Prednisone

[msgirl1]

I would like to know who all out there has had weird side effect to prednisone?
I was on 40mg for 10 days is July and it made me hurt and made my knees numb for months. I had a nerve study and EMG of both legs and back and I was fine. MRI I have four deg/bulging disc in cervical and one in lumbar. All of this was in October.
I got put back on prednisone two weeks ago. 20mg for six days ( I was having leg pain but when I got on it within 3 hours of taking the prednisone it was like I had the flu and it did that everytime I took it) My doctor keep telling me to take it. Well I started twitching all over. It is like it is on a timer. It moves from one arm to the other, one leg etc. goes to my back. I only notice it when I am sitting still, driving or lying down.
I would have noticed all of this if I had this going on before prednisone.
The reason I was taking Prednisone was because I had superfical blood clots in both arms from two days of CAT scans with contrast. The doctors thought the dye caused the irritation in my veins and most likely my leg pain.
Thank you so very much!

[Annie62]

msgirl,

I was put on 40 mg of prednisone for 14 days a couple years ago for severe asthma and I became so sick I thought I was going to die on this drug.  Within 24 hours I started having trouble breathing (shallow, slowed down breathing), could not breathe when lying down (orthopnea), felt extremely faint, slow heartbeat but with palpitations, weak in general, tingling and heaviness in left arm and leg, etc.--basically an exacerbation of all the stuff i normally have to some degree, but the prednisone made it much worse.  I could barely walk I was so faint and weak.  I'm worried about having to go back on this drug because I just underwent a work-up at Mayo last week for autoimmune autonomic neuropathy and I just read that prednisone is what is used to treat this.

The drug did different things to me than it did to you--I didn't have any twitching or numbness (only tingling), and it didn't cause me any pain per se.  I've seen other people say they had worsening of their neuro symptoms when put on prednisone-don't remember if they had MS or what (someone posted about that on the patient/doctor forum), but the doctor seemed to think it was only a coincidence and not from the prednisone.  I know it was no coincidence in my case.  It took me another two weeks after I stopped the drug to return to the status quo. It is a horrible drug, although I have heard people say they feel wonderful on it, which I can't imagine.

[tommyroe]

Prednisone is a nasty drug.  Since it's an anti-inflammatory, it will cause all kinds of pains in your joints (knees, elbows, hands), especially at that dose.  Usually I was prescribed 5-10 mg's a day when I took it, not 40...40 is a very high dose...even 20 is very high.  

Prednisone also weakens your immune system, which is why people normally only take very small doses for a week or so.  High doses can cause the symptoms your having because of the joints going out of whack and your immune system being suppressed.

[Annie62]

Normally prednisone only causes muscle weakness, deterioration of bones/osteoporosis, etc., after long-term use, not short-term use of a few hours or a day (or even a couple weeks)  That can be looked up in the PDR.  So if you experienced pain, numbness/paresthesias or (in my case) muscle weakness immediately/soon after taking it, something else is going on atypical with you and the drug.  It is a harsh drug, though, and obviously everyone responds differently to it.  Some people tolerate it well and it is a powerful anti-inflammatory and very effective at that.

I expected the opposite to happen in my case.  When the pulmonologist put me on it for the asthma I was expectant/hopeful that it was also going to help with my as yet undiagnosed neurologic/autoimmune problem.  Instead my symtpoms immediately became worse on it, which I can't explain.  I don't believe for a minute it was a coincidence, that I was "due" to have an exacerbation anyway.

[sueballa]

Hi i am new to this forum.I am on prednisone now weaning down to 30mg was on 40mg. Although 4 weeks ago was in hospital having IV steroids methyleprednislone 5 days.I have CNS lupus, sjogrens a raynauds.I have been put on fosomax to stop the ostoparosis along with immunesuppresants to stop the illness getting any worse,i have not got any releif from the symptoms as yet so feel the prednisone is not working.Now due to other symptoms i have passing water often and also palpatations and numbness in my heel and leg had to have a diabetics test due results tomorrow i feel the prednisone is adding to my illness not cureing it.I hate the weight problems you also get from this drug.But we go along with what the nuerologist tells us is best.I am unsure what to do from now on about tapering myself off them is it best or worse to?hope some of you get some releif from this drug and come off them slowely as once on it's hard to come straight off them my body is hurting so bad just dropping 10mg.I am also floating all the time and legs so weak.
bye for now sue x

[AMO]

Steroids can and do save lives eveyr day. I thinnk most people when handed the script do not realize how powerful a drug it is.
I was treated with the solumedrol also... i.v. 1 gram day x 5 for three months then 1 gram x one day for six months.
I was one of luck people tolorated the sides pretty well.... no psychosis but had to take sleep aide and then  pain to the touch anywhere on my body for just a few days. I was very strict about watching my diet.

It can cause both physicall and mental side effects.
A person should NEVER stop taking it without doctor suppervion.... tappering off can take a very long time (lowering just a few mg a time) if you have been on it for awhile. YOur own body neeed the time adjusting making own hormones again.

It can also cause imbalance with your electrolites.... this could be thhe reason for twitches? Palpatations?
WHen potasium and sodium levelsss are off it can be dangerous.
MAybe a blood drw to keep an eye on things?
I would have CBC and liver panel third day in to be certain all was ok.

I know people whooo are  on it for months to years.
I agree any side effects need to be discussed with your doctor, possibly a slower tapper?

Always remeer, you have the right to call your doctor with any concern you may have and have your questions asked.
Also a good sorce of info for you medicine questions is your pharmists.

I am sorry you have been through this, and do hope you are well soon.

[msgirl1]

My doctor who put me on it thinks that I am still having an allergic reaction from the contrast dye from the Cat scan. (I got blood clots in both arms from two days of testing) He thinks the dye irritated my arms and legs. (where I have the twitching) I think the twitching is caused by the prednisone and so does my allergist and neurologist. Esp. since last time I was on it it made my knees numb for literally six months. I think it threw my electrolytes (spelling) off because I feel better after drinking a poweraid. The twitches are a lot less after drinking one and plus stress does a wonder to a person too! (prednisone always stresses me out!)
Prednisone has made me weak, it has made me feel like I was in another world, numb, twitch, muscle pain, heart race. I have never gained weight on it but it does make me very hungry.
Ironically my weird side effects to prednisone started after I got of off Effexor and Buspar and I wonder if the Effexor was suppressing the pain etc since it acts like Cymbalta and helps with nerve pain.

[Shanghai SD]

Hi All

Before my diagnosis I was also going to be put on prednisone.

I was positive however that some kind of infection was behing my illness.

When I read more I realised that prednisone knocks out the immune system and this is what is suppose to be necessary when treating "auto-immune ilnesses".

However, if it is an infection that is causing your illness then prednisone (steroid treatment) will likely cause an increase or worsening of symptoms.

Luckily for me I was diagnosed with Lyme disease and did not try the prednisone.

Shangs

[jasonjenkins]

I was in hospital having IV steroids methyleprednislone for 5 days. I was then on max dose 60mg a day for 8 weeks. I never gained but lost weight and never felt any side effects at all. I think that the drug saved my life as I had a "auto-immune ilnesses". I am now 2 years later still around albeit with slight problems due to spinal cord nerve damage caused by the "auto-immune ilnesses". I am 100 percent positive without the drug I would be paralysed as it prevented my immune system from causing further damage to my spine.

[Ezem08]

I have been on prednisone since I was 13, and I am now almost 20. I have developed a stomach disorder that doctors can't figure out. I also get severe pains in my legs after I take it. Is this normal? I have been on a liquid diet for a year and I'm beginning to think that the prednisone is the reason my stomach can't digest food. Has anyone had these problems?

[Ezem08]

I have been on prednisone since I was 13, and I am now almost 20. I have developed a stomach disorder that doctors can't figure out. I also get severe pains in my legs after I take it. Is this normal? I have been on a liquid diet for a year and I'm beginning to think that the prednisone is the reason my stomach can't digest food. Has anyone had these problems?