What is cosidered long term use for predsnisone?
How long is a piece of string?
Sorry, that was rather harsh! 2 - 5 years is average, I believe, but 10 years+ isn't unknown. 😕
It is easier to explain what is 'short term' use.
Short term use is described as no more that two weeks at relatively low doses.
Anthing over two weeks or higher doses means the adrenal glands are knocked out and you cannot stop pred immediately.
That is why you carry a Blue Steroid Card to alert medical people that you are on long term steroids.
Take this as an example, I have a friend with COPD, occasionally he needs pred, he is then prescribed two weeks at 5mg. No problems at all. Other illness also respond in this way.
If this explanation does not help - ask your GP to explain.
The reason I ask was other places i have been reading is 3-4 months.
hi lodger,
Blue steroid card? What does that mean?
Thanks so much. lodger. It did help.
I didn't know about the blue card either.
Everyone on long term steroids needs to carry a Blue Steroid Card. Your pharmacist should have a stock.
We found that they were hard to get so designed a Steroid Medication Record Booklet and and Alert card for our members.
Go to this pinned link and take a look at it.
http://www.patient.co.uk/forums/discuss/pmr-gca-website-addresses-and-resources-35316
Meant to add, you should also put ICE (In Case of Emergency) in your moblie phone with a number for medics to ring. Often in accidents etc ambulance men look for a contact number if you are unconscious.
Medical people must be alerted that you are on long term pred. You also have to carry it for two years once you stop pred.
A UK card for showing your current pred dose and dose history for the benefit of any healthcare practitioner. I don't know if they have them in the US.
As an alternative, keep a note in your pocketbook and possibly consider a MedicAlert bracelet.
Hi Lodger,
i must be having both foggy brain and blurry vision this morning because I can't seem to find info about the Record Booklet or Alert Card. On the link. Could I please have another hint😕.
Thank you💐
Diana🌸
Diana
Sent you a PM.
Do you know whether they have such a thing in Germany? I've never heard of it?
EileenH is in China at present so there will be a delay in answering.
However why not ask the question in Google!!!
Interestingly my mothers physian gave her 75mg pred for 2 weeks then took her off completely with no problems . It solved her problem of heamolyptic anemia ( probably not spelf correctly) and it has never returned unlike all the other previous treatment they tried. She originally had GCA and developed AF then the anemia. Completely okay now. I was wondering if that sort of treatment would have the same effect for PMR , but would have to find a Dr game to do it. I think what they did for Mum was a last resort and it worked.
As for my seriod card - I just keep my script in my handbag as it gives the current dose and is easily recognisable
For most of the illnesses where pred is used to reduce inflmmation (like
asthma or flres in arthritis or Crohn’s disease), it is used as what is called a “fast taper”: an example would be starting at 30mg for a week, 20mg for a week, 10mg for a week and stop – that is quite safe.
How long Denise had your Mother had GCA? I had GCA for 5 years and now in remission for nearly 4 years.
75 mgs pred? The mind boggles!
Whoa! Thats some heavy preds.
I know people who had been on the brink of losing their sight and needed 100mg of pred by infusion and hospitalized. So, no that is not some heavy pred, they must have needed it.