Prednisone side effects

[Kidneypatient]

Google searches elude that prednisone "moon-face" and other side effects go away once the dose has been reduced and discontinued. My question is; what if you're never going to be off the drugs? I'm going to be on 5mg forever, is there anyone else that is experiencing this? How is it?

[RichP48 NKF Ambassador NKF Peer Mentor]

I’ve been on 5mg of prednisone daily for many years and I do not have a “moon face!’

[Kidneypatient in reply to RichP48]

Thanks for replying! Did you ever have it?

[RichP48 NKF Ambassador NKF Peer Mentor in reply to Kidneypatient]

Moon face? No. Never .

[Cazzy41 in reply to Kidneypatient]

Hey I’m on 7.5mg of prednisone I was on 10. But never have I experienced “ moonface”. Have you spoke to your team and asked them to run bloods?? I am on it because of the BK virus which has only been active since December I have mood swings which are abnormal for me and I want to sleep all the time which again is not me. Even after dialysis sessions I was out doing my grocery shopping and meeting friends, since prednisone I get up at 06.45 and by 13-14.00 I’m am absolutely worn out. Please ask your Renal team to check every blood test they can and please keep me informed ❤️

[Wizzi]

It depends on the quantity. My son was in high dose (40 mg every day) and he had monn face and all the other side effects: terrible! But it was necessary . Now he's on 2.5 mg a day and he is normal .

[Kidneypatient in reply to Wizzi]

Hope your son is well. Thanks for replying

I was on 40mg daily for a while and came down gradually to 5mg which is apparently where I'll stay. Though I know this drug is necessary, I just wonder if I'll ever look like me again!

[Wizzi in reply to Kidneypatient]

Yes now he's well . He has a renal vasculitis . He is only 13 years old. Now he looks like the boy he was before but prednisone gave him catarract and osteopenia

[Kbressler NKF Peer Mentor NKF Ambassador]

The side effects recede with time but don’t go away entirely. I have been on 5mg daily for 25 years and long term it has caused some circulatory problems and issues with bone integrity. I have had my brothers kidney for 31 years and can blame most of my ailments on Steroid and immunosuppressive medication. That being said I would not be here if they would not have been available. Life after transplant is a constant change and adapting process.

[nsil]

Hi there, I had it a bit at the start and as soon as my dose went down so did the moon face!

[mtwskk]

Yes a lot of us are. I’ve pleaded with my doctor and have got the no you cant reduce and must stay on. It’s been 7 years and I hate my round pudgy face but it’s much better than the alternatives. It’s life just be thankful and blessed. You could be wearing a tube or back on dialysis.

[Dmbyrne]

Yes, I have a round @moon” face. I was on higher doses of prednisone and am now on 5mg for the rest of my life. I begged to get off if it but no way said my docs. It’s typical protocol and necessary to combat rejection. I am 14 mos Post Transplant and still adjusting to side effects from all the meds. Especially prednisone. But I still feel so thankful and incredibly blessed to have had a transplant after being in dialysis for only 3mos! I had a live donor and I thank God for him every day!

Be Blessed,

Dena from Dallas, TX

[SaraEads]

After my transplant, my

Prednisone dose was gradually reduced and I have been on 5 mg daily for 15 plus years. I seem to tolerate it well. I don’t think I ever had a moon face, but even if I did, a transplant is worth it.

[chavabam7]

I was transplanted three months ago. My prednisone went down to 10 mg but the moon face has not gone down at all. I truly hope it does. Even if it doesn't life with a new kidney is better than dialysis for sure. My husband gave me his kidney and now poor chap has high creatinine, I hope it will go down soon. He is working on it nutrition wise but some things cannot be controlled.

[marcyc NKF Peer Mentor NKF Ambassador in reply to chavabam7]

I donated to my husband in 2015 and initially my creat went from .8 to 1.3. They said it usually takes 6 months to stabilize. Now .9 to 1.0. Drink lots 2-3 quarts of water a day. Best of luck to you both.

[Gotthecall_123]

Ive been on 5 mg of prednisone since day 1 im 10 months post🙏 No moon face😷 🙏 eberyone os effected differently😝