Prednisone/Scared/Help

I'm a healthy 37 year old male. I was started on 60MG of Predisone a few weeks ago because of swelling/rash from contact dermatitis. In total I took 12 doses (4x60MG 4x40MG and 4x20MG). I have never taken Prednisone before.

During the 12 days as I reduced the dose I experienced terrible pain in my knees and hips. My last dose was 6 days ago. After my last dose I experienced the joint pain for 2 days. It has since gone away, thankfully. However, I have been very nauseous (I'm NEVER nauseous normally) and very weak/tired since. I'm also getting a headache today as well (and I never get headaches). Also slight dizzyness. No body/joint pains, swollen glands or temperature.

I'm very concerned that this Prednisone has messed me up. I wish I knew more about it before agreeing to take it.

My questions are: Should I be worried? Is there anything I can do? How long will these symptoms last given the length and amount of my dosage? I'm worried I have some sort of adrenal problem. Please help!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

The symptoms you describe are somewhat vague and may or may not be caused by the prednisone.  You have had a relatively short course of treatment, so it is unlikely that there are permanent effects.

Nausea can be caused by various diseases of the upper GI tract - such as GERD, inflammation, an ulcer, as well as liver and gallbladder disease.  

Fatigue can be caused by a myriad of diseases - including anemia, kidney disease, dehydration, thyroid disease, as well as electrolyte abnormalities.

To work these options up, you can consider an upper GI series - and an abdominal ultrasound if that test is negative.  These tests would rule out most of the more common GI disorders.

The fatigue can be evaluated with a blood count, metabolic panel, liver function tests and a thyroid panel.  More specialized tests can be considered of the results remain non-revealing.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com

[ColMcGee]

Hi, I have been on an off Prednisone since I was 2 years old for my asthma.  After being on it a a relatively short time I always end up with severe joit pain.  I even say that my clothes and hair hurt.  I was recently diagnosed with Lupus and they wanted me to take it for the joint pain I am having.  I thought that would be a mistake given my history. The doctors seemed to act like it was an unlikely side affect to have when I mentioned  it, but considering the fact that I am now 29 and have been on Prednisone atleat 2 times a year every year since I was 2, and always had the same reaction, i don't think its a coincidence. I hope this helps.

[TAKODA]

I'VE BEEN ON CORTISONE NUMEROUS LENGTHY TIMES...FOR MY AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE, MY (AUTO-IMMUNE -MEDIATED) EYE DISEASE, HIVES, PERNICIOUS ANEMIA (WHILE IN HOSPITAL)(WAS AS SOLUMEDROL)
THE SIDE FX OF STEROIDS ARE MYRIAD...MINE HAVE BEEN: SEVERE ACNE, JOINT PAIN, EDEMA, PUFFINESS OF FACE, HAIR LOSS, SEVERE MOOD SWINGS, DEPRESSION, IMPAIRED IMMUNITY, OSTEOPOROSIS,SLOW HEALING, SUSCEPTIBILITY TO INFECTIONS, MESSED UP METABOLISM, HEADACHES & DIZZINESS....
BUT IT ALSO SAVED MY LIFE SO IT'S A TRADE OFF I GUESS!
EVEN IF THE PREDNISONE DID CAUSE YOU THOSE SIDE FX, THEY SHOULD BE TRANSIENT AS THE PRED WORKS IT'S WAY OUT OF YOUR BODY. AT LOW DOSES OVER SHORT DURATION, IT SHOULD HAVE NO LASTING ILL EFFECTS.
IF YOU WERE ON VERY HIGH DOSAGES, THE FACT THAT IT INHIBITS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM & CAUSED YOU SOME PRETTY SEVERE PROBLEMS, COULD POSSIBLY INDICATE SOME UNDERLYING HEALTH PROBLEM NOT YET DIAGNOSED BUT IT'S FAIRLY UNLIKELY.
THE EDEMA CAUSED BY CORTISONE/PREDNISONE CAN MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE **** AND CAUSE HEADACHES, DIZZINESS, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE...BUT IT WON'T LAST. DRINKING PLENTY OF WATER HELPS TO FLUSH OUT THE TISSUES, LESSENS THE EDEMA AND HELPS GET RID OF MEDS MORE QUICKLY.
PREDNISONE WILL WORK OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM...SO TRY NOT TO WORRY! WHILE I WAS IN HOSPITAL & RECEIVING HUGE DOSES, I HAD ACNE ON MY ACNE...IT TOOK APPROX. 6 WEEKS TO CLEAR UP, SO I IMAGINE IT TOOK THAT LONG TO EXIT MY SYSTEM COMPLETELY. PREDNISONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE INCREASED AND DECREASED SLOWLY, NEVER ABRUPTLY. I HAVE KNOWN PEOPLE WHO HAD BLOOD SUGAR AND THYROID & OTHER HORMONAL DISTURBANCES FROM CORTISONE.(HIGH DOSE, LONG TERM THERAPY)
P.S. MY EYE DISEASE (PERIPHERAL UVEITIS) IS NOW TREATED WITH INJECTIONS INTO MY EYE INSTEAD OF ORAL CORTISONE WHICH IS GREAT! I CAN AVOID ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH CORTISONE! YAYYY! LOL!
GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!!!!!!IT'LL GET BETTER!!!!