Prednisone Effect?

[trajk1612]

My GI put me on 40mg prednisone 3 weeks ago and yesterday I started shaking. I don't feel but just am shaking like crazy. Is this something I should be concerned about?

 

[meganmila]

I'm seem to be a spaz on it but no shakes so I dunno, hopefully someone else helps.

 

[CrohnsChicago]

What type of shaking do you experience. I don't notice it listed as a side effect although you should still call your doctor and let them know in case you are having a bad reaction to a high dosage:

http://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-938...rugname=prednisone+oral&source=0&pagenumber=6

Also something to consider...prednisone zaps your body of potassium. So while on prednisone it is a good idea to find sources of potassium daily. Good food sources are bananas, avocados, plain yogurt, and salmon and potatoes

Muscle Weakness, Spasms, Cramps and Tetany
In order for muscle cells to contract, a marked difference in intracellular and extracellular potassium concentrations must exist. As potassium levels drop, this concentration difference decreases and the muscles are unable to function normally. This causes generalized fatigue and a variety of muscular symptoms including weakness, spasms, twitching and cramps. In cases of extreme hypokalemia, the muscles can go into a sustained involuntary state of contraction called tetany.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/92806-symptoms-potassium-deficiency/#ixzz2T2yMlaRD

I sometimes get a bit shaky. I notice a while after I eat a banana and some other high potassium foods the shakiness calms.

another side note it also increases the risk of osteoperosis so while on prednisone you should consider taking calcium pills to counter what the prednisone takes away.

 

[UnXmas]

It is a prednisone side effect. I got a tremor on pred. Other things may cause it too, but if it correlates with taking prednisone then that's probably the cause.

 

[stacey1982]

I was put on those when I was first diagnosed. I was on 40mg for 6 months. I hated every second of being on them. I turned into a horrible person. The phrase "roid rage" appeared on more than one occasion. My face puffed out like. A hampster when its storing food. I was so happy when I was told to wean myself off of them. That shakey feeling u say u r getting, I've had that this weekend, I've also been very lightheaded and hot.

 

[trajk1612]

I get very hot too. My GI said I didn't need to worry about the shakes since I otherwise felt ok. I get to start weaning tomorrow and hope all goes well so I can get off these. I don't like the effects but the prednisone was able to do what the budesonide wasn't.

 

[TwinkleToes]

I had the shakes a lot. Like I was on speed!

 

[lsgs]

Oh jeez I still have my pred tremor at 8mg. It's horrible!!

 

[trajk1612]

I just went down to 30mg and fortunately the shakes aren't as bad as they were. My biggest concern right now is the belly tenderness is coming back and I seem to now either have terrible cramping and explosive D or don't go for two or three days which is something new for me. I don't want to call my doc but am afraid I might have to.

 

[amrycrohns]

Did he not put you on a long term medicine before starting the Taper? And you should call him he can slow the taper and hopefully that helps.

 

[CrohnsChicago]

Yes what other medications are you on for crohn's besides prednisone? How long have you been diagnosed and how many times have you been on pred?

 

[lblair]

I'm also on this med its horrible I have never been on this amt I was started on 40 mg and tommorow I will be on 20mg I have been tapering off 5mg each week.

I get the shakes and sweating at all times of the day its just awful I can say its helped stop the diarrhea My face is puffy and it just makes you not feel good at all. Bad legs cramps started last night.

Good Luck!!!!

 

[trajk1612]

I am also taking Lialda and omeprazole. I was diagnosed October 2012 which is when she started the Lialda. I was started on budesonide and the dosage of Lialda was doubled in February because i was having a lot of belly pain and D. i had a scope in April that showed active inflammation and microscopic inflammation and an ulcer in my descending colon. I have also has ulcers in my terminal ileum on previous scopes. This is my first time on prednisone.

 

[CrohnsChicago]

So you are fairly new at diagnosis and treatment then.

Besides the side effects do you believe the prednisone is helping control your symptoms. You might want to consider talking to your doctor about combining prednisone with something else like an immunosuppressor. If you have been on lialda this long and havent been able to get control of your flares then it might not be a strong enough med for you. You get on immunosuppressors in hopes you get into remission and dont have to resort to pred which you seem to be having unpleasant reactions to.

mesalamines like lialda are often not enough to get and keep things under control especially for crohns. They are more suited for UC patients. I was in a similar position. I also have crohns in my colon with ulcers. They tried asacol by itself first, but I kept flaring and bleeding and couldn't maintain a life without symptoms for very long without being placed on and bothered by pred repeatedly. So they put me on a combo of steroids and 6MP in hopes the 6MP will get things under control and I don't have to keep flaring and taking steroids to get it under control quickly. Im only 3 months into treatment but So far it seems to be working.

 

[trajk1612]

The prednisone was definitely helping control the symptoms. I was actually having days in a row I felt good and normal movements. I have to go back to my doctor in July and was going to as her to change the Lialda.

How long do you have to be on the steroids along with the 6MP? I hope it continues to work for you.

 

[CrohnsChicago]

Thank you trajk, I hope it continues to work as well

Medications Imuran, Aza and 6MP can take about 3 - 6 months to kick in so some doctors like to keep you on steroids during that period of time so that you have something to hold you over until your long-term, maintenance medication starts working its magic.

I started on 40mg steroids a little over 3 months ago along with the 6MP. I actually finished my steroids 3 days ago! YAY!!! . Now I play the waiting game along with getting blood work done periodically to make sure that 6MP is at a therapeutic level and that I am not showing signs of flaring or any side effect to the 6MP.

With that being said, since you are already on steroids now.....if you can, it might be a good idea to talk to your doc sooner than July if you can to discuss your other treatment options. That way if he thinks you could start one of these meds, then he could start you on it now while you are already on steroids and spare you an additional couple months of steroids once you finish this current round.

In the meantime keep up with your diet very simple, soft, bland foods. And DEFINITELY contact your doctor if after a few weeks on pred you don't see any improvement or things seem to be getting worse like you mentioned above with your stomach and diarrhea. It may be that your current taper plan is not working and you need to go on a much slower taper than they currently have you on. :hug:

 

[trajk1612]

Well another bad day led to a call to the doctor and she wants me back on 40mg of Prednisone. She said I could try 35 but thinks I will end up back on 40. Since I like to find the bright side she is referring me to a Crohn's specialist to put me on meds that require closer follow-up but will hopefully help. Since I don't know how long before my next appointment I am going to try 35mg to see if that doesn't calm things down. I hate the thought of going back to where I started.