Hi!
Just another quick question - has anyone tapered off Pred and then Methotrexate entirely????
Hi!
Just another quick question - has anyone tapered off Pred and then Methotrexate entirely????
Being taken for what?
Takayasu Arteritis
In GCA, which is almost identical to Takayashu's, patients are able to get of both pred and methotrexate when it is being used as a steroid sparer. I'm not sure if that also applies in TA, patients are able to get off pred but not so sure about the methotrexate. I assume you have asked your rheumatologist?
I have been taken off pred and planning with my consultant to come off methotrexate in the next few months.. I take them for GPA and have been taking both for 8 years so I’ll let you know how it goes! But possible - yes!
I have been off preds for more than a year and currently tapering my immunosuppressant (I am on azathioprine). I hope to be off it in a year.
If I can ask has it taken a long time to start reducing your aza? How long have you had GPA ? Thank you
I was diagnosed in November 2014. I had 6 cyclophosphamide infusions and started with 60mg prednisolone that I started reducing after my second infusion. I was put on azathioprine at the end of May 2015.
I got of preds 13 months ago and started reducing azathioprine last September- more than 3 years after I started it. ( I went from 150mg to 100mg).
I will see my consultant next month and I am hoping to reduce azathioprine again.
I moved from decreasing doses of Prednisone to Methotrexate. I gave up methotrexate after some months because of all the miserable side effects; having tried both daily pills and then weekly injection. and unimpressive positive research, with an unsupported off label prescription. (Confirmed by a second consultation)
I continued with Prednisone. @ 10mg. I went on a reduction regimen of 1mg per day on a monthly basis, hoping to eliminate all, however, I found symptoms returning and have been maintaining with some tradeoff at 5 mg/da. I feel that whatever outlying effects on my osteoporosis is a reasonable tradeoff.
The risks to broken bones due to falls in white females over 70 isn't any less likely. It is a tradeoff for me on quality of daily life. I have asked for another bone scan to see if there is any untoward rapid bone deterioration.
I was on prednisone 3 times for GPA. First when diagnosed, then after 2 relapses. I came off it completely each time. Glad to get off it. I hated the side effects. I also had Cyclophosphamide, then Azathioprine, but they didn't stop my relapses, and azathioprine was knocking out my white blood cells. Been on Retuximab for more that 2 years now. It's the only drug that has turned me from ANCA positive to ANCA negative and I've had no relapses since. I've been off prednisone for around 18 months.