How long will withdrawal from prednisone last?

Question

I'm 19, very healthy eater, and work out regularly. I took prednisone for 10 days on a taper, (60mg for 3 days, 40mg for 3 days, 20 mg for 3 days, 10 mg for one day). The last time I took prednisone was Sunday, it is now Wednesday and I'm still feeling the side effects of withdrawal (headaches, nausea, irritability, steroid acne fluctuation, water retention).

I took the prednisone for what my doctor believed was an allergic reaction to being on birth control for a week, turns out it was just hormonal acne that I had never had before so technically I didn't need the pred in the first place.

I've read many things on the internet that have scared me, people saying these side effects will last for weeks upon weeks... even ones that had only been on prednisone for a week or two. Hopefully that is because of their own body's metabolism or diet/lifestyle, or due to their lack of tapering-off.

Since the highest dose only lasted 3 days, and since then my body has been learning to adjust to lower levels of prednisone (taper) & eventually none ever since, I hoped that within 3 days I would see some improvement, but it's been very off and on.

How long will it take for my body to totally flush prednisone out of my system? What can I do to "speed up" or help my body recover?

Answer

First, I question using prednisone for acne. The risk reward ratio is poor. Screws with metabolism bigly. I’ve read your story and it’s totally unnecessary for what you’re going through.

There are many factors that affect withdrawal symptoms. Currently I’m on a 3 week course of daily 30mg, to 20 , to 10, to zero on day 22 (according to the directions). Caused by a severe case of poison ivy that would not have stopped on its own.

It seems the current taper is going to dump me to zero after a week of 10mg/day, right before Christmas. That should be fun…jump straight to zero. No problem…

In the past I was on high dose prednisone that required 18 months to taper to zero. I was younger and this medication saved my life. I gained weight and got exercise.

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Prednisone is dangerous interacting with other stuff like Zoloft, Ambien. I got in some difficulty years ago with them. Be very careful what you mix it with. Question any doctor to explain why you need the stuff - any stuff.

Important- don’t count on your prescriber, take charge and know the effects of prednisone (and anything else) preferably independently, in advance. Read these prednisone withdrawal stories, some sad, scary, and totally preventable. Many doctors deny prednisone causes serious problems. Listen to your body!!

Prednisone is dangerous stuff. It can kill you if withdrawal is too quick. I endured a hospital prescription mistake and had a relapse of vasculitis along with acute adrenal failure. Things happen. Know your prescribed dose and follow it to the letter.

Good luck with your withdrawal. Sleep, exercise, diet, distractions are essential ingredients in recovery. Rebalance of the adrenals and metabolic functions takes Time. If you must stay on it over a few months, tapering 1mg per week below 10mg is my suggestion for a smoother withdrawal.

Answer

Takes a little while. Yours was a short term use and your young. No worries. Drink fluids. IDE say couple weeks initially to remove all prednisone from body. I been on for 3 yrs. when I stop it takes about that much time. In my case I need it constantly. Hope this helps. Consult a dr. For sure. Before taking anyone&rsquo;s opinion too seriously tho.

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I have been on Prednisone for 12 years. I would only take them as needed which could have been 40mg one day maybe 20 2 days later... it just depended on how badly I couldn't breathe. I started taking the Fasenra shot about 4 months ago to get off the steroids. I haven't had them in a little over a month. I am 42 and when I get up from the bed, I walk like I am 80. During the day it is not as bad since I move alot, but my arm muscles have gotten extremely weak over the last 2 weeks. I can barely tear up the junk mail. My whole body just feels like I have been hit by a Mack truck.

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I would say drink lots of water to flush your system out. Give it some time.

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Hi , I don&rsquo;t know what you&rsquo;ve been taking it for, but the side effects can last a couple of weeks. At least it did in my case. And be very careful not to be on it for a long time, prednisone is known to hurt your bones . So get off as soon as you can. Within 2 weeks you should feel back to normal. Good luck, see your primary doctor , if symptoms do not subside .

Answer

Hi,
Doctors tend to give cortisteroids like prednisilone to quickly suppress a severe allergic reaction to which they feel no normal medication will work e.g over the counter antihistamines.
It is a either a large burst dose over a week or so and sometimes a maintenance one if the initial symptoms persist. I have had burst doses several times in my life to overcomes breathing reactions to VOCs in decorating paints and varnishes(I no longer buy normal paints, even water based as they all contain VOCs that leach out for many months -VOC free paints). It took me several weeks to recover the first time and the second time several months to flush it out. Like any medicine, different people react differently to the side-effect of this type of corticosteroids.

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I have also had the situation where I had to take prednisilone for nearly 3 months on a low maintenance dose. I had seen for some people that this protracted period caused no problems once they came of it in a slow taper. After I stopped taking it, it was a long, slow and traumatic process which took over a year to overcome the side effects (depression, pin and needle headaches which eventually subsided to what felt like bad headaches which increased and subsided over the year. No day was the same and no type of headache medicine made it go away). The important thing I had to learn was not to panic (easy said than done). I realised after much difficulty that if I did not come to terms with my situation and create an environment which made it bearable, I would continue to go down. It has been a long haul and a trauma that has given my life perspective and grounding - stay positive and good luck

Votes: +3

Answer

jduncanm3golf
Now I'm suffering from heavy steroid withdrawal symptom. I took wysolone for 2 and half years and 20mg for straight 1 year. Later doctor told me taper as follows 10mg for 1 week and 5 mg for 1 week. When I was in 5 mg course already I was bed ridden. After totally stopping wysolone I'm still bed ridden even after 1 and half month plus vomit, fainting, weakness, anxiety attacks, muscle pain, high blood pressure, constipation, not able see mobile, tv, book anything more than 15minutes all are bonus. I'm requesting you all at any cost please please please don't take steroid treatment. I don't know why stupid doctors are forcing us to take this evil??? It is equal to death ...

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Ok ,so bout a month ago, right before I settled down for bed, I feel a weird "snap " behind my left leg, so I went to see the doctor next morning, cuz of calf swelling. They said superficial clot. One month goes by, pain off and on in calf, prescribed naproxen , aspirin, and muscle relaxer. So I had checkup last week the clot. So my doctor prescribed .25 xanax, and 20 mg prednisone 3 pills 3x a day , 2x for
3 days, then one tablet 3x for 3 days. So, 4 days after I was done taking them, I had a major psycho attack at work. Buddy raced me to the e.r., needed water, didn't know what I said, swore at people.. Anyways, I've had 2 or 3 more "attacks, not as bad, but my brain stops when this happens. It's been a week since I took my last prednisone. I had a panic k attack last nite. I just hope I get through today with no more episodes. I want to live again. Getting away from this demon drug is all want.

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i have been on prednisone for seven months due to my liver transplant rejecting. This is my second round of high dose prednisone for a long time. I am currently taking the pills but i had been getting the IV version. This is my second big round. I have expirienced nearly all of the side effects. I haven't slept in weeks, I am constantly hungry and have gained wait. My face is swollen. I get red and sweaty all the time. Anything you name it. prednisone is a great drug to treat things but a terrible drug to be on. Just remember your couple weeks is super temporary and you jut have to get through it. DO NOT STOP TAKING IT. just because it doesn't feel good doesn't mean you can stop taking it. You are not a doctor and stopping suddenly can be very bad for your body.

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I have been on prednisone for an autoimmune disease called uveitis. My highest dosage being 60mg. I've fluctuated between 60mg-10mg over the passed 8 years. I have tried taking medicine(CellCept, methotrexate, humira) in conjunction with the prednisone to wean me off but, none of it sat well with me. Finally, this year being my 9th year on prednisone I have decided to do something drastic to wean myself off because I feel like total crap and can't keep living like this. I have been on prednisone all of my adult life and its changed my body in horrible ways. I don't know who I am when I look in the mirror. All the symptoms that come with taking this horrific drug have happened to me. I gained 100 pounds over the 9 years. My skin has become very thin and easily bruised. I get random rashes around my neck, moon face, water retention, hair loss, discoloration of skin on my neck and chest and literally feel crazy and anxious.

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In January I changed my diet to a whole food plant based diet, which was extremely hard to do. I eat oatmeal with fruit, veggies and rice, and two green drinks nearly every day. I have had a few minor set backs but, I don't beat myself up about it! I force myself to break a sweat on the cardio machines at least 5 times a week. Since changing my diet and being more active I am down to 8 mg of prednisone. I have lost 14 pounds since January. I am not here to push my diet routine or lifestyle on anyone I just want to share what is working for me. That said, I am having major withdraw symptoms worse than ever before. I feel extremely tired most days and need at least 12 hours of sleep. I have extreme brain fog. My anxiety is at an all time high and I have had suicidal thoughts. I don't let the withdraw symptoms get me down because I believe my adrenal glands are healing (why else would i be able to taper off the pred.?). I am fighting to get off this nasty drug and its been a real struggle. Just keep in mind that rest is important and don't beat yourself up. Everyone heals differently and have patience.

Votes: +1

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I took a 5 day z pack (antibiotics) and 5 days of prednisone (2x20mg a day) for this virus or infection I have or had that swollen my lymph nodes in the right side of my neck. Im also fighting this stupid internal fungus infection so I dont know if this is fungus dying off in my body giving me these symptoms or the withdrawal. I am on day 4 of not taking the prednisone and antibiotics, my symptoms started early yesterday (day 3) besides my neck being swollen the only thing my dr says is its viral and mucinex D and ibuprofen are the only thing that help. My symptoms include fast heart rate (not heavy though) peeing a lot (but no pain or burning) and insomnia (couldnt sleep until 6am and woke up at 930am) oh, and chills :D... Yay...

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Im kinda confused though which is causing this because right before all this happened early morning yesterday I took 100 billion probiotics with floraphage which multiplies the probiotics by 24 times on average (2.4 trillion) I read my symptoms are fungus die off as well because it releases toxins in the blood stream and causes the EXACT same side effects as the withdrawal of the steroids. So, im going to ease into the antibiotics instead of taking them like I have the last 3 days with the floraphage. Im so ready to be over this crap, I feel like I been sick since the beginning of January... Good luck people! I found that milk thistle and apple cider vinegar help with calming my body down, they both cleanse the liver and kidney and help rid of toxins which = less work on your body to rid of toxins. The heart rate though, it keeps pushing :|

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Great, my initial long response- never showed up... 25 days later... wondering why I received no email message.
Anyways- yes, got the shakes, the intense sweating, the visit to urgent care when I thought I was having a stroke because of the weird feelings I was getting, knumbness in face/cheek, rapid heartrate, shaking hands, very wet hands, felt like I was going sideways, trouble talking (maybe it was me getting very worried).
The last symptom-- Acne. It was painful too. Appeared on neck/jaw, then face, then on my head. Acne is finally going away- about 2.5 weeks.

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I had a course of 60mg for 7 days, then 40mg for 4 days, and then 20mg for 3 days. I have been off of it for 7 days now and I am suffering horribly from withdrawals. I'm shaky, weak, tired, nauseous, have terrible stomach cramps and diarrhea, no appetite, headaches, and soreness. I have lost 8 lbs too. I am just wondering when is this going to end? I feel like I've had to put my life on hold because I can't function. I hope it won't be much longer.

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I have been on prednisone starting with 50 mg slowy reducuind by 5s now after 3 months was told by specialist after down to 10 drop to 5 for 1 month .After speaking with 3 others who have experienced this drug and pharmacy I have ignored the instructions am doing 7 and half for 1 week then 5 for 3 weeks then half a tablet for 1 week .
The feeling of overwhelming tiredness is unbelievable ,I also had uncontrolled diarrhea for 10 days after reducing to 10 was tested nothing found .Sinus headaches and hearing problems are another problem .
This all began with a tickle cough then an X-ray found nodes on lungs after costing thousands of $
Of tests CAT and PET scans time in isolation still no diagnosis other than Some ting must have been going on with your inceasedmmune system !!!

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I was given prednisone in the ER for an allergic reaction. The doctor had me titrate off it for 10 days. Its been over two and a half weeks since, and I STILL have frequent "brain fog", constant headache (I'm gonna try the peppermint oil mentioned in a previous response), muscle aches, water retention and sleepiness. I hope I never need this terrible drug again!!

How long will withdrawal from prednisone last?

43 Answers

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