How long does it take once you stop Prednisone for the side effects to go away? I feel like I've been hit by a truck. It's a very strange pain that I have in my hips, my shoulders, and my neck. I am borderline nauseous and lightheaded. It's been 5 days off the drug.
How long does it take once you stop prednisone for the side effects to go away?
Question posted by Marie1479 on 12 Oct 2016
Last updated on 23 November 2016
3 Answers
Srr1111
10 Nov 2016
I'm hypersensitive to corticosteroids, especially prednisone. I have had symptoms vary based on method given (oral, intravenous, trigger point injection, nevulized solution, inhaler) - each really varied as far as symptoms, how bad symptoms were even if they were the same or not, but most importantly was length of time I felt effects from the prednisone. I have severe uncontrolled asthma and I had pneumonia a couple years back.
The hospital-Pulmonologist spoke with my mother and myself - even after reluctantly agreeing to be given an infant level of prednisone by IV because I have documented in my health history my extreme trouble with steroids. I was to be given 0.1mg, but not until the next day when my husband could be with me in case of side effects. Then we'd re-evaluate based on my labs and symptoms to see if I'd continue and if so at what dose.
She put the truth about the conversation in my chart, and then also put she was ordering 40mg to be given that night because she thought I wouldn't notice and I'd get better more quickly. I was alone and a nurse who didn't speak English came in with my meds. I asked what they were, but he just said "medicine" and "bad English". I didn't have reason to think anything was wrong but soon after I had a severe physical hypersensitivity and emotional distress like a huge feeling of impending doom and panic because my skin felt like bugs crawling all over. A tech came in during a regular check and went to let the dr on call for the night know my distress but no doctor came that night or even the next morning. My husband arrived around 9am and was shocked at my state, he called the Pulmonologist and she said what she'd done but also that she was busy with other patients and wouldn't be by that day. We left against medical advice because I couldn't know if they were going to do it again. It took a good 9mos plus to get past that physically.
I advise you be careful with steroids period. And hopefully you react normally and it's as long as you follow doctor advice your fine. If you feel "off" then contact your doctor to see what can/should be done.
Inactive
12 Oct 2016
Hi Marie:
I am so sorry for your bad experience. I, like you, was very apprehensive of taking a course of prednisone pills. My doctor talked me into it because of a lingering case of bronchitis. I reluctantly agreed. After a week, I practically crawled into his office and said, something is terribly wrong! He checked it out, consulted with the pharmacist that filled it, and came to realize that he had MISTAKENLY prescribed me an "overdose" of prednisone. He wrote the prescription for 10mg 4 times a day, but while we were talking about my bronchitis, he inadvertently changed the prescription to 40mg 4 times a day! When he realized his mistake, he hugged me, which was very out of character for this man. I knew I was in trouble at this point!
I was practically thrown into a medicine-induced manic/depressed state. I didn't sleep for 3 weeks. I could hardly breathe. My rapid heartbeat never let up the whole time. I was extremely bloated. I felt like my head was a pumpkin and I felt like I was looking out of one. My vision was not normal. I developed hypothyroidism. I became extremely aggravated, irritable, depressed, anxious, and felt like I was going to go crazy. I walked out on a good marriage in the state I was in. Fortunately, my husband and I reunited later down the road. It was a nightmare experience. The nurse (at the offending doctor's office) later told me that I should have had a heart attack at the dose I was given for the length of time I was given it. My life changed at that point. So did my health. It was a domino effect. It took a long time to feel any sense of "normalcy" again.
I have dealt with anxiety/depression off and on since that time.
As Dr. Phil says. "It was a 'changing day' in my life!
Prednisone can be quite helpful for some, for others of us, not so much.
Inactive
13 Oct 2016
P.S.
Along with this "dreadful" experience in my life, I became the poster child for adrenal fatigue. Very hard to overcome.
Inactive
15 Oct 2016
Sorry to be a "Debbie Downer". It's life. Things happen. But, this is a very useful medication for most people.
Windchimes123
17 Oct 2016
Hi G,
You are extremely correct!
It's a very important drug!
Some people like it because of the manic type symptoms initially.
I was on it for 8 mo and by the time I went to the doc, I had to hang on to the walls! Fatigue that I never dreamed existed!
All I wanted was to stay in bed and breathe.
Best wishes
:)
Windchimes123
17 Oct 2016
One more point...
It would be extremely good for you to do Tai Chi - basic..
If that's not a possibility, I would buy those Thera-bands to maintain your muscles.
They are thick stretch bands that you can do while sitting in bed.
There are hand balls to pump your hands and arms. Mine is a small brick that is just hard enough that I can see my muscles contraction.
You are on Prednisone which can cause decreased bone density.
You also have the knee problem . I've seen with a knee that the other knee goes because of the extra work it has to do.
You are at an age (me too :(. ) that you have to use it or lose it !
Really... the Therabands are the easiest to use with the least effort.
Best wishes ...
:-)
Windchimes123
12 Oct 2016
Hi Marie,
I'll do my best but their are others who can give you more of an extensive answer.
Just to get you started.
Orednisone is a wonderful drug if prescribed correctly and at the right dose.
Different conditions require different amounts.
Some have a straight foreword course and others have to go up and down.
Some cold cold turkey (wrong) and some taper correctly.
Each case determines the length of the side effects.
The higher ther dose and the longer you are on it will determine the side effect length of time.
The individuals individual constitution, ads and general star of health will influence.
If it's straight forward, your body responds quickly and no complications then I'd say a week after taper is completed is a good bet.
You sound like you had a high dose and were on it for awhile.
Prednisone can cause terrible reconditioning .
It's important not to stay in bed! Force yourself to get up and at least walk.
Sometimes physical therapy is ordered.
Drink fluids, stay on a healthy diet and get on the road to recovery.
I heard it described that it takes twice as long to recover than what the amount of time you were on it.
Just get moving ! You don't have to clean a house but just go out and walk a little more each day.
Good luck...
Marie1479
12 Oct 2016
Thank you windchimes123. I am a 52 year old woman and until my accident I was in excellent health and very active. Other than Synthroid for Hashimotos, I am on no other meds. I slipped on ice back in February and tore my meniscus. I had surgery on my knee in March and that's when all the trouble started. For some reason the swelling and pain in my knee was taking forever to heal. I was given five shots of Cortizone in a three month period. Finally the fifth shot started to work. But my orthopedist felt I should see a rheumatologist to figure out why I had so much swelling in the knee. The rheumatologist tested me for every order immune disease in the world (Lymes, Lupus, RA, ect) which came back negative. He then suggested to put me on a low dose of prednisone to "top it off". My intuition was not to take the meds because my knee was getting better but I trusted my doctor. This was in April 2016. I was given 20 mg , 10, then 5 taper each 2 weeks.
The swelling disappeared but when I hit 5 mg I started feeling all the side effects which my rheumatologist said was because I now had polymyalgia rheumatica. I questioned the doctor about this diagnosis and said could this be prednisone because prior to this I had no health issues except the swollen knee from surgery. He said I had to go back on the prednisone and wean down again and he's never heard of side effects like this. So reluctantly I went back on because I was in so much pain in my hips and shoulders and very lightheaded and dizzy. I asked him is lightheaded and dizzy a symptom polymyalgia rheumatica ? So at the end of August I'm approaching 5 mg once again and I start feeling the intense pain in my neck and hips, lightheaded and dizziness and nausea. I knew at this point from reading all the blogs that it was from the medication and my adrenals were not kicking in and that I had to get off prednisone . My last visit to the doctor wanted to put me back up to 20mgs. I said absolutely not. I demanded to know that if once I get off this medication and dredged through the weaning process would I be in any danger of adrenal failure. I also told him the polymyalgia rheumatica diagnosis was BS and this is all coming from the medication. He finally said it "could" be side effects from the prednisone but it is rare. He said 1 more week at 5 mg take over-the-counter pain reliever for the symptoms. He said 4-6weeks of feeling like crap then he walked out of the exam pissed off. The PA was left in the room. She was sympathetic and said you will be alright. Needless to say I'm never going back to this office. Today I have appointment for a full check up. I'm anxious to see what my doctor has to say.
Marie1479
12 Oct 2016
I forgot to mention I started acupuncture twice a week for the past month which has helped tremendously.
Windchimes123
13 Oct 2016
Hi Marie,
I'm glad you found relief in acupuncture!
I was on prednisone when I was 39 for 7 mo because I have asthma - cough variant which mean I coughed hard constantly.
Initially, I felt great! I could have painted the whole house!
At the end, I barely had enough energy to breathe !
It took me a year but I did get my normal energy level back.
Good luck to you !
Renee1012
23 Nov 2016
Hi I was taking 10 mg for about 2 years with periods of 40 mg then tapering due to joint pain and fatigue caused by sarcoidosis. I did a VERY slow taper and have now been off of it for a month. I wish i understood what was going on with me. I have severe pain in my hips, shoulders, hands, legs,feet and to the point where I'm walking as if I were 90 years old and i'm 52 . Does this ever get better ? I can't sit for long periods of time either because it's painful then i try to walk around and then back to sit . hands are swollen all the time and it feels like everything is swelling and tight . I get relief from the shower but i can't stay in there all day (-: can anyone tell me if i'm close to this getting better
chubychops
23 Nov 2016
Hi Marie, I am so glad that I was able to read you post because it has answered a lot of questions for me.
Once I share my story I think it provide some of the missing info for you to.
I was diagnosed with Polymyagia Rhumatica at the beginning of November.
Interestingly our stories are similar... In September of 2015 I had to have knee replacement surgery.
Immediately after surgery I became very unwell: Lost about 8kg, was in a good deal of pain ,could not eat and felt tired and off. At the time I thought that I was just having a bad reaction to the pain relief drugs post surgery.
But this went on for months and I just 'felt' there was something else going on. The knee was still so painful and my other knee hurt, my hips hurt and everything was such an effort.
4 months into the surgery I had a glimmer that I was starring to turn a corner in my recovery when my dog pushed me over on to my knee. The pain was even worse and after another 4 months I was no better.
I am usually a very active 67yr old. I was doing some house reno work and pushed myself to plough on.
I started to get other symptoms of pain in my lower back and eventually up my spine and into my shoulders.
I honestly thought that I had been over doing it and the pain was coming from muscles that had not been used for 14 months since my surgery... But it felt both muscular and skeletal .
Over time it got so bad I could not pick things up off the floor and I could not even lie in bed it hurt so bad all over.
So I went to see the Doctor who gave me the diagnosis of the Polymylagia Rhumatica.
He prescribed 50mg of Prednisolone per day for 5 days and then 25 for 5 days and 12.5 for 5 days.
On the first day I took 50mg went to bed and awoke in the morning pain free; to me it was like a miracle.
I was jumping out of my skin I felt sooo good.
I followed the docs recommendation but on the 3rd morning of taking only 12.5mg I had a total relapse.
I was so disappointed. I went from elation to despair. That is when I stated taking note of how serious my condition is.
I had to go back onto a higher dose and my understanding is that I need to 'slowly' reduce the dosage.
Since returning to a higher dose, with in a week, I have developed a 'moon face'' fat belly and generally aged about ten years... sooo depressing.
So ... I feel confident that I acquired the Poly/m Rhumatica during my knee replacement surgery and would go so far to suggest that the removal of your meniscus was the culprit for you. I have read that P/M/R can be acquired via a virus, so what better place to pick up a virus then in hospital (makes sense to me).
I would suggest that if you are feeling like crap and achy it is the syptoms of the p/m/r not being under control.
My goal is to gradually decrease the amount of drug I take sooo slowly that the body does not notice. If I have to do it 1 gm by 1 gm; I will ! My doctor told me that I need to expect to be on this drug for at least 12 months or more but he said that some of his patients are managing with a little as 1mg per day... surely 1mg per day will not be enough to keep the 'moon face' going Ha Ha
Thank you for sharing... sharing is knowledge and knowledge is strength... Janet
Related topics
pain, prednisone, side effect, inflammatory conditions, shoulder, neck
Further information
- Prednisone uses and safety info
- Prednisone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Prednisone (detailed)
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