Long Term Prednisolone Use
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I was prescribed Prednisolone to treat Polymyalgia 11 years ago. Initially I took 15mg a day which was quickly reduced to 10 and gradually to 5mg. I have tried gradually reducing the dose many times in the intervening years but always ended up with a severe return of the original problem. I have now managed to reduce the dose to 4mg daily. My condition is aggravated by my having type 2 Diabetes for which I take insulin because of the steroid treatment. I have recently noticed swelling in my legs and ankles during the evening more especially during periods of hot weather. Also my stomach and breasts seem enlarged. I am trying again to reduce the dose but am concerned about long term effects. Any comments or advice would be appreciated.

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Re: Min Drugs4me (# 12) Expand Referenced Message

I had type 2 diabetes before taking prednisone but it was treated with pills (but was still running high). After the prednisone, my blood sugars elevated to the point where I have to inject Levimere every day. I am not sure there was a correlation, but it was funny. My blood sugars after 3 years are still high but seem to be reasonably treatable.

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Re: Ed (# 8) Expand Referenced Message

Please try N-Acetyl-Cysteine. It is OTC and helps increase glutathione.
Most do not experience side effects, including me. It helped me clear my lungs when what the doctor had ordered was minimally effective. Not prednisone, though.
I know my son was given prednisone many times and developed diabetes. He used insulin to overdose and destroyed his brain. I just refused to take a different drug that also causes diabetes. I have wondered if the increase of diabetes is CAUSED by drugs as much or more than diet and life style????

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Re: Rhea (# 6) Expand Referenced Message

Prednisone is my worst nightmare but yet my best friend! I have Asthma and COPD. When my breathing is out of control the prednisone always make me better but... I am a small woman, always about 110lb. After 10 years of on and off use I got to 155lb I even got what they call “the moon face” I was miserable!! But I have been living in a different state and have less stress here so my breathing isn’t as bad there for I haven’t been on the prednisone as much and I am down to 135lb.
But now I have returned to my home state “CA” and I’m back on prednisone again and my Doctor wants me to take 5mg a day for 120 days... I’ve never been on it that long of a time before. I also heard that if you take this drug for a long term that it will cause your body to depend on it and need it forever. Is this true?

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Re: Rhea (# 6) Expand Referenced Message

Prednisone is my worst nightmare but yet my best friend! I have Asthma and COPD. Went my breathing is out of control the prednisone always make me better but... I am a small woma, always about 110lb. After 10 years of on and off use I got to 155lb I even got what they call “the moon face” I was miserable!! But I have been living in a different state and have less stress here so my breathing isn’t as bad there for I haven’t been on the prednisone as much and I am down to 135lb.
But now I have returned to my home state “CA” and I’m back on prednisone again and my Doctor wants me to take 5mg a day for 120 days... I’ve never been on it that long of a time before. I also heard before that if you take this drug for to much of a long term that it will cause your body to depend on it and need it forever. Is this true?

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The best option for me was to get off the medication. It also caused very hi-levels of glucose and consequently raising my sugar levels dangerously high(put in the hospital for a week). This to me is one very BAD medication.

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Re: Ed (# 4) Expand Referenced Message

I have several medical conditions that were going on at the time. However, I did ask an LPN, and she told me that Prednisone will cause dramatic weight change(lost 100 lbs), every 10-20 minute urination and muscle waste away. She was not surprised that I had trouble walking and getting up. I went to see a sports injury doctor (sorry forgot his real specialty name), and he ordered up 3 months of physical therapy. The place I went to was OK and the woman that helped me exercise the muscles, but after 3 months I still needed more, and I got the OK from the DR for another 3 months, and I was then able to function semi-normally. I also was out walking the dog 6-7 times a day (she loved it) and I made sure that I walked every time I could. But I was still weak after another 3 months in that I could stand in one place for 10 minutes without being tired and sitting down.
I swore I would never take Prednisone again.

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Re: Ed (# 4) Expand Referenced Message

I forgot to mention, my muscles atrophied so much I had to go into rehab for 6 months. I also had to urinate every 20 minutes. I was so wasted from taking the drug I swore I would never take it again.

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My mother is 93 and has diabetes. She also has cellulitis. She has been on Norco for 3 or 4 years. Just recently she was given prednisone for chronic bronchitis. She said that the prednisone was helping her and was going to ask her doctor if it would hurt her to continue taking it. Any suggestions? She also wondered if generic norco could be tested to see if it did have the same amount of drug as its brand name pill. She has complained about the generic medicine, especially that sold by a company called GUALT. Are all companies that produce this drug required to use the same ingredients to make the drug?

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Re: Ed (# 4) Expand Referenced Message

My husband was on prednisone for two years for rheumatoid arthritis. When he had to change specialists, she was horrified that he had been on it that long and worked him off it right away. She then put him on Embrel which he has been on for three years and is doing fine. Prednisone is a good medicine for a short period of time but a real bad one if stayed on for a long time as it ruins other organs. Hope you get better help. Maybe change specialists.

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I was prescribed Prednisone in the hospital. It wasn't till I got home to fully realize what a really bad medication it was. I kept asking the doctor to reduce the dosage which he did, but for 6 months my life was a living hell. I was finally taken off of it and I started to feel better week by week. It took 6 months for me to get over the medication. I have not seen the doctor who prescribed the medication in the first place. When I talk to my doctors about the doctor I call her a witch doctor. She did not warn me of the consequences! I was 66 when it was first prescribed, I am now 69 and since then I have *ALWAYS* asked the doctor about side effects and consequences of all new medications. A POX on her and anyone that prescribes that medication.

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For the swelling, I would make sure I get enough water, especially during hot weather. I had swelling myself and when I increased water it helped a lot. I do not take a steroid though.

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I know you're right to be concerned. My Mom hiss polymyalgia and was started at 60 mg. of prednisone. After 5 years, she's down to 7, and can't get lower without serious pain. The doc tellls her that her adrenals still function, but I don't know. The main concern I see for you is your edema. Have you talked to your doc about it? With your diabetes, your kidneys are at risk. Have they started you on a diuretic?

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You may always have to take a medication to treat your condition, so it is best not to try and stop one, without your doctor's approval and assistance.

As to the swelling, it is difficult to say what's causing it, because it could be due one of your medications, or one of your medical conditions. Have you had it checked out by your doctor?

Has your blood pressure been checked recently? If so, has it been high?

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