Pharmacy and Medications

Joint pain after prednisone use

09/24/2007

Question:

I was on Prednisone for 2 months for chrons.I have been off of Prednisone for a 1 month and have been experiencing joint pain since then. How long will it take for the joint pain to cease? And is there any medications I can take to reduce the pain until then?

Answer:

Thank you for the question.

After much searching, I found no link between stopping prednisone and long term joint pain. However, Crohn's Disease can sometimes cause joint problems. It is important to speak with your doctor about the pain you have been experiencing.

Prednisone is a medicine used to treat many conditions and diseases. It can have serious side effects when used on a long term basis including:

Skin thinning

Bruising

Weight gain

Slowed wound healing

Sleep disturbances

Stomach problems

Muscle aches

and weakness

Patients taking prednisone long term should never stop taking it without first consulting with their doctor. Stopping this medication may cause extreme muscle weakness, upset stomach, weight changes, or death. Please see your physician for an evaluation. He or she can determine the cause of your joint pain as well as an appropriate treatment.

For more information on Prednisone, please visit: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a601102.html

For more information on Crohn's Disease, please visit: http://www.ccfa.org/

Prepared by: Merideth Romey, OSU PharmD Candidate, Class of 2008

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Response by:

Carmen M. Hadley, RPh, CSPI
Clinical Instructor
Central Ohio Poison Center
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
College of Pharmacy
The Ohio State University