Hi there my mum has GCA and been on. 8mg steroids... - PMRGCAuk
Hi there my mum has GCA and been on. 8mg steroids for 8 weeks she has stopped taking her all her meds. What happens if you suddenly stop
Hi Dave1234,
It depends on how long your mother has been on steroids for. 8 mg is not the usual starting dose for GCA. If she has been on prednisolone for a long time ( longer than 8 weeks ) then it can be very dangerous to stop suddenly causing adrenal insufficiency and crisis. Is there a reason why she has stopped, did she discuss it with her Dr first?
Hello Dave1234
GCA is a long-term condition requiring long-term steroid treatment. The usual steroid starting dose for GCA is between 40-60mgs a day. It is recommended that the patient is kept on this dose for a month or until all the symptoms have resolved. The steroids are then very gradually reduced until the GCA goes into remission which for most patients takes a minimum of two years.
If your Mum has GCA, she should be on a higher dose and have regular monitoring, preferably under the care of a rheumatologist.
Can you tell us a bit more about her symptoms at diagnosis and whether she has experienced any relief in those symptoms. In the case of it being GCA, relief of pain would be most unlikely on 8mgs, and without the correct dose your Mum's eyesight is at severe risk.
No-one should ever suddenly stop taking steroids, they have to be weaned off slowly to avoid adrenal crisis.
Dave1234. could you mean that your mum is/was on 8x5mg tabs a day? That would make more sense as that is = 40mg a day, which is a common starting dose for GCA. If she has stopped taking them she is risking her sight as well as the possibility of adrenal crisis or inadequacy and that is downright dangerous.
She needs to go back to her doctor and ask for more information and also perhaps you could print some of the info here on this site as backup when she sees her GP.
If you have been taking pred for more than a few weeks you should not stop taking it "overnight". But as the others have said - 8mg doesn't fit with GCA at all. Can you explain a bit more?
Pred prescribed for more than two weeks and then suddenly stopped, leads to an adrenal crisis and that is one heck of an emergency and leads to flashing light ambulances. You need medical advice - fast.
Thank you for your replies. I think it was 8x5mg she was on, she has decided that she has had enough of living and wants to end it all. She has also stopped eating and drinking. I insisted she see the out of hours doctor who explained to her what would happen. We could not change her mind. She has told me to not interfere.
Hi Dave,
Has the steroids affected your mothers mental health at all? If she is competent then she is entitled to choose whether or not to take her meds etc. if you think she lacks capacity and doesn't understand the consequences of her recent actions then please get her assessed again.
Prednisolone can have a very potent affect mentally, especially in the elderly.
I hope you manage to get this resolved.
Dave - what a difficult and worrying predicament for you. Perhaps you can seek help and advice from her usual GP who may then be able to refer you to a counsellor for further advice.
Yes that is my plan but she has chosen to do this on bank holiday when the GP is closed. I have had the locum doctor out to her. I have suggested she talks to a counsellor for support but she just says she will not speak to them. Thank you for showing support.
Not a nice situation to be in - but if she has decided she's had enough I know it is difficult to get round it. What did the out of hours doctor say/suggest? How old is your mum? Is she otherwise fit? Assessing competency to make such decisions is a tough one and what do you do - it's assault to force her to take medication if she is competent.
What a rotten BH weekend for you - do let us know how you get on, we'll be thinking about you.
As a counsellor myself, I do agree with all the above advice. This sounds absolutely horrible for you. Is she actually making sense to you in terms of what she has been through and is it consistent with how she has led her life up until now? If so, then it would suggest that she is competent to make her own decisions, but if it is more about suffering from a deep depression as a result of either the Pred. Or the GCA or both, then there may be something that the medics can do. A counsellor would not be able to or even necessarily try to change her mind, it would need something more authoritative such as a psychiatrist and/or social worker. I really hope that this does get resolved for you. What suicidal people forget is how hurtful this is for those who are left behind.
Than you again for your comments it is all really useful advice. Mum is 76 and several of her friends have recently died from cancer, I have told her that GCA is different and she can get better. I woulld say she is competent to make her own decisions, I am trying to support her in what ever decisions she makes, I am doing my best to get her back on to the medication. I am going to get her regular doctor to asses her tomorrow as she does seem to trust her.
It sounds as if she can't cope with the loss of her friends and the thought of her own illness which isn't going to be over the week after next. I have met that in people of that age group before. It's a very complex situation and needs heavy duty mental health care I suspect. I do wish you all the best.
Dave - Yes, those of us who have, or have had, GCA are testament to the fact that it definitely does get better. Your Mum is so lucky to have your support. Good luck tomorrow.
My sympathies are with you & your Mum. I have PMR/GCA & am on the mend after 2.5 yrs. It definitely improves given time. I feel so much better now; also in my 70's ( tell your Mum its the new 50's!) Good luck.
