Am just coming up to 2 years Pmr. Up till know the side effects have been few. The usual curly hair, longer nails, chubby face, weight gain. The latest just starting stomach cramps, thought it might be the result of cutting down on amount i eat, but I get cramps before I eat and after. Have cut down to 7.5 preds am cutting down slowly. Anyone else have this problem?
also windy tum....
I do not know Predesalone here in US- would like to help thouh.
Wish you will get soon the answer you need, you will!
It is prednisone normally in the US, which gets converted to prednisolone by the liver. In UK it is normally taken directly as prednisolone.
I'm not sure. Years ago before I had PMR I had an allergy problem; my GP recommended prednisone. It was great, soon I was much better. Then a few years later I had another allergy problem and asked my GP for prednisone and he refused; he said it had too many side effects. Well I didn't think too much about it until I was diagnosed with PMR and the Rheumotoid Dr. recommended prednisone. I hadn't forgotten what my GP told me. That is one reason I am so reluctant to take prednisone. Then when I started searching the internet myself I understood why. I am not on prednisone, but I did discuss it with my GP (same one I had years ago) and he basically he said you have to choose the lesser of the two evils. But I am still afraid to take prednisone. I'm not saying I will never take it again, but just not now. In no way would I say you shouldn't take; each to his own. Just research it. Wishing you all the best...
Tlsser, based on what my doc tpld me and what I've further read the adrenal glands produce anti-inflamatory hormones. Prednisone takes over this function from the adrenal glands. Long term use of prednisone can caused increased appitite, weight gain, increased blood sugar etc. i was on prednisone for a short period for my PMR 2 years ago but my doc discontinued my use. Now I just take oxycodone which helps a lot.
If I had not taken pred for PMR I think I would be in a wheelchair by now living in a care home. At least with pred I can live a reasonable life although I do have to take it easy and thankfully the dreadful pain has been suppressed by the pred. There are a lot of medicines that have side effects, in fact most of them, with steroids it is highly unlikely you will get all of them, if any at all. The trouble with not taking pred is that you are leaving your body open to inflammation and could increase the likelihood of other problems. Also if you get GCA and do not take pred you could go blind.
I personally do not believe that oxycodone would help PMR, but it is a good analgesic for other things. I think what it is helping with is something else.
I disagree that it is unlikely that you won't get any side effects from prednisone, just the opposite. Most of us do get side effects and it is the few who don't. My running joke is I've got most of them except hair loss, I've gained facial hair, insomnia, mood swings, hot flashes etccccc...
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Mariane
Golly Mariane, you better get off the pred. I was on it a short while before my doc took me off even though it worked. Good luck.
This is my 3rd time writing my reply. 😬
Most of us have side effects and fortunately i can keep my mood under control by swimming which also helps range of motion. Well most of the time.
There was a discussion as to longevity of pmr after diagnosis to how long you think you had pmr pre diagnosis. I believe now i had pmr for up to 1 yr with the last 3 months of hell in pain before prednisone.
Only prednisone works they gave me pecocsets and it did nothing. With my sensitivity it will take me 2.4 yrs to get from my now 17mg to 10mg so do the math to get lower. This is not a 2yr disease for me and it took me from September to get to 17 from 20mg. I'm not counting😠 i thank god for thiese forums.
Consider yourself lucky and if your not on prednisone maybe you don't have PMR? I've not heard of anything else that works on our inflammation.
Good luck
I think I counted that I had fourteen side effects, the one good one being curly hair! The sensitive teeth went quite quickly though and the hot sweats have improved.
Yes Tisser I have developed cramps, bloat, burning reflux in the last month or so (have been on pred for nearly a year and on 10mg now). I have other side effects which are trivial compared to the pain I was in without pred, but my new health problems are making me really miserable. I am on my 5th different drug to help my new problems. None have worked well. I am taking pro biotics and curcumin as well. I am about to push for tests to find out what the problem really is. If I find a cure I will let you know. If you find something helpful to cure your problem please let me know.
I have never heard of anyone with having a definite diagnosis of PMR who has been advised not to take Pred. Pred is the only thing that takes away the pain.
For a few of us we could not get out of bed, climb stairs, walk more than a few yards, etc etc. Without Pred we would be bed/housebound.
I have had PMR for 4 years (admittedly atypical) and cannot get below 5 mgs.
DO, DO be careful!
Good luck. Regards fr Constance
hi Flutterbie and Tisser,
I have had PMR and have been on Pred for 20 months, now down to 7 1/2 mg. I have been having stomach cramps for the last couple of weeks. I put it down to the fact that i have also gastritis and H. pylori, but perhaps the cramps are due to the pred ? I am finding it difficult to eat and have lost 22lbs. I also am getting reflux and horrible heartburn, so I am on PPIs and ranitidine. It is all very uncomfortable and i am very fedup with it all. i also have lots of other side effects, like high blood sugar and anxiety. I have woken up this morning with lots of little red pinprick marks on my body ! But, at least I no longer have the awful PMR pain, just a bit of aching and stiffness and the fatigue is bad.
As you can tell, I am not feeling too cheerful at the moment !
Golly jan21306 you are really suffering and I synpathize with you. Maybe you should consider discontinuing pred. My case of PMR is different and, as you may have read, i'm not on pred. Good luck.
You don't just 'discontinue prednisone'!!
Perhaps, as has been suggested, you don't actually have PMR.
Prednisone is the only thing that takes away PMR pain! No other pain killers seem to do it!
My sister`s doctor wouldn`t prescibe Oxycodone for pain, because it being an opiate and very addictive....it seems it`s finding the lesser of the two evils!
Edulm, I don't think you should be suggesting that someone should stop taking pred unless you are qualified to do so. Sadly pred is the only thing available to alleviate the PMR pain, so if you stop it you are back to square one. Pred has over eighty side effects and many of us will have some of them. in comparison to the excruciating pain of PMR it is a price we are prepared to pay.
I don't blame your sister's doctor for being wary. It is not the sort of drug you want to be taking if you can help it.
I'm not suggesting she discontnue pred w/o her doc's advice.