Symptoms of withdrawal and adverse side effects

[Maggie1313]

Does anyone know or have a list of the adverse side effects you can have while taking Pred

And the withdrawal side effects while trying to reduce from them.

[keeptalking]

Sorry I can’t help you much as I would echo your question. I’m sure those that can help will be along soon.

Hope you’re not having too many side effects.

[Maggie1313 in reply to keeptalking]

Thank you 👍

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There are 82 officially listed adverse effects claimed to be due to pred. I can assure you that at least some of them can be due to PMR itself - I suffered several during the 5 years I had PMR without getting a sniff of a dose of pred! Some people get effects with one version of corticosteroid but different ones with another. No-one gets them all - even if it feels like it - and some people get next to none.

You can find such lists by using your search engine. This has a long list (scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the more detailed list):

rxlist.com/prednisone-side-...

As for "withdrawal effects" - that is a bit more complicated as it depends on dose and size of reduction step during reduction. Some aren't a problem until well under 10mg but not everyone experiences them and they tend to happen at different doses for different people:

webmd.com/drug-medication/p...

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. Very helpful and easy to understand.

[Maggie1313 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro will read through it just don’t know if it’s PMR or the pred that’s making me feel like this. Thank you once again 🙏

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maggie1313]

Like what? It isn't as simple as reading a list - you can always ask on the forum, it's why we are here. Between us we've probably been there, done that. May even have made the film ...

[jinasc in reply to PMRpro]

We did and the Tea towel china mugs and woolly hats and scarves.

No 83, not officially on the list is 'Steroid Brain Fog'. I prefer 'Treacle Brain'.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Side effects - read your Patient Information Leaflet included in every pack of medication....very long list! But as PMRpro says not everyone gets all, or even some of them.

Withdrawal symptoms - probably varies from person to person, dose to dose.

What in particular is a problem to you? We may be able to help.

[Maggie1313 in reply to DorsetLady]

Good Morning Dorsetlady, I feel drugged or spaced out this happened only after I started taking the pred . Blurred vision comes and goes but not bad , slight headache on and off Extreme fatigue as if I am shuffling my body in front of me . I never had any of these symptoms before taking the pred. I was prescribed the pred for I could not move or turn in the bed without great pain and discomfort. No neck or arm pain . After a few hours up I could move more freely with and not as much pain .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maggie1313]

Things that started after the pred are most likely to be pred - even the fatigue despite doctors appearing to think it gives everybody wings. But it can also be due to the illness as it progresses and you may not have noticed it while you couldn't move.

Being on pred and able to move doesn't mean you can resume normal service - you have a systemic illness and the pred only relieves the symptoms, it cures nothing. The fatigue is up to you to manage - and this link has some links with suggestions that may help you get your head around PMR and pred:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk......

[Maggie1313 in reply to PMRpro]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. Don’t know how we would survive without this site. Thank you everyone 👍

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Maggie1313]

Unfortunately the spaced out feeling and blurred vision are common side effects, but the first should ease off as body gets used to drug, tge blurriness can last longer, but that should also get better in time.. Fatigue can be both the medication and the illness itself. Perhaps you are more sensitive to Pred than others.

I know you started on 15mg, but then talked about increasing - did you? What dose on now? ....and how is the pain? It’s quite natural to have some stiffness and pain in the morning until the meds kick in.

[Maggie1313 in reply to DorsetLady]

I’m on 16mg at moment and just feel space out with the blurred vision. Mild headache up left hand side other than that no body pain 🙏

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Maggie1313]

Ok. The mild headache could be connected to the blurred vision. I think you just have to give it time - and although not easy try not to worry- because that doesn’t help either..just increase stress.

I know it easy for me to say, but I have been there, and it will get better. 🌸

[Maggie1313 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you so much for your kind words 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Maggie1313]

You could try eye drops or spray for dry eyes - both PMR and pred can contibute to that and cause blurriness. And struggling to focus causes headache. Do you wear glasses? If so, try moving them up and down your nose - it helped me focus better and saved buying new specs as it will change over time.

[Maggie1313 in reply to PMRpro]

Will do and Thank you also for great advice and kind words .

[Noosat]

I ad relief from pain when I started on Prednisone 2 yrs. plus 2 months ago. I have tapered to 1.5mg. It has been difficult all the way. Each time I drop one half mg. my body takes weeks to get used to it. Always tired in the afternoon, some lack of balance and some discomfit in legs. However, for me it is a trade off. Do I want the adverse effects on my body that Prednisone brings with it ? If I have a flare, I am ready to increase dosage. Hope you are feeling better.

[Maggie1313 in reply to Noosat]

Thank you 🙏

[Maggie1313]

Hello sorry for not responding sooner today but just so tired and spaced out.

Like you I only get the symptoms an hour or so after taking my Prednisolone . I do agree we are on a nightmare journey but we must also be so thankful for all the help we receive on this site, without it I don’t know how everyone would cope. Please let me know in few days how things are going for you. Take care 😊