Has anyone taken prednisone?

[1confused1]

My doctor prescribed it for me for 5 days for a cough.  I'm nervous about the side effects, hunger and moodiness.  Can you tell me your experience?

[whitemerlot]

My h has taken it many times for an autoimmune disease, sometimes for months, and has never had any side effects.

[starburst604]

I’m the total weirdo that loves being on prednisone. I feel so full of energy and as long as I take it early in the day it doesn’t cause me insomnia.

[wambam]

For short periods of time, it wasn't that big of a deal. I know people have a LOT of issues when it's longer term. I think 5 days won't be bad at all.

[callalily]

I just got off of it for an upper respiratory infection and I had no side effects. I was on for 5 days as well.

[ssmjlm]

Short term you should be fine.

I was on it for almost a year and had so many side effects, it wrecked my body (despite fixing the 1 thing that was wrong).

[kkfeb04]

So, umm, on day 2 of prednisone my husband came home to a totally new bathroom. I got mad looking at the wallpaper so I stripped it, sanded, primed, painted, and cleaned up in the 11 hours H was gone. That also includes the 1.5 hours at the hardware store to buy paint and all the supplies.

Now anytime I'm on it, my H gives me lists to do. I'm usually too pissy to do what he wants. Prednisone rage is real.

[BicycleBride]

It seems like every time I go to the doctor I am prescribed steroids. They affect everyone differently but the only things I notice is that I start feeling better fast, like 12 hours and they taste a bit funny when I swallow them so I just take them with something other than water.

[BeagleMama]

The only issue I had was intense hunger so I enjoyed it for a few days while it cleared my bad cough.

[picaflora]

I take a taper-down pack for 7 days when my sciatica flares up and won't settle down. The key is to ignore the direction in the pack, and take the full day's dose in the morning. Otherwise I'll be up all night.

It's helpful if I plan on some time to go take a long (but flat) walk. Since mine is for a back injury I don't like to do anything more strenuous than that. But the walk helps get my energy out, and loosen everything up.

It always increases my energy levels, and H and my mom say I talk WAY faster. Sometimes it makes me more hungry, but not always. For me if I'm going to be hungrier it kicks in around day 3. As long as I'm mindful about it and drink a bunch of water it's manageable.

It's highly unlikely you'll have moodiness issues if it's only for 5 days. That one is usually associated with long-term use.

The only additional side effect I get is that I'll get really hot at night. So I plan on sleeping in the coolest room in the house with all of the fans.

I hope you feel better soon!

[jane6672]

It definitely made me very hungry and energetic. It was worth it, because it made me feel so much better (I had mono and my tonsils/throat were super fucked up and swollen, on top of being generally sick and miserable).

[pooh8402]

Yea, I've taken several short courses (3-7 days). I'll have a short course soon. I don't notice any weird side effects.

[Nonny]

When I'd never really taken it before, and was just on a short course of it like you are, it was basically a miracle drug.  More energy, felt better, and none of the rage, hunger, moon-faced side effects.

But when I was on it long term I basically couldn't sleep at all (which I think in turn fueled my rage) and my hunger was insatiable (and I gained a bunch of weight; also didn't help my rage).  At one point I was giving myself a 3 am pedicure because I was so wired and I just had to do something.

The first (and only) time my H was on it for like 3 days, he was basically superman and wanted to do all the projects and felt amazing and was like, "Why were bitching about being on this drug, this is great."  He's lucky he's not buried in the back yard right now. 

Really though, the "honeymoon period" of limited, short term prednisone use is pretty great.  Just don't get stuck on it long term and you'll be fine. 

[starburst604]

Mar 9, 2018 14:41:42 GMT -5 starburst604 said:

I’m the total weirdo that loves being on prednisone. I feel so full of energy and as long as I take it early in the day it doesn’t cause me insomnia.

This is me when I take it. Like Magda in There's Something About Mary when she takes the speed pills and she's holding up the couch with one hand, vacuuming. 

I remember going to the gym for like 2 hours and just killing it, then coming home and cleaning my entire apartment like the Pope was coming to visit. Probably why I didn't get insomnia, I just tired myself out completely. 

[CloudBee]

Take it. You will feel SO much better. It's very safe and can do a world of good when you're. I was on it a lot as a kid when my asthma acted up.

[lucybrown]

I had a bad reaction. I was so, so hungry, angry, and depressed. I was not suicidal, but the mood changes freaked me out enough that I have never taken it again. I'd have to be dying to try. FWIW, I reaction poorly to many medications.

[liverandonions]

Mar 9, 2018 14:41:30 GMT -5 whitemerlot said:

My h has taken it many times for an autoimmune disease, sometimes for months, and has never had any side effects.

This was me for the most part too-I did gain weight, but I was on it for very extended periods.

[devonpow]

Mar 9, 2018 14:41:30 GMT -5 whitemerlot said:

My h has taken it many times for an autoimmune disease, sometimes for months, and has never had any side effects.

This is me. I have frequently been on pretty high doses for quite a while and never had any side effects. My ten year old was on prednisone for a while this year and acted pretty emotional a few of the days....but that could have just been him being 10.

[kooshball]

I took it last weekend for three days. I gained 5 pounds. I'd take it again in a second too.

[mcsangel2]

Only been on it once for five days. No side effects.

[gingery]

First couple of days I was fine, the last couple i was starving all the time and very moody

[sugarbear]

I've been on it for my back for 5-10 days, 3 times. Each time was a taper pack, not that it really mattered, imo.
I spent a ton of money shopping online. RIDICULOUS.
My mood swings were out of control, but I didn't rage. I was either manic or sobbing.
My hunger was insatiable, though I was on it for such relatively short times, I didn't really gain weight. I can see how I would, if it were an extended prescription.

All that to say, it didn't help my back, either.

[Leeham Rimes]

Ive only taken it short periods of time for breathing issues. It Obliterated my anxiety. I liked it. Lol.

[hbomdiggity]

Mar 9, 2018 14:48:46 GMT -5 picaflora said:

The key is to ignore the direction in the pack, and take the full day's dose in the morning. Otherwise I'll be up all night.

Thankfully my pharma told me the same.

My tela/web doc prescribed it to me for a sinus/cold issue. I felt better after taking it, no side effects. Then I finally got in to the real dr and they were like... "yeeeeah you can stop taking it. we generally don't recommend that treatment."

[sessy]

My son has been on a high dosage for 6 months. For him it's an evil evil medication and I cannot wait until we can wean him off of it, the side effects are many and terrible. For you for 5 days you'll be fine. I've been on short dosages for my crohns and never had any trouble.

[audry80]

Mar 9, 2018 14:41:42 GMT -5 starburst604 said:

I’m the total weirdo that loves being on prednisone. I feel so full of energy and as long as I take it early in the day it doesn’t cause me insomnia.

I am the SAME! I was on it for 3 years and was sad when they finally took me off.

[thatgirl2478]

Eh, for 5 days you probably won't be too bad off. I took it for 3 months when I was first diagnosed with allergic asthma.  I gained a *little* but not too much and the benefit definitely outweighed (LOL sorry bad 'pun') the minor weight gain.

[peachy]

I’ve taken a couple short courses and didn’t notice any side effects. I didn’t get any boost of energy either, dammit.

[notoriousmeg]

I am on high doses fairly regularly for respiratory issues. I take it all in the morning to avoid sleep issues, but no other side effects. If it’s the 5 day taper from 20mg down you should be fine.

[clairedunphy]

I've taken 5-10 day doses for sinus infections, and I have had no major side effects. Nothing that would stop me from taking it. I have tons of energy; one day I went to work and got crazy into cleaning and rearranging my office furniture. I actually kind of like being on it.
It does make me a little moody, but it helps so much with my sinuses its worth it.