How long have you been on prednisone? | Arthritis Information

 

Just wondering, for those on pred, how long you have been on it and have you had any bone problems. (hoping for those on it for years).

Any odd side effects after long term use?

I've been on pred for about 10-years.  My bone scan two weeks ago showed that I had better than average bones for a 30-year old.  I'm 62.  I am NOT say this as an endorsement of pred, for it can affect some folks very adversely.  I'm just stating my experience at a rather low level maintenance doseage of 10-mg (now weaned to 7.5) with an occasional medrol pak.

 

When I was on pred for about a year and a half, i ended up with a menstral cycle that wouldn't stop (26days).  When i stopped pred, it stopped.

So far it is the "only" thing my body won't reject.

Well, i think arava might be worth another try.  I got off it cuz i started that long menstraul cycle and then breathing problems with asthma but found out it was pred for the periods and my asthma was a respitory problem i have non-related.

I am just getting scared.  My bones are turning shapes and I am 35.  I don't want to be in a wheelchair constantly by 40.

Hi, I have a love - hate relationship with Pred. It saved me from so much pain I can't tell you, but the info in wikipedia, and all the inputt from docs , and everywhere kept saying 'get off of it'! I finally did like 2 wks ago after taking 15 then 10 then 5 then down by going down 1 mg a week for a month!! I'm wondering if I would feel 'better' right now if I was taking it? I have stiff fingers (trouble typing even) and pain in my left foot! But, I'm not going to go back on it unless my doc says so......It's at best a mixed bag. Lynda

I have been on it off and on since 2001. Was on it for almost 2 years before I stopped taking it on my own I was on 5mg. Then I was put back on it again in 2004 at 5mg while I was preggo with my son. Then was off for a couple of months, and then was put back on at 15mg and have been tapering down every since 2005, and am now at 2.5mg and trying to get off of it.

Longest I have been on pred non-stop was the almost 2 years.

I have decreased bone density in my right hand that shows up on x-rays. They say it is from the pred use. SO... I guess me bones are not that good. I take 1600mg of calcium & vitamin D to help me bones, but obviously it did not help, since I have decreased bone density in my hands.

I just recently went in for a bone density scan, but have not heard the result yet. SO... will see about that when I go to the Dr in 8 days.

joonie39264.7137615741I'm only been on prednisone for 6 months but I want to get off of it as soon as I can!Bubbagump, i couldn't take mtx so my dr. started me on 10mg of Arava (1/2 the recommended dose) to see if I could tolerate that. He said that way it leaves us room to increase it if we need to. So far, I've been fine on the 10mg dose so no need to increase to 20mg. I guess since I'm on 1/2 dose I haven't had susch severe side effects. See if your dr. will do the same for you. I'm also on Enbrel. I did have some hair "thining" but that's stopped and it's getting back to normal. I do have good and bad days as I'm sure we all do but I'd rather be on the lowest possible dose of anything to start. Good luckI was on Predisone for five months after my initial diagnosis a year ago, and the wean off was horrifying.  I now know what heroin addicts go through.  I will never take this drug again.  And while I was on it, I had no change in any of my symptoms I could report on.  Except that I fell down the stairs from being put on so many meds all at once and was so dizzy, that I broke a toe and never felt a thing.  So I guess it works on NEW pain.  I have been on it 13 months now, most of the time under 10 mg.  I am pretty much stuck at 5, was down to 2.5mg but couldn't function at all.  I do have ostiopenia (sp?), which is a thinning of the bones in my hands and feet, weight gain, moon face, adrenal exhaustion and slightly elevated high blood pressure, all side effects of the prednisone. I've been on prednisone for at least 24 of the 28 years I have had RA.  I'm presently on 6mg daily and holding. Have not been able to go below that dose without a flare.  I'm also on Fosmax and additional calcium pills and my last bone density was normal (about the only thing that I have that is normal Been on pred for nearly a year. Have been trying to get off since xmas. Just been told to ahve a bone density scan and been started on calcium and vit D as a preventative measure.
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