prednisolone side effects: i was just... - Asthma Community ...

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prednisolone side effects

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i was just wondering what side effects other people have from long term use of side effects. although i'm not actually diabetic (yet) my blood sugars have become unstable over the past 18 months ~ down as low as 2.3 and once upto 19.6, though more usual highs are at the top end of 'normal' range.

the main side effect that i'm having to deal with (other than weight gain) is the development of cataracts. they were diagnosed last autumn but are getting worse quite quickly. have others here developed cataracts? have any of you had them removed? if so, what was it like and how long did it take for you to adapt after the op? also, how bad were they before you had the op? i've not yet met anyone who's developed cataracts from long term pred use so would be interested to hear from others here.

becky.

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hi becky

I know that long term pred can cause damage to the eyes, i think it has something to do with pressure in the eyes. Because of this I have been having yearly eye checks instead of once every three years.

I did not know this could be a problem until the eye doc told me. I think every person on long term pred should be warned about this as our eyes are pretty important!!

I really hope things get sorted for you quickly. Although i havent had the op i know people who have abd its really simple. They even do it while your awake although i dont know if thats good news or bad!!

Ribena

My mums had cattaracts removed (not caused through pred) and she was fine and said its nought to be scared of !!

Best thing she said she ever did !!

They only do ONE at a time but mum had both heres done under local and was fine !!

Some people can have them done under general but most dont need too !!

Huggles hun !!

thank ribena and wheezer for your replies, and thanks too for the huggles ~ they always go down well with me :o)

the pressure thing you were talking about ribena is glaucoma, which causes blindness in the end. different from cataracts but still a possible side efect of long term pred use.

my opthalmologist said that in 'young' people they usually do the cataract op under general anasthetic, but it'd be my call if i want that coz of my asthma and the risks of a general. she also said it was upto me when i have the op, which is partly why i'm asking how long others have left it til they've had cataracts removed. mine are getting worse, particularly in the right eye, and i see them all the time. they mess with my vision, which isn't so good anyway as last year i also developed a completely unrelated condition in my left eye called adies pupil (nothing to do with pred, so i'm told). this means that the pupil is permenently dilated so everything is really bright, my retina is getting slowly fried by the sun, and it doesn't accommodate so doesnt focus. it's a bummer that this is in the left and the cataracts are worse in the right but i can kind of live with it so long as i have some sight.

I have asked my mum for ya and she says soonest done soonest mended and if ya can go for local do as it is NOT anywhere as scary as people think (or so mum said) sorry I cant say 1st hand but mums had both hers done and hers were fast growing after a serious illness !!

thanks agai wheezer, and thanks to your mum too. i see my opthalmologist again either next week or the week after so if i'm feeling brave i might talk to her about it. i have to say though that she's more interested in the adies pupil than the cataracts as it's apparantly quite rare. if i want to ask about cataract op i'll have to make an effort to get the space in the consultation.

i've had prednisolone on and off since i was a toddler. I have problems with my eyes as side effects, not cateracts but i have poor eyesight that changes very quickly so i've needed a reading and distance pair of glasses since i was 19 and the glasses need to be changed every year. I also have contact lenses that i can sleep in which are adjusted regularly to make sure the prescription is correct and to prevent the blinding headaches i get when the prescription needs adjusting. I have to say though my opticians is brilliant about it all but with hindsight i'm still reluctant to take prednisolone when i need it or to alter my steroid intake via my inhaler just in case it causes more damage and problems.

Arniemouse profile image
Arniemouse

Hi Beckyg

Had mine removed 15 years ago and no problems since and under ga too pm me if you wnat to know full low down

Den

Prednisolone side effects.

Hi, I know how you feel. Steroids are nasty things, but unfortunately some of us need them all the time. I'm on 25mg at the mo, not really high but high enough. I mamaged to get down to 7.5mg acouple of weeks ago, but felt very tired and washed out. I've been on them for a number of years now, and my consultant is going to do an Adrenal function test, when I'm well enough. (Yeah, right!). I hate the massive weight gain, and try to curb my eating, but that 's not hard when all you fancy is Oxtail soup!. Have you had a bone density scan done, cause I think that Oesteoporosis can cause aching bones/or a bad back. Take care, Suzanne-a newbie.

while i was on pred (after a nasty attack), i found that i wasnt sleeping or eating which was wierd, plus it lowered my immunity (further, as it is it cant fight anything) which meant i got 2 viruses (one after the other) AND a tummy bug.

steriods are evil things but nessesary.

Hope your cataracts get sorted soon and you get well on your way to recovery

Kendavis359 profile image
Kendavis359

Water Retention

Do we all suffer with water retention from these steroids that we take. After years i never seem to be able to get any lower than 10mg without having to go back up 40 again to get myself out of trouble. Which i find so unpleasent that i feel as though i am drowning all the time. So now i take frusomide to help out. Trouble is my belly blows up like a balloon. Is it air or fluid? because i have got to the stage that i dont want to eat as it just blows up and feels more uncomfortable. Consultant says i am swallowing air, doctor says it must be fluid, i say i will ask on this message board and i am sure i will get more advice than two conflicting doctors. Thanks. Any advice welcome.

Kendavis359 profile image
Kendavis359

Water Retention

Do we all suffer with water retention from these steroids that we take. After years i never seem to be able to get any lower than 10mg without having to go back up 40 again to get myself out of trouble. Which i find so unpleasent that i feel as though i am drowning all the time. So now i take frusomide to help out. Trouble is my belly blows up like a balloon. Is it air or fluid? because i have got to the stage that i dont want to eat as it just blows up and feels more uncomfortable. Consultant says i am swallowing air, doctor says it must be fluid, i say i will ask on this message board and i am sure i will get more advice than two conflicting doctors. Thanks. Any advice welcome.

'prednisolone side effects'

Hi

I'm new to this board but have been reading all your posts for a few weeks and thought i'd post on this one I have ostoporosis due to steriod use although i dont take it all the time like most of you ive taken enough over the years for it to affect my bones.

Also using a nebulizer can affect yours eyes with the mist that is inhaled and i have to have regular eye tests because of this have no probs with them yet but have wore glasses since i was 3.

Tas

Steroids.....a neccessary evil!

Hi all, Steroids make me huge, think back end of a bus and you'd be about right!. i had a prob with my eyes and the neb too. My pupil 'popped' in my eye, a couple of years ago. I looked very freaky!. One eye normal, one eye with a fixed, dilated pupil. I saw (haha) an eye doc the next day, and he said it would rectify by itself. It did eventually, but it was a scary experience!. Also, i've been put on Furusemide to help with the huge swelling by the pred. This helps a bit, but my feet swell up in the heat anyway, something to do with a slugglish circulation, I think. I sympathise wholeheartedly with everyone who needs to take steroids, we're in this together!.x

Note the nebuliser and eyes problem comes from using atrovent nebules and you should use a mouth peice not a mask for nebbing atro for that reason. If you must use a mask then cover the eyes.

Bex

hi becky g

i had both eyes with cataracts on and had them removed within 5 months of each other. the operation sounds worse than it was, i stayed awake and your eye is put to sleep didn't feel a thing recovery is fine drops for about three weeks no driving for about a month especially at night because headlights dazzle, eyes are quite sensitive to bright lights were sunglasses ot transisition lenseds in your glasses. mine were pred related, thry did develop rapidly. don't worry can be cured.

take care lisa xx

I think i have been unfortunate enough to suffer most of the side effects listed in the information leaflet!! that comes from being on them for 5yrs constant of that 3yrs at40mgs!!!

Weight gain- 6 stone in 5yrs, but managed to loose half a stone in last 3weeks!!

Osteoporosis- didnt help not taking bone tablets, now have to have iv treatment every 3 months!!

diabetes- started of one one tablet 3 yrs ago now on 4 and insulin 4 x day

cateracts- had one done but was back again within 8 weeks!! had respiritory arrest so an putting other off as long as can!!

Stomach ulcer- another pill to take!!

Then thers the somewhat lighter probs but none the less annoying such as period problems, brittle hair and nails, skin probs, funny belly, dark hair growing in places it shouldnt!!

Need i go on

Most of the millions of meds i have to take are for side effects of pred

But the way i see it is they saved my life!!

AND THE MUNCHIES !!!! WELL THERE A TOPIC ON THERE OWN!!!

Andrea xxxx

well ive only been on pred for 9 weeks so far and thats 9 weeks to many,ive had weight gain,felt dizzy,been sick,very very moody,just ask my kids,the poor things,sweating,blured vision.

from d58

Hi D58,

If you are getting blurred vision with the pred, it might be worth popping to your GP or chemist and getting a quick blood sugar check, just to make sure it's not giving you high sugars.

Em H

SIDE EFFECTS OF PREDNISOLONE

Does anyone have problems sleeping when taking high doses of prednisolone? I find I go days without little or no sleep and my body feels terrible but my brain is hyper active.

Hi,

Yes I always have trouble sleeping with prednisolone. I was once put on a very high dose and I couldnt sleep at night at all and then i slept through the day. Its sends you all over the place!!!

x

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