Prednisolone - long term side effects

Hi everyone, there is probably a discussion about this but I cant find it - sorry!

I just had a Haematologist appointment and a couple of days later a GP appointment.

At both appointments I asked the Doctors how long does Prenisolone take to get out of your system?

As wondered if the symptoms I am having are down to withdrawals.
I told my Haematologist that I now get like joint aches and pains, started to get stomach problems (which they are trying to sort out) and I get almost (and even when my counts are higher), like almost tiny small bruises on my thighs - but they dont go, its almost like little veins broken, but some feel lumpish to the touch and are purblish/blue. I noticed I started getting these when I started Prenisolone and even now that I am off I still get a few. I used to panic when I got them thinking they were Purpura but counts are high and I got them.

The Haematologise said no steroids dont cause these symptoms, and my GP said Prenisolone withdrawals can.

So conflicting??

Tappered properly on Prednisolone from 90mg and came off end of December.

Steroids can cause stomach irritation, and our doctor suggested taking zantac with the prednisone. WIthdrawal can cause bone and joint pain. I was on steroids for only a few days for something other than ITP, and the withdrawal made me feel like my bones were breaking. I was able to take NSAIDs, as I am not an ITP patient. Talk with your doc about what you can take for joint pain. You may be limited to acetaminophen.
Norma

Fiona:

It all depends on the dose and how long you were on them. Prednisone can cause skin thinning and broken capillaries which could be what you are seeing.

www.bing.com/search?q=broken+capillarie&form=PRUSEN&mkt=en-us&refig=a5c57626589d4a018981c39b2809e02b&pq=broken+capillarie&sc=8-17&sp=-1&qs=n&sk=&cvid=a5c57626589d4a018981c39b2809e02b

Also, as we age, these things tend to happen more often. It can take a few months for the affects of Prednisone to go away, but some things like stretch marks and capillaries can be permanent.

I had a tremor while on prednisolone. Not constant but would appear regularly when I did certain things, and it lasted a full year after I came off the steroid. So that gives some indication of how long the drug takes to give up its side effects.

Its so interesting isnt it, that we know our bodies and what was normal before steroids and now not normal, and when you bring it up with Doctors, they refuse to really acknowledge that steroids can cause problems, I was on steroids starting at 90mg then tapering for a year, and the doctors said it comes out your system within a few days and the pains etc I am feeling are not steroid related, but amazing when you go onto the website and similar people actually have the same aches and pains after being on steroids.

Patience I guess is what I need to feel 'normal' again..(guess its only been 3 months without them)

Fiona:

Doctors just prescribe them, most don't take them, so many of them don't know much about the side effects. You can read the side effects, but unless you experience them, you can't possibly understand how severe they can be.

Steroids can also cause damage to the body (arthritis), so some of the things that linger could possibly be permanent, or new problems could have developed. However, that usually doesn't happen after just a round or two. Give it some time and see what happens.

It definitely takes more than a few days for Prednisone to be gone. It can take months.

It is usual when undergoing surgery within three months of coming off steroids, to give what they call 'steroid cover', a drip of steroid to ensure the extra stress of surgery doesn't overtax the adrenals. So all doctors should know that the adrenals can take at least three months to recover. Look up adrenal insufficiency and it will say that stomach problems and joint pains are symptoms.

Yup, she is right about that.

UK Guidelines for steroids May be of help cks.nice.org.uk/corticosteroids-oral#!scenariorecommendation:1