Hello doctor, I had been put on Prednisone steroids for 21 days because of an allergic reaction to poison ivy. I have been off them for almost three weeks and I still feel withdrawal symptoms. The latest side effect, tonight, was red finger tips with white palms. The soles of my feet are also very red. Should I go to the hospital or wait it out? I do not want to lose my hands and feet due to a medication I have been given.
Hello. I read your query and understand your concern. You received Prednisone for 21 days and have stopped them three weeks ago. Let me explain about steroids. Steroids are tapered slowly if taken for a duration longer than a week. The withdrawal symptoms have a dramatic presentation in the first 48 hours characterized by vomiting, loose motions, low blood pressure and shock. This is a medical emergency with high mortality rate when left untreated. That is the reason why you need to be taken off the steroids slowly. However, new symptoms of withdrawal cannot occur a week after stopping the drug because the hypothalamic-pituitary axis recovers by that time. So, the redness of the soles and fingertips are not withdrawal symptoms and possibly an allergic reaction. I would suggest taking antihistamines for a few days. For more information consult an internal medicine physician online -->