I'm not quite sure where to begin, each persons body tolerates different kinds of medication differently so all I can really do is let you know my own personal experiences of prednisolone the good points and the bad ones and let you decide for for yourself, Although in most cases as is my own the decision is taken from you and put in the hands of the medical professionals.
WHAT IS PREDNISOLONE? prednisolone is a corticosteriod, and for all you lot out there reading this and thinking I'm one of those bodybuilding women with lots of rippling muscles and no chest corticosteriods are completely different from anabolic steriods. Corticosteroids are prescribed to lessen inflammation anywhere in the body, they help reduce itching and swelling as well as many other symtoms of inflammatory diseases everyones body produces natural corticosteriods so you may also be prescribed this medication if for some reason your body wasn't producing any.
SO WHATS MY EXPERIENCE WITH PREDNISOLONE?Having been prescribed prednisolone for the first time nine years ago and still taking them to this day, I consider myself a bit of an expert on this drug, although as I mentioned earlier everyone reacts differently to medication so don't think that you will automatically have the side effects which I have experienced. It all started nine years ago when I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of 18, steroids where the doctors first port of call as well as a concoction of other anti inflammatory drugs and boy did I think they where great, for the first time in a long time I was out of the hospital and managing to get on with day to day tasks without too much pain.
The first side effects happened pretty quick and these are ones which most people will experience although in my opinion are nothing if in return you are feeling good and not in pain, this side effect is known medically as a moon face, the weight piled on and I had the fatest face you have ever seen, think mitchelin man with the 24 chins, then was the buffalo hump a large swelling at the top of my spine, boy was I fighting the men off back then, but most of the weight gain is unnatural and looks it although I had a fat face and swollen abdomin the rest of me was as skinny as ever.At the time I was concerned about these side effects as I was 18 years old and thought appearances where very important I know now it was a small price to pay for my health. After that the side effects moved to the inside of my body, I developed a steroid induced stomach ulcer and as steriods reduce the effect of your immune system I seemed to take every infection that was going and then through time the real problems started, about 4 years ago after being advised to request a bone scan I was diagnosed with osteoporosis, yes you read it correctly I am 27 years old with severe osteoporosis which I receive infussions at the hospital for to try and slow down the deteriation process.
SO WHY ON EARTH AM I STILL TAKING PREDNISOLONE?The reason I am still taking this drug after everything I have just told you is simple, It's a miracle drug that has saved my life and continues to do so every day, although it has caused endless problems for me with out prednisolone I wouldn't have had any sort of life I would have just been existing so for that I am thankful.
MY ADVICE TO YOUYour doctor wouldn't suggest a drug like Prednisolone if it wasn't completely neccesary and in most cases this drug is given in a course, it comes in different strenghs of tablets and your tablets would be gradually dropped in strengh until you where off them completely, so long term side effects aren't an issue here, however if for some reason you are taking prednisolone and have been for a considerable amount of time, I suggest that you ask your doctor to refer you for a bone density scan as the earlier these problems are detected the easier they are to fix.
by (8%):
16.07.2004 12:31
I also have Crohn's Disease, and following a recent diagnosis i was put onto oral prednisolone, which increased to an IV of a high dose of this in the hospital. I didnt not find it very useful at all, as it had little or no effect of reducing my symptoms, especially pain! They then gave me a one off dose of a drug called infliximab or remicade and it worked wonders for me in a matter of hours and has less side effects than the steroids. I have just come off the steroids about a week ago, as they were weaning me off them and i sympathise greatly with the side effects. Being 19 and just finished my first year at university, i was extremely and sometimes upsettingly aware of the side effects that you mentioned, ie "moon face" and swollen abdomen and i looked very strange, weighing a little over 6 stone after coming out of the hospital, with a swollen tummy and a triple chin! most people were very understanding, but it is very hard to grasp that these are long term side effects as i was slowly getting better, looking in the mirror was not pleasant for me. I will note that you have suffered with this disease a great deal more than me, and i admire your strength through all the challenges it has thrown at you, it gives me hope that i can be just as "normal" as those who are lucky enough not to have such a horrible disease...x
08.04.2003 03:07
I have been on pred. for 6 years at varying doses. I too know the side affects and have been diagnosed with osteoporosis in in hips and spine at 24. It does help to know that there are people out there who understand the effects. Thanks Lol xx
16.02.2003 01:16
I'm very sorry to read about your osteoporosis. I too, have used prednisolone for many years now, and it is something I have worried about. Not yet got it checked out though (too scared). All the best. Linda