Re: low dose quick taper steroids

[Guest guest]

Emma,

I have been on prednisone for 12 yrs straight, never coming off of them. I

wish I had never started them, but they were the only thing that seemed to work

for me. I am 33 and have dermatomyositis/scleroderma. Anyway the main side

effects that you might experience when only on them for a short time would be:

hunger, hard to sleep, mood swings, diarrea, and you might get a little puffy in

the face, but that goes away as you taper off of them, and depending on how

short a time your on them you might not have this problem at all. Be careful of

your salt and sugar intake, prednisone not only makes you feel hungry all the

time, but you also tend to retain water. Prednisone is great for inflammation

and skin problems. I hope this helps, GOOD LUCK!!

emluv23@... wrote:

I have never tried prednisone so far. Soon will be starting 20mg that

will be

tapered down to 0 within two weeks. Do these short courses still involve side

effects? I've read the list of side effects and there are so many possible

ones that I don't know what to expect realistically. I just want to be prepared.

This is a big step for me as I have avoided all drugs besides antibiotics

until now.

Also, just had a major breakout of vasculitis all over my legs...very dark

purple spots. Has anyone had this that can tell me how long it takes for them to

fade completely? I haven't found mention of fading in any of the literature.

Thanks!

Emma

[Guest guest]

Hi Emma,

I've had a small amount of experience w/prednisone. Avoided it completely,

thanks to this

group way back in 1998. I was one of the lucky ones who started on the

antibiotic

protocol (AP) in the first place, instead of going through the

methotrexate/prednisone

route.

I did have prednisone in 2002 and 2003....after doing so well on the AP I had to

have two

abdominal/female surgeries. I still have a cough and all symptoms are 90%

reduced,

including the cough. Anyway, I coughed during surgery and I was given 100 mg of

prednisone. The following year I knew to discuss the prednisone in advance, and

was

given a dose of 100mg prior to surgery, followed by a gradual taper over maybe

two or

four weeks.....similar to yours.

Noticible effects: Not a lot for the duration, although I was very careful to

monitor my

food intake and did notice the " non-sleeping/high energy " mode before needing to

crash.

Basically, the highs and lows. I also noticed that last 10% of

pain/stiffness/rash/cough

associated with my dermatomyositis was gone with the prednisone....but it wasn't

worth it,

in my opinion. I was happy to wean off of the drug known for osteoporosis,

muscle

wasting, diabetes, and all sorts of side effects.

As of now -- I still have 10% of my cough, a tidge of muscle weakness....but the

AP is alive

and well and I'm still on it. Can't complain.

Hope this helps. Take care,

~Connie

>

> I have never tried prednisone so far. Soon will be starting 20mg that will be

> tapered down to 0 within two weeks. Do these short courses still involve side

> effects? I've read the list of side effects and there are so many possible

> ones that I don't know what to expect realistically. I just want to be

prepared.

> This is a big step for me as I have avoided all drugs besides antibiotics

> until now.

>

> Also, just had a major breakout of vasculitis all over my legs...very dark

> purple spots. Has anyone had this that can tell me how long it takes for them

to

> fade completely? I haven't found mention of fading in any of the literature.

>

> Thanks!

> Emma

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Although no meds are the best meds sometimes a quick course of prednisone

will really help. I was on prednisone low dose for almost eight years. This

was seven years ago. I have had several tests including bone density the

last few years and no side effects have shown up. I was always worried that

such a long time on steriods was going to do me in!!! Fortunately my eyes are

great...no sign of cataracts. No signs of diabetes or liver malfunction,

kidneys are great, bone density is that of a 30 year old (I am 59). In fact in

spite of all the terrible meds I took over eight years of regular

rheumatologist

treatment, I have fared fairly well. Part of this is pure genetics, part is

the care I took in always taking the least amount of meds I had to, part is

just luck.

A short course of prednisone will probably do more good than harm.

Often it will bring the swelling down and allow the antibiotics to really get

in

and begin working on that joint. Also a lot will depend upon your

sensitivity to prednisone. I happened to be extremely sensitive to it and 5

mg had

me happily dancing and hopping around the house.....20 mg would have had me

leaping over rooftops in a single bound. Just did not need that much!! If you

are worried you might ask to try a lower shorter course. That way you will

see if you actually need the 20 mg dose. All of us are so different. Why

take 20 if 5 will do.....just my thoughts.

Overall if your body is otherwise in good shape, unless you are allergic or

have a reaction to prednisone...or diabetes or osteoporosis runs in the

family, I would probably go with the doctors recommendation, especially since

it is

for such a limited time. Just one more opinion. Martha