predinsone & anemia | Arthritis Information

I everyone I'm new here.I have a question about anemia.My mom has RA she was on predinsone 2.5 mg for years she started taking msm it worked for a while she went off the predinsone and her blood count got really low she was 9.1 she started taking it again and it started to go up again to 9.8 and in a short time.Know she stopped it again becouse it made her dizzy and she has been throwing up from it.Also i heard alot of bad stuff about it.Someone said it can cause heart disease,has anyone else heard that? Has anyone here had RA and been diagnosed with immune hemolytic anemia? I'm wondering if that is why my moms anemia is so bad. You stated she was on prednisone. Prednisone does cause anemia that is controlled by adding iron pills to your diet.Hi and welcome to the board. SO sorry to hear about your mom. As Bubbagump said, pred does cause anemia. Please send your mom well wishes from us here!Thank you for your posts.The strange thing is my mom has always had anemia becouse of RA.She had it before she took predinson.It was only after she stopped taking it her anemia got worse.When she started taking it again it got much better. Hi Jan, I was told by my RA and my GP that the anemia is because of the arthritis. Its because Its anemia from a chronice illness and is not cured by taking iron. I have asked the doctor over and over about an iron supplement and she said don't waste your money on it So the answer to your question is iffy! chrise498339472.9074074074Hi Chrise4983

Thanks for your reply.My moms dr wants her to take iron.He says her iron is low.I hope her anemia is from RA, he said he does not think so he said he thinks she may be bleeding from some where becouse her iron is low.I am hopeing it is becouse she doen't eat much iron. jan1739472.9314699074Hi Jan17, I have been on predisone for 2 years now at 20mg to 30mg. I don't feel well on it but it keeps me walking. it was the only thing I could take because I have allgerys to all the other meds.. I am now trying to wean myself off I am down to 10mg now. And well try to get down more but at this time I really need it so the decrease would not be good. I am on 4 Blood Presure pills now. Unable to keep it down which is not good for me either. So thats what I am battling now. I hope everything turns out for your Mom. JoanHi joan,

When I look at other RA drugs i would rather have my mom take predinsone rather than some of them.Alot of them couse cancer my moms doctor said she has a women on a RA drug and she has to keep getting biopsi becouse of tumors from it. The past couple of months have been really bad for my mom.She went off predinsone and was really feeling bad.The thing that makes it so hard is me and my mom take care of my grandmother who is bedridden with Alzheimer's.Even though she is sick she can't take a day off.But thank God she is feeling alittle better know becouse she is taking msm again.She takes a full scoop of it with orange juice.It really does help.The good thing about msm is that it is natural.I think people should give it a try at least once. But they should check with there doctor first.