Long-Term Steroids Safe in Rheumatoid Arthritis | Arthritis Information

 

LONDON, United Kingdom—Physicians worried about possible adverse effects from long-term use of low-dose prednisolone by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients can rest a bit easier. A new meta-analysis by Vinod Ravindran, MD, and colleagues published online ahead of print in Rheumatology found that toxicity with medium- to long-term glucocorticoid therapy in RA was not significantly worse than for placebo.¹

This makes me very happy to read. A little kick of pred (5mg) makes all the difference in the world to my condition, and yet I fight it like mad. Hope my Dr. agrees. Patient withdrawal in the case of steroids is not a great measurer of toxicity.  How many of those patients CAN"T withdraw due to steroid dependence?   These patients were on steroids a long time its not like they can simply up and quit.   How many stay on the steroids despite life altering side effects because nothing else works?  I would have liked to see a list of the adverse events experienced as well as a list of the side effects that didn't cause withdrawal vs placeboPrednisone sure has been a good friend of mine. I lerned to control my pain with them and get off of the pain meds. Again, I am not saying anything against anyone that does pain meds so lets not go there. I believe that they are very good for people, I think that I am just one of those that likes the feeling and so get caught up in them(probably a product of the 60 & 70s thing) and they also constipate me. I had gone back up to 22mgs waiting for the rituxin but this morning wanted to do none but did do 10 mgs and will hope to be back down to 5mgs within a week if not sooner. I think that Jerry Lewis was on very high corticosterpoids for many years and then when they found another way to control his back pain he actually went to rehab to get of of them. Not sure just how accurate that story is but think it's pretty close. I've had very few problems with prednisone and like I said, it's sure been a friend to me as my caring doctors worked to find a way to eliminate them and my pain. The biggest issue is the dosage. My RD states that anything 10mg or less is considered safe as far as side effects.

I really hate the drug, but it has been good to me at times. Currently I am back up to 10 due to chest wall/sternum inflammation. That is usually the only reason I will go back on it-I fight the dr. otherwise. But, I'll be honest-the rest of my joints always feel pretty darn good when I am on the pred. Yeah the love hate affair with pred. Nothing has ever worked better for me.  But it always makes me gain weight that I just can't get back off. My weight is at an all time high, and my joints are just killing me again. I am so tempted to beg for pred my next RD appt.Love and Hate relationship sounds about how I feel.  I worked hard to get off of Prednisone as I didn't like the effects, weight gain, moody, etc., and added Vicodin prn in place of the steroids.  My PCP and Rheumy thought it was a smart choice for me as I don't abuse the Vicodin and the long term Prednisone use is questionable.  Anyway, I use about 30 Vicodin in 60 - 75  days.  I really only use them when I have to.  My first choice is heat or ice, stretching, etc. but there are times it just doesn't work and I need a pain pill.
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com