I thought I'd report on this, just in case someone else is having similar problems with prednisone and looking for a solution.
I posted last week about getting fluctuating blurred vision from (I assumed) the Prednisone. My doctor thought it was very strange, and said he'd seen such things in diabetics, but my blood sugar levels seemed to be within normal range. He referred me to an opthalmologist about my vision, and I'm still waiting for my appointment.
Meanwhile, I did a lot of "googling" and thinking, and came upon a study done on "corticosteroid-induced diabetes" in 1999, which showed that prednisone depleted the body's chromium (much as it does the calcium to cause osteoporosis) and that affected patients supplemented with chromium in the form of chromium picolinate improved greatly. I did some more googling to make sure that the supplement was safe, then found some in a health food store. I'd also read that it helps to take it together with Biotin (a B-vitamin), so I got some of that, too. There are some supplements specifically made for diabetics with the same combination. ("Diachrome", I think.)
Within a few days of taking 600 mcg of chromium picolinate & a Biotin tablet every a.m. (as it happens, I take it about 1 1/2 hrs before my prednisone dose), my blurry vision cleared up completely. As a bonus, so did the leg & foot cramps I'd been having at night. I figure it must be the supplement that did it, as nothing else changed.
ruth, i will try the chromium, as i am having some blurry vision thanks georgiana Very interesting! I too have been troubled by blurred vision...and just started taking Vit B shots daily...and Ola Loa, a vitamin drink, high in Vit C and Biotin.....my vision has improved greatly, as has my general state of being. Although I'm still taking 25 mg of Prednisone and Methotrexate ...6 tablets one day a week, I'm hoping to reduce the Prednisone even more later this week after I see my Rheumy.... Missed my 50th High School Reunion because of this dreadful PMR....Rheumy thought my chances of infection too great to fly in a crowded plane. But I am back at work after two years (Real Estate Broker) and able to manage most days....as long as I get 8-9 hours of sleep a night. Still find exercising hard....usually too exhausted....and just had knee surgery.