What's Your Take On This? | Arthritis Information

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As some of you know when I get my Remicade infusion I do well. Little to no swelling, no need for pain meds and more functionable, and I do not even notice when it is time for my next dose of prednsione.

My questions are....
 
Since my body does not constantly remind me that I need to take my prednisone, while the Remicade is working, does that mean I am producing enough cortosol on my own?
 
What do you think is happening in this instance?
Joonie,

I thought the same thing when I started Remicade.  Unfortunately, I came off the prednisone myself with what I thought would be a slow, slow tapering schedule.  As it turned out, My rheumy told me that I'd never be off prednisone and it was dangerous to stop.  Well needless to say, I'm still on prednisone but at a very low dose.  I'm not sure to what point your adrenals stop making but obviously mine have.  Once I stopped prednisone altogether, I was very, very sick.

Wwll my RD wants to get me off the prednisone, but she knows I still need it, so she is not trying to get me off just yet. But she does talk about seeing if I can come off of it.

But how can the Remicade make it to where you no longer get the "need prednisone" symptoms? This is what I mean... before Remicade I would count down the hours until my next prednisone dose. All the symptoms prednisone was helping to ease would come back within hours of my next prednisone dose. I mean most times joints would be much more swelled and pain would increase, and it would just get worse by the hour. Some times I had to wait 6 hours before I could take my next prednisone dose and by then I was literally an in pain, inflammed statue.
 
I have been taking my pred anyways, I am still at 10mg. Last Pred Flare Taper, it said for me to continue with 5mg, but that was from an RX that was from last year with the refills and all and when she had me at 5mg. So, I kept myself at 10mg, since the last visit she refilled my pred for 10mg.
 
I have been having prednisone long enough now, to know not to aburptly stop taking it even if I feel good. I just happen to forget to take it at my normally scheduled time. Now I take it anywhere from an hour pass normal time to 3 hours pass normal time, but I do ALWAYS take it.
joonie2008-10-30 10:10:27The Remicade takes away the swelling which takes away the need for the prednisone.  The Remicade acts as an inflammatory and in some people slows down the process of joint destruction.  This is why I thought that this was my "miracle" drug.  It can make you feel so good and take away your "craving" for your prednisone to make you feel better.  That's where I got in trouble.  Quitting prednisone altogether made me very sick and I was wondering why.  Turned out, my body had become dependent on the prednisone and  I was stuck!  I don't want you to think that Remicade gives you a "false" sense of security because it doesn't.  It does take away what causes your pain.  It's just that your body also produces what prednisone does and once you start getting it artificially, your body will cease production to try to maintain a balance.   Ok, makes sense now. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
 
As always... you are there for me
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