..Did anyone get left sided abdominal pain while trying to wean down off the Prednisone? I lowered from 40mg to 30 mg yesterday and have this intermittent ache-
Left sided pain while tapering prednisone?
Question posted by barb h on 21 Dec 2012
Last updated on 29 November 2018
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3 Answers
Windchimes123
21 Feb 2018
Hi Taarna,
Yes... all side effects and many more.
Prednisone is the kind of drug you hate to take...
Until you need it !!!
In the old days, the doses were not as high but prolonged.
Now the goal is to hit high and hard.
rather than to gradually build up.
This avoids the moon face, increased glucose levels (like in diabetes) and side effects as much as possible.
If you need to resort to prednisone,
You need to be committed and follow instructions carefully.
I was on it for asthma and a severe cough.
You are fortunate by the fact that you are tolerating the tapering.
It shows that it did it’s job.
A word of warning...
Depending on the length of time you were on it, you may have muscle weakness.
Don’t expect to jump up once the course is completed.
I had to drag my a.. around for a month!
Be good to yourself and slowly get back in to your previous lifestyle.
You may have a set back in the disease if you don’t pay attention to your body.
Btw... if you notice the year in the post you are commenting on, it may be better to start a new question.
You probably will get more responses in starting your own thread.
Best wishes
Take care of yourself
:-)
Taarna
21 Feb 2018
I have the worst pain in my sides, abdomen, thighs and arms- ever since I started taking it! My doc had me start on 60 mg a day and go down every day by 10 mg. Today is the last day and I can’t wait for my body to heal!! Not only is the pain an issue, but I broke out like I haven’t since I was a teenager!! Big, painful zits all over my face and neck!! Also, I’ve been going to the bathroom (urinate) every hour for the last couple of days!! Ugh! I’m never taking this medication ever again!!!
Inactive
22 Dec 2012
Hi barb, that does sound unusual. Is it high or low, & how severe? Was this under the advice of your physician? Is the pain twoards the back or down your tummy or exactly where? It would help to know why you are taking prednisone also...
barb h
22 Dec 2012
Yes I am under a rheumatologist's care. He is tapering down the prednisone which was treating Temporal Arteritis. Started out at 60 mg in Oct . Have been decreasing it by 10mg every 10 days but when I went from the 40mg to 30 mg I got this pain. I also became very fatiqued. The pain is left side right under rib cage. It is a sharp intermittent pain. I was thinking pancreas maybe. Was just wondering if anyone experienced this. Also ringing in my ears.
Inactive
22 Dec 2012
Hi Barb, it can cause pancreatitis, but what you are describing doesn't sound like that at all. You would be very sick, pain, vomiting etc.. & the pain would tend to be more in the middle. I am going to give you a couple links to read, & if you think you glean any info about your pain, then call your doctor about this. Well, call him anyway! See links in blue below... Mary
https://www.drugs.com/health-guide/giant-cell-arteritis-temporal-arteritis.html
https://www.drugs.com/prednisone.html
prednisonehelp
13 Sep 2013
Barb: Did you ever determine what was causing the pain in your side? I've been tapering down my prednisone... now down to 15mg/day from 80 two years ago. About a week ago, I had terrible pain in my right flank side area around kidney area. Went to ER. Pain med. Treated for kidney infection w/antibiotics. Pain has mostly gone but still have some flank twinges that almost feel like muscle pain around kidney area. Wondering if it might be related to tapering of prednisione. Your comments, please.
Secgo
27 Aug 2017
There is definitely something associated with left rib cage pain and coming off prednisone. I was given massive doses of prednisone for acute allergic reaction. On the forth day my left rib cage from breast bone around side to back felt like the muscles were pulled away from the ribs. It hurts to breathe more torso cough hiccup , pretty significant pain. They need to get to the bottom of this severe reaction. I hope mine doesn't stay with me for months as it has for others who have posted the problem. This is definetly not a phantom pain or one borne out of hysteria. I was looking for what was causing my onset of left sided rib pain when I ran across all these posts.
djib54
13 Nov 2017
Hi Barb. I was given steroids for 8 months for AIP (autoimmune pancreatitis) Since I dropped from 10 to 9.. until 6 now I've had this pain under my left ribscage. Like horrible. It happens most of the time after eating when I'm in activity. I cab barely handle the pain : cannot breath properly, move or anythingelse. The only solution I've found so far is not to move after a meal for like 1h or 2h.
I hate Prednisone ..
Secgo
14 Nov 2017
Djb sure hope u feel better soon, it took me 4 weeks get over that pain.
djib54
15 Nov 2017
Hey Segco,
If I am sure the pain will go away, Im happy with that...
Happy you feel better now
Morganravenwolf
29 Nov 2018
I believe that it is actually pleurisy. I have had several bouts of this. It feels like a fish hook pulling and tearing on the inside of your ribs. It is too painful and difficult to take a deep breath. It comes and goes. It is inflammation of the pleural space lining your abdominal and chest cavity.
Related topics
pain, prednisone, tapering, abdominal pain
Further information
- Prednisone uses and safety info
- Prednisone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Prednisone (detailed)
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