Hi, all. I have a couple of related questions that I hope you can help me with.
Question 1:
I've been having a bad flare with lots of symptoms lately. My rheum put me on a medrol pack, which usually does the trick. I'm halfway through day three, though, and still feeling pretty achy.
It may be that there was a lot for my body to deal with--my swollen eyelids and the contact dermatitis on my face cleared up within a few hours after my first dose. Do I just need to be patient with the pain? I'm usually back to my normal self by now (normal = slightly achy, but not too bad).
Question 2:
On the other hand, my eyes feel much better, though they always go back to being red and irritated when I go off the steriods. My eyes are a HUGE problem for me and drops do not provide relief; Restasis only helps a little. I know that some of you are on a maintenance dose of prednisone at all times. How much of a health risk is that?
I understand the side effects, but my eyes are usually so uncomfortable that I'm trying to balance the risks with the relief. Does prednisone stop working so well over time? If so, I won't bother (don't want to up what it takes to get me out of future flares). If I can get some relief, though, I'm thinking it might be worth discussing with my rheum. What are your experiences with being on longterm corticosteroid treatment?
I hope you are feeling better by now. I don't know very much about prednisone as I haven't taken it long term before. I have taken the packs and felt better.
Thanks, Season!
Usually steroid treatment works fast for me, but I'm still feeling less than well. I'm going to give it a few more days and then I'll contact my rheum to see what he thinks.
Hi,
Sorry you're feeling badly. I don't do well at all with prednisone. For whatever reason, it makes my blood sugar dip extremely low for several weeks after I taper off of it (with starting dosages as low as 10mg). I've never had a bad reaction with the Medrol (methylprednisolone) though. Docs like to say prednisone and medrol are the same, but for me they are not.
Anyway, I've taken the medrol dose pack and felt great and there have been times when I've taken it and it made little difference. I tend to think the flare is worse when that happens.
The longest I've been on medrol was a month and a half. I did a taper and remained on 4mg for about 30 days after before I tapered to 1mg then none. I felt pretty good till I got off of it.
My doctor is adamant that steroid use long term isn't a good idea because I have spots of osteopenia and have hypertension. You could be one of the lucky ones who is helped tremendously by continuous low dose steroid treatment-- but, like you said, you know there are risks associated.
Have your doctors spoken to you about low dose methotrexate instead of long term steroids?
Really hope you feel better soon!
I really appreciate your response, Tomsmom.
I will ask my rheum about methotrexate, and I'll read up on it. I've seen it mentioned here before but don't know much about it yet. Thank you for sharing the suggestion!
Hi Dragonfly.
I may be wrong, but I don't think Prednisone is for dry eyes.
I suffer with dry eyes so am always interested in any threads on that condition.
I have read that many on here are treated with Salagen or Exovac for dry issues.
However when I mentioned this to my Doc ( UK)
he was most reluctant to treat me with them,so I am stuck with Viscous gel drops for day,
and Lacrilube for bedtime, also oral gel for dry mouth, .
I have just been fitted with new spectacles this weekend, am trying variofocals first time
Ive worn them all day today, and my eyes have been like burning coals all day,
Been told to persevere with them for at least three weeks, so hope I get there!
Weather been so cold here already , that does my head in too, so at the moment I am not a happy chick!
Let us know how they do treat you
, and whatever they give I pray it helps,
In sympathy Dolly
,
Dolly, thanks for your response!
You are right about prednisone not being a direct treatment for dry eyes. It does reduce inflammation, though, so I find it helps.
I notice a big difference whenever I'm on prednisone for a flare and am looking for a way to keep that effect going, though as Tomsmom points out, it may not be worth the side effects.
Restasis hasn't done much to lower the inflammation in my eyes, and eye drops make almost no difference for me. Evoxac helps my mouth a lot, but it doesn't do much for my eyes.
I recently got new glasses, too, and was hoping that the right prescription plus preservative free drops would help. Unfortunately, I'm as red-eyed as ever.
I look forward to hearing how your new specs work out for you. I hope that your eyes adjust and feel better soon.