Getting off of Prednisone. Anyone else out there trying THC/CBD

[remission]

Wondering if anyone else has gone along this journey, diagnosed with PMR August 2019 and put on prednsione, I have since, with great pain, got off of prednisone and had my doctor put me on dicolofenac, which works great for reducing the inflammation and almost pain free, but now, given it also has risk to taking it long term, I am trying to replace that with the use of THC/CBD, which is totally legal where I live. Anyone else out there trying THC/CBD that can help with where to start. Thankyou

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you look at the top right you will see a box Search HealthUnlocked - put CBD in that and restrict the search criteria to PMRGCA and you should find previous posts discussing it.

Personally nothing would persuade me to switch from pred to diclofenac - its potential adverse effects are as bad as pred is said to be (not my experience as it happens). Diclofenac may ease the pain but it doesn't manage the inflammation fully and so I would consider that untreated PMR. Untreated PMR is thought to be some 7x more likely to progress to full blown GCA - and if that were to happen the choice is very high dose pred or risk irreversible loss of vision. But that is everyone's choice.

[Blearyeyed]

If you edit your post and include the words ,

'does anyone use CBD oil to help with PMR and getting off Prednisone and Dicolofenac '

in the title section instead , any forum members with experience of these things will see what you need advice with and you will get more relevant replies.

Also , when you reload your post again , the site search engine will have used the relevant tag words to load up some old posts on CBD and these drugs in the right hand side bar , under ' Related Posts'

Hope that helps .

[remission in reply to Blearyeyed]

thankyou for the good advice on my post....appreciated

[piglette]

Why did you stop taking pred? As PMRPro says pred is preferable to diclofenac. Who suggested THC/CBD was that your doctor?

[Yellowbluebell]

To come off pred so quickly would be a huge shock to your body and i must admit i wouldn't be able to survive on diclofenac. Good luck.YBB

[remission in reply to Yellowbluebell]

I chose dicolofenac to get off of the prednisone, because it is not a steriod and not addictive, but it works for me to control the inflammation. I realize over long term it doesn't have any better a track record than prednisone, but when this disease goes into remission I won't be faced with trying to get off of a drug....that was my reasoning

[HeronNS in reply to remission]

Prednisone isn't addictive.

[Yellowbluebell in reply to HeronNS]

Exactly.x

[remission]

Very true, should not have used the term addictive, it is as I understand a drug that

you can become dependent on and difficult to know if you're having a PMR flare up

or withdrawal symptoms frm trying to ween off of the prednsione. I read up on the

side effects over long term and the prednsione appears far worse; also have two cousins

who have tried for a number of years and are liviing & paying a high price with new

health issues frm being on it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to remission]

"Diclofenac has two black-box warnings:

Diclofenac can increase the risk of heart trouble and has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots — all of which can be deadly. Get emergency medical help right away if you experience signs of stroke or heart problems, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, changes in speech, or other unusual symptoms.

Diclofenac can damage the lining of your stomach, putting you at risk for stomach ulcers and heartburn. Tell your doctor if you have stomach pain, nausea, or black or tarry stools."

Given that the inflammation of untreated PMR/GCA also predisposes patients to cardiovascular disease I think it is a bit strange to add a drug that has black box warnings for the same thing.

In 2013 this warning was issued by the European Medicines Agency

ema.europa.eu/en/news/new-s...

The risk is similar to the COX-2 inhibitors - and some of those were taken off the market.

[Yellowbluebell]

You do not become dependent but if the reason for the inflammation is still there than the symptoms will return when you stop pred.

[Robinsnest72]

Could not believe how fast you came off prednisone. I am a retired pharmacy tech so know quite well what each drug will do. I guarantee you voltaren will eventually eat out your stomach so which is worse? I have come down from 25mg of pred to 6 and as I reduce side effects go away. That took 16 months. I think you are looking for a quick fix like all of us but there is none! Give up the voltaren and see how you feel. Good luck on your journey.

[Yellowbluebell]

I have edited the title of if your post to emphasise the THC/CBD part.