A little whining A lot of Frustration | Arthritis Information

Hi All,

I've been trying so hard to get off of Prednisone. I was at 20 mg day, and downward, finally at 2 mg. a day. I've been on it for two years.

For the last month I have had a rash on my chest. It's bright red, hot, itchy and painful. I finally went to the doctor yesterday. She said it's an allergy rash to a medication. I really started to notice it when I got below 5/10 mg. of Prednisone.

She feels I'm allergic to a med, but the prednisone has been masking it. The frustration,

I'm on Prednisone, MTX, Benzapril, Lukovorin, Nefedipine, Enbrel, Folic Acid, Vit. D, Calcium, Prilosec, baby aspirin, Vicodin, Ambien. So then, which one is making me red, itchy and hot?

She doesn't know. It's going to be a long haul, taking meds. away one at a time and waiting. OMG, are you kidding me? I know she's a doctor, and human, and shooting in the dark on this one, but these medicines allow me to put my own clothes on, turn on my faucets and walk.

I'm bummed, sad, scared and frustrated.

Thanks for listening.

Hi, I had the same thing with the rash, mine turned out to be the Enbrel so I had to come off it, it was helping with my RA and it is scary to come off a med that enables you to live a bit better but my side effects were too much. If it does turn out to be enbrel maybe try another biologic as they dont all give the same reactions. I really hope you get it sorted soon.

Take care

Lisa

It's the pits, isn't it. I've only been on Enbrel for 3 weeks and the rash was before that. I was on Humira then, but the rash is getting worse every day, again, dropping Prednisone the lower I go, the more the rash is there. Anyway, it sucks. Thanks for writing back Lisa.So its not the biologics then. What a nightmare for you. Maybe the MTX, someone else on here had a bad rash with it, I wish I could remember who it was...I will look back and let you know.DK - my ex-rheumie's prescribed weanoff schedule from Predisone was unnecessarily harsh, too fast, and I will never take this drug again if possible. Once I was off it, I realized how terrible it is. I was on it for only five months straight, and not on the strengths you are on, so I can only imagine how hard it is for you. I wish you the best of luck and will be thinking of you. It is hard, but you can do it. CathyIs it possible it was the humira? And you just didnt notice the rash before because of the pred? but sicne you are coming offf its worse? I had an awefull rash from humira, sort of hive like, raised, red, VERy itchy and not fun at all it lasted about 3-4 weeks after I came off humira........littlemermaid-

I hadn't heard "When you get to the end of your rope,tie a knot and hang on ? to FDR. But have heard it ALOT>

Debra

I have not had any rashes but I have been tapering prednisone also. I am finding it hard now at 3 mgs. is that why after 2 years you are still stuck on 2 mgs? I have tapered to 3 from 40 in 7 months. Did you hit a level of pain that made difficult to drop any lower?

Yes, the prednisone has been masking allergy to "whatever", which is why once I got to 2 mg. it is hot/red/itchy/blotchy/raised, etc. I noticed the rash once I got to 5 mg., but kept pressing on to reduce the prednisone because I want off of it.

The doctor chose to have me drop the mg. to nefedipine to see if that's it. I was originally at 30 mg, went to 50 then 90 before it helped the raynauds. Now I have to go back to 50 for a while see if rash lightens, then 30 etc. It's one small step at a time with each medicine. I'm so bummed. I try so hard to remain positive with this disease, but the thought of going off of a medicine that is somewhat helping me makes me nuts. Oh well.

I so appreciate the response and support. As always, you're a great group of people. Thanks

Debra... call your pharmacist... tell them what you're taking and what your symptoms are... they can research and find what can have a reaction like that.. They are drs of medicine.. they know more about the prescriptions than our drs do..

good luck!!