prednisolone and Metratreoate

[Mybirthday1975]

hi all!!

So last week I was taking 10mg a day of prednisolone and this week I’m tapering off and having 5mg if prednisolone!but tonight I’m due to restart my Metratrexate injection I don’t know if I can mix them!

bloods all good but taking prednisolone due to a flur up!!

Please reply!! Don’t know what to do!🤷🏽‍♀️

[Brian1977]

It's fine to take both I've been on 40mg of pred as well as my 25mill of methotrexate

[Mybirthday1975 in reply to Brian1977]

Aww thanks for replying I just wasn’t sure what to do.. is that the same for using biologics too 😀

[Brian1977 in reply to Mybirthday1975]

Yeah I was on biologics too as well as methotrexate 👍👍

[helenlw7]

I have taken methotrexate and prednisolone for many years, about 15, and they’re fine together. I take my pred in the morning and my mtx at night.

[Mybirthday1975 in reply to helenlw7]

Thank you for replying I’ve just asked if you can take prednisolone with a Biologic too?? 😀

[helenlw7 in reply to Mybirthday1975]

You can! I’m on Cimzia, my 3rd Biologic. I was diagnosed in 2004 so I’ve been on a lot of meds.

[MJSlide1958 in reply to helenlw7]

Hi Helen,

Re Cimzia, is it correct that Cimzia can be taken whilst trying to get pregnant and during pregancy? Grateful for your reply

[helenlw7 in reply to MJSlide1958]

I don’t think so, but I’d check with your rheumatologist.

[MJSlide1958 in reply to helenlw7]

Thanks will do.

[Haz58]

Yes it's fine. I take sulfasalazine and biologic etanercept. I also take prednisolone if I flare. Agreed by my Rheumatologist.

[Runrig01]

It is safe to take prednisolone alongside dmards and biologics. I was put on prednisolone for polymyalgia and GCA years ago, as it is the only treatment for both. I personally would urge anyone on them to find alternatives where possible.

I had a severe stroke in 2018, age 52, which was found to be due to an adrenal crisis. I was then diagnosed with severe adrenal insufficiency, my adrenal glands have atrophied from taking prednisolone long term, and will never recover. It means now any stress, good or bad, can suddenly make me very unwell, and the only thing to stop the downward spiral is taking more steroids. This can be taking hydrocortisone tablet, as prednisolone is too slow to absorb in these situations. I have to carry an emergency intramuscular steroid injection, which I have to administer if I’m vomiting, injured or serious illness. They are not fun to administer, as they are much longer needles than biologics, and family have to be trained too, as you can lose consciousness fairly quickly. If I inject I have to call an ambulance, and go to hospital for IV fluid and steroids. There is no way of knowing who will succumb to this side effect, adrenal insufficiency. It interferes with every aspect of my life, a simple argument can trigger a crisis, and when exposed to stress, if your lucky you will start to improve after 30 mins, as opposed to healthy adults, who’s body responds in milliseconds. I was taking 4mg of Pred when I had the stroke. My cortisol was undetectable, and when the tried to artificially stimulate my adrenals it dose to 72, whereas it should be over 450 in the morning, This confirmed my adrenals are atrophied. I’ve recently discovered as a result of the AI, I also have several other hormones that are undetectable, and cause fatigue and issues with gaining weight around the belly, most I can’t supplement due to the stroke, do have to accept life long fatigue.. So whenever there is an option, like using an nsaid, I urge people to try a different treatment. Unfortunately it’s a side effect of pred that is rarely discussed, although it is the very reason you have to taoer steroids slowly, to try and nudge the adrenals to wake up. Sorry for the length of this reply, but I feel it’s an important side effect that people should be aware of. I’ve had to use my injection many times, and often have needed someone to administer, as I was losing consciousness fairly fast and shaking making it challenging to inject. This may help you understand why Drs are keen to try and get patients off steroids. Hope things improve for you soon.

[York54 in reply to Runrig01]

My goodness this sounds so frightening Runrig.

[Amnesiac3637]

I’ve been on Prednisolone for 35 years and have taken it alongside all the myriad of other drugs I’ve been on over that time including MTX, many Dmards and JAK inhibitors.

[springcross]

My consultant put me on MTX and pred together, so it's fine to take both.

[Retirednhs]

You are safe to take prednisalone and Methotrexate the do work well together generally. I take them both prednisalone 10 mgm daily and 10 mgm inj of methotrexate weekly all the year round with .no problems Hooe you feel better soon

[Vonnie69]

I have taken both together if not same day in same week. Never was told by my rheumy otherwise.