How bad is the steroid drug PREDNISONE for your future health ?

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Answers:
Long terms side effects include weight gain, osteoporosis, poor wound healing, thin skin, suppression of immune system and suspectibility to infections (even weird ones), moon face, buffalo hump (the last two are abnormal fatty deposits in you face and back), muscle atrophy, worsens and can cause diabetes .

Talk to your doctor about alternatives.. Truth be true better to not take prednisone and suffer then take it. In general any disease entity, there are alternatives. Whether its allergies, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriasis etc there are alternatives. Unfortunately, steroids is a great quick fix but depending on dose and duration of its use, it can be very detrimental to your long term health.

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_chronic_steroid_use.html

Other Answers:
it is a steroid.if i get hives or have an extreme allergic reaction i have to take them and they have to be tapered off. it isnt a good drug to be on for long periods of time. it can cause weight gain,acne, and can cause irratibility.

Prednisone is an corticosteroid that, with prolonged use, supresses the immune response. One can also develop diabetes with prolonged prednisone use. It is best to discuss the long term effects with a doctor or pharmacist.
Source(s):
I'm a nurse

Prednisone just about ruined my body. I was on it for a total of one month and it stopped the blood flow to 2 of my joints (right hip and left knee) and basically killed the bone and that, in turn, collapsed my joints. I have no more cartilage and my knee and hip grinds because it's just bone on bone. I had a hip replacement because of it and am scheduled for a knee replacement (opposite sides) in August. I gained and lost 50 pounds in 24 days, have major stretch marks and have all these little fat deposits all over my body about the size of marbles. I had NONE of this before the prednisone. HOWEVER, I was having a VERY bad bout of asthma and it helped me to breath. I will NEVER take a steroid again, esp prednisone. I guess you can figure out why, huh? DON'T TAKE IT! I am dead serious. I've never been more serious in my life.
Source(s):
VERY personal experience

As a kidney/pancreas transplant patient who has been taking 7.5 mg of prednisone daily for ten years as one of my immuno-supressent drugs, I can tell you it has many negative side affects. I gained 60 pounds, my bones break easliy, and I take Zoloft to counteract the mood swings prednisone can bring on. However, the alternative for me would be the possible rejection of my transplanted organs. That is a far worse fate for me. Basically, you need to weigh your choices before taking it. If you can get along without it, by all means don't take it. I wish I didn't have to.

I was taking it for about 3 years, every 6 months. I was allergy to chemicals at work, When I find anew job I didn't need it. My seasonal allergies improved too. Its been 9 years, I may taken 2 rounds since I quit. Doctors didn't like putting anyone on every 6 months, but that was all that would work to get better. It didn't hurt me.

Well, I used Prednisones for a couple of years.Somem people put on some weight others dion't.Im one of those who didn't pick up weight.The reason for putting on wight is because the steriod makes you wanna eat.You are always hungry.I ate almost the whole day.Cuz it doesnt make you feel like you had enough food.What it also does sometimes is, it makes you tired.You just wanna sleep or sit down.For others it might be the opposite.I don't think its bad.Unless it gets bad because of weight problems.I really hope this helps you.

an emergency room doctor gave that crap to my son it didn't help and I called my family doctor he couldn't believe that emrgency doctor gave that to him. He weaned him off as quickly as possible because of all the side effects

I understand what everyone else is saying but let me tell you something. When my 3 year old daughter was in the hospital dying from pneumonia, drugs like prednizone and pediapred saved her life. Sometimes, if used only when absolutely necessary, these drugs can save peoples lives. I know I am grateful.

I've been on prednisone for about two years now.

I have COPD and alot of trouble with shortness of breath. Prednisone has really helped me;however, there are things like weight gain, and dowagers hump--that I've had to live with just to be able to breath better.

It's no wonder that prednisone is referred to as: Good Guy-Bad Guy !

My Pulmonologist is now weaning me off of it..right now I'm on 7.5 mg for the next three months. Hopefully, I will be able to taper down until I can come off of it completely without an exacerbation of COPD.

What I worry about now is osteoporosis..and if any damage has already been done on that front.

It is disastrous. I'm not talking the 7-day or 10-day taper packs - those are not a problem. I'm talking about when your doctor prescribes it month after month and you are taking 15-20-30 or more mg EVERY DAY month after month. I speak from personal experience. I have been on Prednisone for 3 years to treat my Sarcoidosis and Rheumitoid Arthritis. Here is what it has done to me:
* Destroyed my personality
* Made me Suicidal
* Made me Depressed
* Caused me to have Insulin Dependant Diabetes
* Caused me to gain 110 pounds
* Caused me to have "significant" Osteoporosis
* Destroyed Muscle & Joint Tissue - I have frequent falls and can't lift a gallon of milk.

All of this and I am only 44 years old. 3 years ago I was healthy, swimming 3 times a week, walked 2 miles before work every day, worked full time, busy with 2 kids and a husband.
Source(s):
personal experice

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How bad is the steroid drug PREDNISONE for your future health ?

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