The Bobcat Nation

My Doctor has prescribed Prednisone to reduce my lung inflamation. From what I have heard this stuff has pretty nasty side effects. My internet research lists a number of side effects including muscle loss and joint soreness. Not good if you are a power lifter. Anyone have any insight and/or experience with this drug?

gtapp wrote:My Doctor has prescribed Prednisone to reduce my lung inflamation. From what I have heard this stuff has pretty nasty side effects. My internet research lists a number of side effects including muscle loss and joint soreness. Not good if you are a power lifter. Anyone have any insight and/or experience with this drug?

How long will you be taking it?

It's notorious for its side effects and they include anything from high blood sugar to steroid-induced psychosis (mainly in the elderly but it's rare all around). Extended (long-term) use can weaken bones, increase the appetite, lower the immune system, create a "moon-facies" look of the face, and it can cause fat deposits in the back that give the user the look of a humpback. It can also be very dangerous if it's taken at a relatively high dose for a long period and the patient just stops taking it cold turkey. This can lead to a sort of adrenal crisis which can be life threatening.

Sorry to ramble but with lung inflammation, my guess is that you're on a relatively short course of therapy in which you will taper your dose down. If this is the case, you don't really have too much to worry about side-effect wise.

Your biggest possible problems with short term therapy will be increased appetite, increased susceptibility to get sick (but only for a short time), and your blood sugars will be elevated while on therapy.

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!