What happens to you after years of Prednisolone?

[sparky300]

My husband has suffered with cluster headaches for 12 years, he was prescribed Prednisolone in a high dose then reducing, the headaches would stop. He did this for a few years, but unfortunately he started to have chronic cluster headache for about a year, he tried & tried the prednisolone but this did not work. Years later and many courses of prednisolone has left him in a very poor state, sleeping non-stop, swollen stomach, swollen face and total fatigue, we have seen many experts, they have now decided that his adrenalin gland has stopped working & he will always be on steriods. He now uses 100 percent oxygen to stop the headaches once they start - sometimes 3 times a night lasting for 15 mins, but he is stuck on prednisolone. Have you any idea what he can do?

[sparky300]

Thank you so much for your advice.
I have made a note of your suggestions for the relief of cluster headache, we havent had any help offered - only steriods and oxygen.
For the past two days my husband just cannot stay awake, he sleeps during the night & most of the day, but will not go to the doctors, I think something else is now wrong with him due to taking steriods for so long.
Kind regards
Andrea

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Thanks for writing in.
Long term prednisone can cause all the symptoms that you have mentioned like facial swelling, abdominal swelling, insomnia and headaches.
I would suggest him to try alternate therapies like acupressure, acupuncture. Also there are some surgical options like Radiofrequency thermal neurolysis of the trigeminal nerve, glycerol injections for relief from cluster headaches.
Please discuss these options with his treating doctor. Take care!

[sparky300]

Thanks for your comments, my husband was under an endocrinologist up until about a month ago when he was discharged as there was nothing this specialist could do.
It just seems a bit of a bad situation with no real help.
Kind regards
Andrea

[tomsant]

Prednisolone:
This is a wonder drug, but like electricity has to be used carefully. Thats why you have to use it under supervision. Unsupervised, one can develop complications. But sometimes, to treat the severe headaches, the only way left for the doctor is to advise the patient to continue using the same, and the patient can land up in such situations. I am sure he is now under the care of an internist or endocrinologist, who will give you the best advice.

Cluster Headache:
Hope he has been worked up by an ENT specialist also to rule out 'look-alike' illnesses.

Best rgs,
Thomas Antony