Tips to help with pred side effects

[guest78]

Hi Everyone,
Ive noticed that a lot of questions are asked about Pred side effects, and we all know how horrible they can be.
I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread, with some tips or advice that people have found helpful in minimising them!
I have been on pred quite a few times now and will start it off with a few that different nurses/Drs have suggested; you guys may all know it already, but I thought it might be useful for someone
Please comment and add your own!

MOON FACE
- avoid all salt in foods.
- drink ALOT of water.
Both to avoid the water retention that mainly causes the puffy face

HEART PALPITATIONS & SHAKEN UP FEELING
- avoid caffeine

ANXIETY
- exercise (if you are well enough) burns up a lot of the excess adrenaline and energy that the pred can create.


- These are just the main ones that I have found have really made a difference this time round.

x

 

[AlliRuns]

My pharmacist suggested taking it in the morning, but I don't find this helps with the insomnia.

 

[UnXmas]

I found that taking it first thing did nothing for insomnia either.

What I have found works is sleeping meds which my doctor gave me, and another to help with anxiety. I know the meds that work will be different for everyone, but the general rule that seeking help from my GP and countering the side effects with meds would be one tip I'd recommend for anyone who doesn't mind taking more pills and who is happy going down the conventional medicine route.

It was also far more useful going to the doctor for meds than trying to find over-the-counter sleep aids for myself, both because the doctor could prescribe far more/stronger things, and because she could advise me on what was best for the side effects I was experiencing.

None of the other side effects I experienced have been much of a problem.

 

[AlliRuns]

I found that taking it first thing did nothing for insomnia either.

What I have found works is sleeping meds which my doctor gave me, and another to help with anxiety. I know the meds that work will be different for everyone, but the general rule that seeking help from my GP and countering the side effects with meds would be one tip I'd recommend for anyone who doesn't mind taking more pills and who is happy going down the conventional medicine route.

It was also far more useful going to the doctor for meds than trying to find over-the-counter sleep aids for myself, both because the doctor could prescribe far more/stronger things, and because she could advise me on what was best for the side effects I was experiencing.

None of the other side effects I experienced have been much of a problem.

The Nurse Practioner that I normally see (vice a GP, but there's a doc on staff that she consults with) offered me sleeping pills, but I don't want to take more meds for the side effects of my current meds. Also my Mom takes excessive amounts of sleeping pills and I have seen what it has done to her, so I do not want the same.

 

[UnXmas]

AllieRuns - I completely understand that taking sleeping pills is not for everyone. My doctor was careful to give me something that is non-adictive.
I think my approach to meds and conventional medicine means I'm actually in quite a small minority on this forum! Not that I don't have plenty of problems with mainstream medicine toon - I have a love-hate relationship with it. I'm sure there must be other members here who can advise on other ways of treating insomnia, whether alternative/natural remedies or lifestyle changes, etc.

To get back to the thread topic:

Mood swings/anxiety: It also helped me to keep reminding myself that the changes in mood I was experiencing were down to prednisone. Even though that seems obvious, it really did help to say that to myself. And telling my family of the cause of my mood swings as well so they knew to make some allowances for me and we all understood why I wasn't quite myself.

Posting about my side effects on this forum helped a lot too, just because I had somewhere to talk about how I was feeling and hear from others who'd been through the same thing.

And for hot flashes (This wasn't much of a problem for me - I didn't get sweats like some people do on pred, but I did get hot flashes): I took ice packs to bed with me!