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Prednisone
I've been diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica and the only treatment that works is Prednisone...I know this is also used for an alopecia treament but I have never read a post yet where it has worked in the long term and the side effects for short term gain has not been worth it. I'm not sure what to do, to go ahead and use it or to live with the pain I am in daily. I'm feeling very overwhelmed right now. I have the tablets at home but am afraid to take them. The doctor said I wll be on a low dosage, so that makes me feel a little better but I don't want to be on them for years...and this disease can last years. I don't want to end up having to deal with the disease plus lasting side effects when I discontinue treatment. If anyone reading this has had experience with prednisone please tell me your experience, the good, the bad and the ugly.
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Comment by Rachael on August 31, 2010 at 1:59pm
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Hey Pat! I have been on Prednisone since Feb of this year for my alopecia. I started at 40 mg a day and have been weened down to 20 mg every other day. In the beginning I couldnt tell much of a difference. But over time I have noticed that i need a good nights rest, i can get extremely bloated at times , and I get extremely hormonal and stressed around my monthly period. Other then that I dont have many negative things to say about the medication because it has helped my situation.
Hope this helps you to decide and good luck!!!
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Comment by Pat on September 1, 2010 at 12:59am
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I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow afternoon and will see what he has to say. I'll be starting at 50mg a day and then going to a lower dose. It's a tough call for me as I've had a few negative experiences come my way from the goups I'm on. However it will come down to do I want to live with the pain I'm in.
Thanks for all your comments, it's so good to know others have gone down this road for better or worse. I'm so glad it's working for your alopecia Rachael.
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So far I've tapered from 50 mg per day currently at 17.5 mg and will go to 12 mg starting tomorrow for another week then lower again. I initially went from 50 mg to 25 mg then 12 mg but on the 12 the pain returned so the doc took me back to 17.5mg. Still a little painful in my buttocks and shoulders but otherwise all good. Tapering off has brought on headaches - so far the only side effects I've experienced. I'm hopeful of lowering the dose as much as I can so my lifestyle won't be too much altered.
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My doctor advised to reduce as much as I can and I am now down to 2.5 mg per day. The aching in my muscles has returned but on a scale of 1-10 they are about 3, so quite manageable at this stage. I'll reduce to 2 in another week. Each week I lower the dose just a tad. I've had to increase now and then when the pain got too great, but all things considered I'm doing very well.
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