I just finished a slow taper off of prednisone- i had been on it for a year and a half. i cannot get out of bed, i have no appetite (which is not a bad thing because i gained so much weight on pred) and i fee so down. i know that this sounds like depression, but it started as soon as i finished the prednisone. is this normal? how long will it last? if anyone has answers, please help

:(... Sorry to hear about your depression.... *Try to be happy at least that you're off the evil prednisone, though*

I wish I could give you the answers you seek.... but I haven't been off prednisone since I was diagnosed... I may end up in the same boat you are when I finally am able to get off of it...

*Curious to see how others respond, so I can know if this is something I can expect*I think I am being picked on by life, sometimes. But's that okay. Life and I are good buddies... I know life doesn't mean no harm. It just is the way it is. I can accept that.

Yowzas! I am so sorry to hear that you are feeling so bad!! I have a GI appointment this week where I will hopefully finally be taken off of the prednisone (also a slow weene going on a year). I too gained a ton of weight (about 40-45 lbs) on it so I am ecstatic to hopefully be off of it. Keep us posted on how you are doing and I will let you know how it goes on my end. Have you talked to any of your doctors about how you are feeling? Best of luck and I'll keep you in my thoughts.

Well, prenisone does all sorts of things and so does withdrawl from pred. If the inflamation is back that would cause the fatigue-but just not having enough cortisol can do that as well. Anytime you mess with hormones you can cause changes in mood. So it could be the pred causeing depression. My advise would be to tell your doctor what you are experiencing and let him help you figure out what to do about it.Hope you feel better soon.Sj

Hi Suvivor I have been off pred. for 2 months now and like you been on it for over a year. I have been having alot of body pain and a wee bit of depression but I think it is associated with the body pain and I had some eye problems. Are you having any body pain? Hope your depression goes away soon. I find it a little disappointing not to be able to do as much but see how things go I guess. lol gail

I have been on predisone for 1 1/2 years.....my GI is trying to slowly ween me off. I was having a lot of withdraw symptoms and so he put me on Azasan to help with them. It has helped me A LOT. I still haven't gain my appetite back, but I guess that's ok, concidering I went from 90lbs...to 150...................-SherriSherri-28 yrs old

Wow so many of you were on it for so long! I think that would probably be pretty normal. Even just going down from 40 to 30 mg the last two weeks I've noticed changes in mood, aches and pains. I can imagine coming off of it completely would even be worse.~Jennifer

Diagnosed with Crohn's Disease 2/06 after sever GI bleed. Has been suffering since 1998. History of rectal fistula and gallbladder removal. Currently taking Prednisone: tapered to 35 mg, Asacol, Questran, Toprol XL (for high blood pressure).

Those of you that are weaning off the prednisone... or have been off the prednisone.... and it wasn't because you were starting to feel better.... What are you taking now?I think I am being picked on by life, sometimes. But's that okay. Life and I are good buddies... I know life doesn't mean no harm. It just is the way it is. I can accept that.

.... The azathioprine by itself doesn't help? :(... How much azathioprine are you taking?I think I am being picked on by life, sometimes. But's that okay. Life and I are good buddies... I know life doesn't mean no harm. It just is the way it is. I can accept that.

Every time I taper down below the 5mg marker I get depressed, irritable and extreme fatigue. It hits about 3 days after the change in dose and lasts a little over a week. This last time I went very, very slowly and, while I still felt it, the process what easier at the end. Of course, now I am back on them, but...

Hang in there. It takes time for the adrenal glands to start functioning again, especially after so long on the steroids!--40 year old female, dx as UC in '04 (1st symptoms in '03), switched to Crohn's in '05, 1 fistula, crohn's colitis, limited to large intestine

I was just put on prednisone 60mg about a week ago , 4 my CD.Usually i taper 5mg down per week, so i'll be on it 4 about 3 months. I've been on pred many times in the past so know how my body will react.Sleeplessness, emotional upheaval,its a kind of madness, not to mention physical s/effects. My heart goes out to all of you who have been on pred for so long. Hi I'm crohnie_boy