Hi there - I am new to this site
34 year old female diagnosed 4 years ago with RA (pos factor). Have been on Gold, Minocin, Plaquenil, Methotrexate (oral and injection), Celebrex and Arava. Really bad flare last 8 weeks and GP put me on 160mg of Oxycontin. Saw Rheumatlogist (finally) and he wants me to add Prednisone to the mix. I took it for a few days and the swelling eased but I stopped as I am not too fond of the extra side effects. Anyone out there find the prednisone worth the side effects? This flare does not want to stop!
Thanks!
Jen S
Hi Jen,
I know people who find that pred is worth the side effects. I haven't taken it for RA because a physician friend of mine told me when I was first diagnosed to avoid steroids if at all possible. Sometimes people opt for a systemic cortisone shot just to break the cycle.
If you take pred for more than a few days do NOT stop abruptly unless your doc advises you to do so. You have to wean off slowly because of the changes it causes.
So -that probably wasn't a huge help, but it's the best I have
Good luck and hang in there!
zzoi
Hi Jen,
I have taken prednisone and to me it was well worth the side effects, just to be able to function and start to get this stuff under control. The first time I took it from July 2003 to Feb. 2004 and then other meds kicked in and didn't need it again until a flare Nov. 2004 and just tapered off again taking last dose in Jan. 2005. My rheumy advises me to take it when necessary and then get off as soon as I can, but do a very slow taper. It is commonly refered to as the drug we hate to love. Do not stop taking this abruptly and taper off slowly. Just my 2 cents and hope it helps. By the way what were your side effects? Mine was weight gain and mood swings (really awful ones).
For me, Prednisone worked well, but I also had mood swings and weight gain. I've never had a weight problem before and it depressed me. I figure the doctor gave me a challenge when he said that ultimately I was the one who was putting food into my mouth..and that I could curb my eating. That was all it took for me to get off the Prednisone.
I weaned my self off of it slowly and the next time I went to the rheumatologist he said he wanted to try Remicade. I've been on it two years and it's worked wonders for me. It's stopped the progression of the disease for me. I'm on Remicade and 7.5mg Methotrexate/week. No more weight gain. No more mood swings. And I feel great. I can clasp my hands together again, snap my fingers, walk all I want, and belong to Curves. This, from someone who was not able to get out of bed in the morning because my knees and ankles were so swollen, I would just lie there and cry.
My opinion...go for the prednisone with the thought in your head that when you get over the hurdle of this flare, you'll wean yourself off it it...sloooowwwwly. Hope you're feeling better very soon.
Sue