Long-Term Use Of Prednisone can have many side effects that are not commonly known. “Prednisone psychosis” is one of many that can kill. But I am not just talking about it killing the user of Prednisone; the wrong person at the wrong time can end up a victim of this psychosis. I know, because I had an episode of “Prednisone psychosis” and tried to run my son down in my Jeep. However, I will tell you about that later. Right now, I want to go over the drug and its uses.
What Is Prednisone, and Why Is Long-Term Use of Prednisone Dangerous?
While prednisone is in the corticosteroid class of drugs, now I know you have heard the term “Steroids” before. The reason is that there are different classes of steroids. First, the “metabolic steroids” are where prednisone belongs. Second, there are the “anabolic steroids” that bodybuilders are known to have used. These enhance muscle growth but have bad side effects. Mostly due to the fact that they are synthetic and not naturally made. They are a combination of “testosterone” and synthetic “androgens.” It is these steroids that bring on rage and other “male-type” aggressions.
One of the reasons metabolic steroids are so popular is that they provide relief quickly. By reducing inflammation, they provide quick pain relief. Yet, they are also used in allergic reactions. Making them widely available and used by millions.
Long-Term Use Of Prednisone, A “Metabolic Steroid”
Now, using a steroid medication has two very “bad” side effects. First, it weakens our immune systems. Without a robust immune system, we are prone to infections by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Second, it promotes bone density loss. Its presence in the bloodstream, especially from the shots, causes the breakdown of calcium in our bones. The official name for that is osteoporosis. Essentially, it is the glucocorticoid that destroys the bone mass. But a glucocorticoid is a corticosteroid that binds to the glucocorticoid receptor present in almost every vertebrate animal cell.
However, the main problem is that the dose and length of usage can cause our own adrenal glands to shut down. This is why it is so important to take the lowest dose for the least amount of time possible and to wean off the medication “ALWAYS!“
Long-Term Uses Of Prednisone
Now, you might be asking, What do our adrenal glands do for us? That is a good question, and I have some answers. While they are usually considered the “soothers” in our bodies, they calm inflammation and irritation from allergic and autoimmune symptoms. However, I need to state that they are not a cure. Although they can slow the progression of a disease or its symptoms, here is a listing of some of the problems they are used for:
- Allergic Reactions
- Asthma
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Different Autoimmune Diseases
- Adrenocortical Insufficiency
- CIDP
- COPD
- Crohn’s Disease
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- Giant-Cell Arteritis
- Gout
- Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis
- Hives
- Hypercalcemia
- Laryngitis
- Lupus
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Pericarditis
- Poison Oak
- Rheumatic Disorders
- Sarcoidosis
- Shingles
- And many more ailments. But “The Most Known Use Is The Prevention Of Rejection With Organ Transplantation.” Which cannot tolerate the removal of the steroid!!
Long-Term Use Of Prednisone: Prednisone Psychosis **WARNING** Do Not Try Weaning Yourself Off Of Any Medication Without Consulting With Your Physician!!!! Serious Health Effects Could Happen, Including Organ Failure.
First, I need to let you know that I was on Prednisone for Crohn’s disease. At least at the time, that was what the biopsy showed. Therefore, my doctor was trying to get my symptoms under control. Over a period of a few months, my dose was up to 80mg per day. By the time this incident happened, I had been taking that dose for 18 months.
My Psychotic Episode:
While it had started out as a normal day, my limit of tolerance to prednisone was about to explode. Moreover, there were absolutely no warning signs. I do, however, recall wanting my son to finish a task before I arrived home.When I drove into the driveway, I could see he was out on the riding lawn mower. Seeing this, I drove out to where he was talking to a friend. I proceeded to inquire if he had done as I asked. When he answered “No”, I absolutely lost it. I backed up my Jeep and was overcome with rage and the desire to eliminate the source of that rage. Next, I floored the accelerator and aimed the Jeep at him on the mower. Luckily, he jumped off, and I turned to miss the mower and him.
But my guilt was overwhelming. I jumped out, grabbed him, and hugged him, crying like a baby. I repeated over and over that I was so sorry. There was no way to explain what had happened. He knew me well enough to know that it was a reaction to something I was taking. That was when I realized it was the prednisone. I immediately started reducing my dose. Since I was an RN, I knew how to reduce my medication to preserve my adrenal glands. Yet given the extended amount of time I had been taking the drug, I started cutting my doses by half of what would be the normal reduction dose.
The Aftermath Of Guilt And Regret
Now, you need to know that my children were my life. There is not a length of time that I do not remember that day. Or the look on Jason’s face as he jumped from the riding mower. Certainly, the worst part is that I ended up losing him to “malignant melanoma cancer” all too soon. I could have spent the rest of my life apologizing to him and never come close to expressing my regret. Therefore, the point of my tale is to make you aware of these dangers.
There might be some of you who think your doctor is cold and distant. But there is a reason why they are cautioned against treating family members. That is because the desire to help so badly for a loved one or friend can cloud their judgment. Now my doctor was a good doctor, but he knew of all the hardships my condition was causing. Along with the fact that I was a single parent trying to keep off welfare, So he let his compassion for my situation cloud his judgment, and it almost ended badly. Yet, as an RN, I should have also known that I was headed for trouble.
Long-Term Use Of Prednisone: Other Side Effects
I have prepared a list of the many side effects; however, this is not a complete list. Moreover, I am not really certain that all of the untoward effects are classified as “Prednisone-related.” For example, did you know that the side effects of Prednisone can bring on lupus (a deadly autoimmune disease)?
As well as hepatic steatosis (a disease of fatty deposits on the liver), myasthenia gravis (a long-term skeletal muscle degeneration disease), and multiple sclerosis (a breakdown of the neurons in your brain and their synapses). Thereby, other effects are nephrotic syndrome (which are symptoms associated with kidney failure) and sarcoidosis (the formation of granular tissue in your organs, most frequently the lungs, skin, and lymph nodes). However, prednisone reaches all areas of our bodies, as these next two demonstrate. Starting with Ménière’s disease (a serious inner ear disease with vertigo as the main problem) and finally Duchenne muscular dystrophy (primarily in boys and starting at the age of four).
Some Of The More Common Side Effects
Simple:
Short-term side effects, as with all glucocorticoids, include high blood glucose levels (especially in patients with diabetes mellitus or on other medications that increase blood glucose, such as tacrolimus) and mineralocorticoid effects such as fluid retention.[24] While these mineralocorticoid effects of prednisone are minor, which is why it is not used in the management of adrenal insufficiency unless a more potent mineralocorticoid is administered concomitantly.
Certainly, prednisone is widely known to cause depression or depressive symptoms and anxiety in some individuals.
Therefore, long-term side effects include Cushing’s syndrome, steroid dementia syndrome, truncal weight gain, osteoporosis, glaucoma and cataracts, diabetes mellitus type 2, and depression upon dose reduction or cessation.[28] Now, prednisone also results in leukocytosis.[29]
When used as a treatment for sudden deafness or sudden sensorineural hearing loss, it can cause or exacerbate “tinnitus,” or a ringing in the ears.
Minor:
- Nervousness
- Acne
- Skin rash
- Appetite gain
- Hyperactivity
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Diarrhea
- Reduced intestinal flora
- Leg pain/cramps
- Sensitive teeth
- Headache
- Induced vomiting
Major:
- Steroid myopathy
- Increased blood sugar for individuals with diabetes
- Difficulty in regulating emotion
- Difficulty in maintaining linear thinking
- Weight gain due to increased appetite
- Immunosuppression
- Corticosteroid-induced lipodystrophy (moon face, central obesity)
- Depression, mania, psychosis, or other psychiatric symptoms
- Unusual fatigue or weakness
- Mental confusion
- Memory and attention dysfunction (steroid dementia syndrome)
- Muscle atrophy[31]
- Blurred vision
- Abdominal pain
- Peptic ulcer
- Painful hips or shoulders
- Steroid-induced osteoporosis
- Stretch marks
- Osteonecrosis, same as avascular necrosis
- Insomnia
- Severe joint pain
- Cataracts or glaucoma
- Anxiety
- Black stool (a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding)
- Stomach pain or bloating
- Severe swelling
- Mouth sores or dry mouth
- Avascular necrosis
Please GO HERE, For Information About Any Medication
Here is some extra information: The Antidote for Prednisone: Olanzapine! Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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