Prednisalone

[Alice70]

Advice please on prednisalone ,been ofvthem four weeks now ,having a flare up after I stopped taking hydroxychloroquine as I thought they were upsetting myvstomache ,off hydroxychloroquine forthree weeks been back on them for three day,wasn't them upsetting my stomache ,I had been taken hydro for three months ,wondering if I should start steriods agian ,I am having dexa scan in the morning as I have fratured my spine in three places,advice please if I should take steriods agian and at what dose

[Amnesiac3637]

This isn’t something we could possibly answer. Steroids are such powerful drugs and you mess about with the dosage at your peril. You really should contact your rheumatologist asap, failing that your GP and get advice.

Do hope you get sorted out very soon!

[Alice70 in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Thank you

[bpeal1]

That is definitely a question for your rheumatologist. If you really can’t get hold of them your GP may be able to help.

[AgedCrone]

We cannot give advice on what medication you should take……but you really should never play with steroid dosing……speak to your medical team asap.

If you have three fractured vertebrae you need to see a spinal specialist so make sure to ask your rheumatologist to arrange it. If you know you have spinal fractures…why haven’t you been referred to a specialist to advise a course of action?

I fractured vertebrae three years ago and despite having good advice, I’m still in more pain from them than from RA….they need fast clinical attention.

I hope your Dexa scan shows a good result.

[Alice70 in reply to AgedCrone]

I ve seen spinal specialist, and had mri scan ,after dexa scan there is going to be a plan on how to treat me ,I think with infusions,

[Fruitandnutcase]

I agree with the others, steroids are not something you should mess around with. It would be worth looking at the Royal Osteoporosis Society’s website. I was given a short course of steroids when I was first diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis, I then went on to hydroxychloroquine and have taken that ever since.

I developed steroid induced T2 diabetes after my steroids and to be honest I would want avoid them if at all possible because of that and also because of the effect they have on your bones - I also ended up with osteoporosis and I feel a bit miffed that none of my doctors mentioned bones and steroids.

Have a good read through the ROS site and make a list of any questions you have for when you see your specialist theros.org.uk

[Alice70 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you I will take a look

[Fra22-57]

You really need expert help.we chat n give our thoughts n moans but your rheumatologist is your expert if he prescribed them. I know it's hard to cope with the side effects that go with these drugs and they eventually do catch us up.once when hospital wrongly told me to stop all my meds as I was due to have a colonoscopy I ended up in hospital a month leaving me in a wheelchair for months.it was the drug withdrawal that affected me.I hate these drugs but I hate pain worse so I take them.I wish there was a quick easy answer.I do Hope you are feeling better soon

[Alice70 in reply to Fra22-57]

⁸thank you

[Angels54]

Hi , So sorry to hear about your back , I have 7 fractures in mine which happened 3 yrs ago , nothing ever done , if you recently did your back I wouldn’t stop steroids yet , also you can’t just stop them all at once to, also depends what strength you wet on , don’t suff pain , ask your nurse 👍

[Djlr]

FIRST: We don’t do any CHANGES without “DISCUSSING” with your RHEUMATOLOGIST.

SECOND: It takes 4 - 6 MONTHS to see any improvement with HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE & it’s the SAFEST DRUG & SIMPLEST compound to keep SYMPTOMS at “BAY”.

STEROIDS - should be taken at the LOWEST DOSE (5 mg a day at most) for long term - ONLY IF absolutely necessary. Your Rheumatologist “may” start at a higher Dose (be wary of more than 20 mg) and WORK you DOWN to either stop (as symptoms subside) or manage at a VERY LOW DOSE (2.5 - 5mg). Remember, STEROIDS “destroy” BONE DENSITY.

verywellhealth.com/steroid-...

“STOMACH ISSUES” can be the “FIRST SIGN of a FLARE” - So, we learn to EAT “gingerly” when we feel our BODY is out of WHACK.

verywellhealth.com/early-lu...

lupus.net/gastrointestinal-...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

THIRD: WE also may need to see a GASTROENTEROLOGIST, if we cannot get our GUT under CONTROL.

We TREAT our AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE as it ATTACKS different “ORGANS” with the SPECIALIST DRS that can help RESOLVE our CURRENT “symptoms”.

Reading & staying “EDUCATED” on how our BODIES are affected, may help us as we work PROACTIVELY with our DOCTORS. 💜😊💜

goodrx.com/conditions/lupus...

Wishing you “better days ahead” as you LEARN what “TRIGGERS” your AUTOIMMUNE SYSTEM to FLARE. Our TRIGGERS can change over time, but STRESS is a KEY COMPONENT to causing us trouble. 💜😊💜

lupus.org/resources/common-...

[Runrig01]

you need to speak to you rheumatologist re your steroids. Steroids do increase the risk of osteoporosis, so I suspect given you already have issues with bone that they would be reluctant. Another side effect that can occur is adrenal insufficiency, which is a life threatening condition, where your body no longer produces enough of its own cortisol to maintain life. I was put on steroids for polymyalgia and GCA, for which steroids are the only treatment. I had a severe stroke 5yr ago at 52, due to an adrenal crisis. When tested my level of cortisol was undetectable, and should have been over 500. I now carry an emergency injection at all times, and have to adjust my steroid to cope with any stress good or bad. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Unlike blood sugar there is no device to monitor your levels, so you have to be tuned Ito low cortisol symptoms, and act swiftly to prevent it escalating into a crisis.

As others say you need to give the hydroxychloroquine time to work ad build up to therapeutic levels again. Hope you find a solution soon 🤗

[Alice70 in reply to Runrig01]

Thank you Runrig ,I have spoken to nurse ,she is going to speak to consultant waiting on her reply,I was only thinkinking of taken they for maybe a week or so while inflamation dampens down