Prednisone question | Arthritis Information

 

Hey, I just talked to my doctor and he is going to put me on prednisone to help me feel better.  He is putting me on it for two weeks. Starting with like three pills and tapering down to 1/2 by the end of the two weeks.  Is this normal?  I just want so much to feel better and this is only my PCP because my Rheumy appointment isn't until April 7th.  My PCP thinks I will be feeling better tomorrow but he is always on the way optimistic side so I was wondering what you all thought?

THANKS
Hi Lotokids, I am sorry you are in this position and as for your Dr saying you will feel better tomorrow, I am afraid I feel like you, he is just being optimistic, I really hope you do feel better but with this disease, I find I never know how I am going to be until tomorrow comes!  The pred reduction method is good though, but in my case the flare just comes right back after the dose is tapered so I have been on pred constantly now for 8 years.  April isn't that far away though so keep your chin up, best wishes Janie. WOW 8 years, are you on it every day?  I dropped it off at the pharmacy to get filled so I am not sure what dose he is starting me on.  I remember three pills but that is all I remember. Yes, 8 years, the dose is now pretty  stable at 10mg a day but it varies with the flare, anything up to 50 mg per day, this is not the option the Drs like though, it's just because I can't tolerate the other DMARDS, (disease modifiers),  so pred is my only option,  I hope you don't have to go on it long term as it has terrible side effects.  I now have high cholesterol, blood pressure, obesity, osteoporosis, cushings syndrome, glaucoma, cataracts, and I am pre diabetic all from the pred.  I am not trying to scare you, this would be a persons last option, but being on short term pred packs doesn't do this.    Your 3 pills will total either 15mg or 75mg, the tabs come in 1mg, 5mg, and 25mg.  They can make you very hungry so make sure you eat healthy, I always seem to crave carbs.

Best of luck, Janie.
janiefx2008-03-11 15:58:24Lotokids, I have been on and off predizone for years and it helps within

days of starting it . I have been on prednisone for the past 2 weeks. I am at a constant of 5mg (or one pill) but that wasn't really doing much for me and I am still in a lot of pain. I was told that I could up the dose to 7.5mg and for the past 2 days I have done that and I feel a bit better. However, my rheumy told me that once my MTX kicks in (in about 5 weeks) that I should start tapering down. He said that it isn't so great to be on the prednisone for so long since it makes you gain weight. I want to be off it asap so that i don't gain anymore weight.

In terms of what your doctor is doing, I have been on a regimen like that before but it was for a severe sinus infection. You start off with like 6 pills and taper over a week or two until you arent taking any. It really worked for me immediately and I felt so much better - but I was also taking it for a different reason (sinus inflammation). I know that it works the same way for any inflammation so you should be ok. I hope that you start to feel better! let us know.
The drug you are speaking of , wav, is the medrol dosepak, or methyprednisolone.  Similar in that it is a steroid, but different than regular prednisone.  I for one couldn't tolerate the dosepak.  Made me sick.  Now at 30 mg. of pred daily, I have no problems other than an ever-widening behind.  They call it fat redistribution...I'd like to know from where it redistributed, because that's not looking any thinner, either LOL^ That's great, lotokids! I really hope that it works for you. I took 25mg of pred for 2 weeks a few weeks ago. After suffering for so long and it was like a miracle, it was seriously like I had just woken up from an 18 month sleep, I had 3 good days in a row and it was splendid! Now I'm on 15-25mg of pred a day and it helps me move around, but my inflammation is too high for it to be my wonder drug anymore. It allows me to feed myself and walk, but I think that I am flaring too much for it to be effective. It also helps with my lungs and asthma, so I shouldn't really complain. Good things! _popupControl(); So my dose is 20mg.  Three tabs daily for three days, then two for three days then 1 for four days then 1/2 for four days.

I am hoping for relief!
[QUOTE=janiefx] Yes, 8 years, the dose is now pretty  stable at 10mg a day but it varies with the flare, anything up to 50 mg per day
[/QUOTE]
Yikes, that's is a lot.
I'll stick to my 5mg.

Find it hard to believe that they havent got something for you.
[QUOTE=Bodak] [QUOTE=janiefx] Yes, 8 years, the dose is now pretty  stable at 10mg a day but it varies with the flare, anything up to 50 mg per day
[/QUOTE]
Yikes, that's is a lot.
I'll stick to my 5mg.


HI Stephen, I know, I find it hard to believe my self, I will list the ones I have tried for you and every one of them, I either had awful tummies, anaphylactic reactions,  or intolerance.
MTX, Plaquenil, Sulfasalazine, Arava, Imuran, Gold injections, AP therapy,  Humira, Enbrel and Orencia.  My rheumy just shakes his head now and doesn't know where to go next.

Cheers Janie.
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