Prednisone and Itching: What Users Say (Page 2)

• sfi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2019

For Lichen Sclerosus "Any time I am given prednisone for my COPD flares, my LS gets better, no itch, no burn, no sores. As soon as I stop, like 3 days later, if that, the symptoms come back and are very bad. I wonder if my Dr will give me a low daily dose to see if it stops my LS flares?"

• She...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 22, 2017

For Gouty Arthritis "Prednisone works fast and is great for my gouty arthritis, but (a) I only have one kidney, so I need to be extra careful how much I take of it, and (b) it goes straight through me - I need to be careful where I go because there is not much lead time if you get my drift! Now I am taking Allopurinol, but it hasn't prevented an attack and doesn't seem to be doing much. Any ideas of other likely meds? Also, with rheumatoid arthritis, I am often in agony when I have a bout of it. My doctor is despairing of me because I can't take morphine (makes me itch), tramadol makes me short of breath, OxyContin sends me to sleep (literally), and now prednisone, or Solone as it's called here, is only a very infrequent useful tool. Any hints on prevention or pain meds?"

• Bel...
• September 16, 2020

For Allergic Reactions "I sought prednisone after a severe poison ivy reaction. I was given a 12-day prescription of 10 mg pills (6x2, 5x2, 4x2, 3x2, 2x2, 1x2). My initial reaction at 60 mg doses was hyper alertness, which tapered each day, but nonetheless, endless energy and focus. I got so much accomplished. On day 8, the poison ivy had almost completely healed, but my entire upper torso began itching constantly. No hives or marks of any kind. Almost like a million bugs crawling all over me. So bad that it woke me from sleep every night."

• VJe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2016

For Lichen Planus "I'm 37 years old, and I have had 'heat rash' since I was a young child. My body is usually covered in bumps from spring to fall. I have been prescribed lotions and steroid creams, which usually just help with the itching. Since there was warm weather, I started breaking out in December, and because of travel to hot places, my body was covered in bumps by February. So, in May, I saw a new dermatologist, she did a biopsy for lichen planus and placed me on prednisone. I took a 20-day dose, and within a few days, the texture and size changed. Also, some disappeared, and there was no more irritation. I've been off prednisone for 2 weeks now, and I've started to break out, and the irritation has started back."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 19, 2022

For Immunosuppression "I took this for a transplant, and for me, it didn’t work. I have been on very high and very low doses. The side effects were horrible, in my personal experience. Horrible depression at times, acne, weight gain, dry skin, and consistently feeling sick and itchy."

• Fee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2019

For Allergic Reactions "Well, I used hair dye in my hair Tuesday, 11 June 2019. Everything was fine. Woke up Wednesday, had a bit of swelling on my head. Thought nothing of it. Later that day, my head started itching, so I put paw paw ointment on. Thursday was the same. Woke up this morning, 14 June 2019, and one side of my face had swelled up so bad, more in my eye area. My eye is so puffy, don't feel pain or anything. Went to the doctor and got prescribed prednisone, 25 mg, take one twice daily. Swelling is worse at the moment, but I am hoping it goes away ASAP."

• Lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2019

For Inflammatory Conditions "Been on Prednisone along with an antibiotic for a bronchial infection. Day 4 of Pred, I suddenly developed hives and itching skin everywhere. I am not sure if it was the antibiotic, but it's probably more likely that I was allergic to the antibiotic. My face and lip got swollen with hives. It came on pretty quickly. Ran out, got Benadryl, and the reaction is subsiding slowly. After sleepless nights with this drug, I’ll welcome the sleepy relief of Benadryl! I felt like it loosened up the mucus in my infection the first day and allowed me to cough off more, but this is the end of the road for this drug for me forever. Grateful it didn’t get any worse before I got Benadryl."

• MsZ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2022

For Skin Rash "I had surgery, and as soon as I got to the 5th day of my 6-day tapered pack, I started to see a rash develop. I thought it was from the adhesives used on the bandages and tape. Well, by day 7, I was popping Benadryl, and it was really doing nothing for the insane itching and rash that was growing everywhere. I had my husband pull back the sheets because I thought a spider was in the bed biting me or something. The rash was becoming lumpy and nodular to the touch. It looked as if I had mosquito bites and skin burns. My surgeon's assistant told me to go to urgent care. The urgent care doctor said, 'Yikes, that's angry, you need steroids.' I was put on 60 mg for 4 days, 40 mg for 3 days, and 20 mg for 3 days. I took my first dose the next day as my prescription wasn't available that evening after leaving urgent care, by nightfall, I wasn't trying to scratch as much. The next morning, 24 hours later, the rash wasn't as raised as it was initially. Day 2, I could still see red areas. Day 3, it's kinda gone."

• Cam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2021

For Atopic Dermatitis "I was put on first a week pack, which cleared up my face but came back three days later, worse than before, on my face, bad rash with itching. Then I got put on a 20-day pack and took very long for it to clear up, but then came back three days later and had gained lots of weight on it. Not worth it, don’t use it if you can avoid it!!!!! (I’m a 19-year-old girl)."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2022

For Skin Rash "I had a little red spot on my chest. I noticed it Thursday night. By Friday, my entire chest and both my arms were covered in burning, itching, tingling hives. I took a lot of Benadryl and hydrocortisone, which did absolutely nothing. I went to the doctor today (Monday) at 8 a.m. He said it was a reaction to a medication. But I don't take any medication. He looked at me pointedly and said it looked like a reaction to something I inhaled. I was extra annoyed because I do not do drugs, I don't drink, and I don't smoke or 'inhale' anything. Finally, he said he didn't know why I had a rash and prescribed 5 mg of prednisone to be taken as a 'pack.' Took 6 today (as prescribed, tomorrow 5, and so on). Now I have a terrible headache and my rash is somehow worse. It doesn’t itch as bad, but it's spreading to my neck, and it still burns like the dickens. I'm going to get a second opinion tomorrow. So far, it's done zilch, and today was the highest dosage. Will update if by some miracle it works tomorrow."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2022

For Skin Rash "Started on prednisone 4 days after my poison ivy rash appeared. I don’t feel that it really helped much at all. The rash continued to spread and itch like crazy! I’m on day 10 of my prescription, and it’s just starting to dry up."

• MMN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2022

For Asthma "This was my daughter's first prescription for prednisone, along with benzonatate for cough. The morning after beginning meds, she woke up covered in itchy, hot, red hives. The doctor said it must be the benzonatate, so she quit taking that and continued the prednisone (the step-down blister pack dosage schedule), and the hives only got worse. Yesterday was her last dose of prednisone, and today she is as rashy as ever and says her skin feels swollen and tight. But at least we got lucky -- something like 60% of allergic reactions to corticosteroids are of the anaphylactic type, and she hasn't had anything like that, knock wood."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2017

For Allergic Reactions "I had an allergic reaction from an unknown source and was given 60 mg of prednisone with a tapering down to 40 then 20. I was on it for 1 week. I went in feeling a little itchy and came out with what felt like chemical-induced menopause, high blood pressure, diabetes, and bipolar disorder."

• Anonymous
• August 1, 2021

For Allergic Reactions "Disturbed a yellow jacket nest. Multiple (10 or more) stings, extreme burning sensation, and redness. 60 mg first dose, 4 more 50 mg doses, 12 hrs apart. Instant relief of swelling, itching, redness, and pain."

• ecz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2021

For Eczema "I suffered from eczema as a child, but it went away by my teens. After having a baby at 22, it came back, but I only had it on one finger. The dermatologist prescribed hydrocortisone and gave me the same old recommendations: no detergent, cotton clothes, no perfumes, etc. With time, it started spreading, but not much. Every time I had a stubborn rash, the dermatologist would prescribe hydrocortisone. After some years, it stopped working, and the doctor prescribed clobetasol and a 20-day course of prednisone. It worked, but every time my eczema came back, it would cover more areas of my skin. I started waking up with swollen, red, puffy eyes, and tears would burn like acid. The last time I was given prednisone, all hell broke loose when I stopped. I've been dealing with redness, flaking skin, and rashes on my face, hands, upper back, and inner elbows. I can't sleep, can't shower, and the itch is bone-deep. I'm aware these are symptoms of topical steroid withdrawal (TSW), but I think it's because I took prednisone."

• mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2024

For Allergic Reactions "Day one, it's working great. Took it at 10 am this morning, was sleepy about 12, and slept for two hours. Woke up, the itchy feeling is decreasing. I had an allergic reaction and had been itchy for a week. I am on two 25 mg a day for 3 days, so I will let you know more at the end of 3 days, but so far, it's working well."

• S C...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 27, 2025

For Inflammatory Conditions "Miracle cure in a short time, less than one week for all respiratory problems including mucus, short breath, sore throat, and runny nose. Absolute remedy for flu, COVID, all seasonal cold, or any respiratory symptoms. Far better than dexamethasone (which is much stronger than prednisone) and can feel the effects right around 2 hours after oral intake. It should be superior to newly patented COVID medication. Skin itching, rashes, autoimmune symptoms of skin blisters, hair loss, lymph circulation to ease down molar teeth pain, enabling chewing. Blood flow improved. Bio-genetic sensor/sensory for pain/cramps could be placed to “default mode” that gives not much pain and manageable, thus preventing shock/panic system shut down. Pain/cramps/spasm control for gallbladder, duct, etc., in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent shock/panic and prevent system shut down. The benefits overwhelm the negatives."

• Tim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2021

For Eczema "Dealing with eczema the last 3 years. Doctor prescribed every topical steroid there is, they did nothing but make it worse. Prednisone was finally prescribed, itching cleared almost immediately. After the regimen, I had no sign of the rash. Less than a week later, back to square one. Ice packs relieve the itching, but when working, obviously not an option. What are the dangers of a very low dose for maintenance? I’d love a warm shower."

• Joa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2019

For Skin Rash "I got poison ivy rash really severe. Prednisone 12 days decrease every 3 days. It helped the itching, that's it. The rash 2 weeks later is still blistered and spreading."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2019

For Skin Rash "It really gets rid of your rash, but I experienced the most painful itching I've ever had in my entire life. Like 50 mosquitoes on my stomach. Took one 60 mg tablet."

• Poi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2022

For Skin Rash "It started on my wrist and went to my face. After 16 days of prednisone, it is now on my legs and upper arms, very itchy."

• Gra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 12, 2017

For Atopic Dermatitis "I have hemochromatosis, which causes iron overload, which gives me itchy skin."

• But...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 1, 2022

For Inflammatory Conditions "I was given this when I had a lung infection. I’m completely allergic to this medicine. It caused vomiting, sweating, swelling of my tongue, and a lot of itching."