So, prednisone...

[Homburg]

Anything we should know about prednisone used over the short term? In this case, nine days, with the dosage dropping every three days.

Because nothing can ever be simple, MIS got bit by some spider, and had an allergic reaction. Rash followed by joint pain, followed by debilitatingly worse joint pain, and the doc put her on pred. I know that there's a coupla people here that have taken pred, so I figured I'd access the braintrust and ask the question.

Any help would be appreciated. Given her normal issues, I want to be forewarned about possible weird side effects. So far, she's been sleepy. Way sleepy.

 

[coastal-boy]

It gave me really bad nightmares and made me very short-tempered. It also made my back break out really bad. Avoid sick people because it basically "resets" your immune system, turning it almost completely off initially. Nine days with a 3-step countdown is a mid-level dose and it really depends on the person as to how that will affect them. Could just sleep through it with no issues.

 

[Soumis]

A nine day treatment should be pretty straight forward. Most of the "scary" complications associated with steroids occur with long term treatment. That being said, report to your healthcare provider if she gains more than five pounds during treatment. If she's diabetic be more attentive to glucose levels as prednisone can increase insulin needs. The increased risk of infection mentioned above shouldn't be a concern with therapy this short unless she is already immunocompromised. Take with food to avoid GI upset and if she feels she's retaining water she can cut back on salt intake for a few days. Hope it helps.

side note: Typically drowsiness this early is her body recouping, not a prednisone side effect. Her immune system has been running around like a over sugared two year old and her body's just plum wore out. Could also be antihistamines if they tossed those in as well.

 

[YourCaptor]

Depends on the dose. For me it just made my face fatter and made me pee like crazy. So, drink those 8 glasses a day if you have that. Nothing else stands out really. Sleepy, maybe at first, though I thought that was due to the antidepressants they had me on at the same time. If it was the prednisone then the sleepiness should become more manageable over a few weeks. You're on a short treatment though, so just wait it out.

Basically my doctor told me it’s a steroid, but not that kind of steroid.

From the pharmacy, people for some reason like to talk about their drugs, they have vastly different issues with it, they love to complain about them though, so the issues usually aren’t anything serious.

It’s also totally safe with heart conditions.

Oh and its a suppressant, her immune system is still 100% functional, it just can't surpass a certain magnitude of activation. Which means that if she does get sick, it will drag out for a long time, which sucks, but won't be the end of the world. Still reason enough to wear masks in public and take sick days though.

 

[Keroin]

Agreed, nine days shouldn't be a concern. I did a five day course a few years ago with zero side effects.

 

[MisterSir]

Not fun, but much better than the alternative. I don't remember the details about it except that it made me very sleepy. Wish I had more to give you.

 

[subwannabe]

Prednisone can be a wicked drug if used over long periods. You really shouldn't have to worry about 9 days.

 

[midwestyankee]

As I recall, the one thing my doctor told me was that it wasn't going to get me a tryout with the Red Sox. I suspect that MIS isn't at all interested in that outcome, though, so this is just your typical self-centered Internet post that adds absolutely no value to the discussion.

That said, I wish her well in her recovery.

 

[Homburg]

THanks all, even you, MWY.

 

[Netzach]

Anything we should know about prednisone used over the short term? In this case, nine days, with the dosage dropping every three days.

Because nothing can ever be simple, MIS got bit by some spider, and had an allergic reaction. Rash followed by joint pain, followed by debilitatingly worse joint pain, and the doc put her on pred. I know that there's a coupla people here that have taken pred, so I figured I'd access the braintrust and ask the question.

Any help would be appreciated. Given her normal issues, I want to be forewarned about possible weird side effects. So far, she's been sleepy. Way sleepy.

Over nine days, a fast pack, and you're looking at what start dosage? Your own body kicks out 7mgs of this every day on average.

Should be nothing but fierce crankiness and up late at worst and temporarily - and that not till the end of the week. Give the girl a pass on backtalk, because it WILL make some people very mean, M got like that. Maybe a hunger spike. By the time you are tapering to 5 mgs or 2 or whatever is when your body is actually using your 20 or whatever the start dose was, so sometimes the symptoms seem worse later in the taper of a fast pack (Ive done a fast pack at my own insistence once and they're really good.)

But honestly the basic symptoms you read about (hungry, cranky, up all night) don't start for me till about week 2 and we're talking immense doses. I know I'm full of complaint about pred, but 100-45 mgs for a year will strip you of your normalcy. A spider bite pack will not.

The people who talk about pred being evil have been hung out on high doses for many months and on it over and over. My body also LOVES pred - it works for me in about a day or two. Without it I'd have no gut or be dead by now.

Sleepy? Really, people were sleepy? I felt like I could go out back and build a shed overnight. Just 'cause.

Oh, my tip - this pill is the nastiest and most caustic I've ever taken - put a spoonful of applesauce in your mouth FIRST then the pill and swallow, trying not to touch it to your tongue. Then have your water.

 

[culloden]

Are you sure about it being a spider bite? Rash plus joint pain sounds like a tick and Lyme disease. Presumably the doc knows his stuff, but Lyme isn't always recognized. It's common here, and the docs pick up on it, but I don't know about where you are. Anyway, it it's Lyme, it's antibiotics, not steroids. If she doesn't improve, you might look into it.

 

[BiBunny]

The handful of times I've taken it, I felt fabulous. But, then, I was so miserable from being sick that anything was an improvement. I hope she feels better soon.

 

[CurlyKat]

I was on the nine-day fast pack a couple of years ago and was definitely the sort that it made me extremely irritable and starving hungry. First couple of days I was fine, but then everything made me angry and I wanted to throw stuff.

Other than that, no other effects, other than it not working to resolve my issue at all. Good luck with the bite.

 

[Homburg]

Over nine days, a fast pack, and you're looking at what start dosage? Your own body kicks out 7mgs of this every day on average.

No idea. 3 pills twice a day for the first three days, then two pills twice a day for three days, and then one, etc.

Should be nothing but fierce crankiness and up late at worst and temporarily - and that not till the end of the week. Give the girl a pass on backtalk, because it WILL make some people very mean, M got like that. Maybe a hunger spike. By the time you are tapering to 5 mgs or 2 or whatever is when your body is actually using your 20 or whatever the start dose was, so sometimes the symptoms seem worse later in the taper of a fast pack (Ive done a fast pack at my own insistence once and they're really good.)

But honestly the basic symptoms you read about (hungry, cranky, up all night) don't start for me till about week 2 and we're talking immense doses. I know I'm full of complaint about pred, but 100-45 mgs for a year will strip you of your normalcy. A spider bite pack will not.

Yeah, she's a wee bit cranky. She's been getting a lot of passes for various things. The crankiness could easily be just because of the pain and general awfulness, but it didn't really start til today (2nd day on pred). She tends to get hit fast and hard by side effects.

The people who talk about pred being evil have been hung out on high doses for many months and on it over and over. My body also LOVES pred - it works for me in about a day or two. Without it I'd have no gut or be dead by now.

Sleepy? Really, people were sleepy? I felt like I could go out back and build a shed overnight. Just 'cause.

Yep, sleepy. Really sleepy. That's a common reaction for her with most meds. If it says "slight drowsiness", she'll be out like a light. If it says "drowsy", she's out for 12 hours.

Oh, my tip - this pill is the nastiest and most caustic I've ever taken - put a spoonful of applesauce in your mouth FIRST then the pill and swallow, trying not to touch it to your tongue. Then have your water.

No complaints about that so far.

--

Are you sure about it being a spider bite? Rash plus joint pain sounds like a tick and Lyme disease. Presumably the doc knows his stuff, but Lyme isn't always recognized. It's common here, and the docs pick up on it, but I don't know about where you are. Anyway, it it's Lyme, it's antibiotics, not steroids. If she doesn't improve, you might look into it.

The doc recognised the symptoms right away, and a friend of mine said that he's gotten the same reaction to a spider bite around here. It's apparently not uncommon.

The rash is different from the lyme disease rash too. That said, if she does not get better shortly, she will be going back to the doc.

 

[Keroin]

That said, if she does not get better shortly, she will be going back to the doc.

You ever think about renting out your PYL-ish services? I got a stubborn spouse who needs his butt kicked to the doctor now and then.

Finally convinced him to go get some help for his knees. Only took me SEVEN YEARS!

 

[Homburg]

You ever think about renting out your PYL-ish services? I got a stubborn spouse who needs his butt kicked to the doctor now and then.

Finally convinced him to go get some help for his knees. Only took me SEVEN YEARS!

I works less well when the person is a few thousand miles away from me

 

[Keroin]

I works less well when the person is a few thousand miles away from me

If I thought it would work, I would pay for your flight.

 

[MisterSir]

If I thought it would work, I would pay for your flight.

It's a matter of two things. The first is to present the issue in a suitable manner. The second is to appear just crazy enough that the subject thinks you might go through with the threats presented in the first. Not to brag, but I can accomplish both with one trip and a sledgehammer.

 

[Keroin]

It's a matter of two things. The first is to present the issue in a suitable manner. The second is to appear just crazy enough that the subject thinks you might go through with the threats presented in the first. Not to brag, but I can accomplish both with one trip and a sledgehammer.

I'll keep you on the standby list.

 

[Homburg]

It's a matter of two things. The first is to present the issue in a suitable manner. The second is to appear just crazy enough that the subject thinks you might go through with the threats presented in the first. Not to brag, but I can accomplish both with one trip and a sledgehammer.

I was just thinking ether, duct tape, and a tarp. No persuasion needed.

 

[Keroin]

I was just thinking ether, duct tape, and a tarp. No persuasion needed.

Might raise a few eyeballs in the doctors office but...meh...that's what you get for being stubborn, I say.

 

[Homburg]

Might raise a few eyeballs in the doctors office but...meh...that's what you get for being stubborn, I say.

Wouldn't be the first time I've raised a doctor's eyebrows. Not sure about his eyeballs though...

 

[Keroin]

Wouldn't be the first time I've raised a doctor's eyebrows. Not sure about his eyeballs though...

Balls and brows, I always get those mixed up. That could explain why so many of my past relationships have failed.

 

[MisterSir]

I was just thinking ether, duct tape, and a tarp. No persuasion needed.

C'mon, where's the fun in that? I thought you were cool!

*incoherent and sulky mumbling*

got my good hammer out of storage 'n everything

 

[Bandit58]

Sir was on a couple of short courses of prednisone early last year after a severe chest infection. It played havoc with His blood sugar levels - they went sky high and we had to monitor it every couple of hours.

He was also on the reduced dosage schedule, which meant we had to watch we didn't give too much insulin