Anyone out there know if you use prednisone off and on for a certain amount of years you will have bone loss. I used prednisone for the 1st 4 years of the disease and then was off of it for about another 5-6 years. I started taking it a year ago from 5mg to 20mg. I'm down to 5 mg a day now still with pain. I was diagnosed with Osteopenia in 2006. I'm trying to keep this under control but lately have lost faith in all meds. I haven't seen my RA doc in about two months. I stopped taking fosamax, Methotrexate. The only meds I'm taking now is Orencia once a month and prednisone because I know you can't just stop it. You have to wean yourself off of it. Doc wants to try Rituxin and I don't want to use another biologic. I'm getting really depressed because of all the drugs in my system and they are only making me better for a few years and then they quit working effectivly
No one seems to understand my pain.
If you could walk in my shoes for 24hours I think some people would have a change of heart.
sorry for rambling. Just getting sadden by the medical profession.
Everyone reacts differently to meds so there is no way of knowing which long term side effects of pred you may or may not have. If you are aready experiencing osteopenia then I woud be concerned about continued long term use of it.
I think many of us have been at a point where we have said the heck with the drugs...but the damage that comes with uncontrolled RA is also devestating so you have to choose which is the lesser of two evils. Have you ever been treated for depression...it is pretty common with lon term chronic illnesses
I was dx'ed with osteopenia several years ago at age 33. a year later it was in my hips and spine. I've taken predisone on numerous occations and had more cortisone injections than I could accurately tell you but never have I used predisone long term. Every time I've been on it it's been in a burst and taper type situation and at no point was I on it more than about 8 weeks tops.
I'm not sure I'd blame mine on the predisone as much as maybe just a predisposition maybe due to family history....being a slinder smoker or early menopause. Not sure what it is; but I have to think in my case it's got to be something more than just the steriods I've used for RA. Maybe the RA itself leaves us vulnerable?
I'm one of the exceptions to the rule -- and have been very fortunate with long-term pred usage. After more than 10-years, my bones are fine. I stress, I have been very lucky -- and am presently weaning because I've considered the odds of continued usage causing problems. I'm down to 3 mg a day from 10 -- and doing very well. The trick, i think, is to go slowly, very slowly when you wean.When I was taking prednisone I did begin to develop early stage osteoporosis. Chose to take Calcium and Vitamin D and within a year my bones were normal again. Normal for me was having the bones of a woman of 40-45 year old.
However, I did develop a heart murmur as a result of taking prednisone. There is absolutely no history of heart problems on either of my parent's families and my heart was in perfect health and I don't have a cholestrol issue either.
My last stress tests a few weeks ago and an ECG indicate the murmur hasn't become worse.
Ladybug, I am concerned you have not seen your RD and are self medicating? Is that right? Please, please be careful doing this, it may be one reason you feel so bad. I would get to your RD and discuss your concerns, there are alternatives and many ways to treat this disease. I agree with Buckeye, ask about depression as well.
I know I have been on my soap box lately, preaching the benefits of educating yourself about this disease and the varied ways to treat. But I cannot express how much better you will feel, how much more control you will feel if you do so. Rather that being a passenger on a run-a-way train, you can be the engineer and have some measure of control.
Do take care and let us know how you are doing, it will help to have some support to get you through this rough patch.
Hi Ladybug, I agree with all of the above advice. Call your RD today and make an appt. and talk with them about all the issues that you asked about in your post.
Also, don't wean any further on the Pred. until you're seen by your RD. You've been on Pred. for a long time and you need to be under close supervision if you wean under 5 mg. People who are on longterm steroid use can develop lazy adrenals.
I was on 30-40 mgs. for about 5 years and developed steroid induced adrenal insuffiency, bil. cataracts, and osteopenia. Some people have no problems and others do. Keep us posted. Lindy
I've been on Prednisone for over 20 years. In the first few years, my usual dosage was 10 mgs, I had quite the moon face but when I dropped to 7 mgs the moon face went away. At the beginning of this year I started Remicade and have weaned myself off Prednisone over 4 months. I have been off it for about 3 weeks.
Other then feeling a little poorly over the last few months , my arthritis is now under control. I haven't lost any weight but I was doing very well weight wise anyway. Dropped 35 lbs over the last 4-5 years, mostly because I developed diabetes which I think was caused by Prednisone. I had to change my diet and exercise routine.
I also developed cataracts over the last few years, but had cataract surgery a few years ago with no more problems.
One other side effect is insomnia. Still can't sleep well so that might be from a different problem.
Had many bone density tests, but so far no problem.
Thanks for listening. Hope that helps.
Gord
I agree about having a heart to heart with your RD. I was on Prednisone for long periods but only during my twenties for UC (ulcerative colitis). When I got RA 7 years ago, severe allergies came with it, including anaphylaxis to Prednisone, so it is not an option for me anymore, no matter how good a drug it is. Now in my fifties, I have osteopenia and all my docs say it is from the Pred. Another contributing factor was that my vit D was very low too although I have no idea when that began. We started with just trying 2,000u more vit D/day and I already take Calcium+D. After 5 months, my lab results finally achieved normal range. I don't know when my bone density studies will be repeated, maybe in a year. I'm glad you understand that Prednisone absolutely must be weaned down very slowly. If not, your adrenals can go into crisis and you don't want that. Work with your doc. Good luck,
CathyMarie
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