I've been on prednisone for several months now at about 40-55 mg per day. I am now tapering off but I am having the worst side effects and wonder if they are normal. I'm very frightened and wonder if I could possibly die from it? Please answer with serious answers as I am in need of good medical advice from ppl who have had similar experience with this drug. My dr's don't seem to want to answer my questions straight regarding these side effects. HELP! Thanks so much!
2006-12-17 12:48:54 · 5 answers · asked by SeaMistress 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
when I tappered off of my pred. (January will be 1 year off thank good) I got slight headaches and muscle and joint aches the tappering process has to be real slow the first time you have to be tappered off is the most difficult. (this would be my fourth time and im still here) like i said the process as to real real slow and should not have any problems good luck and take it easy you will be ok
2006-12-17 12:59:24 · answer #1 · answered by netti 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Short answer is yes, you can get very ill if you taper off prednisone too quickly. At the dose you have been on, you should taper about 5 mg/ week. And if symptoms occur, increase back up previous level for another week. May even need to alternate dose by days, to make more gradual.
2006-12-17 13:00:20 · answer #2 · answered by Lorenzo Steed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know the answer to your tapering question but I can offer some information regarding oral pred. Being on oral pred will steal calcium from your bones like nobodys business. If you are on it make sure you are taking calcium and vit. D daily. I used to give presentations at assisted living homes and many people there were in wheel chairs due to oral Pred. it causes osteoporosis.
2006-12-17 13:57:41 · answer #3 · answered by mr.answerman 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have lupus and i have been on prednisone for almost 7 yrs. when i started they had me on 80 mg of prednisone. i was on that mg for almost 2 yrs. i had gained weight and also another side effect is you can get cataracts on your eyes. i found out to late i had to had surgery in my eyes. well i got completely of it. just like that and was OK for awhile until my kidneys failed on me so now I'm back on it. well anyways it is a drug w/many side effects. so i did slowly weened of it but lower doses like every week take 5 mg of Ur doses until u completely of it. i did until i stayed on 5 mg that what I'm taking now
2006-12-17 13:42:39 · answer #4 · answered by cdc7678 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the side effects happen while n it not while coming off it. You have to ween yourself off because you system is use to the drug and needs to get use to lower doses then no doses.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601102.html#skip
2006-12-17 13:00:19 · answer #5 · answered by c0mplicated_s0ul 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋