Re: Predinisone question

[Guest guest]

I have been on prednisone for over a decade and thought I am at a low dose I think I will be taking it all my life. I go up a mg or two but never more than that. Just be sure if you do that your adrenal gland is working properly. Make sure the doctor monitors you. I would go into adrenal failure because my gland stopped making cortisol a long time ago. I dont know if it can be kickstarted again. I have really looked into that. Good luck in trials. Hugs, Deborah

On 3/29/06, pretty24355 <kfonseca@...> wrote:

Hi all,I mostly lurk and read, but have a question. I am in the TEAR studywith my Rheumy. I am on 20 mg of MTX and 5 mg of Prednisone....

possibly placebo or Enbrelandpossibly placebo or Plaquenil (sp)I will not know until February 07 exactly what drugs I have been on.My RA is somewhat under control, with the exception of swelling in my

hands, feet-which gets much worse when my Pred is ever lowered.I had a total knee done on 1/18, but that was due to my osteo, not myRA.My Rheumy says that I may never be able to get off the Pred, regardless

of what drugs I am on. Is this generally the norm?Thanks for any help,

[Guest guest]

Prednisone is a drug we love and

hate. We love what it does for us but hate what it does to us.

Ideally it is only used when needed so you can function and not to make you

feel better if you can function without it. What it means to “function”

depends greatly on the individual. A person caring for small children or

with a physically demanding job needs to do more things to function than a

retired person with no regular duties. Most people are able to get off

Prednisone when they get the correct mix of medications but some need to stay

on it forever. Many people regard anything below 10 mg a day to be

acceptable for long term even though they would prefer to be completely off

it.

Your drug mix sounds reasonable to me,

especially if you are really on Enbrel. With that much Methotrexate you

might be experiencing troublesome side effects such as nausea and mouth

sores. These are especially bad with pills and some people have no

problem by switching to injections. Also with Methotrexate you

should be taking Folic Acid to reduce the side effects and to replace Folic

Acid that is destroyed by Methotrexate. Most people take 1 mg per day of

Folic Acid when they are on Methotrexate. If you are not on it, please

call your doctor to ask about it.

The swelling in your hands and feet could

be water retention (edema). If so when you press on the swollen place a

depression will be left for a few seconds to show edema or the skin will spring

back to normal If there is no edema. A diuretic (also called a water

pill) can help edema and if you take one you should ask about potassium

supplements to maintain your electrolyte balance. God bless.

From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of pretty24355

Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2006

11:56 AM

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Subject:

Predinisone question

Hi all,

I mostly lurk and read, but have a question.

I am in the TEAR study

with my Rheumy. I am on 20 mg of MTX and 5

mg of Prednisone....

possibly placebo or Enbrel

and

possibly placebo or Plaquenil (sp)

I will not know until February 07 exactly what

drugs I have been on.

My RA is somewhat under control, with the

exception of swelling in my

hands, feet-which gets much worse when my Pred is

ever lowered.

I had a total knee done on 1/18, but that was due

to my osteo, not my

RA.

My Rheumy says that I may never be able to get off

the Pred, regardless

of what drugs I am on. Is this generally the

norm?

Thanks for any help,

[Guest guest]

Thanks Deborah,

I really do not want to stay on it, but may have to. Will talk to

Rheumy about my adrenal gland.

>

> *I have been on prednisone for over a decade and thought I am at a

low dose

> I think I will be taking it all my life. I go up a mg or two but

Deborah