Prednisone warnings

[Retired16]

I know sometimes we have to weigh the warnings with feeling better. Has anyone been told about bone loss and prednisone? Perhaps it is a bigger warning now that I’m in the late 60’s age. In my 40s the doc didn’t seem concerned with me taking it daily. Now I only take it with flares and the bone loss warning is a regular from physical therapist. I always feel like I’m expecting to make some rather daunting decisions about my medical care!

[helixhelix]

Err yes.... Did you ever read the leaflet that came with your tablets? It should be explained in that, plus you should have a dexa scan if you are on long term treatment. Devil's tic-tacs.

So v important to walk as much as you can, and maybe do stretching with resistance bands.

[MsTrevelyan]

Hi my pharmacist told me, last year, that I should have been taking calcium with my pred. until then I'd been told not to worry. As a coeliac I get a bone density scan every 4 yrs and they showed fine. Now I'm 50, scan shows some osteopenia and I was supposed to be re-checked 2018 but the gp says no need (everything's a struggle with GPs and me). If in doubt get checked!

[oldtimer]

If it's any consolation, I have been having/taking varying amounts of steroids over many years and now seem to be stuck on a minimum dose of 5mg, with increases for flares.

Whenever anyone looks at my bone density scan, they always laugh - it shows 'excellent bone density comparable with a moderate athlete in her twenties'.

[Hidden]

Yes, I was told but no one ever seemed bothered that I have been on prednisolone for almost 30 years. It’s been me who has finally instigated coming off them. The rheumy agreed it was a good idea but has never suggested it to me. Luckily my dexa scans have been ok so far. Looking forward to being free of them by the end of the month 😁

[Simba1992]

Here is some new info on the use of pred, that may be of help.

medscape.com/viewarticle/86...

[Retired16]

Thank you. It’s really a wonder we take any medications if every reaction is a sure thing. Thankfully we all respond differently to the medications that give us relief!

[Ruth12345]

Im on 5mg daily with for about 6 months and increase when needed. Rheumy not bothered. Im 61yrs. Yes I did know.

[Hidden]

Hi, like old timer, I’ve took steroids off and on for 22years and my bone density scans always come back normal, ( I’m 64 ) guess we all handle meds differently. They not a medication I like to take long term because of all other side effects they cause for me. 🤗 X

[Fra22-57]

Taken 10mg for 7 years now.was on calcium tablets and had dexa scans.then told to have break from calcium tablets as they stop working.all scans been ok

[nomoreheels]

I've always been aware & been coprescribed Adcal-D3 in the 6 years I've been on them. I also have biennial DEXA scans, even before I was on maintenance steroids, the latest at the end of last year showed no significant changes. Yes, prednisolone can cause bone loss but much depends on dose & length of time taken, age, plus your bone density/fracture risk status prior to starting it. You'll find it's covered in the Patient Information Leaflet within the box.

[Cheronia]

My father had RA and he was on a high dose of Prednisone. He was told by his doctor that he could have quality of life or quantity. He chose quality and died peacefully in bed after having his breakfast! It thins the skin therefore veins and arteries. This was 28 years ago and he was nearly 76. I saw how he suffered with RA and thought I would do everything I could to avoid it and I have.

[Retired16 in reply to Cheronia]

Agreed!

[Gigi71]

I have taken pred for 33years, many of those years on a low dose 5mg. I have osteoporosis and thin skin, I realised I should have stopped them years ago, but decided to take all the meds that helped give me a normal life for years. I can't now complain with the serious spine problems I am suffering with and deal with it as best as I can. A least now days they are stricter with prescribing them, just giving them for short periods. Have taken Calseos for years too, but not till OP was dx 15 years ago. X

[Cheylann in reply to Gigi71]

Thar is terrible for you. Thank goodness my rheumy is so awkward about giving me steroids. Even though I get so annoyed with her, seems she is right.

[Gigi71 in reply to Cheylann]

I was treated aggressively in the beginning with steroids, both orally and injections into joints, umpteen of them, just wouldn't happen now. I have had to change my life, but still do what I can. Your rheumy is right and thinking of your long term health. Take care. X

[Mmrr]

It might be worth asking for a DEXA scan, your GP should be able to organise this for you. The scan will provide an indication of your bone density, and any osteoporosis.

[Retired16 in reply to Mmrr]

Yes, done every 4 years with Medicare. I’m good. Not taking prednisone regularly, only for flares.

[Nanna71]

I was a bit alarmed too when I did the research on prednizone as I started to take it at 71 and have been taking it for a relatively short time (a little over 4 months). However, it is responsible for me wanting to live rather than die (the pain of my onset RA was unbelievable) as it addressed the pain almost immediately. ☺

My Internist uses it as a bridging drug until the dmards kick in and we get my meds figured out. We are weaning off, yet again, from 15 mgs to 10 - 2 days in, and I will let it go until the withdrawal symptoms have lessened so I can tell which pain is which. I hope we got the right stuff now.

A very useful drug for me and a good doctor who is concerned about long term. It is good when your health care professionals are doing the right thing for you.

Also, I pray a lot to the One who made this body. That's where my real dependence lies.

😊

[Retired16 in reply to Nanna71]

Are biologics less risky? That was what replaced the prednisone for me. And that was my point.,if it is not an option, prednisone definitely does the trick! I still live the fast action when I have a flare! Different results for different folks! Pain free is the way to live!

[Nanna71 in reply to Retired16]

Absolutely. 😊

[Cheylann in reply to Retired16]

Until your bones break!

[Hezekiah in reply to Nanna71]

good to hear you pray. I said a rare thank you today for being blessed with the body I have.

[Chazzi]

I have been on prednisone for 10 years and have osteoporosis and curvature of the spine through taking it for so long i wish some one had told me the side effects

[daisychains58 in reply to Chazzi]

Have you been on a high dose that whole time ?

[Chazzi in reply to daisychains58]

I was on a very high dose when this a started 10 years ago but have been on 10mg per day for a while and when i saw my Dr he said to cut down to 5mg and I am now having trouble walking I never realised it would be this bad coming off of steroids

[daisychains58 in reply to Chazzi]

I know you have to drop very very slowly. I was on 50, then 35. After than tapered 5mg every 10 days to 15mg. Then tapered 2.5 u til I reached 10. Then half mg every 3 weeks. I’m now on 4.5mg and today I’ve tapered myself another .5mg. I’m expecting pain from that. It’s such a strong drug and tapering is painful but needs to be done ever so slowly to make your adrenal glands produce again naturally. Well that’s my understanding however simply I have put it.

Dropping from 10 to 5mg in one hit is too much, my rheumy would never do that, no wonder you can’t walk. Maybe speak to your gp and taper more slowly. Good luck. Xx

[Cheylann in reply to Chazzi]

The very reason I am grateful my rheumy is so reluctant to give me steroid injections because of what has happened to you. I get so annoyed with her when I'm in pain but guess she is right.

[Sunflower1921]

Hi I have taken this drug for over 15 years, I m tapering it off now very slowly , I m down to 3 mg, I have now got Osteoporosis sadly, it was nt mentioned when I first went on it. xx

[daisychains58 in reply to Sunflower1921]

W er e you on a high dose also?

[Cheylann]

Yes that is the reason my rheumatologist is reluctant to give me steroid injections because of the horrific side effects. I've never taken the tablets and never intend to.

[Sunflower1921]

Hi, prednisolone is the only tablet that has worked for me without the awful side effects of other tablets. The problem is my body has got so used to having them, my gp says I may need this drug to help me have a less painful life. I need them. I m weaning myself off them and now I m on 3 mg. I ll see how I go.

[Simba1992 in reply to Sunflower1921]

New research states that steroids are both overused and underused. There needs to be more research on longterm use of low dose pred, that seemes to have less adverse effects than thought.

[daisychains58 in reply to Simba1992]

Interesting Simba, I’m going to read up on that. I’m so scared to take anything else and am still continuing to taper the pred. My immediate thought is a very low dose pred if it helps can’t have worse side affects than dmards. It’s all scares me. I’m 61 and this only hit me last May.

[Simba1992 in reply to daisychains58]

You know you could talk with your doc about Doxycycline. An antibiotic that has in fact shown to be as effective as mtx monotherapy and much less toxic. I tried low dose Doxy with low dose pred with very good results. You may not even need the pred.

[daisychains58 in reply to Sunflower1921]

I can understand that, pred does work. Yes wonder how much pain will come with tapering to 3mg. Hope your tapering very slowly. I’m tapering half mg every 3 to 4 weeks.

[lKeith]

Retired16

Hi, this is news, never have I been warned of this. You'd think the GP would have said something, especially as I have bone marrow cancer and osteoprosis. Each fairly long standing.

Thanks for the tip will take it up when I next get an appointment.

IKeith