<p>Horrible stuff & I have only been on it since last Friday morning after being stung by yellowjackets nine times ( I have an allergy)</p>
<p>First I thought it was great! The iv adrenaline knocked down the swelling/itching/redness from the stings, and also helped my arthritis. It’s been very hard to get to sleep despite taking Benadryl, but it was better than shaking all night from pain like I did Thursday.</p>
<p>But boy, now I understand 'roid rage. I am absolutely starving, I probably ate as much in a couple days as I usually do all week. I’m extremely irritated and for me that’s saying something! I’ve been weaning myself off for a couple days ( halved dose- following the ER drs orders, although they weren’t written on the bottle as he told me I could do it faster if needed), but it can’t happen soon enough even though I am still taking the Benadryl as still itchy.</p>
<p>There are many different types of steroids only one type of which causes “'roid rage.”</p>
<p>When they say steroids in the context of athletic cheating they usually mean androgens- derivatives of testosterone known to promote strength and build muscles. But there are many others:</p>
<p>Corticosteroids (such as cortisone and prednisone)
Mineralocorticoids (such as the hormone Aldosterone)
Estrogens (such as estradiol)
Progesterone
even Vitamin D is a steroid, etc.</p>
<p>They, and many more steroids, are all derived from the mother of all animal steroids, namely cholesterol.</p>
<p>If I were to guess, I suspect you are on corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation from the hornet stings and not 'roid-rage causing, muscle-building, androgens.</p>
<p>Yes I’m not on androgen, I am on a cortosteroid, prednisone. I guess I had never taken steroids before other than Flovent for asthma. ( which I don’t use anymore)
But still more side effects than I want. . I could use the muscle building though since the arthritis is making mine atrophy.</p>
<p>I have asthma and, when I had pneumonia last winter, I was put on a short course of corticosteroids. (Mine came in an easy to use blister pack.) And yes, I did suffer several of these side effects.</p>
<p>For me, mostly the side effects of the oral corticosteroids I find more challenging than what they’re supposed to help me with. Depending on how much you are taking and how long you’ve been on them, you can wean them VERY quickly if you’ve only taken them for a week or two. For the itch, you can take over-the-counter antihistimine Benedryl, both by pill or liquid form and via ointment to soothe the sites. I wouldn’t keep taking the steroids just for the itch (like using a sledgehammer to swat a fly or mosquito). Good luck!</p>
<p>My main side effect that I hate is being tired but unable to sleep (“wired”). It can have a host of side effects as you’ve found out, but that is the one that I find hardest to take. Side effects tend to be dose dependent, so the sooner you can cut back to lowest doses and get off, the fewer the side effects. It can also reduce bone density if taken for prolonged period, which is another reason not to stay on it long than absolutely necessary. You can keep yourself from over-eating while on the steroids, but it does take discipline. Drink LOTS of water & do your best to only eat your normal portion sizes and only at your regular meal times. Stock up on plain celery and/or unbuttered, unsalted popcorn for any other time.</p>
<p>I am weaning off, but I misplaced the info that came with the prescription, and what I found online about weaning off too abruptly was scary.
I was scheduled for a VAP (cholesterol) test, VTX ( bone protein ) test, and thyroid test later in the morning after my ER visit, hope I don’t have to do it over.</p>
<p>Be very careful with the weaning. Due to a medical condition I have HAD to take steroids (the blister pack) several times. I don’t like them. But I follow the weaning process very carefully…otherwise I tend towards a very irregular heartbeat. I understand wanting to get off of them asap, but be careful.</p>
<p>EK4, if you have questions about your weaning, you can call the office of the DR who put you on your steroids. My docs have all been pretty casual about my weaning, even when it was very high doses (40 to 80mg/day), but I generally took the steroids for a few days or a few weeks. I have always done fine with my weaning. (Some folks take it for years and they have to be VERY careful in their weaning, as well as being sure that their blood cortisol levels are still high enough without the steroid. You shouldn’t have as many issues in weaning, since you have only taken it for a very short period of time–days not weeks.)</p>
<p>I hate to be a nag…definately call the DR before you change any weaning instructions. I have never been on steriods for more than one or two “full” doses before starting the weaning. I hate the side effects, but am very careful with the weaning due to the heart beat issues. I have no cardiac issues. </p>
<p>Of course, everyone is different, and I tend towards odd reactions. But much better to be careful. I hope you are feeling better soon!</p>
<p>DD had to do a fairly long course of prednisone, and she was hungry all the time. Gained a fair amount of weight over the two months she was on it.</p>
<p>She also got the “moon face”, which bugged her more than anything.</p>
<p>My mother was on steroids for severe asthma. It made her blow up like a balloon, and my MIL never failed to criticize her for it to me.
:eyeroll:
But it is effective if used like a scalpel rather than a bludgeon.</p>
<p>Oh tom, that is so true my friend! But this is worse than usual. I cooked a bunch of meals on Sunday for the week. As of last night EVERYTHING was gone.</p>
<p>When I’ve been on pred, I was able to consciously keep from over-eating, but had to do so mindfully. The longest I had to take it was about 20mg/day for about a month. Was so glad to stop & be able to sleep properly again! The inability to get restful sleep was the thing that bothered me most.</p>
<p>Docs are used to patients calling them for guidance on how to properly taper/wean from corticosteroids & it is best to talk with them. Good luck!</p>
<p>I can do that also. My wife did not gain a pound on prednisone. Her discipline is beyond anything I have ever seen.
She was dealt a very unfair hand in the health department. She is now not only dealing with her illness but all the side effects from years of medication.</p>
<p>That is amazing. But for many patients, there is no amount of discipline which will keep them from suffering from steroid-induced weight gain. Cushing syndrome is a very distressing side effect of long term, high dose steroids. It causes progressive central obesity, “buffalo hump,” and the dreaded “moon face,” just to name a few. Patients can also suffer from marked hyperglycemia, as well as many other awful side effects.</p>
<p>I would only go on long term corticosteroids if I absolutely had no choice. I feel for anyone having to go through that.</p>
I’m extremely irritated and for me that’s saying something! I’ve been weaning myself off for a couple days ( halved dose- following the ER drs orders, although they weren’t written on the bottle as he told me I could do it faster if needed), but it can’t happen soon enough even though I am still taking the Benadryl as still itchy.</p>