danna622... My father has been taking prednisone 5mg for RA for many years. He also takes methotrexate and Remicade. He has been experiencing very severe episodes of vertigo and spikes in blood pressure that Drs. cannot seem to find a reason for. Has anyone experienced anything similar?
Long term use of prednisone and side effects?
- Posted:
- 6 Mar 2010 by danna622
- Topics:
- rheumatoid arthritis, vertigo, prednisone, blood disorders
Details:
Added 6 Mar 2010:
It should also be noted that he was recently diagnosed with a pituitary microadenoma. I can't help thinking that all of these things are somehow connected.
This question has also been asked and answered here:
Long term use of Prednisone and side effects?
Responses (3)
itsmetoo26 Mar 2010
"Pituitary MicroadenomaA pituitary microadenoma is a noncancerous growth in the pituitary gland that is less than 10 mm in size. Symptoms of the condition may include such things as headaches, vomiting, vision problems and dizziness. Treatment options can include surgery, drug therapy, and radiation therapy"
http://www.drugs.com/dict/microadenoma.html
Now this site explains the side effects of long term usage of prednisone.
http://arthritis.about.com/od/prednisone/f/risks_benefits.htm
I do know that it is hard to come off of prednisone, as it is a steroid. It is ashame as prednisone was never designed for long term use.
luubich18 Apr 2012
i have been taking prednisone for 18 yrs (from high dose 50mg when serve flare lupus and up and wean down to maintain 10mg/day) i dont have much problem accept gain weight and eat to much. recently I was dianogse RA,my Dr want to low it to 5mg and add methotrexate 12.5mg/week, i started to much problem : so weak, infections and painful swollen wrists hands feet, always feel like i had been beat up. I stop MTX and try Plaquenil for 2wks, not improve so i increase prednisone to 20mg today, will see if it helps
luubich
15 May 2012
i increased prednisone 20mg for 5 days-- got little better, less pain-- then wean to 15mg (as my Dr prescribed )but the pain back so I was on 20 mg again for over 1 month, I almost pain free and gain my energy . so I tried to wean down to 17.5 mg for 10 days then now trying 15mg for a while, pain a little bit noticable . My case I think the side effects of Methotrexate were worse - tear me down faster than what prednisone might cause for long term used --
zipdoodle
1 Nov 2012
Plaquenil requires at least six months to build an effective level in your blood. You cannot take it for two weeks and expect any positive effect. Also, if you went from 10 mg to 5 mg prednisone a day without tapering, you're going to feel horrible. I've taken pred 5 mg for 20 years, and more for lupus flares and now, due to side effects and heart condition, have to STOP taking it. I'm tapering but it's still a struggle.
15 Jun 2012
Visual disturbances... Long term use of high dose Prednisone (also 6mp for a period of time) for Crohns and subsequent high dose Prednisone for Pyoderma Gangrenosum has apparently fogged both of my corneas. I'm an Artist and it concerns me. While I'm miles from needing a cornea operation or even noticing any special effects, just to know that I've got visual anomalies is distressing. I also have had transient difficulty with the center of my field of view going blurry after detailed drawing for hours. Similar to macular degeneration - but seeming fine to my eye doctor. My eye doctor also said that seeing what I described can also be a precursor to stroke and should be mentioned to your primary physician immediately... Benefit-risk balance.
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