Haven't added to this post for a long while. My GCA/ PMR journey started almost 8 years ago. A few bumps along the way, but at 80, I'm now down to 2mg of pred each day. Mini flare a month or so ago, but quickly back under control. But with our Covid jabs on the horizon- probably Pfizer- should I stop taking any pred a few days before I get the shot? If so, how long should I abstain from pred before restarting after the first shot? And the second?
Does anyone have experience with Ivermectine, the human version- touted as an interim alternative to the Covid -19 vaccines? Although developed and in use as a treatment for parasite induced viruses, and recently tested for a Covid-19 with some success. It has FDA approval in the USA for human use, but the jury is out as to whether it's effective to hold off Covid -19. Doctors in South Africa have been authorized to prescribe it , pending the arrival of one of the specific anti-Covid shots.
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Canuk
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Hello Canuck. No need to stop your tiny dose of Pred at all. It will have little or no impact on the vaccine.I have not heard of Ivermectine at all and would be wary of something in its infancy, being experimented with on a new strain of the virus.
No - Prof Mackie said clearly in her webinar last night just to continue as normal - the risk of a flare is worse than being on your usual dose of pred. At that sort of dose the effect will be very small. Some doctors suggest taking a holiday from methotrexate or Actemra in the same way you would if you had an infection but that is a matter of individual opinion, there is no official line.
It is FDA approved for other uses - in terms of Covid it is still very much at the trial stage and not approved for that. This link is to the results of a very small pilot study published a couple of weeks ago.
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