In my case it seems to start right away. The doctor started me on 80 mg and I had severe side effects so he tried to taper me off a bit faster than usual. Good luck to you and hoping you feel better soon.

what were your side effects? I heard there are many.....its making me really anxious! I feel like Im gonna jump out of my skin! :O

Here's a link to prednisone side effects: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/prednisone-side-effects.html
One thing to remember with reading about the side effects - only a certain perceantage of people have them, so beware of reading too much into it. The benefits can often outweigh the side effects felt. It's a balancing act, like all of the drugs we take.,,

Take care,
Dennis

Linda: My side effects from it were extreme nervousness and trouble sleeping at night. I found that the earlier in the morning that I took it the better off I was at night as it would wear off slightly. Also I had to stop my coffee intake while I was taking it because it was like a double whammy. I also found that my appetite was huge while taking it. Everyone reacts differently to this medication so maybe these things won't happen to you? It did boost my energy level somewhat.

Linda, I have been using 20mg for months, and it has helped since day one. The higher the dosage, the more you need to be weened off in time. You just can't stop taking it. I don't know what the impact that would be but my doc tells me not to. -- Bill

I have been on prednisone for about 12 years started taking with polymyalgia. With in hour I had no pain.

My pulmonary Dr has me now on 10mg a day for breathing. It does make a difference and helps your breathing. There is side effects but they are worth it.

20 mg., to me, is a fairly low dose. I usually am given 60 mg. to start on a taper down when I have an exacerbation - that's when the side effects are severe...no sleep, ravenous appetite, nervousness, etc. Haven't had the same effects on a low dose for a short period of time.

I have taken 20 mg. for just a couple of days without tapering down for years - it's just enough to get my airways to open up - along with my regular medication.

My doctor tells me if less than a week on a low dose, you don't need to taper down, but always, always best to do as your doc instructs - as we're all different.

I don't know if it started working right away for me.........but I know I got the side effects right away:(:( Added to all the other side effects folks listed here......it also cause ME to be beary SOB?????????????? Like WTF????? I though it was to HELP that??????????

I was on it for about a month....in pill form, but including a few IV doses at the ER........maybe they just OD'ed me??

It prolly helped................I'm still here...............but everyone is different.........you may not notice a thing.

(oh...I have been on it before and it never bothered me..........not sure what happened this time........maybe just too much???

Best of luck to you.............and definitely finish it................I'm sure they give you a certain amt for a reason:):)

Just watch out for your blood sugar, this drug is known to make it go up while you are on it. Its sure does mine, wish I could use it more often, but with my blood sugar goes so high they only use it when i get very bad.

Hi Linda,
I am rarely on prednisone, when I am it is for extreme problems like inflammation, brohchitis, infection, ect. My doctor has done it several ways. If it is less than 7 days, he said you do not have to taper it down,
so he has given me what I call the shotgun doses, 60 mg, for 5 days then quit, (or what ever mg) and he has had me on the tapered doses several times if I was ill.
It has something to do with the glands that control all that. The tapering gives them time to get back to normal and also your immune system to build up a bit. The shotgun, drops your immume system all at one time.
I have had several doctors tell me that if you do not taper off after more than 8 days, that your entire system can shut down. So if you are on a tapering dose, do it as the doctor says even if you feel good.
I have on occasion taken a prednisone 10 or 20 for 2-3 days just to help a bit. But it does make my blood pressure high, and makes me feel nervous if I am on a dose longer than that.
Always do as your doctor says, and always ask questions.
BJ
PS, I think that is the adrenal glands, but I am probably wrong,

My own problem with prednisone or any steroid is that it makes my blood sugar go up and my blood pressure as well. That makes me nervous about staying with any steroid even though my Dr thinks the side effects are worth it and he likes to say "lungs trump everything else!"

I'm not sure I agree and this is another reason I need a real pulmonologist. The one in this area is so busy that it takes months to get in but I'm going to try as soon as the regular Dr gets back to town.

Predisone basically shuts down your adrenal glands and so, you don't get the adrenalin you need. That's why if you take it for any extended period of time, you do a taper-down - it gives your adrenal glands a chance to recharge and work again.

It is definitely wrong (and even dangerous) to quit Prednisone suddenly if you've been on it for awhile. You can go into adrenal shock...not a good thing, at all, and can be dangerous. I'm not sure, but this may be the same for any corticosteroid one is on. I do know that it is just not Prednisone that can cause a surge in your blood sugar. Salmeterol can do the same thing, and my last excerbation I ended up having to inject insulin at home for awhile after being released from the hospital.

Just because our meds can raise our blood sugar levels, I buy a A1c test from Walmart which tests your blood sugar levels the previous three months. The test is less than $10, you don't have to go to a doctor . To me, it's well worth it. It also tells you what are normal ranges and when you need to talk to your doctor.

DAY 4! feeling better but still having trouble sleeping! my breathing gets worse at night..... I think I have some anxiety issues! cuz I do great during the day at work, walking around ect ect! Then w/o/ sleep for one night, the nx night I will sleep like 10 hrs w/ no worries! now if I was having breathing problems, I don't think I could sleep no matter what! have just decided to let my body do it's on thing and if I sleep I SLEEP. IF NOT I'M NOT GOING TO WORRIE ABT IT! IT CAUSES TO MUCH ANXIETY FOR ME!

Insomnia is one of the big side effects with Prednisone. I think you'll find once you are off of it and your body readjusts, the wide awake nights will soon pass. Good time, maybe, to catch up on some reading!

P.S. I also get this huge surge of (false, I'm sure) energy while I'm on it, so have to be careful not to overdo.