Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I Have been on a low dose course of prednisone since 1 Feb again. The rhemy put me on 15 for a week, 10 for a week and 5 for a week... plus on Plaquenil. I know that plaquenil can take a while to kick in. It also took a few days for the 15mg of prednisone to start working, but was doing well until about 5 days into the 5mg... hands started up again. I also take celebrex for OA, but have stopped taking for a few days now,,, not sure why... just did. I also hadn't been taking any pain meds and have been taking some acetaminephen a few times a day... seems to help some. Is it unusual for the prednisone to NOT help with the swelling and pain? I'm frustrated, but also know that, although painful, I'm not in the position of many of you. I'm not due to go back to the rhemy until May... unless of course something terrible happens. She wants to see how the Plaquenil works... I did take 10mg today of prednisone as I really need to take care of some things this weekend and need my hands! Thanks for any help... Donna
altoclef
I took 7.5 mg of prednisone for several months, then cut it to 5 mg. as I was having trouble sleeping. I've never felt as good on the 5 as I did on the 7.5, even months later. The sleep is worth it, though. from what I can see, with all these dratted drugs it's a constant battle between effective doses and side effects, and the balance changes every time the weather does.
deleted_user
If I'm not on enough prednisone I can surely feel it. 10 works better than 5, my guess is that's what you're feeling but if you don't taper off you'll eventually always have to be on it as I am, for 9 years now.
Donnarae
I know that I can't or shouldn't be on it for a long time and I'm hoping, as is my Dr., that the plaquenil will work. The weather has gotten ugly... still cold and now rainy, so thinking that might be a factor. I'm SO hoping that spring will be good for my hands. Thanks much!
altoclef
What is the definition of "a long time" to be on pred? I'm coming up on a year, and would love to get off it. My weight and blood pressure are rising, my skin cuts and tears if you look at it sideways, and I don't think it's doing my mood any good. I know the 5 mg. I'm on is considered a tiny dose, but still . . .
deleted_user
I just went to the rheumy this week and she started me on a month long tape of prednisone - I"m starting at 20mg a day for the first week and will then drop 5mg per day each week. This is the first time she's put me on prednisone like this, but I have been having a horrible time with pain & swelling in almost all of my joints and she is trying to get things under control as quickly as possible. I do know from almost everyone I've talked to who has taken prednisone in the past, no matter what dose they've been one, when tapering down, once they drop to 5mg, the symptoms start to come back again. Not something I look forward to. I took plaquenil for about 10 months when I was first diagnosed, but it was not effective for me at all. I'm on methotrexate now - I started w/ 4 pills a week and slowly worked up to 9 pills a week and will be starting injections this week. I you are not getting any relief with the 5 mg of prednisone, you may want to call you rheumy back and see if you can stay on the 7.5 mg for a little while longer, until the plaquenil has a little while longer to become effective for you. Good luck!!
deleted_user
I'm also on prednisone. I started with 10mg. and am now down to 5 per day and next week on every other day. I really felt good on the 10mg except for the hunger. I'd have eaten this computer if I could have gotten it between two slices of bread.
Donnarae
LOL... I have been pretty lucky with the eating issues. I lost about 17 pounds over the summer/fall and know that I need to be careful about not putting back on... no more clothes shopping again! I took 7.5mg this morning,,, splitting the difference and will see how that does. I only have about 10 more pills and will have to call the dr. to refill IF she will. I see that many people here have been taking it for a while, so don't think that she will have a problem. A friend of mine was on a very high dosage (160mg a day!) and had horrible problems with mental issues and it took months to wean her off. She had cancer and had developed for issues from that, plus her OA/RA/Lupus. Have any of you had the 'moonface' from the prednisone? Not sure if on a smaller dose that is a problem. Old age (for me anyway) is not fun!
altoclef
Geez, karenk, don't buy one of those MacBookAirs- they WOULD fit between two slices of bread. Mayo or mustard?
Christine26
i have been on and off of Prednisone periodically for short periods of time. Most of the time my Rheumatologist will call in an order for Prednisone small doses. Sometimes I will place my self on it if I notice the stiffness is be increasing. When the legs are stiff I have a tendency to trip as you may have seen in other post. I have even tripped upstairs.
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