Prednisolone - side effects - bruising/thin skin
Posted , 25 users are following.
Hello again -
I have been treated for PMA and Temporal arteritis since last January and am currently on 7 mg/day of prednisolone with a view to trying to reduce 1mg every 4 weeks as suggested by the rheumatologist. I am 71.
At present the worst side effect for me has been easy bruising and thinning of the skin. The slightest bump or friction on shins and arms produces dark purple bruises due to subcutaneous bleeding. Also - even a mild scrape (eg from a cardboard label on trousers which I was trying on in a shop) can cause the skin to break and bleed. My rheumatologist tells me that this will improve as I reduce the dose but this does not seem to be happening. What are other people's experiences of this? Do I have to get down to a much lower dose before I see an improvement or will this problem persist even when I (hopefully) manage to come off the steroids?
I would be grateful to know what other people think.
Purple cat.
3 likes, 68 replies
escot Guest
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Judygirl Guest
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a purple snit for so long, at 3mgs of prednisone nothing has improved.
Thanks to those who told "their story" I can now be a little more tolerant
and hope we all return to "normal" soon. Thanks again.
carmwoman Judygirl
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p63638 Guest
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EileenH p63638
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Would you tell someone with an underactive thyroid or rheumatoid arthritis to reduce their dose of medication that is keeping them functioning? I trust you wouldn't - and in PMR pred is the medication that keeps us functioning. The only available medication that keeps us able to walk and do normal daily tasks. In the case of GCA it is protecting us from going blind. We all hope one day the disease will go into remission and we won't need it. But in the meantime we would be in pain every day of our lives - not from taking heroin but from the illness.
If you HAVEN'T got PMR or GCA then why are you making this sort of statement here?
trebZ1900 p63638
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tony09890 Guest
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EileenH tony09890
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Judygirl Guest
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to ask if I had vasculitis and was told - no that the condition was due to the
ingestion of prednisone and would improve as I decreased the dose - however,
I am now down to 3mgs and there's no improvement. My lower legs look dreadful but I have no pain, my concern is could this happen elsewhere and cause irreprobable damage. I am 87, had PMR for l8 months and have reduced
very slowly allowing my body to adjust; this is my only concern and hope it
will eventually resolve itself, otherwise I am relatively healthy for my age. May
I suggest that ones' eye sight be monitored carefully as I have recently been
diagnosed with glaucoma which can be caused by prednisone. I am using eye
drops to reduce the high pressure and am doing well. Giood luck to everyone
and a big thank you to those whose wisdom is expressed on this forum, it is
greatly appreciated. Seasons greeting s to all. Judygirl.
escot Guest
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personally I cant wait to get off of them I am reducing at the rate of 1 mg per month so next month it will be 5mg I was initionally given for PMR but then with a change of Rheumi it was discovered that I did not have PMR but Fibromyalgia plus crystals in my joints, As I also suffer with COPD I am advised to take a few days on a higher dose of Preds
catherine87418 Guest
Posted
Im 52 & just been diagnosed with PMR & have started taking 15mg of prednisolone. I've started to notice slight bruising a fortnight in. I've read that taking vitamin c will help stop the bleeding as welll as improve collagen. Another vitamin is K, but you need to speak to your doctor & get it prescribed.
brenda52577 Guest
Posted
Hi I've been on prednisone for over 2 years for temporal arteritis . Prednisone is a deal with the devil . Without it could have lost my sight but the after effects are horrific . The deflation on my skin is like someone just let the air out of a balloon . My skin is so dry i think ide need to lay in a bath of moisturiser to get anywhere near hydration of my skin . The problem is prednisone destroys your collegen which accounts for a large proportion of your body. It can't be replaced it has to be produced by your body which takes time . Don't believe any adds which tell you it can replace collegen because they can't . It's a slow healing process of the body . Take lots of vitamins leafy veg and any supplements you think may help it's a case of try it and see . Vitamin c has definitely helped me . Hope this helps . You will get better . Take care
sandy08116 Guest
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Hi Brenda - and others on the wonder drug
I was diagnosed GCA in October last year. CRP level was 76. Immediately put on high dosage prednisone and within weeks, CRP down to 4, currently on 7. Biopsy of minor temporal artery confirmed diagnosis which was first mis-diagnosed as TIA by locum at med centre. (Thank goodness I kicked and screamed or else I would have been happily chomping on statins and slowly going blind!) Fortunately, no eye damage and disorder localised to temporal area. Over time, headaches, auras, jaw claudication went. The paper-thin skin remains. Just one little bump - even a handshake - produces ruptured blood vessels, but more of a talking point than a worry. So do the dry, gritty eyes. Artificial tears clears that problem. Even tastebuds returning to normal which is the best news for a devout foodie and food photographer!
Now remains tapering off prednisone and other medications: Omeprazole to reduce acid in the stomach, low dosage aspirin as a blood thinner and Fosamax (once weekly) to prevent bone marrow damage. I was told to eat lots of fibre, eat fruit, drink milk. Any side-effect issues were not a problem and could be dealt with. The tonne of weight I've put on? The moon face? Just for the duration. Don't let it bother you. Blame everything on Prednisone. Of course all this was a challenge to tolerance: I hadn't seen a doctor in 20 or more years (thought they were there to kill you), never had any drugs other than the occasional paracetemol, fit and healthy, (I will be 75 in a couple of months' and play competitive petanque three times a week) and suddenly I was drowning in them! But I knew it was par for the course. Grin and bear it, it will all go away in time.
Both my GP and hospital rheumatologist are thrilled with my progress; they respect my desire to be kept informed and understand what is happening; case notes are shared between the three of us, they say attitude helps enormously.
And I have a mountain of respect for them - and our universal health system!
Good health, Brenda.
Cheers from Auckland, New Zealand.
EileenH sandy08116
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This is a very old thread, started by Guest over 7 years ago in fact. If you look you will see there are few or no responses to the last half dozen or so posts.
I would suggest you post this as a new thread because it does have useful info in it.
sandy08116 EileenH
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sandy08116
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EileenH sandy08116
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Just below this post you will see a green box saying "Start your own discussion". Click on that and it brings up a couple of boxes - think of a title and then write the post in the second box. It already says the name of the thread so it will arrive automatically when you click on the other green box that says Post your discussion.