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Reducing dose

Posted , 10 users are following.

wendy43316
wendy43316

Can anyone tell me if the lower the dose of pred you take .does it lower the side effects,

0 likes, 19 replies

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  • gillian_25383
    gillian_25383 wendy43316

    Posted

    To be honest not sure but in my case no they were just as bad.No don't Eileen or Ptolomey will give you better information
  • EileenH
    EileenH wendy43316

    Posted

    It depends. On the side effect and on the person. Apart from anything else, there are 82 listed side effects, no-one gets them all, some people get next to none. There are also different sorts of corticosteroid and the same person might have certain side effects with prednisolone, other side effects with methyl prednisolone and yet others with prednisone.

    Some side effects do become less significant as the dose lowers but everyone is different. Take weight gain - I have lost a lot of weight while still on one pred, albeit a different version to the one that caused the weight gain. Another lady was on the same form of pred from diagnosis at the beginning right to the end, but her dose reduced from 60mg to zero over about 5 years I think. She put on about 6st in weight on pred within a very short time. She didn't lose a pound until she stopped taking any pred and then the weight melted away without her even trying.

  • LayneTX
    LayneTX wendy43316

    Posted

    For me, I just reduced to 5 mg and Rheumy wants to keep me here until other DMARDS kick in, which take 4-5 months, ugh...

    but, I think my face isn't as round and my elephant hump is gone off my back, though I hurt there now days, but that could be from something else.

    i sleep better for most part. Still have occassional hot flashes. 

    I still get acid reflux that I think is from Pred, never had it before.

    I still have dry mouth, but not as bad. My nose and hair and skin are still dry.

    I'm still in pain, 75% in mornings, maybe 40-50% in afternoons.

    Not much brain fog as higher doses, but if I'm real tired then I do have troubles.

    I don't know if this helps your question. 

     

    • gillian_25383
      gillian_25383 LayneTX

      Posted

      Hi Layne;do not know which DMARD you are on but my acid reflux is worse now that I am on methotrexate.I am at last starting to reduce analgesics 3 months on and my blood results are going in the right direction.Have just increased to max oral dose and see consultant in 5weeks time for review.Hope your meds kick in soon (I was told 4months but it now seems to be worth the wait-touch wood)
    • wendy43316
      wendy43316 LayneTX

      Posted

      Thanks for your input, every bit of information helps xx
  • Anhaga
    Anhaga wendy43316

    Posted

    I did read early on in my journey that effects on the bones (osteoporosis being the fear)  were likely to be most severe the first month one was on prednisone. 
    • EileenH
      EileenH Anhaga

      Posted

      One rheumatologist told me the most was in the first 3 months - but one assumes too that that is when you are likely to be at the highest doses. There was a paper from physiotherapists that claimed that there was still evidence of changes in bone density at 5mg whereas previously it had been thought that at low doses it was negligible. However - I had no evidence of any real reduction of bone density after over 3 years at mostly above 10mg. They never look at every single person, the populations they DO look at are restricted - I don't think they really know the answer but it would be interesting to know who funded any study because I'll lay odds that the ones that say there is a deterioration have something to do with the manufacturers of "bone protective medications". 

      Cynical? Moi?

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga EileenH

      Posted

      Apparently it will take one to two years for me to get to see the osteoporosis specialist.  I obviously can't wait that long for her advice so will have to be really proactive, but I'm pretty negative about the medications that are offered.  
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy Anhaga

      Posted

      Have you had a scan that diagnosed osteoporosis?
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga ptolemy

      Posted

      Yes, but I don't know the numbers.  Husband going to pick up photocopy of report this afternoon when he went to work but I haven't seen it yet.  
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy Anhaga

      Posted

      You may find that your bones are not as bad as you think! 
    • EileenH
      EileenH Anhaga

      Posted

      YEARS???? And they complain in the UK!!!!!!!
    • gillian_25383
      gillian_25383 EileenH

      Posted

      I agree.Five years ago my rheumatologist wanted a dexa scan done.My hospital did not have a machine but had an arrangement with the private hospital and I only waited 10 weeks (posh place,great care + NO bill)Thank goodness for NHS it delivers when needed
  • Anhaga
    Anhaga wendy43316

    Posted

    In fact I would say from my reading loss of bone density isn't so much a "side" effect, which term dimishes its apparent significance in our minds, as a direct effect of steroids.  This effect is lower the less the dosage.  I'll private message you a link.
    • EileenH
      EileenH Anhaga

      Posted

      I suppose really we shouldn't use the term "side effect" but "effect" which can be sub-categorised as "beneficial" and "adverse" in the context of where you are using the stuff. After all, something that is undesirable in one disease may be helpful in another. 
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