Prednisolone and Formication

[Pon12]

Has anyone experienced Formication when taking Prednisolone. After feeling as though some insect was crawling lightly on my skin I looked it up on the internet and it is yet another known side effect of the medication. I was unable to find out whether it is a long term effect. I am currently tapering to 9mg and this is the first time I have experienced it.

[Devoid]

Hi I experienced this with large vessel vasculitis before diagnosis so before medication.

[GOOD_GRIEF]

I thought this post was going to be about something entirely different...

[cycli in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

haha...saw that and that and had to take another look also.

[Pixix in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

Me, too! Speed reading in a hurry, must slow down!

[Bcol in reply to Pixix]

And another one here

[Jampad]

I have tapered down to 10 mg of prednisolone and my whole body feels itchy. I had no idea what was causing it but having read what you wrote, maybe it is caused by the medication.

[Pixix]

Oh yes, quite often, but I didn’t realise it’s ‘formal’ name! I also feel like water is running down my leg at times, to the extent where I flick the insects off my skin, or bend down to feel my skin where water is definitely running...but it’s as dry as a bone, and there’s no insect. It’s not constant, but fairly regular, I mentioned it to my gp early on & he said it’s known to happen. Not sure when I first noticed it, probably around the 11mg mark...but still get it occasionally on 3mg pred. Hope this helps, you’re not alone!

[Pon12]

The water running is another good way of describing it. You have to be very careful spelling this condition! I checked the NHS website and it isn't mentioned but sketchy information on other sites. Apparently the numbers of reported cases are fairly low on Prednisolone although I wouldn't know where to report side effects, I think many of us just accept them. Can anyone help with this as I think it would be useful.

[MrsNails in reply to Pon12]

Any Side Effects can be Reported on The Yellow Card Reporting Scheme, it’s now On Line - there used to be Yellow Cards in the back of the BNF for GP’s/Pharmacists to fill in following Patient Observations.

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/the-...

MrsN

[S4ndy]

Yep I had this on doses of 15mg and above. Now on 5mg long term and don't get the crawlies anymore.

[jaycee444]

Had it years ago as a side effect of the HRT pills I was on though mine was called fasciculations. They both have similar symptoms . I could actually see the muscles twitching under my skin but certainly felt like insects crawling around.

[Rosbud]

Oops , reading this without my specs and thought itv said fornication !

[Iamfedup]

Woops thought it said fornication lol But yes, I do I get it creep up the left side of my head and face.

[HeronNS]

I hadn't heard the term, but it is exactly what happened to me, for one night only, about two or three days after I started taking pred. I described it as a sensation of "things" crawling under my skin, all over my body. Now I know they were "ants". At the time I thought if this was the worst side effect pred would give me I could handle it, but it didn't last anyway. I wondered later if it was actually the pred relieving serious inflammation all over me, that my tissues were returning to a more normal state, but as others experienced it before treatment, and also long after starting treatment, I guess that's not the case. Upon reflection, I think this could help explain the burning sensation I posted about yesterday, which I am beginning to think was caused by my relatively large (for me), temporary, increase in pred. I overdosed on pred 🤣.