Main side effects...as you mention there will be a difference for each peson. But there do seem to be a few we commonly experience: tired but wired so sleep at night can be fitful; hungry so that even the pizza box looks good and is in danger of being eaten; weight gain; and an unusually elevated mood with occasional sparks of irritation. I think that covers it. The pred can help at higher doses so it's worth a shot even during exams. Good luck, and God bless. lance

I take the prednisone, (taking it now) 60mgs a day for 3 weeks, then taper. I feel wired ALL the time, and not in a good way. I feel like I can hear my brain through my ears! I get waves of hunger. Life just generally sucks all around.

I had few side effects on my pred tapers. I get a little edgy and irrititable...(according to my wife!!!!).the only sleeping issues are becuase i get back cramping when I lay down to go to sleep. I eat LOTS, and when I go off I get significant back acne....looks like a 14 year olds face!

It is a great med for short term when you just can't get hit....like for your finals. Hope it gets you through them okay.

Joe

Side effects of MethylPrednisolone are the same as Prednisone.  Google info at webmd or best yet, the archives from this message board, plenty of info on experiences from 100's of us CH'ers.

Some swear they will never take it again, while others like myself will not battle the beast without it in my arsenal.

In a nutshell, my experience is 100% CH relief aka painfree within 24 hours :D  Keep in mind this med is to be tapered from a high dose, 80mg seems ok, might consider higher depending on your pain severity.  The taper down period should be precise. 

Side effects I experienced was some increased appetite and water retention.  In my opinion, Pred is a wonder drug and would gladly trade a temporary weight gain opposed to torture from the dragon.

Long term side effects is what most are concerned with.  They sometimes have included reports of hip and knee issues down the road.  Again, I would rather deal with ANY other physical pain than CH's, but that's me, I have ZERO patience for CH's.

Caution to note is Pred is a TRANSITIONAL med prescribed to be used while your PREVENTATIVE med is titrating your blood levels/becoming effective to reduce the frequency and intensity of attacks.  Very important to understand that many have reported, including myself, that when the Pred dose is tapered down to a low mg dosage, the beast attacks with a vengeance, kinda makes up retaliating for missed time afflicting you.

Hope this helped.  Good Luck! ;)

-Gregg in Las Vegas

I always got a mild acne breakout after finishing a pred cycle, though I never noticed any side effects while actually taking the pred. Don't be surprised if the headaches come back after the dosage drops below a certain level. I went through 3 pred tapers during my last cycle- 3 more than I would have liked to!

Pred tapers usually do the trick for me, but there have been times where I have needed another taper to get the job done. Perhaps starting up the D3 regimen as a preventative could help.

In a nutshell. For me any side effects or residual affects of pred. are well worth it.

Appetite is the most prevalant. Neighborhood pets are not safe and I have a priority customer status at Papa Ginos.

I'm a teenage male with a pretty good appetite normally... on prednisone I can eat 2-3 1 pound burritos in one sitting and still be hungry.
also makes getting to sleep hard, and staying asleep even harder.

if it's been that long, you probably don't have to deal with the increased appetite side effect.
Having tried Pred twice, and dexamethasone once, it usually took 2-3 days for the ravenous hunger to start.

edit: Hopefully they'll stay away.

Great news Zazzed, that's why we try to stress the "potential" in side effects as there are people who get all the side effects, and then those who get none. Hope you're right and beasty has flown south for the winter!

Joe

Good news for "exam prep night study" is that Pred can often cause insomnia. Bad news is that as you taper down the beast will return.

For some of us pred has broken a cycle altogether (rare) but most of the time the beast comes back right after the the taper ends (occasionally with a vengeance). Might be useful to check with your doc to extend the taper to after your exams.

Havent taken it for a while but whenever I did I was sure to take it in combination with a medication that protects your stomach. Pretty aggressive stuff.

You will have heard and read before that Pred is merely a transitional treatment, not at all suitable for long-term use and that you need to find a workable prevent.

Good luck with the exams.

Quote:

up the verapamil dose as well

That is key.