Prednisone?

Hi, I know for me, I was given a 12 week run with a decreasing dosage by 1/2 a pill per week after the first month. I have gained 12 pounds, I'm ravenously hungry, bloated and puffy....but I was hospitalized on March 1st with severe malnutrition, D 15-20 times a day, major urgency and intense pain in my right side. After 2 days on the prednisone, I had my appetite back, solid stools and less pain, and I haven't had D in a month.

The initial side effects within the first week or so for me was cold sweats, insomnia, headaches, major irritability, snappy moods....like I was coming home with an arm load of groceries and the cat was in my way and I SCREAMED at the poor thing for no reason...also majorly weepy and emotional. So...I'm glad I don't have D anymore, but the first month on prednisone has been rough.

Be aware that, for many people, the beneficial effects of Prednisone decrease a bit with each use so that at some point they become Prednisone-resistant, and it doesn't help them. Others can become Prednisone-dependent, with flare symptoms returning in force whenever steroids are discontinued.

Point is, it's usually a better idea not to make Prednisone a major part of your long-term plan. And that isn't even taking into account the dangerous and life-changing long term complications from steroids. It can cause osteoporosis, glaucoma, cataracts, osteonecrosis and many other serious problems. For some people this takes years; for others only a matter of months; it all depends on how sensitive your body is to steroids.

Thanks to everyone for all the input. I didn't realize that the prednisone may have to be taken for weeks or even months at a time. I originally thought it could be taken for a week or two just to halt the flare. I definitely would not want to be on it for an extended period of time. I will have to go over it more thoroughly at my next GI appointment.

I really hope the combination fo Lialda and Humira can help hold me in remission. Up to now it has been like clock-work: a couple months flaring followed by a couple months of no symptoms, then flare, then nothing, and so on. This was however over the course of just getting started on my meds so I will have to wait and see. At the rate I was going, I should be due for another flare in about a month. Unfortunately, the job situation will require a decision sooner than that. It may just be a gamble. I hate having to coordinate my life around this awful condition...

iPoop - Understood. I came out of my last flare shortly after starting Humira about two months ago and fortunately haven't had any symptoms since. If I start another flare, I'll know something needs to be addressed further. I'm not sure, outside of the oral meds and anti-TNF, what else can be done, except for the prednisone or maybe enemas I guess...

soystud - Yeah, I know. The last flare lasted for nearly three months and toward the end, repeated restroom trips just seemed to become part of my daily life, almost without thinking about it. The worst part is remaining in a constant state of anxiety and anticipation.

I would def look into enemas or Uceris (a non systemic steroid) before Pred.
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Well, let me edit to say Uceris is way less systemic than Pred. Some people have some side effects on it, but way less than Pred.

Btw, just curious...what were your symptoms of AS?

I'll have to look into Uceris, not familiar with it. As far as the AS, that went undiagnosed for over ten years. It was VERY frustrating, multiple doctors said they saw nothing wrong and just said to take NSAIDS at try physical therapy. It wasn't until my UC diagnosis followed by a referral from my GI doc to a rheumatologist that I was officially diagnosed. Fortunately, as of right now I have no fusion, just some noticeable degredation in the SI joints. Symptoms were mainly severe low back pain, hip pain, and stiffness/pain in the middle of my back. The Humira has been woderful for the AS, I have no symptoms now at all and was able to get back full strength in the gym (very important to me). There was noticeable relief within just a few days of starting. I can only hope the effects of the Humira last.

OK, here's my humble opinion.

I go back to 1975 when there was only prednisone and azulfidine which I was allergic to.

Pros:

Its a fantastic life saving drug that in high enough doses can make you feel the best you have ever felt. All inflammation will disappear. No allergies, arthritis, stomach inflammation, all gone. BAM! Life is good......

Yeah, that's about it for the pros.

Cons:

In high doses (and sometimes in small ones) for long periods (or short) it can destroy bones, give you diabetes, destroy muscle mass, cause osteoporosis, thin skin, deplete minerals in your body, ruin heart mass, cause cystic acne, ruin your endocrine system, cause hypertension, migraines, depression, ulcers, water retention, swelling, cataracts, glaucoma, dry mouth, muscle pain....all of which can last long past when you stop the medicine, sometimes permanently......shall I go on??

However, they still remain the first line in emergency situations for getting flares under control, because today's medicines take longer to work. They are safe for short term use in these situations, because the benefits outweigh the risks.

So, needless to say today's medicines are far safer in the long run in than steroids.

My GI has actually go so far as to say that long term use of steroid is now considered malpractice with so much other safer things such as 5-ASA's, Imuran, 6MP, and biologics out there. Their side effects are no where near what steroids are.

NOW..Uceris is a bit different, as it is formulated to release in the colon only, ridding most if not all of the side effects by making it not be absorbed into the system like Prednisone...its more topical acting. I have used this and it has given me no side effects like Prednisone.

Also, sadly, as has happened to me, as you get older and use it more, the good effects get less and less of using steroids.

Use of steroids are for emergencies when quick control of a flare is needed and only when all other drugs are proved useless. Hope this helps.