Guest guest Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 osteoporosis, I think that's pretty serious? I wouldn't want to experience that side effect. Cristen in NC [ ] Why not prednisone? These are the worst side effects I have been able to find on prednisone and you have to take a lot of it over a long time to get them. I will certainly risk these to get the relief I need when things are bad! • acne, • increased hair growth, • thinning of the skin, • cataracts, • glaucoma, • osteoporosis, • roundness of the face, and • changes in behavior. Polly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 osteoporosis, I think that's pretty serious? I wouldn't want to experience that side effect. Cristen in NC [ ] Why not prednisone? These are the worst side effects I have been able to find on prednisone and you have to take a lot of it over a long time to get them. I will certainly risk these to get the relief I need when things are bad! • acne, • increased hair growth, • thinning of the skin, • cataracts, • glaucoma, • osteoporosis, • roundness of the face, and • changes in behavior. Polly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 The choice to take or not take any drug is a balance between known possible side effects and the benefit of the drug. Not everyone will experience the side effects you listed. However, prednisone is not recommended for long-term, high dose use for RA 1) because the side effects are worse at higher doses and the longer you take it, 2) because it is not a DMARD and does not slow the progression of the disease, 3) in many cases relief can be found with DMARDs or a combination of DMARDs. Prednisone's best use is as a short-term solution while you are figuring out if someone in fact has RA, and while you are determining the best course of treatment. I was on prednisone for a very short time and at a low dose before I developed osteopenia. I was 33 at the time and not thrilled that I was now at even higher risk for early osteoporosis. I wish I would have taken that side effect more seriously and started calcium supplements and weight bearing exercises when I started the prednisone, and maybe I could have prevented the osteopenia. I am okay with it because I know the alternative was not having prednisone when it was the best short-term solution we had, and it kept me working and functioning fairly well. I have not experienced weight gain from prednisone, but for those that two the side effect brings other problems with dealing with RA and being overweight, more stress, harder to exercise, etc. The choice is never an easy one, you really have to weight the positives and the negatives carefully and make the best decision for your personal situation. Jennie > > > These are the worst side effects I have been able to find on prednisone and > you have to take a lot of it over a long time to get them. I will certainly > risk these to get the relief I need when things are bad! > > > • acne, > • increased hair growth, > • thinning of the skin, > • cataracts, > • glaucoma, > • osteoporosis, > • roundness of the face, and > • changes in behavior. > > Polly > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 The choice to take or not take any drug is a balance between known possible side effects and the benefit of the drug. Not everyone will experience the side effects you listed. However, prednisone is not recommended for long-term, high dose use for RA 1) because the side effects are worse at higher doses and the longer you take it, 2) because it is not a DMARD and does not slow the progression of the disease, 3) in many cases relief can be found with DMARDs or a combination of DMARDs. Prednisone's best use is as a short-term solution while you are figuring out if someone in fact has RA, and while you are determining the best course of treatment. I was on prednisone for a very short time and at a low dose before I developed osteopenia. I was 33 at the time and not thrilled that I was now at even higher risk for early osteoporosis. I wish I would have taken that side effect more seriously and started calcium supplements and weight bearing exercises when I started the prednisone, and maybe I could have prevented the osteopenia. I am okay with it because I know the alternative was not having prednisone when it was the best short-term solution we had, and it kept me working and functioning fairly well. I have not experienced weight gain from prednisone, but for those that two the side effect brings other problems with dealing with RA and being overweight, more stress, harder to exercise, etc. The choice is never an easy one, you really have to weight the positives and the negatives carefully and make the best decision for your personal situation. Jennie > > > These are the worst side effects I have been able to find on prednisone and > you have to take a lot of it over a long time to get them. I will certainly > risk these to get the relief I need when things are bad! > > > • acne, > • increased hair growth, > • thinning of the skin, > • cataracts, > • glaucoma, > • osteoporosis, > • roundness of the face, and > • changes in behavior. > > Polly > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Jennie, Just so you don¹t beat yourself up about not taking calcium and doing the weight bearing exercises while on prednisone, I have to tell you that I¹ve only been on a steroid dose pack once in my life for severe poison ivy. I learned in nursing school what prednisone does to our body and when my rheumy tried to prescribe it, I refused. I still have developed osteopenia in spite of not taking prednisone. I also know someone that has been on very high doses for long periods of time for lung disease and her bones are so dense that they couldn¹t do a bone marrow biopsy. I also know someone on high doses for a short period of time that developed severe osteoporosis in his hips. Research shows that there is a link between developing osteopenia when you have RA. One good thing is that in 3 years, my osteopenia has not gotten worse so hopefully it won¹t turn into full blown osteoporosis. I wish they could bottle the good parts of steroids so we could all feel better without worry of cataracts, diabetes, osteoporosis, etc. a > > The choice to take or not take any drug is a balance between known > possible side effects and the benefit of the drug. Not everyone will > experience the side effects you listed. However, prednisone is not > recommended for long-term, high dose use for RA 1) because the side > effects are worse at higher doses and the longer you take it, 2) > because it is not a DMARD and does not slow the progression of the > disease, 3) in many cases relief can be found with DMARDs or a > combination of DMARDs. Prednisone's best use is as a short-term > solution while you are figuring out if someone in fact has RA, and > while you are determining the best course of treatment. > > I was on prednisone for a very short time and at a low dose before I > developed osteopenia. I was 33 at the time and not thrilled that I > was now at even higher risk for early osteoporosis. I wish I would > have taken that side effect more seriously and started calcium > supplements and weight bearing exercises when I started the > prednisone, and maybe I could have prevented the osteopenia. I am > okay with it because I know the alternative was not having prednisone > when it was the best short-term solution we had, and it kept me > working and functioning fairly well. I have not experienced weight > gain from prednisone, but for those that two the side effect brings > other problems with dealing with RA and being overweight, more > stress, harder to exercise, etc. > > The choice is never an easy one, you really have to weight the > positives and the negatives carefully and make the best decision for > your personal situation. > > Jennie > > >> > >> > >> > These are the worst side effects I have been able to find on > prednisone and >> > you have to take a lot of it over a long time to get them. I will > certainly >> > risk these to get the relief I need when things are bad! >> > >> > >> > • acne, >> > • increased hair growth, >> > • thinning of the skin, >> > • cataracts, >> > • glaucoma, >> > • osteoporosis, >> > • roundness of the face, and >> > • changes in behavior. >> > >> > Polly >> > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Jennie, Just so you don¹t beat yourself up about not taking calcium and doing the weight bearing exercises while on prednisone, I have to tell you that I¹ve only been on a steroid dose pack once in my life for severe poison ivy. I learned in nursing school what prednisone does to our body and when my rheumy tried to prescribe it, I refused. I still have developed osteopenia in spite of not taking prednisone. I also know someone that has been on very high doses for long periods of time for lung disease and her bones are so dense that they couldn¹t do a bone marrow biopsy. I also know someone on high doses for a short period of time that developed severe osteoporosis in his hips. Research shows that there is a link between developing osteopenia when you have RA. One good thing is that in 3 years, my osteopenia has not gotten worse so hopefully it won¹t turn into full blown osteoporosis. I wish they could bottle the good parts of steroids so we could all feel better without worry of cataracts, diabetes, osteoporosis, etc. a > > The choice to take or not take any drug is a balance between known > possible side effects and the benefit of the drug. Not everyone will > experience the side effects you listed. However, prednisone is not > recommended for long-term, high dose use for RA 1) because the side > effects are worse at higher doses and the longer you take it, 2) > because it is not a DMARD and does not slow the progression of the > disease, 3) in many cases relief can be found with DMARDs or a > combination of DMARDs. Prednisone's best use is as a short-term > solution while you are figuring out if someone in fact has RA, and > while you are determining the best course of treatment. > > I was on prednisone for a very short time and at a low dose before I > developed osteopenia. I was 33 at the time and not thrilled that I > was now at even higher risk for early osteoporosis. I wish I would > have taken that side effect more seriously and started calcium > supplements and weight bearing exercises when I started the > prednisone, and maybe I could have prevented the osteopenia. I am > okay with it because I know the alternative was not having prednisone > when it was the best short-term solution we had, and it kept me > working and functioning fairly well. I have not experienced weight > gain from prednisone, but for those that two the side effect brings > other problems with dealing with RA and being overweight, more > stress, harder to exercise, etc. > > The choice is never an easy one, you really have to weight the > positives and the negatives carefully and make the best decision for > your personal situation. > > Jennie > > >> > >> > >> > These are the worst side effects I have been able to find on > prednisone and >> > you have to take a lot of it over a long time to get them. I will > certainly >> > risk these to get the relief I need when things are bad! >> > >> > >> > • acne, >> > • increased hair growth, >> > • thinning of the skin, >> > • cataracts, >> > • glaucoma, >> > • osteoporosis, >> > • roundness of the face, and >> > • changes in behavior. >> > >> > Polly >> > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 that is what i was going to ask everyone... i have had troublw with my hair thining really bad... but lately my hair has become thicker.. and i love it... it is probably fromt aking the prednisone since july! wow! i knew there had to be a good side affect!!!! yippee.... ha ha ha rae [ ] Why not prednisone? These are the worst side effects I have been able to find on prednisone and you have to take a lot of it over a long time to get them. I will certainly risk these to get the relief I need when things are bad! • acne, • increased hair growth, • thinning of the skin, • cataracts, • glaucoma, • osteoporosis, • roundness of the face, and • changes in behavior. Polly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 that is what i was going to ask everyone... i have had troublw with my hair thining really bad... but lately my hair has become thicker.. and i love it... it is probably fromt aking the prednisone since july! wow! i knew there had to be a good side affect!!!! yippee.... ha ha ha rae [ ] Why not prednisone? These are the worst side effects I have been able to find on prednisone and you have to take a lot of it over a long time to get them. I will certainly risk these to get the relief I need when things are bad! • acne, • increased hair growth, • thinning of the skin, • cataracts, • glaucoma, • osteoporosis, • roundness of the face, and • changes in behavior. Polly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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