Prednisone from 20mg to 8mg in 12months

Posted , 10 users are following.

After getting down to 8mg started having skin rashes on my arm and stomach.  After raising dose up to 10mg things got better after three weeks.  Are rashes normal with pmr and prednisone reduction.

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Posted

    Woodrow, rashes can be a side effect of Pred with reduction. Sorry, but you are getting down there. Wish I was that low. Think positive. 🙂

  • Posted

    I don't know if it's normal but I had rashes as I reduced. I'm now on 2mgs and no rash now. I can sympathise as they can be itchy. I tried not to scratch as it made them worse. I didn't up my dose and they did subside.

    • Posted

      Kind of stressed out, so hard to not scratch the itch.  Thanks for sharing.
    • Posted

      Yes. It is difficult not to scratch. I tried to think of something else and concentrate on that but not easy. I found that, inevitably, it became itchier the more I scratched. Heat doesn't help either. I hope it eases. 

    • Posted

      Woodrow, I have not had this rash yet, but in the past one thing I have used on a rash is Aloe Vera Get.

      Aloe Vera Gel.

      An ancient curative remedy for the skin, aloe vera can be used directly on the infected area. You can buy a high-quality organic version at most health-food stores, or even better, buy a plant and use the gel from inner flesh of the leaves.

      Hope it helps, try to smile and think positive. 🙂

    • Posted

      I can't speak for the Aloe Vera gel that you buy but whatever you do do not use the sap inside the leaves of an Aloe Vera plant. I had to watch the emergency room use basically a Brillo pad on my husband's forearms to scrub of the dead flesh and infection because he burned himself with a pot of coffee and his mom insisted on putting aloe vera sap on his arms for the burn. Consequently it got infected and it was horrible and painful for the poor man. And of course the nurse and the doctor said never to do that again.

    • Posted

      God amkoffe I been doing that for years, everytime I burn myself on a wood stove I would cut a section and put that sap on to relive the pain. I guess I been lucky and not do that again. Thanks, 🙂

    • Posted

      It will depend on how bad the burn is - if it is just sore and red with no broken skin it won't do any damage. But you should never put anything like that on broken skin. Damage that goes below the top layer needs medical advice. Even the Mayo clinic suggests aloe vera for minor burns!

      First degree burns (only affecting the top layer) need just something cool on the area until the burning fades - cool (not cold) tap water is fine.

    • Posted

      Thanks EileenH, so I am safe as long as no broken skin, I been doing it for years, but always not on broken skin.

      Smiling 🙂

  • Posted

    I was surprised that two other people have experienced rashes as they taper down off of prednisone. One explanation could be that when you go back up and your rash disappears that is because of the prednisone that it disappears. Prednisone is often used for rashes and allergies to help them.
    • Posted

      Yes, one weird condition.  Thanks for sharing.
  • Posted

    Not really - some people get rashes at high doses of pred but if you didn't have them it is unusual for it to happen later.

    However - I developed a wheat allergy at the same sort of time as PMR, probably the same autoimmune process caused both. At higher doses of pred I could eat wheat with no problem - but the rash and itch came back at low doses. So I agree with amkoffee's comment.

    • Posted

      Yes, I will try ice on the spot.  Stress causes a lot of this I believe.  Thanks everyone sharing has helped my journey through PMR.
  • Posted

    I am not sure about the rash as a side effect of Pred.   However I have for many years at times been bothered by a terrible itch on my right forarm, no rash that I can see.   I also once had an allergic reaction to an antibiiotic ,  this was following a surgery, and nothing that they gave me helped the itch.   Until one evening a wonderful nurse said to me,  would you be okay trying some bags of ice on your itchiest spots, and my goodness the itch was gone in a few mins.   Now whenever my arm starts I put ice on it (over a cloth) and it disappears in mins.    Worth a try if the itch is very bad,  and the price is right as well.   Good luck.

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