Prednisone Side Effects: My Personal Experience

Imagine having so much energy that you actually get everything done in half the time it normally takes. You wake up in the morning, brew a quick pot of Joe, cook a mean breakfast for a family of six, do a load of dirty laundry, press your husband's already over-starched shirt, feed the dog, make six lunches, drop off the kids at school, come back home, take a shower, blow dry and curl your hair, press your suit and hop back into your car to go to work. And you do all this before 9 a.m. If this sounds remotely at all like your life, I would say you are either wired for sound on some illicit form of amphetamine, or you are taking a medication called Prednisone. If the latter is true, then please, read on.

I started taking Prednisone at one point in my life for a hacking cough that would not go away. Night after night, like a Blue Tick hound baying at the moon, I barked, feeling so miserable I could barely sleep. Finally, after going to the doctor's office several times and trying a boat-load of medications, I asked him to put me on Prednisone. This is not the standard treatment for a cough, mind you, but I am a nurse, and the doctor my friend, so he obliged me. I knew that as long as I only used it short term, the risks would be minimal and since nothing else seemed to work, I thought this would do the job! And so it did!

What is Prednisone

Prednisone belongs to a group of drugs called corticosteroids. It acts to suppress the immune system, decrease inflammation and can be used to treat a variety of conditions including arthritis, severe allergic reactions, poison ivy, certain respiratory conditions, Bell's Palsy, Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis. It can also help to prevent rejection in organ transplants. While it is almost like a "wonder" drug in some aspects, side effects are very common as is dependency. It is extremely important if you are taking Prednisone to take it only as prescribed and to follow your doctor's orders. Most importantly, if taken more than 7 days, it should not be stopped abruptly, but tapered off gradually.

Prednisone Side Effects

Initial Prednisone side effects can make you feel invincible. I found this out almost as soon as I swallowed that little pink 20 milligram pill. Like the invisible man, after two days, my symptoms literally disappeared. Not only that, I felt fantastic. I started to paint the house! I fixed this, I fixed that! I did things that I hadn't wanted to do in years. What I eventually came to realize was that this drug was potent and these were Prednisone side effects that mimicked a sense of euphoria that I was unaccustomed to! And it was completely legal!

The severity of side effects from taking Prednisone can be associated with how long you take it. Because my treatment was only for a brief period of time the side effects were minimal and included headache, difficulty sleeping, an extreme change in my mood, fine tremors of my hands and an increase in sweating. These are considered to be entirely normal and I actually kind of "enjoyed" the high. When I tapered off the drug, I was really sorry to see that feeling go away, in a weird sort of way!

Although I did not experience it, heartburn is a common side effect that can result from short-term use of Prednisone and can be easily treated with over-the-counter antacids. Dizziness is sometimes caused by rising too quickly from a laying down position. If you are conscious of this and stand up slowly, you should have little to worry about. A decrease in sex drive is also common and if you are having trouble in this department, be sure to talk with your doctor about it.

Fortunately, I did not experience more serious Prednisone side effects like those who take it for a prolong period of time. Long-term users often complain of severe weight gain, bulging eyes, thin, fragile skin with red or purple blotches under its surface, slow healing bruises and wounds, increased hair growth and irregular or absent menses.

You should report the following most serious Prednisone side effects immediately to your doctor if you develop problems with your vision, redness, excessive tearing or pain in your eyes, flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, cough or any other signs of infection, depression, high glucose levels, loss of contact with reality, vomiting, muscle twitching, rash, hives, swelling or pain in your stomach, dry hacking cough, or sudden weight gain. Additionally, if while taking Prednisone, you start to feel shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, swelling of your eyes, face, lips, tongue or throat, or have difficulty swallowing, this may be a medical emergency, and 911 should be contacted.

Lastly, taking Prednisone for an extended period of time can lead to serious conditions such as Type II Diabetes, Cushing's Syndrome, Osteoporosis, Glaucoma and depression upon withdrawal. Early reporting of symptoms listed above can help to avoid long-term consequences of Prednisone side effects.

Sources:

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prednisone

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601102.html