I have found it works within a day or so. The only side effect I've experienced is an odd taste. Good luck on knocking the pain out. Trish

I love prednisone!! It kicks in for me in about 9 hours.

I respond quickly as well....but not everyone does.

Thanks everyone! That's good to hear! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will reduce the pain within a few days. Nothing OTC is working in conjunction w/the other meds I'm on, so I'm staying hopeful this works soon! :)

Works rather quickly for me, as well. - within a few hours

Be well
Bluedogs2

Each time can be different
Usually after the first day.
Dosage is huge factor
15mg I'm pretty decent
Once I go down to 5mg I'm hurting again.
Last round with prednisone took me 2 days before I felt it really kick in
Good luck
Sammy

I remember going to bed feeling like I had been run over by a truck. Had taken prednisone before bed and woke up feeling 15 years old again. It was great.

My pain was noticeably better within 8 hours. I was on it for over a year, and I gained over 40 pounds. Now whether that was from the prednisone or the fatigue, inflammation, pain and depression associated with RA, I don't know.

But be mindful that it could increase your appetite. I would eat dinner and be hungry - yes really truly hungry 2 hours later. I tried to keep healthy snacks and fruit around, and would not eat after 7 pm. And I still gained 40 pounds.

Hope you get some relief asap!
Debbie

Debbie,

Thanks for the info. I think that's why they hesitated to give me the meds in the first place. I am what my doctor calls "morbidly obese". I have like a 46% BMI so I can't afford to gain anymore weight.

I have to say... I started the Pred yesterday morning and aside from the intense manual labor I did today at work that my body isn't used to, I feel great! My back hurts but that's from all the bending and lifting I had to do and was on my feet ALL day. My hands (which were the most painful part the last 2 weeks) feel soooooo much better today!!!! I'm really hoping that this is part of the meds working!

We'll see how I feel tomorrow... :p

Hello Secret,

If you have positive inflammatory markers, taking Prednisone should help. In usually kicks in pretty quickly, for most within the first day if the dose is right.

Good Luck,
TheWino

I had a severe onset of RA. I went from healthy & strong to a cripple literally overnight.
For weeks with a bad RD I spiraled down despite MTX & 20 mgs. prednisone daily. I got to the point where I lost 23 lbs. in 2 weeks, could not sit up unassisted, had 12 hr. pain cycles so bad I prayed to die. I was not responding to meds so they had me do a CT of the head, chest, abdomen to see if this was a malignancy not RA. I was clean.
I switched doctors when my first choice who I had been on a waiting list for had a cancellation....
He is old and says I was the worst presentation case he has ever seen. he upped my prednisone to 40 mgs. which I took as soon as I got home.
The next morning I stood up on my own and walked to the bathroom unassisted!
It was like a miracle. (I must say I did a lot of praying saying I couldn't serve the Lord in the condition I was in and could I just feel a little bit better. I "heard" that I would not be just a little bit better but 10 fold) It didn't happen right away but a couple of weeks later this appt. opened up.
Anyway- it appears that this massive dose taken for several months tripped my immune system back to where it belonged. It took me a long 1 1/2 years to wean off of it and it did come with moon face, weight gain, facial hair etc...but I never flared bad again. I haven't had a pain free day since that onset in 2007 but it's all bearable. Have not lost a day of work due to RA since that awful onset when I was out for months.
I highly recommend a high prednisone dose to anyone who can't seem to get right on the DMARDS alone.
You don't have to stay on it forever,

I wish you all the best!