prednisone - an ode to the evil candy

[Guest guest]

Hi Steve,

Ok. The deal on prednisone. Prednisone is a formulation of cortisol, a compound

your adrenal glands produce normally. Cortisol is essential for life. It

regulates a whack of systems and pathways including your response to stress

(physical and mental). It works in its normal physiological quantity. Too much

or too little will give you bad effects such as the ones you are experiencing on

prednisone.

Higher doses of cortisol have antiinflammatory properties because they prevent

the production and release of certain white cells, cytokins and immunoglobulins

(including IgE). These cells are involved in allergy and asthma. Prevent their

release -> reduce the inflammation -> decrease symptoms.

However, since prednisone (a form of cortisol) acts on the entire body, taking

a higher than usual quantity (e.g. any more than the body would make normally)

will have effects. It is not a specific molecule like Xolair that targets only 1

cell. Prednisone has a " whole body effect: " . When you drop your dose, the white

cells rear their ugly heads and cause havoc again. That is why you feel better

on higher doses.

Docs know prednisone is the evil candy. Howver, they have yet to develop a more

potent agent that acts specifically on white cells and only in the lungs. That

is a LONG time coming (although Xolair is a step in the right direction).

Prednisone is used in a whack of other inflammatory diseases. A good book is

called Coping with Prednisone. I recommend everyone read it. I don't have the

author with me here but others may know. Google the title to find it.

Hope this helps,

(3 straight years of pred and counting...)

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the information.

Two more questions;

You said in your comments:

Docs know prednisone is the evil candy. However, they have yet to

develop a more potent agent that acts specifically on white cells and

only in the lungs. That is a LONG time coming (although Xolair is a step

in the right direction).

Does this mean even though I am taking Xolair (since it acts only on 1

cell) and the prednisone is reduced to a minimum or even eliminated

(this is our goal) will the symptoms continue returning in the same

fashion as they did this past week?

Can I expect the Xolair when it reaches its maximum potential benefit

can I expect to be able to quit taking the evil candy all together?

~STEVE ZIMMERMAN, CPM, CVOM~

________________________________

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of

Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 12:49 PM

Xolair

Subject: [ ] prednisone - an ode to the evil candy

Hi Steve,

Ok. The deal on prednisone. Prednisone is a formulation of cortisol, a

compound your adrenal glands produce normally. Cortisol is essential for

life. It regulates a whack of systems and pathways including your

response to stress (physical and mental). It works in its normal

physiological quantity. Too much or too little will give you bad effects

such as the ones you are experiencing on prednisone.

Higher doses of cortisol have antiinflammatory properties because they

prevent the production and release of certain white cells, cytokins and

immunoglobulins (including IgE). These cells are involved in allergy and

asthma. Prevent their release -> reduce the inflammation -> decrease

symptoms.

However, since prednisone (a form of cortisol) acts on the entire body,

taking a higher than usual quantity (e.g. any more than the body would

make normally) will have effects. It is not a specific molecule like

Xolair that targets only 1 cell. Prednisone has a " whole body effect: " .

When you drop your dose, the white cells rear their ugly heads and cause

havoc again. That is why you feel better on higher doses.

Docs know prednisone is the evil candy. Howver, they have yet to develop

a more potent agent that acts specifically on white cells and only in

the lungs. That is a LONG time coming (although Xolair is a step in the

right direction).

Prednisone is used in a whack of other inflammatory diseases. A good

book is called Coping with Prednisone. I recommend everyone read it. I

don't have the author with me here but others may know. Google the title

to find it.

Hope this helps,

(3 straight years of pred and counting...)