RE: Need Help on how long Prednisone side effects last?

June 7, 2004

Dearest Fran --

I don't have near as much experience as you do with pred but I want off too.

I have been taking it since November and I am tapering off now, fortunately

not at the level you have to deal with, and it is so hard. I feel like a

bloated toad. The more I cut back the more my joints swell. I know my

rheumy will want me to go back on it at a higher dose and I really don't

want to. I wish Enbrel was doing a beter job for me. I know it helps a lot

but it's just not enough. I have read that the side effects last for a year

after getting off pred but don't know if that is accurate. I wish you much

success with the tapering. Try not to be discouraged.

Cheri :-))

[ ] Need Help on how long Prednisone side effects

last?

> Dear Group,

>

> Since we have so many people who have probably taken Prednisone at some

> point during their PA experience, I was wondering if anyone remembers how

> long the side effects last?

>

June 7, 2004

Hi Fran,

I was put on prednisone for several years because I had both asthma and PA.

The

result, directly or indirectly was that I developed osteporosis, diabetes,

and problems

with my parathyroid glands. These diseases occurred during the past ten

years, and

now I am still being treated for them at the age of 61. I suggest that you

check with

your doctors to have a bone density test, a blood sugar test, and a blood

serum test

for calcium content. Take care.

Sincerely,

Reid in Washington DC

June 7, 2004

Dear Cheri,

Thanks for writing back. I don’t know what level of predinsone you are on,

but I started at 10mg for about 4 months. I still was having pain and my

daughter’s graduation was coming up, so my doctor said I could go up to 20mg

for the week before. It made the difference and I was able to attend, even

though I still needed a wheelchair. I felt so much better at 20mg I thought

I should stay there and my family doctor agreed with me. He thought the

inflammation was so high that until they found a medication that would take

the place of predinsone I’d be ok at 20mg. Of course, none of us thought it

would take over 2 years and we still haven’t found a drug I can take. I’ve

tried MTX, Enbrel, Humira, Asulfadine, Plaquinel, Vioxx and Celebrex. The

last two they made me stop due to edema. The rest of the drugs I’ve had

mild to extreme allergic reactions.

When I cut back the predinsone I don’t notice my joints swelling too much,

except maybe my toes. I never knew that toes could hurt so much. I also

have constant cramps and spasms in my feet and hands, when I lower the

predinsone. The pain is the main problem. To go much lower than 20mg,

which I’m attempting next week, is going to throw my pain medication out the

window. I hate to increase that or even ask my pain doctor for more. I

know he will understand, but I think I’m at the maximum on the current

painkiller I’m on. Everything gets so complicated at times. I know I just

need to find a good medication that works for me that helps cut the

inflammation down. Even the painkillers aren’t doing anything to stop the

damage to my joints.

I wish you luck with lowering your level or getting off of it completely.

How long have you been on Enbrel? I had an extreme reaction to that drug

and almost ended up in the hospital. All my glands started swelling and

aching something horrible. I think it even pushed me into congestive heart

failure. But it has been a wonder drug for so many people, so I hope it is

for you as well.

I guess I need to just be patient and give the predinsone time to leave my

system. Sometimes the pain of PA is so bad that I don’t care about the side

effects of predinsone. Then once it lets up, I get worked up over the side

effects. I guess some people are never happy…lol. Take care and I wish you

luck and better health in the future. Sincerely, Fran

Re: [ ] Need Help on how long Prednisone side

effects last?