I have been posting on this board for a while now and keep seeing the word prednisone.I gather it is some sort of steroid and quite widely used on a regular basis in some countries.Its not a medication i have ever been offered here in the uk. I only see my rhuemy once every six months and thats due to lack of appointments and when i do see him he gives me an injection in my bum straight away to ease any swelling and inflamation that i have.Would that be prednisone or is it in a tablet form? I will need to ask him next month when i see himPrednisone can be given by tablet or injection. In the hospital we give it via
IV route and pill form. I have never given it in the bum. But it is given into
the joints all the time so I'm sure IM route is ok too. You should ask what it
is your getting. Be aware of all the meds you take. Prednisone is very hard
on the bones and gastrointestinal systems as well as others. It makes the
hair fall out and the skin prone to disease. It is a bad med but a god send
for those in acute pain situations. I have never taken it and will refuse until I
absolutely have no other choices available to me. I take lots of omega 3 and
6 into my diet so hopefully that will provide me with what I need to decrease
the inflammation. Our doctors have the obligation to tell us what they are
giving us in any form. For him not to tell you and educate you on the
benefits and risks of any treatment is wrong. And that includes that
injection you are getting.
It is simular; but yes, predisone is in a pill for. You are getting some sort of cortisone injection.
Although it's hard to believe that anyone that has suffered as much as you hasn't been offered predisone; it's probable for the best Pin. Far too many doctors over use it and all too often their patience end up with other problems from the predisone use.
I've been on it many, many times over the years, but my doctors always felt like it's best used while my other medications are being adjusted and it's only for short periods of time. That has been between 6 to 8 weeks at a time for me. Far too many spend years on this stuff and then later have serious problems to contend with.
You might talk to your doctor about it and get his take on it. See what he says; but use caution.
The ones I've gotten in the "bum" are some sort of synthetic cortisteriod and they help a multitude if problems at once. Their good when you've got numerous problems at once. I've had more given directly into the joint like Lorster speaks of though. Many times directly into my knees, shoulders and hips. They hurt like hell; but well worth the pain.
Over all not good for you either over time. My doctor will only give me so many in a calendar year.
oh Lovie, I cringe when I think of a needle in a joint. That has got to hurt!!The shot in the bum is a steriod---probably not prednisone but it will
Find out what you're being injected with. Don't everl let a doctor give you a med either oral or im without giving you all the details including complications.
The above people gave you good info. I was housebound, not able to walk due to swelling and inflammation from RA and I finally consented to taking Pred. Within 2 weeks I was out of the house and walking a couple of hundred feet down the lane and within the month I could do my own grocery shopping, etc. Unfortunately, due to the long term use of Pred. I have adrenal insuffiency and have to take a certain amount each day because the adrenals aren't working. Hopefully within the next 6 months I can get off it by tapering 1/4 mg. at a time. Prednisone really should be a last resort drug. Sometimes doctors are lazy and prescribe it without trying other treatments or drugs.
From what I understand prednisolone (which is more often prescribed in the UK) is the active metabolite of prednisone (more often prescribed in USA). So they are both essentially the same thing. They are take orally in tablet form and can come in injections. I'm from the UK and have been on prednisolone since before my diagnosis.Yes, they have the same effect. And we should be questioning our doctors
Yes; they do hurt directly in the joint....but when I've had to have them I welcomed the short term pain for the long lived results. My doctor has always been real good to give them to me and adjust whatever DMARD I was on at the time so by the time the efects wore off my DMARD has had a chance to catch me up. Predisone too. I really agree that there is a lot of abuse as far as predisone use is concerned just from hearing from my friends here and at other sites recently.
Especially when I hear of folks that are on treatments that could be dramatically adjusted to manage their disease better....their just no sense in it at all. It's a total waist in my opinion. Predisone should really be used on short term basis not increased and decreased as daily pain fluxuates. I feel right sorry for some of our younger friends here who are getting into a vicious cycle that they will soon live to regret. The damage can be a disaster!
I agree with everything that has been said. We really should know what the doctor is saying when he says taper off. But, with me it was a severe case and he needed to 'stop the pain' , do something while the mtx and remicade takes effect.
I wouldn't put up with swelling and inflamation for 6 months!! I'd be on the phone tomorrow. I don't think we need to suffer too much with this disease. Yes, we'd rather not be on predisone, but we also can't be in pain...
Sarah
Thanks for all the info and please excuse my ignorance, i have injections into my joints but because everyone talks of taking their prednisone at home i never thought what i am getting could be that.
Lovie- i am medication/doctor phobic
I'm not always good at writing what I mean and it sounding right. I just think it's way over prescribed.
[QUOTE=pin cushion]I have been posting on this board for a while now and keep seeing the word prednisone.I gather it is some sort of steroid and quite widely used on a regular basis in some countries.Its not a medication i have ever been offered here in the uk. I only see my rhuemy once every six months and thats due to lack of appointments and when i do see him he gives me an injection in my bum straight away to ease any swelling and inflamation that i have.Would that be prednisone or is it in a tablet form? I will need to ask him next month when i see him
Prednisone is a tablet form of a steriod that can help with Flair ups with R.A- the shot you get is probably cortiszone. It is a steriod also. Prednisone can help but also has problems when you stay on it to long. I am on a maintance of 5mg. per day. When I have a flair it will go up to 3 for 3 days then 2 for 2 days and then back to 1. Normaly this works for me. I also take Plaquenil and Methatrexate now 1 time a week. I hope the flairs start slowing again and I go back into remission. I 1st came down at 40 with RA. I was under treatment for 2 years went into remission for almost 6 years before I had a flair again.