MDS: Prednisone Withdrawal

Prednisone, actually, has nothing to with treating MDS. But, I was taking the drug because the original diagnosis was ITP.

And, once you're on the steroid, you can't just stop cold turkey. You must be weaned, an weaning takes a while. That "while" ended last Wednesday.

"Aha!" thought I. "Now this mixed bag of physical symptoms will go away, and I can concentrate on how I really feel."

Sorry. It's not so simple.

In place of veiled hyperactivity, along came fatigue, body aches, aching legs and late-day headaches.

Apparently there's such a thing "prednisone withdrawal."

Worry was setting in like a slow leak in my mental oil pan. But, fortunately, my good pal Jules Older had pointed me towards an excellent book entitled Coping With Prednisone, and sure enough, right there in Chapters 11 and 12—"Weathering Withdrawal" and "The Future: Life After Steroid Treatment"—was coverage of post-prednisone symptoms and difficulty.

Among other symptoms, look out for

• muscle, bone joint and especially leg aches, particularly at night
• radical energy level shift from high to low, day to day
• more sweating
• variations in vision acuity

All of which I've been experiencing.

Thanks, Jules. I've least gained some understanding of what's happening.

Next question: now long does it last?