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Pred, doses, and side effects?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/11/2008 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
After reading a few other posts this morning, I notice some said that if you are on low dose Pred, you may not get any side effects?

I understand that for some, a low dose may not be enough to help their flare, but was wondering.

Does the doctor start you off low, and of it doesn't work  increase the does?

I am more afraid of the side effects of the Pred, than I am the UC.

It took me a long time to get myself at an acceptable weight for my cholestrol,and arthritis in my knees and if I started gaining again, it would not be a good thing.

What is the usual, dose of starting on Pred, or is every doctor different about that, depending on how bad your flare?

I don't want to think that going on vacations are no longer an option for us, but my last one to Vegas was horrible, in more my worry I would need a bathroom, than actually needing one.  I don't want to put myself or my husband through that again.

Anyhow I would appreciate any help you can give on the Prednisone information.

 

Posted 11/11/2008 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
I have started on 20 then gone to 30 if I didn't get results (and that is the way is usually happens). Even 30 does not kick it quickly but the side effects are more tolerable than going higher. At about 15 my side effects subside (moon face, thumping heart, hunger).
I kind of prescribe my own doses after all these years, along with some attempt to follow the doc's advice...

While the side effects are uncomfortable, for me they go away and it is well worth it if your flare is bad. When you can't do anything without needing a bathroom every hour or more, that is true misery. Or being constantly worrying that you need one, as you say!

Going to unfamiliar places is tough, and sometimes just not worth it. Vegas is actually relatively easy, there are bathrooms everywhere! (if you can tolerate the flights). It's road trips I HATE. I hope your husband is as compassionate as mine is, he never complains.
Posted 11/11/2008 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
for bad flares I start right off on 40mg, reducing by 5 every 5 days. until Zero. That assumes the does works. Generally it does. I often take pred enemas at the same time. I find this highish intensity attach gets me into remission and I try and stay there with ASA's. Longer term 20mg of pred is messy middle ground...punching it out is effective for me.
Right now I'm in hospital with a 43cm moderate flare..I'm on 4 X 100 IV shots and antibiotics. been on the IV for 7 days tomorrow. Its finally quenched and will now taper on oral steroids over the next 2 months....Hopefully
Posted 11/11/2008 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor started me out on 40mg and i saw results within 24 hours, it was great! I am also very lucky in a way that i did not receive many side effects, i lost 28lbs with my flare and i have been on prednisone for almost a year now and i have not gained a pound of it back. The only side effect i got/have is some facial hair (which i just go get waxed every 8 weeks, no big deal) and my hair falls out a lot and changed texture. Like others said, i would much rather put up with that than my UC symptoms anytime.
The only problem is my body became steroid dependant and i have not had luck tapering off at all. I can not go below 10mg without starting a flare so that hasn't been fun.
Posted 11/11/2008 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
If you are worried about gaining weight on pred I would find a book called coping with prednisone. It has a diet in there that is low salt and will keep you from gaining weight. I followed it once and didn't gain more than 5 lbs which was water weight and once I didn't follow it and gained 35 lbs. The diet is kind of hard but if you stick with it it will work. Basically no processed foods, low low salt , and exercise every day.(which is easier for me when I am on the pred because I feel so much better)
Posted 11/12/2008 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
     about the weight gain and high blood pressure.  My blood pressure was off the wall while I was in the hospital...went up to 216/111!  Weird that all the doctors marching in and out of my room...internists, cardiologists etc , along with my GI doctors....not one of them mentioned taking a water pill.  Instead they gave me very high doses of blood pressure meds which made me feel like crap.  When my GI doctor placed me on 40 mgm of prednisone, once again, the end of September, I called a heart specialist who saw me about a year ago when I had to undergo a stress test.  He immediately placed me on a water pill and told me that whenever I go on prednisone to take a water pill.  The reason my blood pressure increases is that prednisone makes your tissues retain fluid...well duh...I knew that and obviously all the doctors who treated me in the hospital must have known that, but yet, not one of them gave me a water pill????  Needless to say, my blood pressure was well controlled while I took the prednisone.  I don't need the water pill now.
Posted 11/12/2008 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
I always was started off higher, 40mg, then weaned to a lower maintenance dose. The problem was just the long term use, even at lower doses I was loosing my hair(very distressing), and it would intefere with my work, as I never slept properly. To me those were the worst, even though I experience numerous other problems. I do believe stress levels increased my flares, but which came first , the increased stress or the flares??

----------------------------------------------------------------

yuckygut

diagnosed 1998

now off prednisone and colazal

drink 1 Haldi daily
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