Looking for experenced Pred takers...I have been on 20mg since Aug. 1st. Then last Sat. my RD prescribed MTX injections and cut me to 10mg. My insurance would not cover the injections so I did'nt get the MTX and stayed with 15mg. of Pred. I have been having chest pains and trouble breathing since I changed to 15mg. Today the Dr. said to go back to 20mg. and his office is trying to get the MTX approved. What is this pred a go round doing to me?
I've been on the pred go round for years....4ish I think. I have been
anywhere from 90mg to 1mg. I am currently on 5mg. I really hate the
stuff. I have inflammation in my chest and in my eyes which makes it
necessary to take it. RD said he does not see me off it anytime in the
near future. I hope you can get off it. You will need something else
though. Even if the MTX gets approved it takes weeks to kick in and the
pred will be a lifesaver.
beckyYes Becky is right, you will need something else, MTX takes a while to work and I have been on the pred merrygoround for 6 years, make sure if you stay on it thet you take something more than calcium for osteoporosis protection, such as risedronate.
Pred does funny things to you and it is a matter of tweaking the amount when you are reducing it so as not to upset the balance in your body, I would say a 5mg drop was too much too sonn, you may need to decrease it by 2.5 mg initially or even 1mg and take it slow, it is strong stuff and a quickly reduced dose will nearly always cause a renewed flare. Good luck, Janie.
Like you I had been on 20mg of pred starting last year. When it was time to start weaning me down - they went 2.5mg at a time - I too, like Jane think that 5 mg was too much of a step - when you body has been used to running on 20 for so long. I would tell your RD how hard it was on you. Pred can make you have palpatations - it did that too me and that's why he started taking me down off it.
That's my experience with it. Jody
Yep, Pred really can be a life-saver, especially to hold things off while you adjust to DMARD treatment and even more so with inflammation outside of the joints. I've been on Pred for 10 years now at doses ranging between 5-80mg, I really want to get away from it altogether but I'm slowly realising that just a small amount makes a major difference to my well-being; like Becky, my RD says I'll probably never be without that maintenance dose but I think that's because I was dependant on it for so long.
The trick to weaning off Pred is to do it very slowly, like the others have said, but for now I would carry on with 20mg and try reducing once the MTX kicks in - hopefully you will get it approved. You certainly need something as Pred alone doesn't prevent the joint damage that we all dread.
Best wishes,
Moonie
Hang in there. Hopefully, your pred therapy won't be as long as mine has - eight long years - and 70lbs later. Eat healthy, if you can exercise - do so, read up on the side effects and warnings and be sure to communicate any problems or anything unusual to your rheumy. It may take time for the mtx to kick in and your rheumy will taper your off the preds. Hope everything goes well for you.
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