immune system back

[JMT_hiker]

After getting off prednisone how long does it take for immune system to function properly?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

In what sense do you mean? I haven't had infection problems while on pred but one assumes that as long as you need pred, your immune system is deranged in terms of recognising body as self but that is something different.

[JMT_hiker in reply to PMRpro]

I have experienced longer healing times for cuts and skin issues like ringworm.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to JMT_hiker]

That is to be expected whilst on Pred, but once it is out of your system it should improve, but it can take up to a year for your adrenals to return to fully functioning, but that’s not quite the same thing….

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

How long is a piece of string type of question .

[JMT_hiker in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you for your response. It is very helpful.

[SnazzyD]

Do you mean working to fight infection or it stopping attacking you to give PMR?

[JMT_hiker in reply to SnazzyD]

I meant fighting infection like a raspatory infection

[SnazzyD in reply to JMT_hiker]

The higher the dose the more your immune system is dulled so the Pred effect becomes less as you go down, especially under 10mg. I was on the higher doses for GCA but I didn’t get any of the viral bugs and even flu when my family had it. But I did get infections from my own bugs from the gut and skin. However, we are all different. The immune system is complicated and has many parts that work differently. You can have one bit that works well but another that doesn’t and it isn’t easy to which bits are doing what. Even healthy people can have issues and not really know about it. The biggest effect on my immune system has been Covid not Pred.

[JMT_hiker in reply to SnazzyD]

That makes a lot of sense. Thank you for sharing the information.

[micpenn222]

I am not sure if you mean actual " immune system " or if you might be referring to adrenal function. What I understand is that Prednisone at very low doses doesn't really compromise your immunity all that much. However, if you are referring to adrenal function it does take time to get back to normal.

[JMT_hiker in reply to micpenn222]

I meant common infections like respiratory infections. I have little knowledge of the adrenals and there relationship to immune function. I remember reading that prednisone shuts down the immune system and makes one more susceptible to infections.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to JMT_hiker]

It doesn't shut the immune system down, it just calms it down. Most of us find we aren't really any more susceptible to infections than normal.

[JMT_hiker in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you; I appreciate your efforts on this platform and the reassurance it gives to many of us.