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  3. Polymyalgia Rheumatica and GCA

Reduction in side effects vs pred dose.

Posted , 5 users are following.

paul45653
paul45653

Im sure I've missed the important questions about side effects that I'm asking about today, but I do need to update my thinking and attitude. 

As one gets their dose going down from the 15 range to under 10 and to the range where the glands are asked to contribute, is there a visible reduction in some of more disturbing problems such as in my case when hand tremor makes it hard to hold a fork still or write a good signature. My other bothersome one is the protruding upper abdomen. My weight gain is minimal. Of course depression and irritability are a now and then I could do without. Generally I consider myself fortunate compared to what some of you endure.

Paul

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH paul45653

    Posted

    They should do but everyone is different and some people don't "get back to normal" until they are at very low doses whilst others lose the fat and stuff sooner - I was very lucky as my weight etc started to go while I was still at 15mg of a different sort of corticosteroid to the one that had caused the weight gain, beard and muscle wasting. The midriff bulge was the first to start melting away.

    The side effects are due to the EXCESS of corticosteroid over what would normally be produced - thought to be the equivalent of about 7.5mg pred. So you'd hope it will start to go soon after 10mg - but if I remember rightly lodger didn't lose much until she'd finished pred - then it just disappeared!

    • paul45653
      paul45653 EileenH

      Posted

      Thanks

      It will be interesting to watch the effects. Maybe new ones.

  • tina-uk_cwall
    tina-uk_cwall paul45653

    Posted

    Hello paul, I am one of the very lucky ones in that I don't appear to have suffered from many of the preds side effects. I have not even put on any weight and now that I'm on a sort of low carb, 5:2 diet I am even loosing weight albeit only about a lb or 2 lbs a month but I think it all helps. 

    Yesterday I was put on medication for high blood pressure, but my blood pressure increased pre diagnosis and therefore pre preds.

    having said all that I'd dread to think what it's doing to me internally or long term, but who said that in life you can have everything! Regards, christina 

    • paul45653
      paul45653 tina-uk_cwall

      Posted

      Well I'm not in it too long now or I would wonder what else is happening inside.
  • lodgerUK_NE
    lodgerUK_NE paul45653

    Posted

    paul

    Have you discussed the hand tremor with your medics.

    I only ask because a mate of mine with both GCA and PMR had this and finally he asked his medics.  Turned out it was something different and when they x-rayed the hand found a chip of bone, which had been done years ago and caused no problems had suddenly moved.  They took it out with a local and hey presto  - no tremor.

    • paul45653
      paul45653 lodgerUK_NE

      Posted

      Hello Lodger

      I have same both sides, various intensity. Still can hold a tennis racket for a few hours so I don't think bone problem.

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