Hair Loss - Joint Pain/Stiffness - High Blood Pressure

March 22, 2006

Hello again,

I've been reading through back posts, and I noticed some recent posts

about hair loss, joint stiffness, and high blood pressure in relation

to Xolair. While I have not started Xolair yet, I was on 60+ mg of

prednisone for about 4 months last year. I had all the above side

effects...massive hair loss, severe joint pain and stiffness, and

high blood pressure. I had NONE of these things before the

prednisone. During my taper down, I experienced many other side

effects like nausea, horrible mood swings, extreme fatigue, muscle

cramps, shortness of breath, muscle atrophy, peeling skin, and more.

Fortunately, most of the side effects *eventually* improved after I

got off prednisone, but it took quite awhile after my last dose

(several months). I have a few remaining side effects like joint

stiffness in my fingers and knees, and that seems to be getting

better VERY slowly. My hair has grown back, but it changed from very

straight to kinky-curly when I was on my highest steroid dose, and it

has not gone back to normal yet.

I know that most medical professionals will say that prednisone MASKS

other disorders, and when you go off of it, you start to see symptoms

of those disorders. I'm sure this is probably true in some cases,

but in my experience, steroids have actually CAUSED my joint

stiffness. My skin has also become extremely sensitive and my

allergies have worsened since I went off prednisone, and that has not

improved at all. I almost wonder if there is some kind of rebound

effect or something.

I am very sensitive to medications, so it very possible that I have

far more lingering side effects than the average person. But I just

had to put in my 2 cents about this topic, because I don't feel like

the medical world really knows all the side effects that are caused

directly by steroids. With that said, most of the people here (me

included) have depended on steroids for survival at some point, so

sometimes you have no choice. I just know how easy it is to blame

new side effects on a new medication (like Xolair) rather than on

prednisone. I've done it myself! If you're on prednisone and are

having weird side effects, suspect the prednisone. Just my 2 cents...

, 32, Louisville

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