Doc put me on predisone a week ago. Am tapering down and almost off of it. I have to say that I have never taken this med before and home I never will again. Then only good part is no shadows or headaches for 3 days.

Predisone has given me some of the worst side effects ever. First 3 days was throwing up every time I ate then it went to being totally starving and wanting to eat the whole world. Now it's sleeplessness. I am so tired but I cant sleep. Two more days of this to go. Thank god..

Started veramipil while all this is going on. Go see the doc again next Monday.

Hi Bonnie Lee,

Sorry to read your Pred experience was not your ideal transitional med of choice.  1 week is a very short taper as Verapamil usually takes at least 2 weeks to begin helping. 

What mg did you start at? 

Did you take your Pred in the morning? 

3 days is a bit of a reprieve and would be a blessing for most of us. 

Obviously, Risk/Reward should always be considered when taking Prednisone or other meds. 

I also am on a Pred taper w/ 2 more days remaining. 

Two weeks ago, Pred at 80mg reduced the frequency from 10 attacks a day down to an average of 3 daily.  Each of the 3 I endure daily are VERY intense-KIP 8/9/10.  Now that the Pred has been tapered, the frequency has increased.  Yesterday I lost count as I was being hit every 45 minutes to a maximum of 3 hours PF.  Today is not a pretty day either!  I fear tomorrow and the remaining days of October!

Some Pred side effects I got this taper included diarrhea, sore knees, sore lower back and sore hips, and of course sleeplessness and increased appetite.

Would I do a Pred taper again?  Yep!  I would do just abut anything to get away from the torture!

Your Verapamil is hopefully being ramped up to a high dose. Plenty of valuable info on here about Verap and we are all here to assist each other, so please fire way with questions should you desire. 

Have you looked into the new anti-inflammatory regimen?  If not, you might consider it as many have found it helpful. 

PF wishes to you Bonnie Lee

Brew wrote on Oct 24^th, 2011 at 12:35pm:


I agree ! I've traded the 'headaches' for the side effects of steroids many, many times.

I also wanted to comment that many doctors don't want to prescribe Prednisone for much more than a week due to the side effects it can (and will) cause. Like stated above, the risk vs benefits have to be evaluated by both you and the doctor.

If I could stay on 80mg of Prednisone daily, it would be my "cure" ... but of course, that can't be done without the side effect of death 

I am in week two of the worst cycle I have had.  Three to four hits a day and really rather random.  My doc has prescribed me a 120 mg pred taper and I am very affraid to take it.  However the alternative is running out of Trex. 

Not exactly sure what I should do.  I am a 230 lb 32 Y/O male. 

Most people talk only about 80 MG taper. 

A week ago I also started 900MG of Lithium a day.

Any one else?