Time for an update, to say the least since I haven’t posted for about two months. Lot’s has happened since my last post but I’ll try to capsulize on it. First, for my health update, I had a good run of no serious bouts after having been on the prednisone for two months. Just a few episodes here and there. The combination of prednisone and alprazolam seemed to be working out for me until I ran out of alprazolam without a prescription for a refill and no insurance. I went 4 days without it and was sick as a dog.
Aprazolam is one of the medications you HAVE to taper off of. I didn’t realize that I was running out of predinisone as fast as I was so I cut the dosage in half, not knowing if I would be able to pay for the office visit and exam I knew I would have to have in order to get my prescriptions. Big mistake. I basically put my body through a very dangerous process while my system was trying to adjust to the change in the dosage. I ended up in emergency with a mild stroke. Prednisone affects the adrenaline gland and I was informed that I could have suffered adrenaline failure which is a very serious problem. Thank God I went in when I did.
The combination of going cold turkey off of Alprazolam (Zanax) and reducing the Prednisone without seeing a doctor and gradualy being taken off under the care of a physician could have more disastrous. The ER doctor tapered me off the Prednisone and gave me a prescription for Asacol, and refilled the Alprazolam because it seemed to help me with stress and anxiety, which in turn helps with my colon problems. I am in the process of tapering off the Alprazolam however, because I just don’t want to take anything that could make you feel that bad if you run out.
I’m down to maybe one bout of diahrrea in a week and the cramping is not as bad, no vomiting and very few bouts of the Phantom Pain. I still have very little energy but I’m pushing past my symptoms and working more. My appetite varies, I gained a few pounds from the prednisone, and I’m just trying to keep a positive state of mind about all of it, thanking God daily for the healing that is taking place in my body. I believe I’m well on my way to remission. I’ll continue the update in my next post and include some links to other important information I recieved about how prednisone works in the body. I didn’t know that it can weaken the immune system, which is already a problem for UC sufferers, but the advantages of how the medication works against inflamation outweighs the effect on the immune system, and it also depends on the state of your immune system. That’s it for now. I’m working today so I’ll finish the update later.
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been on alprazolam for 6mos,2mg a day.stopped cold..cannot sleep at all.mild flu like symptoms.twichy.doesnt feel good.night is a quiet hell.
Hi Lonni:
How long ago did you stop? I tried to stop cold turkey and it’s very dangerous. You have to taper off. Check with your doctor… the symptons will get worse each day. I’m now down to less than .25 mg. If your symptons continue to get worse, please see a doctor and have them taper you off. The side effects of aprazolam and stopping cold turkey are worse than what you’re taking it for. I ended up in emergency more than once just from not having a prescription for it and missing 4 days.
sincerely,
Pattie
Yuck! My daughter (9) was just diagnosed with UC and also was given Prednisone. That stuff is nasty. Along with all of the above, it also hinders the development of bones and can cause osteoperosis, as well as delay the onset of puberty (likely not an issue for you anymore!)
I’m really hoping she doesn’t have to take it very long. Her current prescription is for one month.
My son who is 16 has UC. He spent many years in pain and being sick. All that medication you get fromt he dr. is just a temporay fix for the symptom. My son is off any meds and feeling 100% better. This is how we did it! EVERYONE…especially those w/UC need to have COLONICS. Colon Hydro Therapy cleanses your large intestine/colon of toxins, bad bacteria & all the old rotting fecal matter as well as soothes the effects UC. You need to drink Aloe Vera Juice and take whole food supplements for your vitamins and minerals as well as take Probiotics. You also should take something to boost your immune system. Go to the nearest health food store for the aloe vera juice and supplements and find a colon hydro therapist in your area and you will feel a world of difference.
My mother Gloria took prednisone last Monday and on Wednesday she had a stroke. I am sure that it is the medication prednisone. I am still in shock as she was the fittest person, low cholestrol, weighs 52kg, exercised, ate right etc. She is in hospital and cannot speak and her vision has been affected. Please let me know if anybody else has experienced this. Thank you Gaye Hardaker Johannesburg South Africa.