Is 25 Presidine alot? What are the side effects on this dose?

Hi, does anyone take a high doseage of this steroid? A close friend of mine is on 7 g(mg??) and has been getting sick recently the docs have told him to increase the steroid to 25? (Mg)... I dont understand the doseage or what this might mean in terms of seriousness? Can anyone help? X

[Diagnosed2012]

When I was first diagnosed, I was prescribed 60mg a day of prednisolone steroid, but that was gradually reduced over several months.

[Terrier_Lady]

I too started out at 60mg when I first started having issues and was diagnosed. Have had bouts where they put me on 40mg and also 20mg. My rheumatologist tried to completely taper me off and then went back to 7mg. The 7 wasn't controlling my flair ups so I'm currently on 15mg. It really just depends upon how bad your symptoms are at the time being and how you respond. There are side effects but the point is that the symptoms from the disease are worse than the side effects. The goal is to be on as little as possible and as for as short a time period as possible but sometimes our bodies won't corporate. I haven't been able to be completely off steroids for months now and even when they did get me off it was only for a month or two. So for the last couple years I've just become accustomed to taking them. It's kind of choosing the lesser of two evils. Without them I can't live my life at all as the symptoms of the disease are so bad. I hope that gives you some understanding about them.

[misty14]

Hi Singlemumloopy

Your friend will only be on that high dose of steroid for a short time, sufficient to improve the symptoms and then she'll have to slowly reduce them to either not take them at all or to find a daily dose she can manage on. Hope this helps?X

[cathie]

My GP described pred as a sticking plaster. I was on 10mg for about three months and had horrible side effects, mainly to do with my diabetes 2. Blood sugar levels went dangerously high and I had to increase my meds for that. It is not a long term solution. Further, it can be very difficult to come off them if you're on for more than a couple of weeks. You have to reduce slowly and it can be quite painful. So a drug not to be trifled with and its worth reading up on and quizzing your doctors.

[bam1993]

I totally agree with 'cathie' it really is not ideal to be on steroids long term-has the Rhuemy discussed or tried any other meds with your friend?

[gazorpf]

Prednisone is a synthetic form of the hormone adrenaline which is made by the adrenal glands located on top of the kidneys. Taken orally or by IV, it suppresses inflammation and it also suppresses the immune system. Inflammation causes pain. Prednisone also helps with the fatigue. 25mg is not terribly high. Like the others, have known people on doses as high as 60mg. The highest dose I took was 10 mg. but that was along with Cellcept and Plaquenil. I was on 10 mg for three years and then gradually weaned off the drug altogether.

Prednisone can cause "moon face" where you cheeks are very fat. It may also cause a hump like fat deposit to develop at the base of the neck. These go away when the dose is reduced or stopped. Over time, prednisone can cause cataracts, osteoporosis, and high blood pressure. People on prednisone or similar steroids are likely to gain weight. That does not vanish when the medication is stopped, unfortunately. Prednisone can also cause a person to be overly sensitive and even aggressive and argumentative.

However, steroids like prednisone are the first line of defense in bringing a flare under control. Once the flare is controlled, most doctors will begin a weaning process. It is very important not to go off this medication without talking to your doctor. The result can be an even worse flare and more problems.

[larainehudson49 in reply to gazorpf]

From experience, I find your description completely accurate. I was on 40mg prednisolone daily for a few months, when I developed the big moon face to being almost unidentifiable! Then it was decreased gradually to 5mg daily as Methotrexate was introduced. The effects from prednisolone I have are mild cataracts, irritability and mood swings even though on this lower dose. I was trying to wean off it, to no avail, got down to 2mg daily and my symptoms worsened so don,t seem to be able to get any lower than 5mg daily, I was told that the only organ steroids are friendly with is the liver and destructive to the rest, so its a question of the worst of the 2 evils as we have to have some kind of effective treatment. I was diagnosed with Lupus 12 years ago but the doctors and myself suspect it had manifested gradually over a lot of years before that. I hope this is informative for other sufferers.

[Hidden]

Thank you all SO much for the replies. That has really helped. I'm having a real tough time right now. I suffer from Lupus and largely it's the fatigue and joint pains I have to cope with. Been single mum for 7 years and I work full time. My lil boy is 10 now so luckily he can do a lot for himself now at home and is at the age that the computer entertains him a lot - not ideal i know but mum can't run around with him in the park etc any more! He is used to saying good night mum to me in the middle of the day as he is so used to me going to sleep in the afternoon! Anyway , amazingly at the beg of this year I met this wonderful man (dare to admit: match.com!) and we hit it off straight away - I always thought I'd never find love - one as a single mum its hard anyway then with the lupus and me sleeping half my life .. but it transpired that he suffered also from an autoimmune disease - Sarcoidosis (Pulmonary sarcodoisis). I researched it and told him about my Lupus - we both accepted each other how we are and have been supportive to one another - only being able to see each other once a week and sometimes not go out because Ive been to tired to do anything at all. It's been wonderful! I've been so happy first time in years, we've actually fallen in love. Then out of the blue, he has been getting chest pains and breathing problems - hospital tests show the remission he was in is no more and he has badly affected lungs and has to inc the steroid from 7mg to 25mg . They said he might have to be on it for rest of his life but they have to see and will try to reduce it. He's asked for time out on our relationship to digest everything - I don't know what he is going through, he's kinda shut me out to protect me but it's awful not even knowing how he's doing. How do you support someone who is going through this - I want to support him. I feel so sad Maybe he is scared of the side effects the new dosage will cause and how they'll impact the relationship.. I just don't know. He was on 30mg 8 years ago when he was first diagnosed. Sorry to download x Anyone have any ideas on how best I can deal with this? x Best Wishes to you all and thanks for taking the time to write to me xx

[misty14 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Singlemumloopy

It's wonderful that you found someone with a similar auto- immune illness and you've fallen in love. Tough then that he wants time out to cope with his sudden serious flare but understandable . I guess what you could do is write him a letter saying you want to be there for him but understanding his need for space and hoping his health improves etc. it certainly should improve with the high steroid dose. Hope I've helped and your Lupus is behaving despite all that you do?. Best of luckX

[jossle]

I've been on between 5 and 60mg of prednisone constantly over the last twenty years, only occasionally going higher than 20mg. As other replies have stressed, the titration process is hard on your body and you need to know in advance that--even with the slowest, most careful taper--you should be prepared for some nasty experiences with this drug. When I was on my first high dose (up to 40mg, boom), neither my rheumatologist nor my GP gave me information about the negative effects I might expect and I got not a single clue about the painful psychological impacts prednisone has, especially at higher doses.

gazorpf put it mildly:

"Prednisone can also cause a person to be overly sensitive and even aggressive and argumentative. "

With a higher dose or even tapering off it too quickly, prednisone can trigger outright psychosis, including paranoia and hallucinations. I was lucky not to have to experience the most extreme end of this, but I certainly went through a lot anguish, physical and otherwise, all the while not knowing what the hell was happening to me or why. There is a definite withdrawal syndrome associated with coming off this drug, and it is crucial for anybody taking it to educate herself on its symptoms.

Best of luck to your friend and to you.

[Mainshah]

Hay there I was on 40mg of steroids when I was first dignosed came dw to 12.5mg ad then back up to 15mg coz I was getting symptoms of an flear up due to pregnency, the side affects are awful when I was on 15mg I was hallucinating hearing voices all the time expecally when I was resting symptoms dissapear as soon as ur dose comes down. So good luck

[madmagz]

Hi I have been on Prednisolone for years and currently take 15mg which is a very low dose for me, when I started I was on 40mg. One thing I would say is make sure that you are taking a calcium and vitamin D suppliment as steroids can weaken bones when taken for long periods of time. I have a bone density scan done every few years so that my docs can keep a check on me as my Grandmothers both had osteoperosis and I already have osteoarthritis and am on another medication that can effect bone density. I am lucky that I have a very good relationship with my doctors who are very good and explain things well I hope that you have the same as this is paramount to understanding your meds and what they can do to you.

Your friend may have been told to increase their dose as they may be getting sick due to their underlying illness which can be subdued by the steroids.

Good luck to the pair of you I hope your friend feels better soon

Madmagz x