Supposed to take prednisone but scared?

[sammy0461]

i was prescribed prednisone but then i went to read online the side effects and freaked out. i dont want facial hair or broken bones or weight gain. does anyone know anything else about prednisone? anything good about it? i was just diagnosed with crohns yesterday and i was supposed to start the pills today.

 

[Catherine]

Pred usually works very quickly, it helps with pain. My daughter pain when awy within days.

 

[EthanPSU]

What mg and length of prep are they putting you on? And for side-effects, never take them too seriously. It is required by manufactures to put everything possible as a side-effect. If 1 person out of a million gets facial hair, they have to put it as a side-effect as a precaution.

If you are on it for a short-term, you should have 0 problems. I have been on prep 5 times and really no side-effects at all

 

[shmo]

A lot of weight gain from prednisone is just water retention. As soon as you stop taking it, it goes away.

 

[Susan2]

Because nothing else that was available at the time worked for me, I took Prednisolone for over 25 years. I have never had a broken bone, although I do have some osteopenia, but then I am a woman of almost 70. I didn't put on weight, although my face became rounder, but never to a degree that anyone seemed to notice it. It only became obvious when I stopped the Prednisolone and my face fell in and people thought I looked unwell, although I was, in fact, much better.

I am not saying that long-term Pred use is a good thing, but don't let the possible side effects (that, as Ethan says, they have to note if anyone at all suffers from them) stop you from gaining the advantages that short-term use might bring.

 

[Twiggy930]

Don't be too scared of prednisone. When you need it you need it and it works FAST! It literally enabled my son to walk again overnight after 3 months on crutches due to Crohn's related inflammation in his hip.

If you are really wanting an alternative check out the enteral nutrition subforum. Enteral nutrition (EN) can be just as effective as prednisone without all the side effects.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[musicislife52]

For me, Entocort had fewer side effects than Prednisone and worked well!

 

[Beebop]

Pred does have a lot of side effects but everyone reacts differently... I was super paranoid about putting on weight due to the increased appetite but I was on it for four months and only put on a kilo. My mood was affected when I weaned off it so be aware that it might be altered. I didn't break any bones etc and short term courses don't tend to have the significant of an impact on bone density.

 

[StarGirrrrl]

My Dr prescribed Vitamin D/Calcium supplements for while I am on Pred. To counter act any bone damage. Perhaps you can contact your Dr about this? Especially given your age.

39 days for me, yes I have had side effects, I have gained 3lb although because it is water weight it does look alot more, however I know once I stop it will go away. Also with things like facial hair, just buy some hair removal cream and it'll be gone in 5-10 minutes!

It is a drug which can cause uncomfortable side effects, but it is something of a wonder drug and works well and quickly.

 

[nitty]

Hi!

I have just started my first ever course of prednisolone (on day 3 today), and like you, I was pretty scared about it.

Please remember that many threads on forums are started when people have problems and are seeking advice, and those who are happily going along without problematic side-effects do not have the need to do so, and so you can be left feeling that problems are more common than they may actually be.

However, if you carry on reading all the posts you will find so many words of reassurance and advice from those who have been there. I found comfort from those who have had side-effects but who were able to say how temporary they were.

I have had a few mild palpitations so far, though nothing unpleasant and probably made worse by my own anxiety. But main effect is that already I have noticed a positive change in my symptoms, so I'm keeping up the positive mental attitude as much as I can.

Good luck - it's not as scary as I thought it would be:hug:

 

[mnijihc]

I am well into a course of prednisone now and I am in the weaning stages now. I haven't really had weight gain but at the higher doses I had a lot of psychiatric side effects (like mania, paranoia and anxiety) but we just reduced the dose when I was blunt that I couldn't deal with it anymore and I have been fine since. Everyone reacts differently and as everyone else has said, once you wean it will all go away. The bone density and lots of weight gain are only issues after years of use. Like others have said it can be good to get things improving really fast too and doctors don't use it for long term treatment these days unless it is really required.

 

[sammy0461]

Update::: I still haven't taken it yet but I have my prescription. I am supposed to take 40 mg a day ( 8 pills that are 5 mg) I might start taking it tomorrow even though im still scared

 

[Beebop]

If you have not been able to find an alternative option than it sounds like pred is the way to go. Just be aware of the side effects so that you control them and not the other way around. There are positives to pred and for me that was that it got me into remission so the other drugs could have time to work. Good luck!

 

[StarGirrrrl]

There is nothing wrong with being scared, I was too!

How about you be brave and start taking it, you can always do as mnijihc did, if the side effects get too bad contact your Dr and make it clear you need to start reducing the dose asap.

 

[Bld]

I don't like taking Pred either but it does help very quickly and my Consultant knows I hate it and he is very good about letting me come off it as soon as I can.

 

[nitty]

I started on 40mg, and my IBD nurse agreed that if I had problems then I could taper to 30mg quicker than planned and then carry on as per the planned regime.

I'm on day 6 today and haven't needed to drop the dose. Still got D in the morning, but none for the rest of the day, and I have loads more energy than before. Definitely heading in the right direction.

I was really anxious before, having previous episodes of mild depression, and I will continue to be wary as I believe tapering can also trigger mood changes, but the relief I have at the moment is making it well worth it.