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prednisolone - side effects

Posted , 7 users are following.

susie123
susie123

Hi, I was told to take 40 mg Prednisolone for a week to help with my vasculitis. I have not seen a rheumatologist and don't know when I will see him. My GP gave me Prednisolone. However, he only gave it to me for a week and then what? I read the leaflet enclosed in the pack and it says not to stop taking medication suddenly, so will it cause any problems to just stop taking it after a week? My GP is absolutely useless, he doesn't care and when I start asking questions, he says he's running late and I have to leave. I am worried to just take it for a week, not knowing if it will cause me any problems. Also I am worried about the moon face, can it happen after a week of taking the medication?

thank you

0 likes, 22 replies

22 Replies

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  • Mamaw
    Mamaw susie123

    Posted

    Wow,..my Nurse Practitioner only gav e me 5 mg daily for it..and wants me off it now.  
    • susie123
      susie123 Mamaw

      Posted

      Hi that's great for you. Do you also have vasculitis? If so, which kind and what were your symptoms? And how long you been on prednisolone? Also how long did it take for you to get diagnosis? I have been ill for 5 weeks now and still dont know anything yet. Thank you
  • philtw
    philtw susie123

    Posted

    I started on 60mgs per day of prednisolone for two months nad then reduced over th efollowing months to 20mgs......i am now down to 12.5mgs per day and i have now been on these since Nov 2013......
  • jarvis36927
    jarvis36927 susie123

    Posted

    hi, 40mg is nothing for one week.you would get that for a chest infection. Vasculitis comes in many forms. Your doctor cannot be too concerned if he has only given you a  weeks course. Im`e on 60mg a day for I dont know how long. maybe 9 months if like last time. Yes I am getting the moon face. Dont start to worry yet. I am getting all the side effects because of time i have been on them. but they are keeping me alive along side many other medications  take.
    • susie123
      susie123 jarvis36927

      Posted

      Hi I think my doctor doesn't care really, he only gave it to me to try it, he said I have to see a rheumatologist to figure out what vasculitis it is. But I am just not sure what will happen when I stop taking it after a week, is there a risk or is that ok to do that? 

      Why are you taking it? Do you have vasculitis? What kind and what symptoms did you have?

    • Mamaw
      Mamaw susie123

      Posted

      Good Morning . Well, my husband and I have NO HEALTH INSURANCE and do not qualify for any USA programs or help because 'they say' he makes to much money,..so we have to buy it ourselves..and haven't found anythinhg we can afford yet. With that said,..I go to a 'clinic' , not a specialist, and see a Nurse Practitioner... My sores, Kidney Infections, etc.. lead to me getting a Biopsy on a large sore to test for "Bechet's Disease", a form of Vasculitis. The Labs were "Iconclusive" and she had to interpret the findings (excess fat cells in tissue , etc..) and she said, "It looks like these sores are still ongoing open blisters from your reoccurring Shingles, not Bechet's"....  Well, she didn't even mention "Hyper Sensitivity Vasculitis"...  or if Staph, the Shingles Virus,..? what else was found in the biopsy. I asked about the Hyper Sensitivity Vasculitis,..and she said, it's possible, but let's not make it a definite Dx for now, let's wait until you have insurance and I can refer you out to better testing and Treatment.  Well, that was well over a year ago...

      ..so, I deal with it without any official/documented suspision of it..SUCKS!!!   BUT, she treats me with the Anti Biotics, Anti Virals, (for flares/infections),.Hydrxyzine (Itch), Prednison (Inflammation), and I participate in Pain Management.

      So.. I am NOT going to say I have DOCUMENTED Vasculitis,..but, I am educated,..and I know true symptoms.

    • Mamaw
      Mamaw

      Posted

      ..also, she wanted me on a minimum 10 mg Prednisone ongoing with ongoing Septra (Bactrim) and Acyclovir at one time... It messed with me all together..so, we stopped it all...

      Next week I see her, and am asking ab out Starting the Bactrim daily for 1 yr...

  • dale54073
    dale54073 susie123

    Posted

    I took prednisolone for 4 weeks for vasculitis. Although it increased my appetite and I did put a bit of weight on, I soon lost it when I stopped taking the steriod. It is with prolonged use that gives patients a moon face and mood swings.

    For advise I would suggest Googling "Prednisolone" or perhaps calling NHS Direct.

    • susie123
      susie123 dale54073

      Posted

      hi what kind of vasculitis did you have? thank you
  • susie123
    susie123

    Posted

    Can I also ask, is it ok to take Prednisolone alongside with Naproxen? My doctor hardly replied when I asked him, all he said is that if I want to then yes.

    Does anyone know if it's ok to take both or shall I just take Prednisolone now?

    I am confused and hate this NHS, they are so unhelpful!!

    • philtw
      philtw susie123

      Posted

      i am not a doctor, but prednisolone will have more effect than naproxen, both anit-inflammatory drugs
  • jarvis36927
    jarvis36927 susie123

    Posted

    Just lost all my text due to a power cut. Start again. My Illnes is Microscopic Polyangitis. It effects my smaller blood vessels. In the nerves organs etc. I am also suffering from fatige and feel very tired just had a day and a half in bed.I was in remmision but have just had a relapse. You can not really blame the doctors as they do not specialise in everything they are a jack of all trades and hopefully get you to the correct specialist to give you the correct diagnosis. I am self employed and it is only the second time I have had to be of work. I usually take pain medication and go to work but it is worse this time. So rest it is. I have pains in my arms and legs they feel sunburnt. Also pains in my chest and back. I am cranky due to medication I guess. The pains move from one place to the next by the hour. There are lots of other things going on also. Any medication you are not sure about you can look up on the internet. Dont worry too much until you know what you have. Just pester to see the correct specialist. Join the vasculitus foundation also. They are very helpfull. Regards Jarvis.
    • susie123
      susie123 jarvis36927

      Posted

      I will look for the vasculitis foundation, thank you. I am sorry that you are so ill, how did it all start for you???

      you are right that I shouldn't worry until I have a diagnosis, but because it's been 5 weeks and still nothing, I worry it can get worse. I was also told that my bowels are probably affected as I have diarrhoea like every day and it's been like this for 8 years when I was told I only have IBS, but now I worry it's more serious.

      thanks

    • Mamaw
      Mamaw jarvis36927

      Posted

      I so 'get' the pain/sunburnt feeling. I feel like Fire Ants are Marching inside both of my legs all of the time, and lower back, neuropathy issues,..and so many open sores...  I am fearful that the Pain Mgmt medication(s) may be making it worse..(?)  , so, I have been trying to lower them mysef...it's hard..and so painful.
    • susie123
      susie123 Mamaw

      Posted

      Thats horrible. I feel a lot better since I started naproxen but was told to take prednisolone for a week now. I am not sure if I am supposed to take naproxen with prednisolone.
    • jarvis36927
      jarvis36927 susie123

      Posted

      I think i had syptoms for about 12 months with my feet hurting first. I thought i had flat feet. went to chemist for insoles. He said to get checked out because i could be diabetic first.  I have just been diagnosed with ulcerative colitus. probley caused by my overactive immune system. This is why this illness is so difficult to diagnose. It can be put down to so many other things. Ive had it since 2006. 3years to get under control. then an accute relapse in jan this year. They have meetings with top specialists (the vasculitis foundation) I think there is one soon. you can ask questions. We are going, it will be a stop over as it is about 3hrs from our house. down south my wife has all the details. keep smilling, Jarvis.
    • jarvis36927
      jarvis36927 Mamaw

      Posted

      I had one doctor told me I was psychosamatic, I know I have not spelt that correct. but i think he ment I was imagining the pains. The sore legs  i can feel now but the pain will be somewhere else in an hour. Its peritheral nerve damage ive been told. please excuse the spelling. so many big words in the medical world.you take care. regards Jarvis.
    • Mamaw
      Mamaw jarvis36927

      Posted

      I was asked at an Urgent Care once..(when I came in because I hurt so bad..ended up I had cellulitis in many sores).."Do you pick these sores?"... Like..it's my fault!!!
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