2006-06-18 08:13:41 · 4 answers · asked by BA 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
First off, you have my sympathy. My brother had horrible experiences with poison ivy and oak exposures. If he even looked at the plant, he'd be covered from head to toe with a raw oozing rash. (I was more fortunate and was less sensitive than he, yet I still had some miserable experiences of my own.)
I can tell you some of the things that help -- drying compounds available OTC. Bathing in the ocean actually helps -- probably because the briny sea water draws out some of the toxin. NOT SCRATCHING (the hardest thing to do, or not do.) Frequent changes of clothing, socks, undies. Frequent showers with tepid water and mild soap. I even seem to recall my brother using a very mild solution of chlorinated water (a small amount of bleach added to tepid tap water. I'm not sure if this is still recommended due to recent discoveries of chlorine's carcinogenic properties in skin contact.)
Regarding prednisone -- it has some severe side effects.
It may cause extreme agitation, restlessness, sleep disturbance, mood swings -- big-time mood swings!! You may find yourself swinging from nervous depression to maniacal anger in a heartbeat, so be advised. This is common, and will go away as son as you stop taking the drug.
It has an uncanny effect on your appetite, and causes radical weight gain.
You may not feel hungry at all, but when you have food in front of you, you eat voraciously. I never ate before or since in my life like I did while I was on prednisone.
It will make you gain weight -- lots of weight. I took a strong course of prednisone over 5 weeks, and two weeks after I was done taking it, I was still gaining weight. I put on over 35 pounds in less than two months!!!!
Another side effect of prednisone -- it will impair your immune system for some time after you finish taking it. This effect increases with dosage and duration of course, and the more and longer you take it, the longer before your immune system will return to normal.
Source: my own recent experiences with prednisone, research I did on prednisone, doctors' and pharmacists' advice, and my brother's and my own experiences with poison ivy/oak.
2006-06-18 08:57:50 · answer #1 · answered by Bender 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You must have pretty bad poison oak to need oral prednisone pills. Prednisone generally is well tolerated. Some people get a little moody or hungry or jittery. The main concern is not to stop the prednisone early. Most people should take at least 10 days of the pills. If you stop earlier you run the serious risk of the poison oak "rebounding", that means it pops out all over your body. Good luck. I am sure you will get better if you follow your doctors advice.
2006-06-18 08:25:38 · answer #2 · answered by Blueberry H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm currently taking it for a poison oak reaction. Only 12 days. Taken it before for a sinus infection and poison oak a while back. One thing I don't see mentioned is that it makes you feel great! Steroids! I feel at least 10 yrs younger. Nothing hurts. I'm able to run much faster and flying when I do step aerobics. Upped my lifting as well. I'm 58! I know I'll have to stop taking it and will be tapering down. Does anyone else feel great when taking this steroid??
2014-06-17 10:55:29 · answer #3 · answered by Bertag 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on how long you are taking the prednisone. It's a steroid and will possibly make you want to eat more. So watch what you eat.
2006-06-18 08:16:09 · answer #4 · answered by hilldoll 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
agree with hilldoll.
This sounds like a short term treatment, so side effects will be short term too. You will get hungry, may feel 'high,' have headaches, but these will soon go when you stop.
I've been on prednisolone for fifteen years and the long term effects are complex and prolonged- so don't worry. Get off them soon!!
2006-06-18 08:19:47 · answer #5 · answered by loobyloo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋