My name is Amy Ruben. I am going to discuss my experience with prednisone.
I have a history with prednisone, and anybody with a chronic illness or autoimmune disease probably does. I'm truly sorry for anyone who has to go through this. I was first prescribed prednisone when I consulted a rheumatologist about my joint pain. At that time, I was two years away from being diagnosed with lupus, but I was already dealing with persistent joint pain. Initially, I didn't experience any side effects from the medication; it actually made me feel really good. However, its effectiveness reduced once I decreased the dose to 20 milligrams.
A few years later, I made the decision to stop the medication on my own. Two and a half years after that, I found myself in the emergency room with even more severe pain. That was when I finally received a lupus diagnosis.
I later met a doctor, who wasn't a rheumatologist, and he prescribed me a whopping 100 milligrams of prednisone. I was meant to taper down to 40 milligrams over the subsequent weeks and revisit him for a checkup. A dose of 100 milligrams is a significant amount, and shortly after taking it, I experienced a severe migraine that was accompanied by sound sensitivity and nausea. Fortunately, I was provided with painkillers that eventually alleviated the pain.
During the days I was on this high dose, I experienced what's known as "moon face," where the face swells up, giving the appearance of significant weight gain. Another side effect I encountered was Cushing syndrome. This syndrome led to weight loss in my limbs but an accumulation of fat in my belly and a fat pad at the back of my neck. The condition is indeed peculiar. Additionally, I suffered from insomnia, mood elevation, and "roid rage." There was even an incident where I overreacted at a restaurant over something trivial.
Prednisone also gave me an insatiable appetite. I felt a compulsion to eat constantly. However, my stint with prednisone was brief - only about five to six days - because I began to show allergic reactions. Each time I took it, my throat would swell, my tongue became itchy, and I developed rashes around my eyes.
I informed my doctor about these allergic reactions during a subsequent visit, and I was taken off the medication. Due to these allergic side effects, I am no longer permitted to take prednisone, and it's now listed on my allergy list.
My experience with prednisone was quite negative. Once off prednisone, my doctor switched me to dexamethasone, which also had severe effects on me, leading to a stay in a psych ward for eight days.
That concludes my experience with prednisone.
Author: Amy Ruben
