I get severe flares. I've had them for years but over the past year I had two flares per month. Finally, the doctors told me, it is safer for me to stay on a low constant dose, than going up and down.
I tried 5 mg. And within a week got a flare. The flares feel like I got run over by a bus!! The pain surges through my joints like a raging storm. I take prednisone and it stops. Any bit of advice would help. Any!! They tried methotrexate and my right side of my face went numb!! The strange thing is, I feel my normal self on 10 mg??
If I have to take 10 mg of prednisone for the rest of my life, what can I do to help my body?
Question posted by Beanbuzz on 17 Oct 2015
Last updated on 29 October 2015
3 Answers
Gunyanna
18 Oct 2015
Hi Beanbuzz,
I have been on prednisone nonstop for over 25 years so I know where you are coming from. I have recently had my methotrexate dose increased to try & get my prednisone down to a smaller dose. The lowest I have ever been with prednisone was 8mg & that only lasted a week & I flared. I'm just wondering whether you would have the same side effect with the methotrexate if you used the injectable form? As methotrexate is apparently the lesser of two evils (go figure!) & at the moment it is has helping me reduce my prednisone dose, though I will never be able to go lower than 10mg. I also have Fosamax once weekly which helps my bones, there is a yearly injection my Dr told me that takes the place of Fosamax weekly, which I am yet to switch to. I hope your Dr already has you on Fosamax, because if he hasn't I would be asking him why?
Not much fun this darn SLE is it? Hope this helps.
Beanbuzz
29 Oct 2015
It sucks doesn't it ! I'm wondering why my body attacks itself.? My rheumatoid Dr put me on a new med and I cannot even pronounce it, It start with an I , maybe imoran ? I'm so afraid to start it, but it is more mild than metatrexate and is a long term to replace the prednisone. I'm on 10 mg right now and am flaring but my allergies are off the charts. I sometimes feel like noone understands how I feel inside. How I feel like I got run over by a car but no outside wounds..that's what it is lime uhhgg !
DancnDar
18 Oct 2015
Years ago I was on a daily steroid.
My doctor had also put me on Fosamax to lessen my chances of osteoporosis.
Stephen Treloar
18 Oct 2015
I'd be worried about the rest of my life part. My stepfather took a low dose for 20 years which has caused such severe osteoporosis that he fell awkwardly against a basin (vanity unit?) and shattered all his ribs on the back left side so badly that they cant put them back together and he is stuck in hospital in case one of the pieces punctures a lung.
Related topics
rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, immunosuppression, fibromyalgia, prednisone, dosage, inflammatory conditions, systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease
Further information
- Prednisone uses and safety info
- Prednisone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Prednisone (detailed)
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