Guest guest Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 Donna, If your doc wants you to wean off the pred, he needs to put you on another effective Lupus drug like Plaquenil for some months, first. Plaquenil takes up to six months to show its effectiveness, but it does help most Lupus patients when they are being weaned off Prednisone. Your heart problems could very well be as a result of too much pred, as well as your increased fatigue. Prednisone is a good servant, like ambition, but a bad master. While it masks symptoms that are indicating that your disease is progressing, it also is weakening your bones, heart and lungs over time. For your long term well being, it is advisable to be weaned off the pred, but ask for Plaquenil (in the new generic form hydroxychloroquine). It is much less likely to cause adverse side effects, seems to start working a little faster than the old Plaquenil, but will take some months to show it's benefits. And, in the final analysis, if your doctor is no longer willing to listen, OR, which is more likely, has reached a point where they are not able to make intelligent choices regarding your care, and is now trying to disassociate from you, it's time to find a better doc. No question about that. But, I would confront this one, speak frankly, and if you feel you cannot do that without losing your cool (This is a prob for me, frequently.), put it in writing and send it...making sure to put a deadline for a reply in your letter. Good luck with all that, and please keep us posted. Loving hugs, MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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