’s like a roller-coaster of emotions inside this little pill. What the doctors don’t tell you. Hmph -_-
I had a liver transplant three months ago, so taking Prednisolone for that length of time afterwards is a normal part of treatment. I was on 20 mg and every few weeks tapered it down by 5 mg. I flattened the taper even more toward the end by halving the 5 mg tablets. I finished two weeks ago.
I have most of the withdrawal symptoms in the above list, but they are all minor except for monumental fatigue, brain fog, and a bit of depression. Some days are worse than others and I’m looking forward to my adrenal glands getting back to normal. Whilst on Prednisolone it felt okay. In fact I had a peculiar experience in hospital when they thought I might be rejecting the new organ.
I had an emergency 100 mg IV drip of methylprednisolone and managed to sleep for the first time in five days. The dreams that came to me were incredible, all in that same rich technicolor which saturates memories of a happy childhood. I woke up feeling like a demigod. Alas, this effect only lasted a day. Now I am off the stuff I realize that I have been buoyed up by it for three months and it is only now that the real recovery from my transplant begins.
Hi Martyn, I saw your post on the Internet about Prednisone and your liver transplant. I got a kidney transplant the first of February. I came to this website looking for answers as to my side effects. It’s helped make sense of them. :) I was wondering. What did you mean by, “now that the real recovery from the transplant begins”? I’m so ready to get past the recovery. Sincerely, Pauline :)
First to Nate re: Dizziness and Vertigo. I have had vertigo on and off for about 20 years, and was prescribed Anti-Vert years ago (luckily not Prednisone for vertigo). Eventually the dizziness went away on its own. I later came upon a newspaper article that described how to take control of vertigo. Please Google “Epley Procedure for Vertigo”. This was developed by Dr. John Epley, a Portland, Oregon physician and is not a gimmick. It is a simple head-turning neck exercise that works for 95% of the people experiencing vertigo – and this is without medicine.
Over my past 20 years, I have explained this procedure to many friends who experienced vertigo, and 90% of the time, it has worked perfectly. I printed the exercise and take it with me any time I am out of town. It has never failed me, and all without seeing a doctor or taking any medicine. The exercise works on the inner ear and restores balance fairly quickly and easily. It worked for me and will probably work for you. Since there is no medicine required, it is certainly worth a try.
Back to Prednisone withdrawal. I have had PMR for about a year, which was diagnosed in July of 2015. My Rheumatologist prescribed 15 Mg. of Prenisone daily (10 Mg in AM and 5 Mg with dinner at night). The extreme pain of the PMR was relieved at once. I then started on a gradual reduction plan, getting to 12.5 MG in about a month and then continuing to reduce the dosage steadily at the rate of about 1 Mg drop each week.
When I dropped the dosage from 10 to 9 Mg I sensed some pain. The next week, I dropped from 9 Mg to 8 Mg and had a minor flare (much pain and other symptoms). The doctor had me go back to 10 Mg for about a week and then to 9 MG for about a month (8 Mg in AM and 1 Mg with evening dinner). About 6 weeks ago I started a very slow reduction plan: 9 Mg 5 days a week and 8.5 Mg 2 days a week, followed by 9 Mg 3 days a week and 8.5 Mg 4 days a week, then 9.0 Mg 1 day a week and 8.5 Mg 6 days a week. (3 weeks to drop 1/2 Mg).
Last week I reached the 8 MG 6 days a week level and this week I will be starting at 2 days a week at 7.5 Mg and 5 days at 8.0 Mg. So far, so good. However anything is possible, so if I have a flare and have to go back to a higher dose, I will do so slowly, but later again resume the plan. If all goes well (I am at 8 Mg at present), it will take 3 weeks for every 1/2 Mg reduction, or 48 weeks to get from 8 Mg to Zero Mg.
Undoubtedly there will be some glitches. I talked to the doctor’s nurse who approved my reduction plan, but she mentioned that I may end up having to stay on a low dose (5 Mg or less) indefinitely. In the meantime, I am taking 3000 Units of Vitamin D3 and 600 Mg of Calcium daily to keep my bones sturdy, and seeing my Rheumatologist every 2 months for blood testing and a checkup. Prednisone can add to a person’s weight, so I am really watching my carbs (no bread or potatoes, etc.), no candy or sweet rolls, etc.
In spite of the possibility of weight gain, I have dropped about 8 pounds (from 197 to 189) since starting on Prednisone. My glucose level was up to 115-120, but since watching my diet and losing weight, it has dropped to about 105 average. My blood pressure initially increased with the Prednisone, but since losing the 8 pounds, it has also dropped to about 135 /75 (I am age 84 and never smoked and have only one drink with dinner on rare occasion.
I am semi-retired and still working 3 days a week, helping our son run the family business. Staying active and not feeling sorry for yourself is important. I am an antique car collector and spend much of my spare time tinkering with old cars and going to car shows as time permits. Our son and I have a car museum in Canfield, Ohio. (www.tipcars.us). I have never been in the hospital, and am working hard to stabilize the PMR and also to reduce the Prednisone gradually and slowly).
Watching my diet has not been easy, as I love cinnamon rolls and candy, but after about 2 weeks of abstaining, for some reason the desire for sweets and carbs seems to subside. My advice to anyone trying to reduce the dosage of Prednisone is to do so very slowly, no matter what the doctor days. Watch your diet and keep a chart of your dosage, your weight, blood pressure, glucose level, etc. This is a serious issue and if handled as such, a reduction plan will be successful. Fred
I was prescribed 50mg for 5 days last week. I had gone to the ER after a night of severe dizziness and vertigo. The ER doctor diagnosed me with labyrinthritis of the ear. I took it for 3 days and decided to stop because of severe aggression and anxiety. It has been 3 days since my last dose and I had another severe dizzy spell this morning and still feel off balance.
My stomach was nauseous all night and I barely got any sleep. I am very depressed and have a very sore throat and ears. I went to urgent care this morning and they found no infection. Could this be from the prednisone after only 3 days? I know I have a very sensitive system.
I was diagnosed with BOOP in May of 2015. I was prescribed 50 mg of prednisone for 1 month, decreasing the dose by 10 mg each month. I was done taking prednisone in October of 2015. It is now February 2016, and I have been experiencing joint pain and muscle soreness for several months. My knees, ankles, elbows and neck hurt.
It takes me about 30 seconds to get going once I get up from a sitting position. I have noticed that if I keep moving, it feels better. I also gained about 30 lbs. while on the drug and have still not lost a pound. My belly is still swollen and I’m just so frustrated that this is all hanging on so long.
I honestly thought when I was done taking it, that the pounds would start falling off, but it’s just not happening, despite the decrease in appetite. I’m just hoping this will all start subsiding soon. I guess I was wondering if anyone out there, who has been on a similar dosage for the same period of time, has had these symptoms, and for how long.
I have MS, Lymphocytic Colitis, & I’m Hypothyroid with Hashimoto’s thyroid disease. I have a bulging disc in my spine. My DO prescribed 40 mgs. of Prednisone for 3 days, and 20 mgs. for 4 days. My last day was Saturday, and today is Monday. Needless to say, I am miserable. I have a headache, diarrhea, low blood sugar, nausea.
I’ve been prescribed Prednisone before, by a neurologist at Cleveland Clinic. She tapered the dose much more slowly. She had prescribed Solu Medrol Infusions for 3 days, and then prescribed oral Prednisone. I didn’t feel this way. I will have to explain to my DO how to taper Prednisone for me.
I was diagnosed with Cryptogentic Organizational pneumonia 7 months ago. Started on 160mg for 30 days, then 40mg for 30 days, then 20mg 30 days, then 10mg then 5m I feel like my lung specialist doesn’t understand the withdrawal part of coming off of prednisone. The fatigue is real, fear of getting sick again is real. I went to U of M for a second opinion asking what caused this and how to prevent it from happening again. There are no answers and no one knows. The crying because of my body trying to restore itself is tough.
Wow reading everyone’s story’s has made me feel even worse about my situation! I have been taking 10 mg of prednisone for five years for Crohn’s disease and this is the first time I have successfully gotten off this drug. I am very fearful about the damage I have done to my body.
Hi, I am so glad I found this website as I am weaning off of steroids after being on them for a year and a half. I was at 60mg now at 5mg and the withdrawals are very hard. Until I saw this site I felt pretty alone with this. I feel for all of you. I have gained a lot of weight even with exercise and hope to take it off as it adds to the pain in my body.
Being on steroids feels like you are in another world. Your body does not feel like it is your own due to strange pains and your emotions are beyond your control. Now at 5mg I am having the hardest time but again reading that all these symptoms are part of the weaning process gives me hope…
I know steroids saved my life but they are so strong and difficult to get off. Meditation for stress and peace of mind and exercise when I can have helped so much. I will keep you in my prayers as I know you are suffering… hang in there, we will get through this.
I’ve been reading some of your experiences coming off of Prednisone and it’s giving me hope and a lot of fear! I was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago with Lupus and have been on a low dose (5mg) of Prednisone ever since. I know this medication is not good to be on long term, but it’s the only thing that has helped my pain.
When I ask my doctor to help me get off of it, he puts me on something else, but leaves me on the prednisone. I have gained so much weight, I can’t take it anymore. I’m going to stop taking it, but I’m nervous. The pain I experience is unbearable at times. If there are any suggestions anyone may have I would greatly appreciate it!!
Hello All! I decided to leave a comment after scrolling through and reading so many brave stories from each and every individual willing to open up and share their experience. I too am suffering from prednisone withdrawal symptoms after 9 YEARS on prednisone. Yes… Nine. Years. I emphasize that to show you… There IS hope on the other side.
I am fighting my way through this withdrawal recovery but I am SO grateful to finally be off of prednisone completely and healing mind, body, and spirit. Diagnosed with 3 autoimmune diseases at age 21 (AI Hepatitis, Ulcerative Colitis, and PCOS). I was a scholarship athlete at the time and worked very hard to stay extremely healthy. So it was a shock to family, friends, and myself when After a severe bout of Mono (commune trigger for autoimmune disease). I was referred to liver specialists (due to astronomical liver enzymes) at University of Miami who confirmed autoimmune hep.
The other two dig noses followed shortly after. Because I was so severely ill I ended up having to medically withdraw from school… losing my scholarship and everything I felt I had worked so hard for my entire life. I have been on these meds since diagnosis: prednisone (btw 50-2.5 mg), Ursodiol, Metformin ER, Azathioprine 150 mg (hopefully tapering that down next), and recently (8 months ago) added Spironolactone for PCOS symptoms. The only one of those I am not currently taking is Prednisone which I discontinued a week ago after tapering to 2.5 mgs for 6 months prior.
I have experienced everything from severe anxiety/ depression to insomnia, heart palpitations, nausea, dizziness (at times severe), aching muscles / joints, extreme fatigue and headache at different points while on this drug and now in withdrawal. There are certain things that can help us with some of these symptoms such as drinking more water/upping salt, resting more, doing gentle exercise to stimulate lymph and circulation, as well as certain supplements that may help balance hormones.
BUT I think that the biggest thing that helps is knowing that You’re NOT ALONE! You’re NOT crazy, or weak, or ANY LESS AMAZING just because you’re struggling through your withdrawal. My prayer is that anyone who reads this knows. You are not alone… you are deeply loved (by your Creator and by each and every person you strengthen with your courage). Here’s to all the Warriors out there We are SURVIVORS!
I will be checking back to see if anyone has any questions at all… if there’s any way I can help you in your journey it’s a blessing to me. Fight On!
Broke my shoulder in traffic accident 6 mos ago. Recovery went well, but two months ago developed respiratory infection. Currently on my third course of prednisone: One 10 day taper, one five day blast, and now a 15 day taper. Pain in shoulder increased to almost unbearable. Weight gain of 12 pounds so far, blood pressure staying high (even though I’m on BP meds), and the worst part is that the respiratory infection is still not improving. I would just quit this drug, but pain gets worse when I stop. I’ll ride out this taper, but no more!
So thankful I took some time to research residual side effects from Prednisone and found this site. Reading so many journey’s into the devastating drug has been helpful. I was diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy and told this drug was the only thing that would make a difference. Also told I would not get the swollen face or many of the side effects because it was a short duration therapy (10 days).
Receiving the printed information from the druggist should have thrown a STOP sign up. When she mentioned not to take too close to bedtime as it’s like having a caffeine high I should have rejected the pills. Having issues in the past with atrial fibrillation and cautioned that caffeine would set it off again, I followed my doctors orders. The next morning my face was red and swollen, my eyes burned, I was nervous and hardly slept.
Day two added cold sweats all night, shaking. Day 3 all of the above plus chills, loose bowels, aching, no energy and extreme nervousness. Day 4 all of the above plus exhausted and heart irregularities. This is the point I should have intervened, but trust my doctor, I must. Day 5 hoarse, cough, tight chest, nausea added to the list. Day 6 called the on-call doctor who agreed that prednisone was the best for my condition, but agreed to begin the tapering off.
Heart issues increased. Day 7 all of the above only more so. Day 8 now down to 10mg with all of the above. In the evening I went to ER with an extremely overactive heart. EKG taken, blood work, ultra sound for blood clot, chest X-ray. All tests came back normal except the EKG. So, ER doc, is it the prednisone that’s doing all this? YES. My last day was two days ago when I experienced severe abdominal cramps, achy, tired and again heart irregularities. The ER doc wanted to change my heart med., but not thrilled with that either until I talk with my cardiologist.
If, after withdrawal period is over, my heart is not back on track I may consider something different. Until then I’m staying with what worked before the prednisone. I’m one of those people who will encounter all the POSSIBLE side effects. Wish I had looked into this more before taking, but we, in America, trust our doctors – YES? Wonder if they have to try these drugs in med school before dispensing so freely to their patients.