Re: Short term Prednisone - your thoughts?

[Guest guest]

To my knowledge, two weeks of a tapering dose is not suppose to be

systemically damaging. How frequently you can do this without damage, I

don't know.

> I'm curious to what most of you think of short term (7-10 days) of

> Prednisone? When you stop it, does it hold the flare at bay for some

> time beyond or does it come right back? How often in a year's time

> could someone " safely " take these short term dosages? And do any of

> you who have taken these short term doses, happen to be diabetic? And

> if so, how badly did it spike your blood sugars?

>

> And if you were going to choose between an opiate to kill the pain

> and prednisone (short term), which would you choose?

>

> Thanks,

> Mark

>

>

>

> To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribeegroups

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I took Cortef which is a natural prednisone. Not that natural is better but

in this case Cortef 20 mgms equals only 10 mgms of prednisone. I never went

above 20 mgms (sometimes I only took 5mgms a day for weeks) and took it

according to how I was feeling ( a certain doctor was horrified that I

actually used my brain and did this). I took it for about 1 1/2 years. I did

not develope diabetes. I do not have any effects from it as far as I could

see. BUT when I took it I knew I would not need to take this forever and the

AP did that for me.

cooky

Mark Holmes wrote:

> I'm curious to what most of you think of short term (7-10 days) of

> Prednisone? When you stop it, does it hold the flare at bay for some

> time beyond or does it come right back? How often in a year's time

> could someone " safely " take these short term dosages? And do any of

> you who have taken these short term doses, happen to be diabetic? And

> if so, how badly did it spike your blood sugars?

>

> And if you were going to choose between an opiate to kill the pain

> and prednisone (short term), which would you choose?

>

> Thanks,

> Mark

>

>

> To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribeegroups

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Mark,

It is my understanding that Prednisone is the most effective drug available

to reduce the inflammation associated with RA. For most people, it will

bring immediate relief, depending on dosage. The dosage will vary from 60

mg per day (or an injection directly into a joint) to treat an acute

inflammation to 5 or 7.5 mg for maintenance. The dosage needs to be

individualized to the situation of the patient. Prednisone should not be

taken orally for longer than a few months, or a variety of side effects can

set in, including diabetes. Once you have taken it on a regular basis, you

cannot simply stop it, but must taper off usage over several weeks. Dr.

Brown developed the AP to avoid the long-term damage caused by

corticosteroid (cortisone) drugs.

If the RA is new and mild, a single Prednisone injection has been known to

bring about the permanent end of all RA symptoms. If the RA is well

entrenched, the symptoms will assuredly come back in a few days.

A www.google.com search on +prednisone +flare +arthritis +diabetes brings

up 1,400 pages. The page

http://arthritis.about.com/library/weekly/aa051398.htm appears to be useful.

If I had to choose between an opiate to kill the pain and Prednisone (short

term), I would go with the Prednisone, but only under supervision of an

experienced rheumatologist.

Sincerely, Harald

At 11:09 PM 10/28/2001 +0000, you wrote:

>I'm curious to what most of you think of short term (7-10 days)

>of Prednisone? When you stop it, does it hold the flare at bay for some

>time beyond or does it come right back? How often in a year's time could

>someone " safely " take these short term dosages? And do any of you who

>have taken these short term doses, happen to be diabetic? And if so, how

>badly did it spike your blood sugars?

>

>And if you were going to choose between an opiate to kill the pain and

>prednisone (short term), which would you choose?

>

>Thanks,

>Mark

[Guest guest]

Dear Mark,

I wrote a long letter today about getting type II diabetes as well as taking

brief bursts of prednisone. I think I was borderline diabetes for a long

time but during my recovery from hip replacement repair surgery my surgeon

injected a whole bunch of cortisone into my bum right knee and my blood

sugar went through the roof.

I think I got diabetes because of the way I ate for years and maybe the

prednisone and cortisone pushed me over the edge. Why doesn't matter to me

now. I have to deal with " what is " but for people who do not have diabetes

it would be prudent to do a lot of research and weigh the worst case cost in

relation to benefit. I did and I made my choice.

I really don't think the few pulse doses of prednisone slid me over the

edge. I have not taken it for even a week at a time as I respond within a

day or two and my arthritis doctor won't give me more than a couple

prescriptions a year. I blame all the Butter Brickle ice-cream I ate. :oX

In relation to opiate pain medications it is a different story. Because of

the structural problems with my hips and knees I have had to take opiates

for pain. I do not abuse them and only use them for physical pain.

If I'm emotionally upset I won't take even one because people who do that

get addicted. Addiction has far more facets than physical dependence.

I had to take a lot of opiates when my right knee was all torn up inside and

I was waiting so long for corrective surgery. I didn't have any problem

tapering off them as my pain tapered off but I think I was far more vigilant

about the potential dangers of opiates than most people are because of

situations and education in my past. I was on oro-morph and Percoset as

needed.

Plain old morphine is an effective pain medication without too many side

affects if it is used only for physical pain. The oro-morph is time

released and I started on 15 mg twice a day with Percoset for breakthrough

pain.

Of course, as the time dragged on before surgery, the pain was worse and the

affect decreased until I was on a much larger dosage. When I came home from

the hospital with my new knee I was on 60 mgs three times a day. If I'd

have had that much at first it would have rendered my unconscious!

That amount still left me with break through pain which required Percoset

but the pain in my knee gradually diminished and I was able to taper off

with no big problem within a couple months. I have a friend who is a drug

counselor who advised me on the safest amounts to decrease the opiates. I

had no " withdrawals " .

The way it worked for me was that I would get what I describe as a " logey "

feeling after my dose and that would be the signal that I needed to

decrease.

I realize many people love the opiate high but I prefer being present for my

life. People who use other drugs, such as alcohol or pot, may well be

risking their lives to take opiates for pain.

Nine years ago when my left hip went bad I was scared to take opiate pain

medications so I ate aspirin and Motrin in large amounts. I ended up with

bleeding ulcers and cannot take NSAIDs without great risk to my life, so I

don't.

When I first started the opiates I was prepared to go into drug treatment if

I ended up with drug addiction. I am delighted this was not necessary, for

me. YMMV

To sum it up: for me, opiates work great for pain if they are used ONLY for

physical pain. YMMV.

in Oregon

rheumatic Short term Prednisone - your thoughts?

> I'm curious to what most of you think of short term (7-10 days) of

> Prednisone? When you stop it, does it hold the flare at bay for some

> time beyond or does it come right back? How often in a year's time

> could someone " safely " take these short term dosages? And do any of

> you who have taken these short term doses, happen to be diabetic? And

> if so, how badly did it spike your blood sugars?

>

> And if you were going to choose between an opiate to kill the pain

> and prednisone (short term), which would you choose?

>

> Thanks,

> Mark

>

>

>

> To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribeegroups

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

there is a Dr in Arizona who gives letures on controlling RA with just that:

short term showers of cortisone. It is called Microdose Therapy and is very

effective for some people when combined with the AP. Daily charts are kept

on pain and iinflammation levels and when a small rise is detected a short

term dose of prednisone is used to ward off a flare.

It is called Microdose Therapy....haven't checked for a web site.

Lolly

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

While I am no medical expert, I believe that 2.5 mg prednisone per day is

so low a dose to be relatively safe. Still, you should try to get off

corticosteroid (cortisone) drugs as a long-term treatment. Try cutting

your pills into quarters. Take three quarters for one week, two quarters

the week after that, one quarter the week after that. This should avoid the

flare.

If knees are your problem, try sleeping with lightweight elastic knee

braces. These should be tight enough to stay in place, loose enough not to

cut your circulation.

Sincerely, Harald

At 09:16 AM 10/29/2001 -0500, you wrote:

>I have been taking 2.5 mg prednisone since February 2001. Is this a bad

>thing? When I come off cold turkey the flare is incredible. I have

>trouble walking.

[Guest guest]

I was once told by an orthopaedic surgeon that 6mg Pred. was the equivalent

of what the body produces and a dose he personally was 'comfortable' with

someone taking who had to.

If one can believe what they say ....LOL

Huggles

Lisbeth

[Guest guest]

lollyk@... wrote:

>

> there is a Dr in Arizona who gives letures on controlling RA with just that:

> short term showers of cortisone. It is called Microdose Therapy and is very

> effective for some people when combined with the AP. Daily charts are kept

> on pain and iinflammation levels and when a small rise is detected a short

> term dose of prednisone is used to ward off a flare.

> It is called Microdose Therapy....haven't checked for a web site.

> Lolly

That's interesting; I found

http://www.microdose.com/

and it appears to have some information worth checking concerning

arthritis.

Thanks Lolly.

--Louise

[Guest guest]

My Rhuemy told me that 5 mg per day is considered relatively safe, in that 5

mg of Prednisone a day, or less, doesn't seem to cause side effects.

M.

[Guest guest]

Hi Cooky! Geoff here.

> Subject: Re: Short term Prednisone - your thoughts?

>

> actually used my brain and did this). I took it for about 1 1/2

years.

> I did not develope diabetes. I do not have any effects from it as

far

> as I could see.

Disguised effects of corticosteroids:

IMMEDIATE:

Cessation by the adrenal cortex from production of cortisol, et al

Influences against the thymus, thyroid, and other glands producing

hormones from producing their usual compliment of items manufactured

Inhibits immune system function systemically

Inhibits general maintenance of bone tissues

SHORT-TERM LOW-DOSAGE USE:

Usually above items reverse and resume normal operations

Full resumption of healthy operations can take up to 24 months

LONG-TERM UNSEEN:

Easy to find - depleted bone tissue - discovered through bone scan

Permanent changes (damage) to glandular complexes

including Adrenal, Thymus, Thyroid, etc.

Emotional issues: Corticosteroids influence emotions, emotional

outbursts, anger and especially aggression.

It's the old story -- what you don't know can very definitely hurt

you, but you won't know that's what did it.

Here is a link for weaning off Prednisone:

http://www.healingyou.org/cgi-bin/showme.pl?p=../pred_wean.html

HTH

Regards, -----------------------

Geoff ** Usual Disclaimers **

-----------------------

The Formula:

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Is2.3/7.14\11.1-5/35.4-6(42.1-4+45.21+50.6+52.13)53+59.16+

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[Guest guest]

Harald,

> It is my understanding that Prednisone is the most

> effective drug available to reduce the inflammation

> associated with RA. For most people, it will bring

> immediate relief, depending on dosage.

(snip)

> Once you have taken it on a regular basis, you cannot

> simply stop it, but must taper off usage over several

> weeks. Dr. Brown developed the AP to avoid the long-term

> damage caused by corticosteroid (cortisone) drugs.

Actually, unless Pred or another corticosteroid is injected directly

into a joint or used in an inhaler, it is supposed be tapered off

after even one dose of as little as 5mg.

As to its efficacy, that is debatable. It would be more accurately

described as " very effective. " The primary thing to remember with

Prednisone or any other corticosteroid is the effect on the adrenal

cortex. When the body senses excessive corticosteroids present, it

shuts down production to bring back a point of stability.

That " level " varies from person to person but is generally found in

the 1-3mg/day range, sometimes less, although some doctors will claim

up to 6mg as a " blanket " approach. (After all, we are all simply

exchangable plumbing parts - not individuals, no?)

I believe Dr. Brown developed the AP to fight rheumatic diseases as

an adjunct to his belief in the infectious theory. He acknowledged

the damage done by immune-system restricting protocols, but I've not

seen anything leading me to believe that such was the impetus behind

his work. Rather, it appeared to be the impetus behind his choice to

publish for public consumption his findings in " The Road Back " as he

was forbidden an audience within his own realm who were, and are,

very busy chasing the almighty dollar/yen/pound/ etc.

Regards, -----------------------

Geoff ** Usual Disclaimers **

-----------------------

The Formula:

Ge12.2+2Sa7.12.13(1Ch17.12.14)+(Ps2+69.4\72/78.2+107.9)+

Is2.3/7.14\11.1-5/35.4-6(42.1-4+45.21+50.6+52.13)53+59.16+

Je31.15+Mi5.2=SarShalom HaMoshiach

http://www.healingyou.org/ Nonprofit: Herbs, Homeopathics & supp's.

http://www.800-800-cruise.com/index-aff.html Make money & travel!

http://www.800-800-cruise.com/ Over a MILLION travel deals!

[Guest guest]

> Actually, unless Pred or another corticosteroid is injected

directly

> into a joint or used in an inhaler, it is supposed be tapered off

> after even one dose of as little as 5mg.

Hi Geoff,

I was under the same impression that it is always advisable to taper

the dose of prednisone until.... Last December my very " peanut

allergic " teenager accidently ingested a food that contained hidden

peanut butter. After the friendly folks at the ER gave her an IV of

pred (and I can't remember how much they gave her) they sent us home

with instructions to take 40mg of pred pills for the next 5 days and

then discontinue it altogether. This seemed a little strange to

me....shouldn't the dose be tapered??? I called them and they told

me something to the effect that it was OK to take it as directed. It

was all I could do to encourage her to take the pred, but she and I

decided to taper the dosage anyway...40mg, 30, 20, 10 and 5.

After all of the stories we hear about the difficulties people have

when they reduce their prednisone I didn't want to find out the hard

way.

Hope all is well with you and your family. We miss the stories about

you and your 'bride' and your munchkins...who are probably getting

bigger every day. I hope your travel business is able to stay afloat

in all of this uncertainty. Take care,

Connie