Taking steroids

[puppy43]

Hi to the CLL community wishing everyone well,

I am towards the end of my V and O treatment which has gone well thankfully

except for some side effects one of which is inflammatory arthritis that is causing some issues.

Does anyone have experience of taking prednisolone ?

I have been prescribed a small dose ( 7.5m) , but have many reservations having seen my Father

taking the same drug in bigger doses and becoming very unwell with weight gain, chronic insomnia

increased blood sugar and depression.

My consultant did warn me about side effects, but said the drugs do work .

Any advice would be most welcome

best wishes

puppy

[CycleWonder]

My experience with steroids has been that if you take them for 10 days or less, the side effects are minimal. If taken longer than 10 days, the side effects may begin to affect you.

I am not a medical doctor. My son’s doctors have prescribed steroids for him at times and this was the advice I was given.

[puppy43 in reply to CycleWonder]

Thank you for your reply much appreciated. My dose is for 6 weeks, but what you say makes sense as anything long term may be problematic.

I think I need to have a further discussion with my consultant.

best wishes and keep well

puppy

[Spark_Plug]

It takes approximately 16.5 to 22 hours for Prednisone to be out of your system.

The elimination half life of prednisone is around 3 to 4 hours. This is the time it takes for your body to reduce the plasma levels by half.

It usually takes around 5.5 x half-life for a drug to be completely eliminated from your system.

This is (5.5 x 3) 16.5 hours to (5.5 x 4) 22 hours for Prednisone.

Other factors also need to be taken into account and include:

1. How much and how often you have taken the drug.

2. Your metabolic rate – a slower metabolism will increase the time a drug remains in your system.

3. Your age and health – older age and poor health will generally increase the time the drug stays in your system.

4. Body mass – generally the bigger you are the longer a drug will remain in your system.

See also: drugs.com/ppa/prednisone.html

[puppy43 in reply to Spark_Plug]

Hi Spark_Plug,

thank you for your very much for your informative reply it was greatly appreciated

puppy

[Cindi73]

I can only tell you my experience. About 3yrs ago I could hardly walk because of pain. I was given 60 mg to start and decrease every day until gone. This pass yr. I've been getting shots him my hip about ever 3 months. The only side effect I have had is I lose 10lbs every time. I believe it's 10lbs of inflammation. It can raise your glucose. I've been on Imbruvica for 6yrs. Wishing you the best. Cindi

[puppy43 in reply to Cindi73]

Hi Cindi,

I am the same and sometimes find it hard to walk with the fluid on my knee.

i'm glad your side effects are minimal and to lose 10lbs from the inflammation is

remarkable. I never realised I had such a lot of inflammation until the consultant did

ultrasound and other tests particularly on my fingers which swell overnight.

I guess I have to give the steroids a try and see how I get on.It's a bit of a trade off isn't it?

As the V and O comes to an end I was thinking great no more pills and now I have more

again!!

I hope you are doing well on the Imbruvica and continue to do so

best wishes

puppy

[Cindi73 in reply to puppy43]

Thank you. Hope you do well also.

[Smakwater]

puppy43,

If you are referring to the Prednisone that is commonly used to manage inflammation during O+V, It does have a necessary purpose. However, with extended use, it can have implications and one of those is blurred vision caused from "CRS", Central Serous Retinopathy. - medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArt....

JM

[puppy43 in reply to Smakwater]

Hi ,

thank you that makes a lot of sense as have just been referred to the hospital eye clinic

and had to have eye tests and an OCT before taking hydroxychloroquine .

you have tied things together for me as the OCT needs further investigations.

many thanks

puppy

[Smakwater in reply to puppy43]

Take care of those eyes.

[Ptown]

Hello Puppy, I was prescribed prednisone twice and both times I really could not sleep. Not sleepy at all which I caused me to pull out my old college textbooks to see if reading them would cause me to nod off, all to no avail! As a result, I organized all my closets and drawers. Other than that, it went well for me. Hope your experience goes smoothly. Take care. Carolyn

[puppy43 in reply to Ptown]

Hello Ptown ,

I had enough trouble sleeping with my Obinutuzumab infusions not sure I want to go there again haha!!

I am coming to the conclusion that I have to give them a try and see how I get on .

Am pleased it went well for you..

Take care and best wishes

puppy