side afects from prednisone?

steroids
hi,

cutting a long story short... prednisone REALLY messed with my head. i told my GP and he put me on lyrica 50mg which is an anti anxiety drug, with this and one 25mg xanax tablet before i go to bed, i have had no problems since. i would strongly recommend you take them as an infection could lead to problems a lot worse than a wrecked head. take care.

merrywinner said:

prednisone
I just had my first chemo treatment yesterday. It was R CHOP for my follicular lymphoma. It actually went well so far but it was a very long day and I am tired. As far as the prednisone goes do you know how long you have to take it? I had a very large dose yesterday along with all the rest of the drugs and then just have to take it for 4 more days. They told me I would feel all revved up and edgy. I have taken todays dose and so far so good. I did not look up the drug in my med book because I'm highly susceptable to the power of suggestion. I know that its given to minimize the side effects of treatment. My MD says it is an important part of treatment so I will do as I'm told. I think alot of those side effects are when there is long term use. Good luck, Mary

Prednisone
Though it was quite some time ago when I went through my chemo, Prednisone was one of the drugs I was given. Compared to the other drugs I was getting and their side effects, Prednisone kind of took the back-burner.

However, the past year, my wife had to be on high dose prednisone for a non-cancer type illness. She was on it for many months. Her experiences on it were similar to mine: weight gain (I used to call in "moon face"), but definitely mood swings.

Also, one thing about prednisone, it can affect your immune system. So you want to stay "healthy" and avoid unhealthy situations.

Long term, there can be issues with the skeletal system. But, newer protocols dictate closer follow-ups and awareness for this. For instance, taking calcium supplements (note - not to be done during your treatments at least without talking with your doctor). This will be monitored by a DEXA scan (bone density scan - harmless and painless - pretty much an ultrasound kind of thing). A base line will be established, and then as you're followed up, prevention can take place as annual or however frequent the scans are done.

Paul E. (Hodgkoid2003)

neshama said:

prednisone
hi, my name is leah

i really really don't want to take this med! for the reasons you mentioned and more...
i have monocalona gamopathy, i may of mispelled the first of the two words. it amounts to that it is a pre-cancerous condition to multiple myeloma and several other drastic cancers first of which has no cure. it is a bone marrow caner and pretty hidious.

what kind of cancer did you have if i may ask? because you said you got better in spite of the not taking the drastic drug any more.

mail4leah@yahoo.com

Hello Neshama
Sorry you have to come to this site but welcome!
You'll find a wealth of support and caring people here.

You may want to start a new discussion post as the posts here
go back to 2009.

From what I read, Monoclonal gammopathy is not a cancer but can lead
to a type of cancer called "Multiple Myeloma".

There's information about Multiple Myeloma here:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/myeloma/page1



Monoclonal Gammopathy
=====================

Monoclonal Gammopathy refers to a condition in which a person's plasma cells produce an abnormal type of protein called monoclonal immunoglobulin, or M protein. The presence of M protein does not usually cause health problems, though in large enough quantities they can lead to a type of blood cell cancer known as multiple myeloma. Since there are typically no physical symptoms related to monoclonal gammopathy, doctors usually only recognize the condition after screening blood samples for other problems. Treatment is not needed, though people diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy are encouraged to schedule regular checkups with their doctors to make sure they do not develop cancer.

Plasma cells are specialized white blood cells found in bone marrow. They produce a number of important antibodies and other proteins that allow the immune system to function properly. Due to a random mutation in certain plasma cells, they begin to manufacture quantities of M proteins. Since researchers are unsure what these proteins actually do, they frequently refer to the condition as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. The proteins do not seem hinder immune system functioning unless extremely large quantities are present.

Hi, BK
Dear Bk, I had prednisone as part of my CHOP therapy. On my first treatment, I must have got a dyslexic pharmacist. Instead of taking the large dose, tapering down for 6 days, it read full dose for 6 WEEKS. I am a man, but I started to develop Mastitis!??? Oh God!, Am I turning into a "girl"?
So, when I saw my Onc. at treatment 3, I asked him if this was supposed to the desired outcome. After his reply, which I cannot repeat here, and a brief phone call to the pharmacy, he explained what he meant to have on the label.
Well, I slowed down on the pred., the by-products went away, and after 9 series of the CHOP, no adverse or lingering problems. I don't know if this "error" helped or hindered, but I am here today to tell this story. This happened in 1983. (Stage 3, Large cell, NHL)
I keep pred. with me always. I am allergic to some bees and poison ivy, and one dose of pred. and I'm cleared up or kept breathing.
They have to list side effects if one or one hundred people experience them, so just because there ARE side effects, it does not mean you will get them. I looked at the possible alternative vs. the possible side effects.
I wish you all the best either way!
My thoughts and prayers are with you!
Semper Fi. John