Weaning off of the Prednisone - Severe Fatigue Normal?

[hippie4lyfe]

I have been on prednisone for about 3-4 months for Crohn's and I started weaning off from the original 40mg to 30, than 25, than 20, and now I have been on 15 for two weeks.

I have been SEVERELY fatigued, I find myself sleeping most of the day, and am always tired, i am dizzy, nauseous, i even fell down the other day and fainted.

Is this normal when coming down off the pred? I spoke to my GI and he said I should stay on 15mg for a few more days and if I am better drop down to 10mg. I am just curious if anyone else has had similar side effects or experiences?

 

[hippie4lyfe]

I should note that in addition to coming down on the Pred I have begun taking 6-MP so this could also possibly explain the fatigue and dizziness.

grrr i wish i knew!

 

[Jeff D.]

Well for me prednisone always made me really hyper. 6-mp when I was taking that only made me sleepy in the morning and after that I was hyper. I just stopped prednisone Sunday and have not exprierenced any fatigue.

 

[katiesue1506]

I was always tired while on Imuran which is basically 6mp. Also, you could be anemic. I was and I was sleeping 14-16 hours a day

 

[hippie4lyfe]

the last blood test showed me as being a tad anemic but the doctor said it wasnt anything to worry about. since the flare up occured this week and so has the severe fatigue i started iron and a multi, as well as am having green shakes I feel so much better from that but my balance is still off kilter.

my GI wants me to stay on 15mg for a few more days and if I am ok I can drop to 10mg, i am desperate to get off this so i stop the weight gain, acne, and moonface but of course ill take that over this crazy fatigue business any day.

 

[BWS1982]

I had and still have extreme fatigue, but it's gotten a little better the last couple weeks. The nurse said all pred withdrawel effects should have ended 6 weeks after stopping it, but I don't know about me personally with that. My Immuran could have been doing it too, so many meds starting and stopping who knows...

I also had a few weeks of horrific knee issues, it was arthritis from Crohns the doc said and that the pred should have HELPED it, not induced it, but I'm not sure what caused it. I do know pred's an antiinflammatory agent.....

 

[hippie4lyfe]

pen you might want to consider taking an iron supplement as well. I have begun taking one and feel much better fatigue wise but I'd imagine it would help the joint pain too? I am sure the last thing you want to do is pop another pill, but it may be useful.