Weird benifits of Pred?

Well...not sure what is going on, but since I started taking Pred. I have been having some really weird things happening.  Mostly good.

Has it helped your flare? I had the same side effects. Just know as you taper they will get better. Glad to hear some other ailments are clearing up for you!

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Tabitha (Tab)

100mg Azathioprine, 2 Fibercon, Colazal-6 a day, Acidopholis Pearls, Prilosec OTC

http://www.healingwell.com/donate
Co-Moderator UC Forum

Yeah it helps my psoriasis also. Nice perk. ALmost makes up for the insomnia and hunger :-(

Dang, have to change my sig, back up to 40mg pred AND on 50mg Imuran.

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I love how my psoriasis clears up when I'm on pred. Unfortunately it's the only positive I experience, the rest are YUK! The hunger you experience is normal, it feels like you just can't get full, but try not to give in and stick to your normal diet and drink lots of water. I put on so much weight last time I was on it so this time I'm being really careful. I also get insomnia, headaches and mood changes.

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40 years young

My only positive was my plantar fascitis pain went away and hasn't returned the whole time I've been on Prednisone. (Tapering now and should be off in about a week after being on since April 2006. Remicade was the only thing that made my taper successful this time.)

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Diagnosed UC April 27, 2006

I have naturally oily skin to begin with, and some slight eczema on my hands. The moisturising effect was not appreciated on my part, and I always felt extremely hot, with boiling hands all the time.

so far, I have been having headaches (not too bad....yet) and had a couple of hot flashes at work, not sure if it's b/c of the screwy temperature changes in my office and stress??

trying not to take any pills for the headaches, have some peppermint aromatherapy stuff from origins and it is actually helping (you put it on your temples, behind your ears and I put a little dab of it on my forehead). I don't know why but it is soothing to me.

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Beth, 31

Good side effects? NEVERENDING ENERGY! haha, also I had my period and for the first time ever, no cramps!

I'm tapering from 20-15 right now and I'm getting the dreaded body aches, really pretty yucky today actually. Couldn't fall asleep, even with my Ambien.

Prednisone is both a miracle drug and an evil curse at the same time. I took it about 6 years ago and it was wonderful for the first month. It cleared up all my UC symptoms within 3 days and made me feel like Superman. A month later all the usual side effects appeared, acne, moon face, weight gain, insomnia, mood swings and being tired all the time but couldn’t get much sleep. I couldn’t go below 20mg per day without flaring. After 6 months I finally got off it but I had to go back on a month later for 3 months. I then went into a 2 ½ year remission. When my current flair started, May 2005, I was determined not to go back on pred again. I will not use it again unless I have consistently 15 BMs per day or more.

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Paul,
I understand your hatred of prednisone and only a few weeks ago I was saying I'll never ever go back on it again because of all the things you just said. However a week later I flared and I was in so much pain and had so much bleeding. I was sitting on the toilet crying the pain was so intense just as bad as childbirth. After a few days of that I just had to give in and go on Pred. I really hate that I had to give in but didn't know what else to do. I don't know how you could tolerate 15 BMs per day especially if there's a lot of pain so I think you're really brave. Good luck I hope you don't have to go on it again.

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40 years young

Good side effects? More time to read because I can't sleep at night? That's about it. But I can definitely leave w/o such perk.

I like the energy but it sure messes with my eyes. They always feel like they are popping and my vision is blurred.

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Lori

I've been on it since May, in varing doses from 40 to 5mg, currently at 25mg. Recently I was working outside a lot and not drinking enough, and I think my sodium level got high (body supposedly can't get rid of it as easily on pred) - moon face got bigger and I could taste salt in my mouth for a week straight! Trying to make it go away by reducing my sodium a lot and drinking more. The sides of my hands (bones?) hurt sometimes. I think its a pred side effect, but not sure. Vision is affected some. I feel jittering some days.

Ben

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Ben, 38

Foster Dad,
those side effects are not weird. They are to be expected. B/c pred is an anti-inflammatory drug. It suppresses your immune system. Psoriasis is (I think) also an auto-immune dz, so that's why it helps that. Your gums are not bleeding b/c of anti-inflammatory (and possibly why your sense of smell is back to if you had chronic sinus inflammation-also auto-immune). BUT don't let the good fool you. There are too many bad.

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Chassity

Because I started at a somewhat lower dose (40 mg) and am tapering by 5 mg each week, I've actually had nothing but good experiences this time around. Knock on wood. UC symptoms improved dramatically within a day or two, almost like a switch had been flipped. I have energy. I feel good. I wake up rested and ready to go. I don't feel like I need a nap mid afternoon. I've been very careful with my diet and exercise and haven't noticed any swelling or water rentention. I also haven't had the insomnia, constant hunger or night sweats I had when I was on a higher dose.

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Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis spring 1999