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phyllis10549
phyllis10549

What is cosidered long term use for predsnisone?

0 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

  • constance.de
    constance.de phyllis10549

    Posted

    Sorry, that was rather harsh!   2 - 5 years is average, I believe, but 10 years+ isn't unknown.  😕
  • lodgerUK_NE
    lodgerUK_NE phyllis10549

    Posted

    It is easier to explain what is 'short term' use.

    Short term use is described as no more that two weeks  at relatively low doses.

    Anthing over two weeks or higher doses means the adrenal glands are knocked out and you cannot stop pred immediately.

    That is why you carry a Blue Steroid Card to alert medical people that you are on long term steroids.

    Take this as an example,  I have a friend with COPD,  occasionally he needs pred, he is then prescribed two weeks at 5mg. No problems at all.  Other illness also respond in this way.

    If this explanation does not help  - ask your GP to explain.

    • lodgerUK_NE
      lodgerUK_NE

      Posted

      Meant to add, you should also put ICE (In Case of Emergency) in your moblie phone with a number for medics to ring.  Often in accidents etc ambulance men look for a contact number if you are unconscious.

      Medical people must be alerted that you are on long term pred.  You also have to carry it for two years once you stop pred.

       

    • EileenH
      EileenH Danrower

      Posted

      A UK card for showing your current pred  dose and dose history for the benefit of any healthcare practitioner. I don't know if they have them in the US.

      As an alternative, keep a note in your pocketbook and possibly consider a MedicAlert bracelet.

    • Mrs.Mac-Canada
      Mrs.Mac-Canada lodgerUK_NE

      Posted

      Hi Lodger,

      i must be having both foggy brain and blurry vision this morning because I can't seem to find info about the Record Booklet or Alert Card. On the link. Could I please have another hint😕.

      Thank you💐

      Diana🌸

    • constance.de
      constance.de EileenH

      Posted

      Do you know whether they have such a thing in Germany?  I've never heard of it?
    • lodgerUK_NE
      lodgerUK_NE constance.de

      Posted

      EileenH is in China at present so there will be a delay in answering.

      However why not ask the question in Google!!!wink

    • denise76179
      denise76179 lodgerUK_NE

      Posted

      Interestingly my mothers physian gave her 75mg pred for 2 weeks then took her off completely with no problems . It solved her problem of heamolyptic anemia ( probably not spelf correctly) and it has never returned unlike all the other previous treatment they tried.  She originally had GCA and developed AF then the anemia.  Completely okay now.   I was wondering if that sort of treatment would have the same effect for PMR , but would have to find a Dr game to do it.  I think what they did for Mum was a last resort and it worked. 

      As for my seriod card - I just keep my script in my handbag as it gives the current dose and is easily recognisable 

    • lodgerUK_NE
      lodgerUK_NE denise76179

      Posted

      For most of the illnesses where pred is used to reduce inflmmation (like

      asthma or flres in arthritis or Crohn’s disease), it is used as what is called a “fast taper”: an example would be starting at 30mg for a week, 20mg for a week, 10mg for a week and stop – that is quite safe.

      How long Denise had  your Mother had GCA? I had GCA for 5 years and now in remission for nearly 4 years.

    • lodgerUK_NE
      lodgerUK_NE phyllis10549

      Posted

      I know people who had been on the brink of losing their sight and needed 100mg of pred by infusion and hospitalized.  So,  no that is not some heavy pred, they must have needed it.
    • denise76179
      denise76179 lodgerUK_NE

      Posted

      about 2 years for the classic symptoms to disappear  however she went into AF towards the end of the 2 years and that took a year or so to stablalize then aneamia & a couple of years down the track Heamolyptic aneama all up 4 years before she shook off all the aftermaths.  She has been in remission for GCA about 4 years and is nearly 90 now. 
    • denise76179
      denise76179 constance.de

      Posted

      Mine did also at the time so I rushed off to the GP to double check but it did work like magic
    • constance.de
      constance.de denise76179

      Posted

      I bet it did!  Hope nobody else tries it without a specialist telling them to do so!!!!!!
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