Decreasing predsione

[Jabmzmom]

My rheumatologist has me on a schedule to taper off the prednisone. I am feeling my symptoms more. Has this happened to anyone else?

[kevg]

Oh yeah . You can't stay on prednisone forever until you get your ra number under control with say methotrexate or some others it's an in between battle. Even when your number is under control there is still some discomfort but movement and a good diet is key

I'm an ra newbie but you will know right away what works for you.

[Hannahsrock1]

Yes, it was aweful! I'm on Methatrexate now. Not sure that is any better. I slept a lot during my taper. If you can do that, it helps. Sorry, you're having to go through this.

[Grammy3]

I've been on prednisone for 4 years. It's the only help I have for pain. It is very hard to taper. You need to go very slowly. O more than 1 mg a month once you get down to 10. Under 10 is a low dose Take your time

[Jabmzmom]

I'm following the schedule that my doctor gave me.

[SherryKayB]

I have been off and on Prednisone for years. My RA doc and I finally discovered that a maintenance dose of 3 mg. per day works best for me.

[Rceb412]

As much as I hate to take prednisone its the only thing that really helps. I'm on Enbrel also. The moment I wean off, I'm in agony. It'sa live and hate relationship

[Multijo]

I had to go through tapering twice. The first time I got mixed up and didn't come off well. I started crying pretty hard when my doc broke the news to me. So please do the tapering carefully.

[Jabmzmom]

Im following the schedule the doctor gave me

[Amy_Lee]

I was on Prednisolone 2.5 mg tab for about 5 months. My rheumy said this was just a bridge until other drugs took effect. She told me to slowly cut off prednisolone by having it alternate day first, if I was okay, then once a week and then cut them all off. It was a form of steroid, I

should not depend on it for too long.

I was okay during the process. My rheumy just suggested a few ways but she said my body knew best if I should stop it faster or slower. From there, I knew I was in charge of the process, I took it alternate day only for a day and I found my body was okay then I took it 3 days a part next, I was okay again. Then I took it once a week. Within a month, I cut off prednisolone which I had been taken for the past 5 months.

I hope that helps. Good luck.

[PattyFarrell]

Definatly. I was weaned off prednisone and I hurt like God knows what. I am now on humaria, methotrexate, folic acid, Sulfasalazine, and a few others. It sucks. When I was in school I went to the nurse almost everyday and was picked up early. And humaria is bad too. It hurts!

[Helloshelly]

I am a newbie here and am dealing with eye hypertension pressure using Predisone. I on 20 mg and methotrexate, folic acid. I also have very dry eyes and am having to use my sleeping eye gel during the day to keep them from hurting. Any ideas or similar experience to share?

[ShannonMFG in reply to Helloshelly]

Check with your optometrist about silicone plugs for your tear ducts. They help keep more moisture in your eyes. I had them placed a year or so ago and it helped! I still use OTC tear drops but nothing like prior to having them placed.

[Naturehealz]

Yes, as the RA medications such as the biologics and methotrexate (that conventional drs try to prescribe both together--double the immune lowering toxic effects), hugely lower the immune system, which induces not only fibromyalga, but other very painful all over arthritic conditions (there are 150+ kinds), and internal infection, and dental root decay, keeping you in higher levels of constant chronic pain. Metotrexate doubles the effect of this, and most people refuse this beyond the 3 months that drs attempt to keep you on) These 2 drugs together also contribute to dental damage in the roots of teeth, which then causes all over system infection and chronic pain. The literature strongly says not to take the RA immune lowering drugs, which they themselves cause if you have any infection in your bodyo, which immune supressing drugs cause!!!! Like many others, i spoke up and refused mtx. This, helped to lower my pain levels and reduced infection, I then began taking plaquinil instead of the immune supressing biologic drug,humira. After I did this, about 75% of my pain went away, allowing me to reduce the prednisone to gradually mg to 5 mg, and keeps my flairs to a minimum (about 2 a year) and pain levels very managable wuth Tramadol (50 mg x 2 day). It was the chemo immune supressing drugs that were causing my body to be in a chronic infection state, triggering other chronic conditions, that kept me at high pain levels. Also largely contributing to pain is eating commom high allergy foods such as gluten and soy (cereals, etc), milk products,coffee, sugar (Very important), tomatoes, and other highly inflammatory foods. Also needing 10 to 11 hrs of sleep daily and keeping stress low in the environment and lifestyle.

[ShannonMFG in reply to Naturehealz]

Yes! Try to cut out gluten! It's evil!!

[Multijo]

Yes! It took two tries to get me off prednisone. It's a tough drug. Actually they all are aren't they!!

Is she or he suggesting anything to help you through it? Sometimes topical pain creams help my hands a little and I love warm wet heat anywhere it hurts.

Marijuana is also helpful as is naproxen be careful it's all not hurting your tummy Doc should help with that too

Press your doc on helping you!!

I am hoping the rest of your tapering is easier on you.

[Multijo]

Oh and don't forget your stretches and exercise. Simple gentle yoga and swimming are the best for me. You will figure out what gives you beautiful reliefs it might help to have a physical therapist work with u for a bit. I am in US so that requires a referral from one of your docs.

[kevg]

This is common until the ra drugs kick in . It takes a month before methotrexate even starts to work