INFO - The use of predinsone to treat systemic lupus erythematosus

[Guest guest]

Lupus Foundation of America

Prednisone

Steroids produced by the outer part (cortex) of the adrenal gland are called

corticosteroids . Corticosteroids are different from the " anabolic steroids "

that weightlifters and other athletes sometimes take illegally to increase

strength. Prednisone is the synthetic corticosteroid preparation most often

used in the treatment of lupus. It comes in tablets of 1, 5, 10, and 20

milligrams (mg). It may be given as often as four times each day, as

infrequently as once every other day, or at any frequency in between. 10 mg

per day or less is generally considered a low dose; 11 to 40 mg daily is a

moderate dose; and 41 to 100 mg daily is a high dose.

Steroids may also be given by intra-muscular (IM) injection into the skin

for discoid rashes, or may be injected directly into a joint. Occasionally,

very large doses of steroids may be given for a short period of time. This

treatment, referred to as pulse steroids , involves giving 1000 mg of

methyl-prednisolone intravenously each day for three days.

Prednisone is an extremely effective drug and may be necessary to control

active lupus. Those individuals with organ-threatening disease (i.e., heart,

lung, brain, kidney, liver) usually need steroids in order to prevent loss

of function in the organ. People who tolerate steroids poorly or do not

respond optimally often benefit from the addition of steroid-sparing or

immune suppressive drugs.

Corticosteroid treatment usually relieves most symptoms promptly. When

pleurisy (inflammation around the lung) or pericarditis ( inflammation

around the heart) occur, small or moderate doses of steroids are helpful.

Steroids can often be avoided completely in mild cases of lupus (i.e., those

involving only the joints and skin).

In addition to prednisone, some other cortisone derivatives include

hydrocortisone , methylprednisolone (Medrol), and dexamethasone (Decadron).

People with lupus should discuss the reasons for using steroids and other

treatment alternatives which may be available with their physician.

http://www.lupus.org/education/brochures/steroids.html

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[Guest guest]

Okeydoke...guess you can call my dosage " high " . I am taking it 5

times a day, though...

> Lupus Foundation of America

>

> Prednisone

>

> Steroids produced by the outer part (cortex) of the adrenal gland

are called

> corticosteroids . Corticosteroids are different from the " anabolic

steroids "

> that weightlifters and other athletes sometimes take illegally to

increase

> strength. Prednisone is the synthetic corticosteroid preparation

most often

> used in the treatment of lupus. It comes in tablets of 1, 5, 10,

and 20

> milligrams (mg). It may be given as often as four times each day,

as

> infrequently as once every other day, or at any frequency in

between. 10 mg

> per day or less is generally considered a low dose; 11 to 40 mg

daily is a

> moderate dose; and 41 to 100 mg daily is a high dose.

>

> Steroids may also be given by intra-muscular (IM) injection into

the skin

> for discoid rashes, or may be injected directly into a joint.

Occasionally,

> very large doses of steroids may be given for a short period of

time. This

> treatment, referred to as pulse steroids , involves giving 1000 mg

of

> methyl-prednisolone intravenously each day for three days.

>

> Prednisone is an extremely effective drug and may be necessary to

control

> active lupus. Those individuals with organ-threatening disease

(i.e., heart,

> lung, brain, kidney, liver) usually need steroids in order to

prevent loss

> of function in the organ. People who tolerate steroids poorly or

do not

> respond optimally often benefit from the addition of steroid-

sparing or

> immune suppressive drugs.

>

> Corticosteroid treatment usually relieves most symptoms promptly.

When

> pleurisy (inflammation around the lung) or pericarditis (

inflammation

> around the heart) occur, small or moderate doses of steroids are

helpful.

> Steroids can often be avoided completely in mild cases of lupus

(i.e., those

> involving only the joints and skin).

>

> In addition to prednisone, some other cortisone derivatives include

> hydrocortisone , methylprednisolone (Medrol), and dexamethasone

(Decadron).

> People with lupus should discuss the reasons for using steroids

and other

> treatment alternatives which may be available with their physician.

>

>

> http://www.lupus.org/education/brochures/steroids.html

>

>

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[Guest guest]

Okeydoke...guess you can call my dosage " high " . I am taking it 5

times a day, though...

> Lupus Foundation of America

>

> Prednisone

>

> Steroids produced by the outer part (cortex) of the adrenal gland

are called

> corticosteroids . Corticosteroids are different from the " anabolic

steroids "

> that weightlifters and other athletes sometimes take illegally to

increase

> strength. Prednisone is the synthetic corticosteroid preparation

most often

> used in the treatment of lupus. It comes in tablets of 1, 5, 10,

and 20

> milligrams (mg). It may be given as often as four times each day,

as

> infrequently as once every other day, or at any frequency in

between. 10 mg

> per day or less is generally considered a low dose; 11 to 40 mg

daily is a

> moderate dose; and 41 to 100 mg daily is a high dose.

>

> Steroids may also be given by intra-muscular (IM) injection into

the skin

> for discoid rashes, or may be injected directly into a joint.

Occasionally,

> very large doses of steroids may be given for a short period of

time. This

> treatment, referred to as pulse steroids , involves giving 1000 mg

of

> methyl-prednisolone intravenously each day for three days.

>

> Prednisone is an extremely effective drug and may be necessary to

control

> active lupus. Those individuals with organ-threatening disease

(i.e., heart,

> lung, brain, kidney, liver) usually need steroids in order to

prevent loss

> of function in the organ. People who tolerate steroids poorly or

do not

> respond optimally often benefit from the addition of steroid-

sparing or

> immune suppressive drugs.

>

> Corticosteroid treatment usually relieves most symptoms promptly.

When

> pleurisy (inflammation around the lung) or pericarditis (

inflammation

> around the heart) occur, small or moderate doses of steroids are

helpful.

> Steroids can often be avoided completely in mild cases of lupus

(i.e., those

> involving only the joints and skin).

>

> In addition to prednisone, some other cortisone derivatives include

> hydrocortisone , methylprednisolone (Medrol), and dexamethasone

(Decadron).

> People with lupus should discuss the reasons for using steroids

and other

> treatment alternatives which may be available with their physician.

>

>

> http://www.lupus.org/education/brochures/steroids.html

>

>

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org