Can anyone tell me if the lower the dose of pred you take .does it lower the side effects,
Para ser honesto, no estoy seguro, pero en mi caso no, eran igual de malos. No, Eileen o Ptolomey te darán mejor información.
It depends. On the side effect and on the person. Apart from anything else, there are 82 listed side effects, no-one gets them all, some people get next to none. There are also different sorts of corticosteroid and the same person might have certain side effects with prednisolone, other side effects with methyl prednisolone and yet others with prednisone.
Some side effects do become less significant as the dose lowers but everyone is different. Take weight gain - I have lost a lot of weight while still on one pred, albeit a different version to the one that caused the weight gain. Another lady was on the same form of pred from diagnosis at the beginning right to the end, but her dose reduced from 60mg to zero over about 5 years I think. She put on about 6st in weight on pred within a very short time. She didn't lose a pound until she stopped taking any pred and then the weight melted away without her even trying.
For me, I just reduced to 5 mg and Rheumy wants to keep me here until other DMARDS kick in, which take 4-5 months, ugh...
but, I think my face isn't as round and my elephant hump is gone off my back, though I hurt there now days, but that could be from something else.
i sleep better for most part. Still have occassional hot flashes.
I still get acid reflux that I think is from Pred, never had it before.
I still have dry mouth, but not as bad. My nose and hair and skin are still dry.
I'm still in pain, 75% in mornings, maybe 40-50% in afternoons.
Not much brain fog as higher doses, but if I'm real tired then I do have troubles.
I don't know if this helps your question.
Hola Layne; no sé qué DMARD estás tomando, pero mi reflujo ácido es peor ahora que estoy en metotrexato. Por fin estoy empezando a reducir los analgésicos, llevo 3 meses y mis resultados sanguíneos van en la dirección correcta. Acabo de aumentar a la dosis oral máxima y tengo cita con el consultor en 5 semanas para revisión. Espero que tus medicamentos surtan efecto pronto (me dijeron que tardaría 4 meses, pero ahora parece que vale la pena esperar —tocar madera).
I did read early on in my journey that effects on the bones (osteoporosis being the fear) were likely to be most severe the first month one was on prednisone.
Thanks for your input, every bit of information helps xx
In fact I would say from my reading loss of bone density isn't so much a "side" effect, which term dimishes its apparent significance in our minds, as a direct effect of steroids. This effect is lower the less the dosage. I'll private message you a link.
One rheumatologist told me the most was in the first 3 months - but one assumes too that that is when you are likely to be at the highest doses. There was a paper from physiotherapists that claimed that there was still evidence of changes in bone density at 5mg whereas previously it had been thought that at low doses it was negligible. However - I had no evidence of any real reduction of bone density after over 3 years at mostly above 10mg. They never look at every single person, the populations they DO look at are restricted - I don't think they really know the answer but it would be interesting to know who funded any study because I'll lay odds that the ones that say there is a deterioration have something to do with the manufacturers of "bone protective medications".
Cynical? Moi?
I suppose really we shouldn't use the term "side effect" but "effect" which can be sub-categorised as "beneficial" and "adverse" in the context of where you are using the stuff. After all, something that is undesirable in one disease may be helpful in another.
I have found that the horrible sweats have improved and also I don't feel like I could eat a horse all the time. I still have the fluid retention, purpura and thin skin though. The gritty eyes have got better and the sensitive teeth problem has stopped altogether. My hair is still curly, but I like that along with my strong nails. I think overall things have improved.
I have got to a stage where the long, strong and beautiful nails have gone AWOL. I've chosen to let the curls grow out as well. But I miss the nails... :-(
Apparently it will take one to two years for me to get to see the osteoporosis specialist. I obviously can't wait that long for her advice so will have to be really proactive, but I'm pretty negative about the medications that are offered.
Have you had a scan that diagnosed osteoporosis?
Yes, but I don't know the numbers. Husband going to pick up photocopy of report this afternoon when he went to work but I haven't seen it yet.
You may find that your bones are not as bad as you think!
Will let you know. Thank you.
YEARS???? And they complain in the UK!!!!!!!
Estoy de acuerdo. Hace cinco años, mi reumatólogo quería que hiciera una resonancia ósea. Mi hospital no tenía una máquina, pero tenía un acuerdo con el hospital privado y solo tuve que esperar 10 semanas (lugar exclusivo, excelente atención + sin factura). Gracias a Dios por el NHS, que cumple cuando se necesita.
En mi experiencia, NO, estoy reduciendo ahora y, por Dios, estoy sufriendo.