Stupid Prednisone

Breann,

It takes a while to get out of your system. I was on prednisone as a teenager (to treat UC from ages 9 to 29), and was on 60 mg before surgery and then tapered off. I had withdrawal symptoms for about a month, despite the wean.

Regarding the acne, see a dermatologist as there are ways to treat it. Acne is kind of tough at that age but it will disappear eventually. The best thing you can do is treat it. I went through the same thing- I had very bad cystic acne, and it sucks, but as you get older and get off the prednisone things will get better. I eventually treated my acne with Accutane which has potentially dangerous side effects of its own, but it worked well for me and did not induce a suicidal depression. Discuss this and other options with a good dermatologist. Since you are 17 Mom or Dad have to be in that discussion too. Good luck.

I know how you feel... I spent years on prednisone and the moon face took a while to go away. Yes, go to the dermatologist, but very diligent to research any medication you take orally as many of them cause more problems for those of us with digestive issues. IMHO stay away from Accutane...

Hi Breann, It is different for everyone, and will take longer to go away the longer you've been on it. But I remember being told around 10mg per day or less, and you'll start to see the side effects decrease. I just came off Feb after being on it for 9 months, and 10mg seemed about right. My moon face and weight gain are the hard ones to get rid of, but I noticed I slept better at lower doses. Also, I wasn't as irritable at lower doses either. I hope you're able to get off the Prednisone soon!

Breann,
Our time frames match, along with the dosage.

I stopped taking prednisone in early Jan. 2007, and if I remember right, most of the visual effects were dissipating after two months.

Breann - my daughter, who is now 21 was on predisone for about the same length of time - her highest was 60mg and finally after getting the j-pouch took none. It took her sometime to really be free of the side effects, one of them being really bad acne. She never really had that problem before. She saw a dermatologist who had her use a cream and the doctor also squeezed a lot on her face - okay yuk, but honestly she has not had that problem for sometime now. It did take about 6 months for all of the effects to go away. Hang in there and your right, no one really understood. They do here

I was on prednisolone for around 2 years and had moon face,thick neck, increased facial hair growth, red cheeks and poor sleep. I found the effects quickly receeded on stopping the prednisolone after surgery and within a month or so my cheek bones returned along with ny normal face. Hope it happens as quickly for you.

I have a breathing condition which only responds to prednisone. I am so grateful for that drug....side effects and all. I was on it for about three years before I got my J-pouch. That was about 12 years ago (I think!). Now, when I need it, I take it for from 5-7 days.

I was on prednisone for about 2 years and I HATED the side effects. I had all of that plus insomnia and mood swings. The highest dose I was on was 60 mg. It took a couple of months after I quit the prednisone to have the side effects go away.