Medication

[Howard523]

Does any body know if when reducing pred should I be reducing other medication as well such as leflumonide/calcium etc any advice welcome.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi Howard.

Not on leflumonide but on calcium , AA etc. saw GP last week for tablet review (now on 4mg per day) and he said stay on same dose of all other "associated" drugs until I hopefully get off steroids then they can be stopped , except for calcium maybe.

Sure someone will advise on leflumonide

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Howard, if you are taking Leflunomide, you should be under the care of a rheumatologist who should be monitoring your progress and advising you about dosages.

Certainly, your calcium medication should be continued whilst you continue taking steroids.

I haven't got any personal experience with Leflunomide but am able to tell you that it is often prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis and also as a steroid-sparing drug for those on Prednisolone who are having difficulty reducing their steroid dose. As far as I am aware, it is not reduced along with any steroid reduction.

I hope Leflunomide is proving successful for you in that you are finding it easier to reduce the steroids, but please speak to your rheumatologist before altering the dose.

[jinasc]

I am appalled that your medics as they should have explained exactly what happens when you are taking a steroid reducing drug. I would be talking to them and asking exactly what the situation is. If that had happened to me, I would have changed them all.

Go and talk to them or go and talk to a Pharmacist.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Probably not - but this is something to clarify with your doctors. In the case of leflunomide, that is the rheumy, way beyond the skills of the average GP!!!