Steroid injections over tablets????

[Stacy2310]

Hi I'm trying to come off pred, I'm going down to 7.5mg tomorrow. I have decided I want to come off them completely. Will I just be able to have injections does anyone know? I have had them before but always on top of my tablets, I'm just sick of all the side effects from the tablets x

[roobarb]

I'm no medical expert Stacy, but I think the side effects are the same. I'm sure one of the volunteers will be able to confirm or correct this for you. And of course your GP or rheumy will let you know.

Unless it's the absorption of the drug via the gut, which is causing you problems. I suffer terrible abdo pain myself with at lot of tablets, although strangely enough not with prednisolone. I think I react to the coatings & fillers of most tablets, but prednisolone seems to have less of these. Or less of the ones that are a problem for me, anyhow.

You would probably be getting a higher dose in the injection too, because you have them less often I presume. Therefore, long term risk such as osteoporosis would be the same. Have you been offered an immuno-suppressant by your rheumy? They are often called steroid sparing drugs, as the whole point of them is to eliminate or reduce the steroids in your treatment regime. But unfortunately the are not without side effects either.

I hate taking these drugs too, & hope to come off them, or reduce them as much as possible when I can find an alternative immuno-suppressant to suit me. In the mean time though, I need some quality of life & prednisolone seems to be the only thing that can offer me that.

I'm sure you know this already, but when you are reducing go "really slowly" to avoid any risk of flaring. I know you will get lots more helpful feedback on this very contentious subject. Very best wishes. X