Prednisone

OK I can't believe I'm actually thinking about asking my doc to let me go back on Prednisone to see if it works but I've been feeling pretty bad lately...question is what's the longest time period people have been on Prednisone?  I was on it (starting at 60 mgs and tapered to 0 over 4-5 months I think).  I've been off of it for about 2 months now...Started 6-MP but then got pretty sick with a cold so I stopped taking it...now back on 6-MP for a week...I don't want to wait months for it to work though...

any thought would be appreciated.  thanks!

Prednisone is one of those drugs that most of us have a love/hate relationship with. I have spent way too long on it, but until I started taking Xifaxan I couldn't get down below 20mgs for any significant period of time. Finally I have been able to get down to about 5mg. It works great for most people, but the side effects are not good. So the goal is to be on it for as short a period as possible. If your doctor thinks that it will buy you time until some other meds kick in, then it is worth a shot. It really can be a life saver and if you are sick enough and it gives you back some quality of life, you will be able to deal with the side effects. Plus some of the side effects can be dealt with medically. Extra calcium for bone loss, sleep aids for loss of sleep......

been on it WAY too long...2+ years. Down to 5mgs now(been here for over a month), but the symptoms are getting worse (no energy, BAD arthritis, and all the GI symptoms). Yet starting to get some semblance of my face back so I don't want the higher dose (though I do feel better). Doctor and I both frustrated that I cannot get to a lower dose (body happy on 10mg) and have been on it for soooooooooooo long. My sister also has RA and she too has been on prednisone for over 3 years and cannot seem to come off it as her symptoms seem to reappear.

So...I too am curious if this has happened to anyone else? What is the longest time?

thanks!!!! i think i'm going to see if my doc is in agreement for a short course for a while...

Back in the day I was on a low dose (5mg/day) for at least 2 years. I couldn't seem to come down from there. Started on Remicade toward the end of that two year period and was able to get off the preds. Since then I've done the quick taper thing (start at 40, taper 5mg a week) a few times to stop flares that were starting. I've since switched to Humira (remicade stopped working), but may need the preds for a boost with my stupid colon. Have to decide my treatment in the next two days.

Maybe your doc can put on a short course for maybe 4 weeks or so, to give the 6mp time to kick in. I just recently did a stint like that. I started at 25 mg and went down 5 mg every 5 days. I quieted things down for me quickly. Good luck!