PDA

View Full Version : prednisone?



moyan
01-02-2010, 08:41 AM
What is prednisone? Stereoid, yes, but does it kill any part of the disease or just make it sleepy?

Jack
01-02-2010, 08:47 AM
It is both an anti-inflamatory and an immuno suppressant so it is ideal for treating Wegener's although not enough on its own. It damps both the over active immune system and also the inflamation and subsequent damage to the blood vessels.

Shame about all the side effects associated with long term use. :(

gwenllian111
01-02-2010, 09:01 AM
What are the side effects of long term use? I know that bone weakening can be a problem?

moyan
01-02-2010, 09:06 AM
Thank you Jack

elephant
01-02-2010, 10:03 AM
There are many side effects to Prednisone- insomnia, weight gain, osteoporosis, glacoma, hypertension and too many to mention. The most weight I gained on prednisone was 10 pounds and I know some who didn't gain a pound. I know more who gained more than ten. So everybody's body reacts differently to drugs. The one's I listed are the most common.
The Rheumatologist give you Fosomax or Boniva if they think your very high risk for osteoporosis. You can get a bone scan to determine your bone density.

pberggren1
01-02-2010, 10:05 AM
I think it messes with our immune system too like the adrenals and thyroid and conective tissues. It's a neccessary evil.

Sangye
01-02-2010, 01:05 PM
Wow, Elephant, how did you only gain 10 lbs?? I started on 1,000 mg IV solumedrol (equals 1,250 mg oral pred) and gained 40 lbs in 4 months. I've gained another 15 or so since then. Of course I've also been almost completely non-ambulatory until the past several months. Pred really messes up the endocrine system-- some people worse than others.

Pred also affects people emotionally. Because it imbalances hormones, the brain chemistry runs amok. Rapidly changing moods, aggression, quick temper, tearfulness, depression, manic behavior, ADD-like symptoms-- all can occur with pred. Some people need antidepressants or mood stabilizing drugs while on pred or after. The imbalance might never be restored even once the pred is stopped.

elephant
01-02-2010, 01:20 PM
Yep, only 10 pounds and have been on prednisone 60 mg they weaned me down to 10 mg ( 6 months) and then flared again so started with the prednisone 60 mg and now down to 6 mg. I want to stay on this for awhile. I barely exercised and inbetween all this I had the Lung surgery (VATS) and three other surgeries. I was also busy taking care of two kids. I ate alot of food. It must be my metabolism. I have two siblings who took prednisone high doses for a long time and they barely gained any weight either. I had all the side effects that prednisone gives us. When I was on 60 mg of prednisone I just wanted to jump out the window! I was a happy, insomic foodie. Went grocery shopping every day to three stores a day and was so excited about food ( whole foods bakery goods and pizza ..ect). I should not brag.

Sangye
01-02-2010, 01:28 PM
That's amazing. You must have some kinda metabolism!

coffeelover
01-11-2010, 02:00 PM
There are many side effects to Prednisone- insomnia, weight gain, osteoporosis, glacoma, hypertension and too many to mention. The most weight I gained on prednisone was 10 pounds and I know some who didn't gain a pound. I know more who gained more than ten. So everybody's body reacts differently to drugs. The one's I listed are the most common.
The Rheumatologist give you Fosomax or Boniva if they think your very high risk for osteoporosis. You can get a bone scan to determine your bone density.
Not to mention all the drugs you may have to take to offset the back effects of pred. (For me anti gerd type meds, and extra high bp meds)

elephant
01-11-2010, 10:48 PM
Coffeelover, I always loved Tweety!
The prednisone gave me glaucoma, osteopenia and hypertension when I'm on high dose's. I noticed when I exercise, my blood pressure is lower. So I walk on the treadmill one hour 4-5 times a week. It even keeps my moods stable. I feel better after walking. Exercise benefits you by producing endorphins that make you feel better. I understand some of us can't do that right now, but hopefully in the future you will be able too.

onatreetop
01-12-2010, 12:33 AM
I have to say the exercise makes all the difference in the world. i havent had the time to do it for a week now and guess how much I gained? 7 pounds anpound aday just like I said before. if I dont do it and sweat it out it just builds and builds. I am in the obese cat. now and need to getback down. Even with all this joint pain even if I walk it will help runnung on the eliptical again may take so time to get back too. The pred isnt very nice to me either high or low.

moyan
01-12-2010, 12:42 AM
Thank you, more encouragement! I do get confused though between the "rest a lot, don't overdo" and "excercise is so good for you". Now that handidart is back, I willl see the only somewhat WG interested doc we have here in Vancouver Canada

Sangye
01-12-2010, 02:18 AM
It takes a lot of listening to your body to know when your exercise level is good or when it's crossed the line into depleting you. This is even true for "healthy" people. I used to tell my patients to check in with themselves right after exercise and also 3 hrs later. Very often the immediate endorphins and adrenaline make you feel great even when you've overdone it. Within 3 hours, those have dissipated and you can get a more accurate picture of what the exercise did.

This is vital for Weggies to do. But we must add in a general weekly assessment when we've begun exercising. That's because the pred disguises the 3-hour "crash" that happens with overexertion. I suggest keeping a little diary where you note how you feel--physically and emotionally-- prior to starting an exercise program. Then do the daily and weekly checks. If you're finding that your Wegs symptoms are slowly increasing after a week, that's a sign that you're overdoing it--outrunning the drugs.

One interesting sign for anyone (healthy or Weggies) of overexertion is becoming irritable during or after exercise. It's a sign that you're exercising anaerobically, not aerobically.

elephant
01-12-2010, 03:23 AM
Your right Sangye, I really wish I could exercise two hours, every day. My body can only take one hour of walking 4-5 times a week. That is good enough for me. I know my limits, because of trial and error. Another thing is you can even exercise sitting down. Just any movement ( arm exercises) and so forth.
Moyan ask your Weg specialist about getting a physical therapy evaluation. Just to see what kind of exercises the physical therapist would recommend.

Sangye
01-12-2010, 04:21 AM
I agree with Elephant that a PT evaluation is good. I also had to work with a physiatrist (MD specializing in PT), because they were the only ones who understood the damage from pred, etc... My JH doc got me to one.

The joint pain I've had, coupled with the extreme fatigue has made it impossible to even do simple exercises in a chair. I went to a PT in 2007, and no matter how easy we made the exercises, it was always too much. I'd be in horrific pain within minutes and would be utterly spent. Not just tired and can rest to recover, but totally unable to function or recover. The pool is the only thing that's worked for me. I'm so grateful I've had it!

moyan
01-12-2010, 04:53 AM
Thanks, will do what you say. Sitting is really the only kind that works for me. Walk 30 feet and rest. BUT I now have another problem: After 6 days of IV antibiotics, the young housedoc at hospital did not think it is an infection, since it did not get worse, nor better. It's red, swollen and sore, just like an infection. Could it be WG sticking up it's head again? Anybody had the same?

Sangye
01-12-2010, 04:57 AM
What body part?

Wegs often looks just like infection. If it doesn't respond to antibiotics, then it's most likely Wegs.

moyan
01-12-2010, 05:01 AM
Thank you Sangye. Knowing is half the battle.

GARYfromBOSTON
01-22-2010, 08:21 AM
damn. Started predinsone 2 weeks ago, on 50 mg now. Moon face, weight gain and insomnia are here. Time to get some serious will power going!