Prednisone Infusion | Arthritis Information

Hi, I regitered earlier this week under PA and didn't get any relpies so thought I would put this ubder RA. I spent a long time reading through peoples problems, and wondered if anyone out there has had an intense large dose Prednisone infusion, and what side effects there are. I am on Arava at the monemt but it has stopped working so am waiting for an assesment from my local hospital to discuss having weekly injection from the Biologics nurse. They have suggested this to help me until the assesment, Methotrexate nearly killed me as I ended up with Pneumonia and later in the year blood clots in my lung. I have Psoriatic and Rhumatoid Arthritis and at the moment have fingers like pork sausages and pain through out my body. I have been told I have PA & RA, look forward to hearing from anyone out there. AngieHello and welcome!
I just restarted Arava--hoping for good results this time. I haven't heard of prednisone infusions--sorry.
I have been on large doses of prednisone in the past but in pill form only. I didn't even know they could do it in infusions. Hopefully someone on this site has some insight into this for you.
Good Luck!! Hope you feel better soon.Hi, have you had any problems with your liver results since taking Arava? you have to be very careful if you drink alcahol as it raises you reading levels, it work very wells for me until my body got used to it, which is why they are going to do the infusion then put me on TNF. Angie

Don't know anything about your question; but wish you good luck. I hope it is the magic bullet for you.

Welcome to AI. Glad you came over to this section. This is where you'll find the majority of the members whether they have RA or not. It's kind of a free for all around here. Don't hesitate to post here.

Hi and Welcome Angie, I haven't had Pred. infusions but I do have RA and PA. For some reason I think that Pred. infusion is more prevalent in UK than US. On one of the other forums I know of 2 others from the UK who have had Pred. infusion. Right now I'm in clinical remission for RA but my PA is flaring. The pain from the PA is far worse than the RA pain but so far it's been controlled with meds and is getting better this week.

It's always frightening when I hear of the pulmonary problems that can happen when taking MXT. I had a pulmonary embolism several years ago before I started MXT. My RD reluctantly prescribed MXT but it has helped. They monitor me closely and it's been 18 months and so far no problems.

I understand exactly what you're going through and hopefully the Pred. infusions will bring you relief. I've heard from others that they help quite a bit. Take care and keep us posted. Lindy

Thanks Lindy, I don't suppose you can remember which other forum it was that you read about the other 2 people havinging Pred infusions. AngieAngie, it was on 4ratalks.com

Lindy

How pred for an infusion?

The only kind of pred infusion I've ever been witness to, is when my hunny was in the hospital for his Chron's flares. But we're talking, 100-150mg a couple times a day. I think that might be a little extreme? I'm really not sure, I'd never thought about it until this thread.

What I wonder, is how often are the infusions? I know when taking pred pills, you can't just stop taking them. So how would your body manage inbetween infusions? How long can you make it between them?

Sorry I just ended up asking more questions!!!!

Katie, I think it's a one time infusion but I don't know the dosage. Also, it's given for relief of MS symptoms, particularly with balance but when it's given for MS it's a series of infusions. May be different in the UK. Lindy LinB2008-02-14 19:05:28Ah. I see!

I would imagine with the series of infusions, they would address exactly what I just asked. LoL And it's probably different for everyone, just like it's different for remicade, rituxan, etc etc.

Makes sense!

Hi, thank you al for your replies. I will be having the infusion over 3 days, which will take about hour and a half each day, I have been told I will have to stay in hospital as it makes you very tired and you must n't do anything for a few days after infusions.hoathfarm,
I just restarted the arava--I will be getting my liver profiles done every 6 weeks. I am hoping the med works for me. last time I was on it (about 10 years ago) I got hives from it so I stopped. I am hoping that doesn't happen again--as I hear that this med works pretty good if you can get past some of the side effects.
No wine with dinner now though!

thanks for sharing the info.Pred infusions are given all the time in the hospital. One such drug is called Solumedrol. We give it every six hours. Patients respond very well to this drug and is a life saver for some. But they never stay on for more than a couple of days and are then placed on pred. I would not encourage this drug for long term use.Lori, are pred. inf. given routinely for RA? I know that it's used for other diagnoses but wasn't sure about RA. LindyNo Lindy, not where I'm from. I'm not sure what the purpose would be or the thought behind it. I would be interested to know how it would work. I'm gonna google it as it does sound interesting. The ones we give are just pushes. I have never heard of it as an actual going over three days type treatment. Also, I cannot imagine it making people tired. It does not sound like pred to me.Thanks Lori, I didn't think it was given in the US often as RA relief. Like I said earlier I've chatted with 2 individuals in the UK and they both had been treated with a Pred. infusion for RA. I didn't ask many questions, maybe I'll pm the one person and get more info. LindyYeah Lori, that's what they give Justin. Only he's usually on it the entire stay, which sometimes is over a week. But he's a sick boy too. heh.

And when he goes home, he's always on pred pills for a while. That's why I was wondering about the taper down, and the withdrawl side of it.

KWIM?

Oh oh, and sometimes it's in the bag, and sometimes they just come push it into the IV. I'm not sure why they do it one way over the other.