HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Prednisone

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/2/2010 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
Well, in to my third flare-up since Dx, which has been right at a year ago. I'm on apriso and the doc prescribed 20mg prednisone a day for at least a couple of weeks. I havent really read the posts on prednisone but from what i have seen, most people dread it. Can anyone enlighten me? I've taken it once before, right before i was officially diagnosed with UC. For the two weeks i was on it, it seemed to work great. I know it's not something that should be taken long term but i was wondering if anyone had any good feedback from it. or what i may be in store for if i have to continue past the two weeks. My Doc did say if it didnt work within a couple of weeks that he would have to try a completely different approach, might be a good sign if the prednisone causes problems. anyways, thanks for your time

Kris

Posted 3/2/2010 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
I was on it, and did fine...I slept great, didn't have nasty mood swings, etc. I did get a little bit of moon face, but it went away quickly after I tapered off.

I'd ask your doctor about using a mesalamine enema. Studies show that people who use them nightly in additon to oral meds reach remission more quickly than those only using oral meds, and when used twice weekly when in remission, you stay in remission longer.

Also, I'd like to comment that a more typical starting dose for pred is 40mg. But, I'd have rather seen your doctor prescribe rectal meds over prednisone.
Posted 3/2/2010 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
thanks, he's never even mentioned rectal meds at all. I wonder if that's his idea of a completely different approach.
Posted 3/2/2010 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
     I've had this disease for over eleven years and hate to admit that I have become prednisone dependent.  For the first four years, I was able to be on short courses of prednisone,usually lasting two months tops before attaining remission.  First two remissions lasted two years.  Then started flaring yearly with longer times on prednisone.  Since May of 2008, I have been on the prednisone more often than off it.  It has given me osteoporosis, high blood pressure and now I have to diligently watch my blood glucose levels while on it as my blood sugar rose to 293 in late August.  When I am off the prednisone it returns to normal levels.

     Presently, I am on a short course of prednisone once again as the Remicade didn't help after my 3rd and 4th infusions.  Hoping to get my colonoscopy on the 12th of March and I should be either on 10 mgm of pred or off it completely by then.  Doctor is going to increase my Remicade to the max dosage (I am at half dose now) and schedule my infusions closer together than the eight weeks they intended it to be.

Posted 3/2/2010 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
what is a remicade infusion?
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply