This and that

[Guest guest]

Amber, I take Neurol cyclosporin and have for 5 years now. I am not sure what

sort of side effects you are having with it. I need you to be more specific. I

do know that I feel better now that I am only on the cyclosporin for

anit-rejection and am so far off Cellcept. But..I do take other meds.such as

blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds, Lexapro, protonics, and pain meds (along

with a wonderful TENS UNIT). Please write how you are feeling............

Harper, I feel that way too about nature. I still love nothing more then to lay

down on the grass and stare with my nose up to a bug.any insect will do.I love

them all..they are all so very unique and God made them all so

different..........same goes for all the plants from trees to grass's and

flowers. As for myself I always liked that stuff but perhaps I grew closer to

all of it when I was so ill before transplant.

Supplements.I only took a few before transplant and they were ok'd by my liver

docs. I took SAMe and iy helped me feel better.....also took vitamin E and a B

Complex. But, no one should add anything even if sounds healthy before asking

your doctor. What may be healthy for the general public can be deadly for us.

And.always remember that you have an OVERACTIVE immune system so you don't need

pr want anything that will boost your immune system............

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_prednisone.html

Prednisone and prednisolone are members of the glucocorticoid class of hormones.

This means they are steroids but, unlike the anabolic steroids that we hear

about regarding sports medicine, these are " catabolic " steroids. Instead of

building the body up, they are designed to break down stored resources (fats,

sugars and proteins) so that they may be used as fuels in times of stress.

Cortisone would be an example of a related hormone with which most people are

familiar. Glucocorticoids hormones are produced naturally by the adrenal glands.

We do not use the glucocorticoids for their influences on glucose and protein

metabolism; we use them because they are also the most broadly anti-inflammatory

medications that we have. Their uses fit into several groups:

a.. Anti-inflammatory (especially for joint pain and itchy skin)

b.. Immune-suppression (treatment of conditions where the immune system is

destructively hyperactive. Higher doses are required to actually suppress the

immune system)

c.. Cancer Chemotherapy (especially in the treatment of lymphoma)

d.. Central Nervous System Disorders (usually after trauma or after a disc

episode to relieve swelling in the brain or spinal cord)

e.. Shock (steroids seem to help improve circulation)

f.. Blood Calcium Reduction (in medical conditions where blood calcium is

dangerously high treatment is needed to reduce levels to normal)

Prednisone is activated by the patient's liver into Prednisolone.

Prednisolone may be administered in tablet form or produced by the body from

prednisone. These medications are considered to be interchangeable.

SIDE EFFECTS

Prednisone & prednsolone have activity in the kidney leading to the conservation

of salt. This creates the classical side effects of prednisone/prednisolone

use: excessive thirst and excessive urination. If this occurs, another steroid

can be selected or the predisone/prednisolone dose can be dropped.

Prednisone/prednisolone are commonly used for several weeks or even months at a

time to get a chronic process under control. It is important that the dose be

tapered to an every other day schedule once the condition is controlled. The

reason for this is that body will perceive these hormones and not produce any of

its own. In time, the adrenal glands will atrophy so that when the medication is

discontinued, the patient will be unable to respond to any stressful situation.

An actual circulatory crisis can result. By using the medication every other

day, this allows the body's own adrenal glands to remain active.

Any latent infections can be unmasked by prednisone use. (Feline upper

respiratory infections would be a classical example. When a cat recovers

clinically, the infection simply goes dormant. Glucocorticoid use could bring

the infection out again.)

Glucocorticoid hormone use can be irritating to the stomach at higher doses.

INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER DRUGS

Glucocorticoid hormones should not be used in combination with medications of

the NSAID class (ie aspirin, Rimadyl, phenylbutazone etc.) as the combination of

these medications could lead to bleeding in the stomach or intestine. Ulceration

could occur.

CONCERNS AND CAUTIONS

Prednisone and prednisolone are considered to be intermediate acting steroids,

meaning that a dose lasts about a day or a day and a half. After two weeks or

more of use, it is important to taper the dose to an every other day schedule so

as to keep the body's own cortisone sources able and healthy.

The same salt retention that accounts for the excessive thirst and urination may

also be a problem for heart failure patients or other patients who require

sodium restriction.

Diabetic patients should never take this medication

unless there is a life-threatening reason why they must.

Glucocorticoid hormones can cause abortion in pregnant patients.

They should not be used in pregnancy.

Prednisone/Prednisolone use is likely to change liver enzyme blood testing and

interfere with testing for thyroid diseases.

When prednisone/prednisolone is used routinely, serious side effects would not

be expected. When doses become immune-suppressive (higher doses) or use becomes

" chronic " (longer than 4 months at an every other day schedule), the side

effects and concerns associated become different. In these cases, monitoring

tests may be recommended or, if possible, another therapy may be selected.

Click here for more information about Chronic Steroid Use.

Click here for information on Steroid Alternatives for Itchy Skin.

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