Prednisolone (Corticosteroid): Long term side effects

Hello @mmr1984, You will notice I changed the title of your discussion a little to hopefully draw in other members who have been on a corticosteroid such as prednisolone or prednisone for a long period of time. Sorry to hear that you now have steroid induced diabetes and possibly osteoporosis as a result of being on the drug for years. Here are a few sites that discuss the long term affects and may offer some helpful information.

- Prednisone and other corticosteroids: https://www.mayoclinic.org/steroids/art-20045692
- Steroid Side Effects: How to Reduce Drug Side Effects of Corticosteroids: https://www.hss.edu/conditions_steroid-side-effects-how-to-reduce-corticosteroid-side-effects.asp
- Corticosteroid-Induced Osteoporosis: https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/c/corticosteroid-induced-osteoporosis.html

Have you talked to your doctor about your concerns and if there may be other alternatives to taking prednisolone?

Thanks @johnbishop . My doctor is monitoring and put me on calcium and vitamin D and also dibetes meds. I do not tolerate the alternatives such as cellcept. Useful sites.

for the bones take calcium with Vitamin D and weight bearing exercises

Sorry to hear of your long term side effects of prednisone. I have only been on prednisone for a few months but will be on it for another year. I was told to take 2000mg of Vitamin D and extra calcium once diagnosed with temporal arteritis. I was just referred to a rheumatologist and he immediately put me on 70mg of Alendronate once a week to combat the effects of prednisone on my bones and to help against osteoporosis... Hope this helps....

I wonder what the effects of too much vitamin D would be. I was shocked when a nurse called me after my last blood draw and said my doctor wanted me to cut back on vitamin D. My number is 61.9 and the range is 30.0-100.0. I told the nurse I had stopped taking extra vitamin D after my last blood draw. There is vitamin D in my every day vitamin and in my calcium + D. So I was told to take my vitamin every other day. I don't get this, but the nurse said my doctor would like to see my vitamin D at the middle range, i.e. no higher than 50. I always look for the dreaded "H" on my blood tests, but this did not have that next to it. Count me as puzzled. @joybringer1

I had been on low-dose prednisone for 4 years and still was struck with temporal arteritis in May 2020, that over night took most of the sight in my right eye. I already had severe osteoporosis before I started prednisone.
I was immediately put on 60mg prednisone that tapered down to 10mg. over a 4 month period. My doc put me on a preemptive dose of diabetes meds that has worked so far. I take a Reclast infusion annually plus Vit D3, calcium, magnesium and zinc for the osteoporosis.
They say I'll be on prednisone for the rest of my life and what ever other side effects come along, to me it is worth it to save my other eye.

I was on pregnasone 60 MG for a year now I can't remember anything I forget appointments I hardly can spell things without spell check is their any help

If you have Giant Cell temporal arteritis prednisone high dose is recommended.
Long term with side effects you qualify for the antibodies to Interleukin-6
that are approved for your diagnosis. Often there is financial aid you may
qualify for from the drug companies. It is available for treatment resistant
Polymyalgia patients as well. Have you been offered other treatment?

I have Giant Cell Arteritis and take Actemra and prednisone for treatment. Actemra is a drug that allows you to taper off of prednisone faster and helps prevent flares. I live in the US and have a Medicare Advantage insurance plan. The insurance pays most of the cost of the Actemra. Depending on your income, the drug companies and other organizations provide copay insurance to help cover the rest of the cost.

Oh my!! Talk/chatabout long term steroids! Finally!
I have taken prednisone 5-mg mostly except for flairs, for 40 years daily for RA- have only gotten down to 4 mg for few years but now at 78 and higher pain from RA, osteoporosis, and muscle, ligament, tendon and deterioration and atrophy ( perhaps partly due to steroid use) , I am staying at 5 ( which is NOT keeping me at all pain free!!! ). It’s frightening to watch myself now become a cripple. Use walker - cane isn’t really rough. Have been doing DNA testing and do have variants (MD possible - adult onset) - but lots of this is steroid due - including discolored skin ( legs) , very thin wrinkly skin ( all over) easily injured, easy bruise and bleed, sight issues ( I am an artist!) bone ( take 2 a year Prolea shots to help), delayed healing etc etc. I have felt alone! RA Drs not sure now - Orencia for years to delay RA not working well and Methotrexate past few years to boost it has now again effected my liver. We’re meeting Tuesday 4th to relook. ANY tips desired!!! Help welcome - will look at sights!