predisone question

[TanyaFromTexas]

Dr put me on it for inflammation but also because Ive only been on the plaq a few months and my fatigue is bad. Ive been on it a week and I haven't gotten an ounce of energy from it. Ive seen people put on here they get jittery and such. It it something that takes a week or two to kick in like some meds? Or should it work from day one? Hes only keeping me on it a month. I honestly think its takes all my energy being this exhausted

[warmwaters]

I had an uptick in energy from the predinisone in a few days. What I should say though is that I went from not being able to get off the couch, to being coherent for several hours - in other words, not a miracle cure.

And it probably depends on whether inflammation is your main problem, or if there are other things going on, too.

[Chickpea]

Hi Tanya

I'm sorry to hear that you're so exhausted.  SjS, like all autoimmune conditions, does have exhaustion as one of its main symptoms, but until you experience it it's hard to understand quite how devastating that exhaustion is!

What dose of Prednisone did your Doctor put you on?  Is it a high dose which then tapers down over the month, or a lower steady dose?  That might make a difference.  I was started on 60 mg and it took a few days to kick in but when it did I was a bit frantic as you've described:  I couldn't stop cooking!  However, I don't remember that it made me less tired if that makes any sense.  I had bursts of energy but I was still exhausted.

Has the Prednisone made any difference to your inflammatory pain?  Are you on pain meds too? 

Many of us here find it helps to keep a symptom diary, just to jot down dryness/fatigue/pain issues every day.  Sometimes adding in activity levels and meals can help your detective work, trying to figure out why some days are good and others harder.

Thinking of you - Chickpea

[Pegasus47]

Hi Tanya:

I take 5 mg prednisone per day to prevent flares.  When the flares do happen, I up the dosage to 80mg/day for 2 days, slow step down until flare is gone and maintain on 5 mg.  The biggest problem I have with Prednisone is insomnia, not getting enough sleep made me tired and cranky during the day.  I can sleep just fine on 5mg/day.  As long as I do enough exercises.

Hope this is helpful!

Pegasus