2 Weeks after finishing Prednisone taper......withdrawal symptoms?

Good Morning All,

I hope everyone is feeling good lately!

My daughter has finished her prednisone taper so far with no issues other than possible withdrawal from the pred.  It has been 6 weeks with absolutely NO UC Symptoms which has been a relief so far as it was 8 months of hell for her.

I just wonder what kind of prednisone withdrawal symptoms people have had once done with taper?  My daughter has been emotional, says she doesn't feel well lately but more in the mental capacity, just unhappy and moody.  She has also complained about her hips hurting and woke up with pain in her wrist this morning and couldn't move it.  I'm hoping it's just withdrawal symptoms, I gave her advil hoping it's not something we need to go to doctor about.  So tired of going to the doctors and hospitals, usually a waste of time for us.

Also, how long til the extra pounds and moon face will start to come off? 

Thanks in advance for all your replies!

I've been off of prednisone for a few weeks now and had/have similar symptoms. I basically cried for two weeks straight starting a few days after finishing the pred. I've never had any depression before this, but according to my GI (and here) people can experience emotional issues post-prednisone. I was basically not functioning, so my GI put me on a very low dose, month long course of Celexa, an anti-depressant, which I've been on for almost a week. I'm definitely feeling a bit better, but I don't know if that's just time or if the meds are helping at all.

Also, my moonface has dissipated a lot this past week (the 3rd week off) so hopefully you can start to see results soon!

Prescribers fail to explain the risk of developing Adrenal Insufficiency as a result of having taken corticosteroids, e.g., prednisone.

Migraine headaches, bone pain, and extreme lethargy were the physical symptoms that had me down for two years. Chronic depression was also exacerbated.

The disabling symptoms of adrenal insufficiency are not due to "withdrawal" from prednisone. Rather, it is the failure (insufficiency) of the adrenal glands to produce the all-essential cortisol. Prednisone is far more potent than it's natural analogue, cortisol. Symptoms of insufficiency can emerge during and after tapering off prednisone, and vary in severity.

Taking prednisone overrides your natural production of cortisol. Developing adrenal insufficiency is more likely after taking high doses (~40 mg) for long periods (~several weeks). A rapid taper off of prednisone (of dose and schedule) hastens the emergence and severity of the symptoms.

In my case it took two months in bed to figure it out by re-reading the chapter on medications in an IBD specialist's book. I took the book to my PCP who promptly stepped out to call an endocrinologist. I was put back on a dose of prednisone just above where I first developed symptoms of insufficiency (~15 mg). The taper was unbelievably slow (reduction by 1-1.5 mg every 1-3 months). Symptoms re-emerged at 5 milligrams. So the dose was bumped up again; resetting the taper at smaller dose reductions over longer periods. At 1-2 milligrams of prednisone, I was switched to cortisone and continued the slow taper. Every three months I underwent adrenal challenge tests* to evaluate adrenal functioning and determine if & how much to taper.

*Adrenal challenge testing included; baseline blood draw, injection of cortisol stimulating hormone, followed by two more timed blood draws to measure cortisol and ACTH response.

In total it took two years and three taper attempts to get off steroids and restore adequate adrenal function. It then took another 6 months and two attempts to taper off of opiates that were controlling the bone pain and frequent migraines.

I have vowed to never take any steroid unless it given down an ET tube as a life saving measure.

Hope this information helps.
Ciao