Re: Prednisone (a.k.a. Evil Candy)

October 12, 2006

,

Here is my response:

1) What dosage are you on?

6 mg every other day. Hopefully my allergist will reduce it even

further tomorrow when meet with her.

2) How long have you been on this dosage?

2 weeks now, previously I was on 7 mg every other day and before that 10

mg every other day

3) What improvements in your health/asthma do you receive from this

dosage of prednisone?

I seem to be able to reduce the prednisone and have been able to have

less asthma episodes. My stamina seems to be coming back from time to

time.

4) What side effects have you experienced?

While I was on higher doses I experience a rounding of my face, a 30

pound gain in weight (since lowering the prednisone I am now able to

begin losing some of the added weight.)

My wife tells me I have become more irritable and have had mood swings

since I have been on prednisone. I tend to agree with her. Hopefully,

as I eventually get off the stuff I will return to my normal self.

I am also taking Byetta which controls my blood sugar levels but an

added benefit is that it forces your system to lose the extra pounds

because it depresses your appetite. Plus, it tells you when you start

eating too much. If you continue to eat you get somewhat nauseous

shortly after eating.

~STEVE ZIMMERMAN, CPM, CVOM~

________________________________

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of

Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 12:10 PM

Subject: [ ] Prednisone (a.k.a. Evil Candy)

This is slightly off topic, but since most of us have been on

prednisone at some point, I figured this would be a good group to

pose my questions to.

I have been on many " burst and taper " regimens, and I have also been

on high-dose prednisone for several months, with pretty horrific side

effects. I have been off steroids completely for 21 months, and am

fighting to STAY off of them for all I'm worth, but I may have to use

them as a last resort.

My questions are for those of you who are currently on long-term, low-

dose prednisone regimens (or have been in the past):

1) What dosage are you on?

2) How long have you been on this dosage?

3) What improvements in your health/asthma do you receive from this

dosage of prednisone?

4) What side effects have you experienced?

I appreciate any information you're willing to share! Thanks in

advance!

October 13, 2006

--- <justinlouisville@...> wrote:

*snipectomy*

> My questions are for those of you who are currently on

> long-term, low-

> dose prednisone regimens (or have been in the past):

>

> 1) What dosage are you on?

Have been on dose packs and 40mgs that taper down to

nothing. I've also been on 40mg for a few days, then

stopped it.

> 2) How long have you been on this dosage?

Been using off an on since I was 14 (42 now).

> 3) What improvements in your health/asthma do you receive

> from this

> dosage of prednisone?

Easier breathing. Still alive after a few anaphyllatic

reactions. My ezcema cleared up.

> 4) What side effects have you experienced.

WEIGHT GAIN! ARGHHHHH!!!!! And I don't eat Krispie

Kremes, Cheetos etc! If my butt is going be this wide, I

should have at least indulged in something tasty.

MOOD SWINGS....was hospitalized for asthma and pneumonia.

Got IV pred, then the pills...then the pred mania hit.

That was a week on the psych ward. Interesting to say the

least.

And bruising.

Nan-->who is battling with the doctor to keep me the hell

off of pred this week, even though I'm wheezing and have a

sinus infection.

****Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff***

-=Harvey Pekar=-

__________________________________________________

October 13, 2006

I had been on 17-20 mgs every other day for about 3 years, after I started

Xolair in Sep 2005, I have been able to drop it to 10mgs every other day. I am

hoping for even lower.

The Pred keeps my asthma in check, at 20mgs every

other day I was averaging 5 flare-ups a year, since the Xolair only 2-3.

The side effects have been weight gain, blood sugar, and having to keep close

tabs on the pressure in my eyes, and my vision has gone to crap according to

my doc.

Debbie

October 13, 2006

My evil candy story.

I have been on since March 2003. I am now on 6mg a day. My lungs still pitch

regular fits but I am now stuck on pred since my adrenals have packed up and

left. I get symptoms of insufficiency if I get uber tired (working nights =

no-no). I am tapring one mg a month about. I am still cushingoid although I

think MAYBE my face is less swollen. Xolair has let me drop this far. Before I

could not get below 12.5 mg without a flare. I tried over 12 times to go below

and I failed. So xolair does work!!

ps Despite the lower doses, I am still a fungus factory...sigh...

October 13, 2006

Thanks for your reply, Steve!

How long have you been on prednisone? Have you had to take it a lot in

the past? Was 10 mg your highest dosage?

I'm glad to hear that you've been able to reduce your dosage, and that

the prednisone weight is coming off!

I appreciate your input!

Thanks,

October 13, 2006

Hi Nan,

Thanks for your reply! I can definitely sympathize with the prednisone

mania. I'm glad I didn't end up in the psych ward...I bet that was an

interesting experience.

By the way - *snipectomy* - I love it!

Thanks again!

October 13, 2006

<justinlouisville@...> wrote: My questions are for those

of you who are currently on long-term, low-

dose prednisone regimens (or have been in the past):

1) What dosage are you on? 40 mg a day with bursts of 60-80 when things are bad.

I have tried to taper lower, but always have a very severe attack and end up on

a higher dose for a while.

2) How long have you been on this dosage? three years

3) What improvements in your health/asthma do you receive from this

dosage of prednisone? before the constant dose of pred my lung function was less

then 30%. With the pred (and all my other meds) I can keep it at 50%.

4) What side effects have you experienced? Huge weight gain, trouble controlling

my blood sugars, bruising, vertigo, low immune system, mood swings, etc...

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October 13, 2006

I am currently on 30mg every day while I'm having this sinus...issue.

I started at 50mg when the thing started and tapered down to 30mg

mostly b/c I refuse to take more than that for more than 2-3 days.

I have never taken more than 60mg and I don't see any difference

from 50mg to 60mg.

So this time I've been on pred now for 2 weeks. I've gained 12

pounds. I was able to control my appetite yesterday and today, so

maybe the 30mg regimen will not result in such terrible cravings.

Take care,

Addy

My questions are for

those of you who are currently on long-term, low-

> dose prednisone regimens (or have been in the past):

>

> 1) What dosage are you on? 40 mg a day with bursts of 60-80 when

things are bad. I have tried to taper lower, but always have a very

severe attack and end up on a higher dose for a while.

>

> 2) How long have you been on this dosage? three years

>

> 3) What improvements in your health/asthma do you receive from

this

> dosage of prednisone? before the constant dose of pred my lung

function was less then 30%. With the pred (and all my other meds) I

can keep it at 50%.

>

> 4) What side effects have you experienced? Huge weight gain,

trouble controlling my blood sugars, bruising, vertigo, low immune

system, mood swings, etc...

>

> Recent Activity

>

> 3

> New Members

>

> Visit Your Group

>

October 14, 2006

> 1) What dosage are you on?

With the exception of " burst and taper " I am on 20 mg a day. I do not

seem to be able to go any lower and still breath. My pulmonologist

says I am Prednisone dependent.

>

> 2) How long have you been on this dosage?

I have been on this dose for 3 years, sometimes I will go higher for

a period of time, but my side effects are terrible, again not

counting burst and taper, inhalers, or shots

>

> 3) What improvements in your health/asthma do you receive from this

> dosage of prednisone?

If I go any lower then this dose I can not breath. For me this is a

minimum maintenance dose.

>

> 4) What side effects have you experienced?

Steroid acne, weight gain, " pot belly " , " steroid collar " (ring of fat

around the neck), Moon face, weak muscles in the legs and arms, mood

swings (feel like crying to angry), there is probably a bunch more

but I just can not remember right now.

>

On Oct 12, 2006, at 12:09 PM, wrote:

> This is slightly off topic, but since most of us have been on

> prednisone at some point, I figured this would be a good group to

> pose my questions to.

>

> I have been on many " burst and taper " regimens, and I have also been

> on high-dose prednisone for several months, with pretty horrific side

> effects. I have been off steroids completely for 21 months, and am

> fighting to STAY off of them for all I'm worth, but I may have to use

> them as a last resort.

>

> My questions are for those of you who are currently on long-term, low-

> dose prednisone regimens (or have been in the past):

>

> 1) What dosage are you on?

>

> 2) How long have you been on this dosage?

>

> 3) What improvements in your health/asthma do you receive from this

> dosage of prednisone?

>

> 4) What side effects have you experienced?

>

> I appreciate any information you're willing to share! Thanks in

> advance!

>

October 15, 2006

Right now am wrapping up a taper dose of Predinsone that was kicked

off with a rescue injection at the doctor's office., then 4 ten mg

tabs each of the next three days, 2 tabs the forth day, and one the

fifth.

Am on the forth day at this moment.

Improvements to asthma ... go from the gates of hell to the gates of

heaven in about 12 hours. Can now leap over tall buildings in a

single bound.

Side effects? Well it's not helping my glacoma or cataracts that's

for sure. But eye doc says do what you have to do to breath and stay

alive and he'll keep me from going blind. Since eye problems were

there before my first taper dose of prednisone a year and a half ago I

truthfully can't blame any of that on the prednisone but it's nice to

have something to point the finger at should some agenda call for it.

ly, for me, predisone has been a miracle drug. But I hear all

these stories about how it trashes your body so I only take it in

really bad situations.

As I've stated before, Xolair has brought me to the same level of good

breathing health that predisone does, except that when I got a bad

gassing with perfume a week ago I lost it all. As the predinsone

wears off I fully expect Xolair to keep me at a breathing peak based

on a good response with Xolair so far. Also, I'm going to work harder

at avoiding perfume gassings in the future and will be willing to take

a puff of Albuterol if I do get gassed and to do so before sliding

down that slippery slope of an asthma attack. That's the doctor's orders!

--- In , " " <justinlouisville@...>

wrote:

>

> This is slightly off topic, but since most of us have been on

> prednisone at some point, I figured this would be a good group to

> pose my questions to.

>

> I have been on many " burst and taper " regimens, and I have also been

> on high-dose prednisone for several months, with pretty horrific side

> effects. I have been off steroids completely for 21 months, and am

> fighting to STAY off of them for all I'm worth, but I may have to use

> them as a last resort.

>

> My questions are for those of you who are currently on long-term, low-

> dose prednisone regimens (or have been in the past):

>

> 1) What dosage are you on?

>

> 2) How long have you been on this dosage?

>

> 3) What improvements in your health/asthma do you receive from this

> dosage of prednisone?

>

> 4) What side effects have you experienced?

>

> I appreciate any information you're willing to share! Thanks in

> advance!

>

October 16, 2006

,

I had trouble last week; difficult breathing and very very much chest

and nasal congestion. I am allergic to ragweed and Alternaria which

were very high last week so I am blaming the allergies for the problems.

I saw the allergist last Friday and I too was put back on Prednisone 40

mg last Friday then 5 days on 20mg am and pm and I begin tapering down

from this to 10 mg am and pm to 10 mg in am and eventually 6 mg every

other day which I probably will stay on for the time being.

I have to admit I agree with you about the good response from the

prednisone. I took the 40 mg and within 15 minutes I could feel

improvement in breathing and the congestion practically disappeared.

Unfortunately, after testing at the Denver hospital I learned that my

allergist does not keep me on the higher dose long enough to fully get

rid of the inflation in my lungs. I told her about the Drs

recommendation about longer response times but she insisted she was

doing the right therapy and seemed to me to ignore the recommendation

from the specialists for the pulse doses this time are lasting only 10

days from onset to the end of taper. My plan is to see how I am feeling

this Wednesday. If I am still having any congestion and coughing I will

ask her to keep me on the 20 mg am and pm through the weekend and then

begin the taper. I figure this will give the drug a little more time to

work on the inflation (to be more in line with what the Denver doctor's

have recommended).

It is funny that you mention cataracts. About 6 months ago I had a

cataract removed from my left eye. No pain, no problems at all.

Actually, it was quite an experience. I have another one developing in

the right eye which will probably need repair in a couple of years.

Apparently, the eye doctors want you to experience much difficulty

seeing clearly before they do anything. The tell me once you have the

surgery you will never have cataracts again because you get a new lens.

I now have 20/20 vision in the left eye and 20/40 in the right eye(with

glasses of course.)

Maybe things will get better now. I am so tired of feeling lousy most

of the time. I hope that you begin feeling much better and your

symptoms are far and few apart. I hear asthma can go into remission and

leave us alone. However, just in case keep the Albuterol handy just in

case.

~STEVE ZIMMERMAN, CPM, CVOM~

________________________________

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of mister_manganese

Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2006 8:22 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: Prednisone (a.k.a. Evil Candy)