I was on cortef since I was about 12 and I take 20 mg. My doctor had switched me on to the dexamethasone and several months later I developed a stomach problem. The extra acid that formed in my stomach ate at the my stomach actually it was the flap from your esophagus that allows acid reflux up the esophagus. It made me so sick that I kept losing weight and my weight dropped to about 80 lbs. I put myself back on the cortef 20 mg. and have since increased my weight to a healthy weight. I also was taking birth control pill so that I would get my periods but those were causing side effects like a lot of weight gain which I knew wasn't good on my heart for my weight to be at extremes and my veins in my legs were protruding out of my leg. Did any of you experience the same effects?