Feeling horrible after been on the steroid prednisone
Posted , 129 users are following.
Hi all , wonder if anyone can help .. I was put on prednisone steroid for 5 days after I went to my doctor last Thursday wif a cough and slightly tight chest .. I was on 8 tabs a day and I'm sure they were 5mg .. I finished them on Monday past .. Since Sunday tho I have been feeling quite weird like my whole body is aching and I just don't feel normal my legs r the worst wif really bad pains like I have ran a marathon and feel really hot and just like i have flu I'm usually fit and healthy so to be feeling like this is making me feel anxious .. I did read that this steroid can have these effects .wish I never started them now tho as hate feeling like this so glad there finished , just wondered if anyone else had any of these feelings wif it ? Thank u X
2 likes, 548 replies
Jnfr tammi31
Edited
Hi
I have been on Prednisone for several years to treat my Rheumatoid and what your describing is definitely withdrawals. Even from using them for a short period, you have to wean down. Once I ended up in the ER due to withdrawals and I am now experiencing them again. Depending on the person they can last from days to months. The worst for me is the fatigue. Not much you can do. They will start to be less frequent and will last less. If they are really bad, you can go back to 5 m for a while and wean of those.
warren99576 tammi31
Edited
Most may not want to hear this man's withdrawal but I'm glad I found this site and I now know I'm not alone. I was put on 10mg by my ENT 4/3, 3/3, 2/3, 1/3 & half/3 a total of 320mg in 2 weeks. Before I even finished dose anxiety started. Days after finishing dose anxiety and slight out of body experience started. Week later checked into ER with what i now know was a full on PANIC attack. Next 3 weeks in bed with severe anxiety, loss appetite, insomnia, lump near collarbone, and everything else everyone listed. Following week trouble swallowing and lost 22 lbs, so would up in ER again and still no answers with 2 ER work ups. Next 3 months from dr to dr racking up a heavy medical bills. I saw GP, surgeon, ENT, neurologist, endocrinologist, lets just say the only one I didn't see was the gynecologist. No one wanted to say its the prednisone. Finally at a follow up to my GP who was out because of Covid I got his PA and she secretly hinted to me with a wink " its just the prednisone " She then offered me some SSRI to help me through, (yeah more meds) NO THANKS. It has being SIX months & I'm almost back to normal. I will pray for you all to get well soon. Even My family knows Unless I'm going to die, NEVER let them give me prednisone again. P.S. prayer was the only help.
matt46147 warren99576
Posted
I was on a methylprednisone (which I understand to be slightly stronger than pred) 20mg per day dose pack for 6 days. I was given this along with an antibiotic for a severe sinus infection. The sinus infection began to clear up but while I was on the dose pack I began feeling terrible. I had extreme brain fog, anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping, hands and inner trembling feeling and was constantly tired. I began to panic even more as I was not warned of any side affects and started to think I had something seriously wrong rather than a simple sinus infection. Things continued to be just as bad after I got off the drug and I ended up seeing a primary care doctor. Luckily, she had experience with corticosteroids and attributed my symptoms to a bad reaction to the steroid. She estimated I would feel better in 3-4 weeks after being off of it. I had blood test that all came back normal so she stuck with her opinion. Although I do feel slightly better and have better days, I am now 6 weeks off the drug and still do not feel like I did prior to taking it. I have a consistent thirst/dry mouth, am waking up at the same time every night and sleeping poorly, feel as though I am spacing out and having trouble focusing, have a feeling as though I am disconnected mentally at times, and lack energy at times as well. I also noticed my body is sore easily and I had lost weight that I have not quite regained. I am curious when others started to feel better and if others felt 100% normal after a certain point or if I will have these bad days and moments for quite some time to come?
meanz11 matt46147
Posted
hi there matt461 im just wondering are you any way recovered yet ?
ras7 tammi31
Edited
I stopped right after taking 60 mg all at once for 1 day . Is that too late to taper if it is 2 weeks after?
I feel as if i have no control of my mind. I can't go to work which will cut off my health insurance soon
freya36069 ras7
Edited
Hi there - I am new to the site and will post my horror experience in more detail soon but im deeply relieved to have found this forum and also terrified my face/ head/ body is permenantly damaged. I also had an incredibly severe reaction to a one time dose of 50mg of prendisolone, i was pushed into taking it and had no clue it was 50mg - i was not made aware of the reality of what this drug is capable of. I ended up in an ambulance code red for what appeared to be a stroke / my entire mid face drooped, couldnt speak, walk or sense reality and my facial bones felt like they were caving in / breaking. my face looks half the size and my jaw feels like its broken. I will go throigh the reason it was given to me when i have more time but just wanted to reach out and say i too have had horror one off high dose. Its been a montn and i have aged about 10 years, my skin is thin ans sunken and it feels like someone is trying to pull my chin off my face. im scared i have permenent muscle / soft tissue / ligament damage. i have cold sweats and chills and depression. I pray for this to be over.
Firey21 freya36069
Posted
i feel similiar this drug needs more emergency alerts on it.
to preceed with more caution.
the whooping dose ive been put on is very disturbing, dangerous.
to my mental well being.
?
depression i had the biggest breakdown friday, things are getting worse..
my body feels it all over..
Danny9090 ras7
Posted
If you're still experiencing side effects try donating whole blood at a hospital regularly to get the drug out of your body. Don't take more prednisone, and don't take any other type of corticosteroid ever again.
pauly54792 tammi31
Posted
Hi Tammi, my husband has just finished a 5 day course if prednisone for a hearing problem. He didnt feel too bad while taking them but a week after and he is feeling extremely tired and achy and likens it to flu like symptoms and just generally not feeling well at all. maybe it takes time to get out of the system. I hope you are feeling better now
pauly54792 tammi31
Posted
hi tammi my husband has just finished a 5 day course of prednisone and it has left him feeling extremely exhausted , and not feeling well in general. Hoping that this will wear off in time. I hope you feel better soon.
freya36069 tammi31
Edited
@Danny9090 You have posted alot of truly great info here - I think Ive had a sinilar level of reaction to you. My cheekbones have shrunk and my sinus cavity / mid face feels cling wrapped / too small bone wise. all of my intense facial drooping happened within 5 hours of taking 50mg and the bone shrinking continues one month out. My teeth chin and Jaw are more narrow ans pointed. Has any of your bone related reactions ceased for you? also what testing did you have done to see the facial bone changes. Im utterly devastated and already considering surgery.
Firey21 freya36069
Posted
oh wow could that happen to me, the jaw shrinking.
last tuesday i started a dose of 75 mg for 5 days.
it was too intense, my body felt stuff i never felt.
shaking trembling, unalerted state.
by the 4 day biggest teary breakdown ever.
since then 3 days in bed on the coach.
weakness bad headpain.
not sure what to do right now.
Firey21 tammi31
Posted
Hi i have been on Prednisolonesince tuesday ladt week.
i was put on a very high dose, for a dizziness condition for 4 days, then told to tapper it off.
the last few days ive literally nearly been bed bound .
have had some pretty horrible feelings in my body.
extremely moody, teary , unalerted state.
i get hypoklemia on pottussim slow k, i wonder wether its dropoed my pottussim or Bgl levels.
my head feels so heavy and horrible , nothing seems to be making it better.
i am tappering off the dose but still feel extremely awful, weak in my legs ect.
grace58756 tammi31
Posted
Hi Tammi I had that same problem one month ago. I was prescribed prednisone for one week (stopped after three days) awful feeling I read that you can have terrible muscle pains if you are on cholesterol meds which I am plus if you are hypothyroid which I am it can cause much concern which it did. I thought I was stroking out. Numbness on my right side pain's in my thighs at night awful feeling even after I stopped the med. Its one month ago and I can't drink coffee anymore due to that prednisone I get jumpy and irritable. I control it by eliminating coffee all together. Sad thing is I was a coffee lover plus the nasal polyps are still there. I did learn something I now pay close attention to drug and condition interactions. BTW I was on a high dose 60 mg a day 3 days only. Good luck
michelle69738 tammi31
Posted
hi Tammi,
sorry you are feeling so bad. i just posted on almost the same thing. i just finished 2 short courses of steroids over the weekend and since then have felt horrible. I have had nausea daily and overall terrible feeling... I am lightheaded and dizzy. I feel like i am getting sick. It has been a week since my last dose. I pray i feel back to normal soon. I tried to go for a walk and my legs fatigued quickly... sounds like what you are experiencing. i hate this for us.