Prednisone a hero in desguise?

So I'm definetly a person thinking highly of Prednisone. Not only because of my experience with it for Crohns disease, but because I've used it for years prior for my asthma as well. I've noticed that there a numerous, basically more then you can keep track of that are against or atleast talk down on prednisone, but yet love entecort. To me in a way, your partiuclar case is bad enough then you to will love or atleast tolerate and be willing to use Prednisone. Of course this is my opinion, and there are people with much stronger opinion against prednisone. But a lot of people tend to not like it based on things like weight gain, which to much of us, is what we NEED, to gain weight, I've lost weight on prednisone multiple times.

I'd just like to start this post based on people that 'appreciate' Prednisone I guess I should put it. Meaning people that have had it help them, I think all this negative publicity in the form of patients experience is negative towards treating the actual disease of others, especially for people with a severe form like some of us.

So please post good things on this post for a change, lets try and talk about how it got you back on your feet, or brought you out of a or multiple flares as in my case. I know for me that prednisone is basically the only medication that will pull me out of a flare, especially with any relative speed. Some people flare, they flare for a couple days and take a new round of or start asacol again, I'm talking about the people that are closer to my shoes for this one, the ones that flare for months on end. The ones that are in the ER multiple times a WEEK, and admitted a few times a year atleast. But please feel free to post about it helping you no matter how severe or how long or bad your flares are.

I will be back to add onto this post, but as of right now I'll leave it at this, to see if I can even GET any responses. There are those of you out there that might not like it but do agree and know that there is a definite place for prednisone in the Crohns medication tackle/tool box.

I feel that a lot of newbies count out drugs like prednisone just for others experiences, when if your going to completely count out a medication I would assume it would definetly be the immuno-suppresents, that would make much more sense, and I feel that some peopel are getting the relief as quickly as they should or even at all because of negativity.

entecort is usually considered a lesser of the two stength wise. which is why a lot of drs use it for maintenence type medication on steriod dependant patients. I'm sorry but I'll live with a moonface for a little while while it keeps me out of the hospital, ambulances, and ERs. Thats a very small price to pay.

Yes but not until recently, and I've been taking prednisone since I was little, I've had asthma since 6 months, so literally longer then I can remember I have taking prednisone. Crohns disease itself can cause some joint and bone issues alone so I really dont dwell on that aspect

I woke up one day unable to dress myself (I have RA) because my right hand, left shoulder and left elbow were so swollen. I also had trouble dragging myself down the stairs and folding myself into the car to drive to the doctors office.
I left with a script for prednisone-the trip to the pharmasy was hellish.
I swallowed the pills in the parking lot drug myself home and fell asleep.
When I woke up I showered, dressed, drove to the grocery store, pushed the cart and carried the groceries up the stairs-not completely pain free but almost.
I don't take it a day longer then I have to but I also don't leave home without it.
Sj

I too have been grateful for prednisone a few times in the two years since I was diagnosed with Crohn's. I begin to feel better within like 2 days of starting the treatment and love feeling better. It also takes care of my psoriasis, which is a major plus! Like most, I hate the "moonface" and weight gain, but if it makes me feel better... I'll take it! I have not tried the entocort and hope not to. I am currently on Humira, which is working well and I have not had a flare since I started it in March! (YAY!) Thanks for posting this CrohnsPatient, I personally am willing to endure the unpleasant prednisone side effects in exchange for less trips to the bathroom, being able to keep food and nutrients in my body, and generally feeling physically able to get out of bed in the morning!

I have always called Prednisone a necessary evil. If I start flaring I can usually take a quick 10 day burst and get back to feeling better in no time. Yes it has alot of side effects, but it does get you feeling you better quickly.

Prednisolone has twice brought me out of horrible flares. It gave me the energy to get out of bed and get on with my life.

I hate the side effects but i can live with them.

im still on it and currrently tapering by the week. The fear of whats going to happen when i finish this course has already set it.

ImAud, Maybe you werent weaned off slow enough, a lot of people have trouble weaning off because your body stopped making its 'natural steriods' at a certain level and kicks back in around say 15mg when weaning. That is most likely why the ER IV prednisone, which would be salumedral worked.

My BF is slowly weaning of pred (started on 40 mg and dropping off 5mg per week) but it helped him immensly with his last flare. He was able to start work after 3 years with an ileostomy bag and reversal last Aug and is doing wonderfully, along with a daily dose of Immodium and lots of tlc! <3

BTW - to what does "moonface" refer?

Pred works good for flares without a doubt. can't fault it there. But it causes me to go into manic type behaviors and mess around with the thoughts in my head. And as I wean off, it my entire body hurts and i get very depressed. The physical symptoms I can deal with(weight gain, joint pain, blurry vision, hair growth, acne, numb feet, high BP, etc), its just the part that messes wtih my mental states that is the more torturous about prednisone.