Predisone or Enbrel | Arthritis Information

 

For all you that use predisone and enbrel. I just decreased my predisone 40mg down to 20mg now. But I think I am having allot of side affects to decreaseing the predisone I am very light headed and feel real funny in my head. weak at the knees and so tired I can't keep my eyes open. I keep falling asleep. Is this normal and does it go away. I am having problems with my skin bleeding and opening up. Also now from the enbrel 50mg. weekly I had 2 infections already in  a months time the first one I got was sisus and now 2 weeks later got a upper resp. and sisius and very congested. My doctor told me stop enbrel again. I am just so of it. My body needs the stuff but will not take it I guess. h and my eyes water so bad that it is hard to see sometimes. If anybody has some encougerment or has anything that they can share with me I would like your input. JoanJoan, how long were you at 40 mg prednisone?  If you haven't been on 40 mg for very long then you might be able to get to 20 mg easily.  But if you have been on 40 mg for awhile then it was probably too big of a decrease.  Do you bump your skin before it opens up and bleeds?  Long term use at high doses can think your skin and muscles and then you are pron to skin tears.  I don't know what Enbrel can do to you.  I am sure others can give you some input.  I wish you well.

Hi Joan, I will mimic Kim's question about how long you were on 40 mg. I was on high dosages of prednisone but we came down very slowly. It could be that you have come down too quickly. I would definitely call my doctor and see if she can do a cortisol test on you...see where your body is right now and then she can adjust accordingly.

As far as Enbrel, I did the same thing. I went through two illnesses back to back while on it. Had to be taken off both times. But after the third and fourth I did fine. Give it time and dont give up! It will help a TON if you give it it's due chance! I went through pneumonia after the first one and then bronchitis with the next, after that...smooth sailing. I wouldn't mess with the side effects of the prednisone,though. I would call my dr and tell her my symptoms just so she will know and can advise you. I learned my lesson with stuff.
I decreased the predisone by 5mg every week until I got down to 20mg. I have been on 40mg for about 5 months up and down. I sweat just terrible to and being very light headed it does concern me. The doctor took me off of the enbrel forever. Because this is the second time I am trying it and it seems like I can't get passed the 3 month mark. He said he does not want to keep me on antibloes. So now I am only on predisone 20mg. And I can feel it. I am weak very tired all the time and in pain. Joan
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