Prednisolonde after effects?

[Wheezycat]

I have been on quite a lot of prednisolone in the past, and in the last few days another 40mg/5 day course, the first for four years!!! (Which has felt miraculous!)

I took my last dose on Monday, but still feel horrible, weak, uncomfortable, lack of energy etc. It is four years since my last time, and then I had it fairly often over a period of four years. This time I had it as a cold, not a major one, which really triggered my asthma.

I am fully aware it can take time to get over stuff with asthma, but though my PF dropped rather a lot, I seem not to have had a chest infection.

I don't remember feeling this wobbly 3 days after my last daily dose. Is it me misremembering, or can this be after effects from steroids, ie my own steroid/cortisol production has been undermined? Any thoughts? I am certainly not asking for a diagnosis.

[Muldrew]

dear Wheezycat

I would question whether the cause of your symptoms is the medication or the virus you might have

This is in fact a common question!

Perhaps discuss with care team if symptoms persist because

1 there is a lot of virus based illness about right now

And

2 5 days is the minimum course of steroids

Just some thoughts

Good luck

[Wheezycat in reply to Muldrew]

Thank you! I hope you are right! It has just felt worse than I remember it doing - but then I am a bit older as well.

[Ladypig8]

I feel totally deranged and weak, overall not right at all during prednisolone and for about a week or so after stopping very fatigued, I’m in my 40s and when taking them in my 30s although I felt hyper was generally ok. Virus could be making you feel rubbish too and asthma flare up could make you feel weak too. Hope you feel better soon!

[ReedB]

Prednisolone can cause some crazy side effects. I've noticed my body doesn't cope with them quite so well now in my late thirties as I have in the past and I usually taper the dosage because stopping even after just 5 days can be really difficult. May be it is the virus causing your issues but I would also add not ruling out just how hard asthma and a chest infection can be on your body. Hope you feel better soon!

[Wheezycat in reply to ReedB]

Thank you. It has been worse than I rmembered it being 4 plus years ago. As you say it could also be age. I am 75. Yes, it never occured to me to ask about tapering, but when it happens again (not too soon I hope) I will consider it to see if it helps.

[shirl13]

I think it may just be the after effects of your virus. 5 day course of pred is normal and wouldn't cause side effects as such. It's when you take it long term that problems arise but there again they are life savers. I take a maintenance dose of 20mg daily and have been on them constantly since 1991. Prior to that it was intermittent. Hope you feel better soon

[Patk1]

If yr asthma is settling,it could be that Yr asthma exacerbation has exhausted you.some people do get fatigue post steroids,but I don't think I have.id rest up+be kind to yrself x

[Wheezycat in reply to Patk1]

Thank you.

[Shawshank62]

Hi

Sorry you’re not well. I normally feel quite rubbish when I come off steroids, suddenly get starving and really tired and weak - like blood sugar crash! I guess each individual has different reactions to medicines.

Also the respiratory nurse at the hospital said to me they are finding the virus’s seam to be hanging around a lot longer nowadays and can take around 4-5 weeks to fully recover (in the UK) . So I would say take it easy for a few days and if still not improved go to GP/health team.

Hope you start to feel better soon

[janedivney]

Everyone reacts differently, but I don’t think such a short course would cause problems, so presumably it’s that you’re getting over your illness

[Mandevilla]

I had a massive flareup this week, stopped just short of going to A&E, and I feel absolutely floored by it, so it could well just be your body recovering from the asthma - especially as you have the virus on top of that. I usually find that a flareup which has been caused by a virus takes longer to recover from than one caused by an external trigger, and I guess it's because my body is having to deal both with the asthma and the virus at once.

[Butterfly2honey]

steroids make me jittery and I have to start weening off the on day 2 of a usual 7 day corse as I get hallucinations and other problems with the sudden drop off.

[OwlB]

The last few times I've taken prednisolone I've ended up feeling really wobbly and weak. I'm also an emotional wreck and burst into tears really easily. I used to think it was the effects of feeling poorly that made me feel like this but realise now it's the prednisolone. They work so well in easing my asthma symptoms that it's worth going through the side effects but it's not much fun.