drug side effects

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Kat, I really thought that I answered this message, but can't find it, so I guess I was thinking about it but never actually did it! Anyway, just a reminder that all drugs have a long list of possible side effects, but different people respond in different ways. I know some folks on this list have become very immunocompromised on Imuran & had to stop it, while others have done fine. I took it for 2 years, with absolutely no problems. My white cell count stayed low normal or higher & the only infection I had in two years was from a cat bite, which would have likely happened anyway. I was taking Pred at the same time, so I would have been surprised if it didn't get infected. Antibiotics cleared it right up. I didn't have anything more than a minor cold while taking it & didn't even get any yeast infections, which I had been prone to for years! I was expecting one after the cat bite, but nope.

So I would recommend that you look carefully at the side effects, compare that with the short & long term side effects of Prednisone, and then make a decision. Two years on Pred had my b/p dangerously high (on 4 meds), on the brink of diabetes, very short of breath from the weight gain, and cataracts. I was actually happy about the cataracts as I'd been legally blind since childhood & after the cataract surgeries I could see fine without glasses or contacts! I was fortunate to not experience the severe mood swings & psychosis that Pred induces in many people. The Pred wrecked my teeth & I'm still having problems with them; my bone density dropped quite a bit, but because it was excellent to start with, stayed in the normal range. Off the Pred, my b/p came under control, blood sugars stabilized & eventually I lost 60 of the 90# I'd gained. So if you can take something that enables you to at least minimize the amount of Pred, you may decide it's worth a try.

Ramblin' RoseModerator A merry heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

To: Neurosarcoidosis From: katskreations1@...Date: Sat, 18 Sep 2010 10:38:01 -0400Subject: Re: Roll Call, please.............

Hello,

I am doing okay. Hanging in there. Trying to get off the prednisone but everytime I get to a point of reducing between 13 to 18 mg of prednisone my eye vision for close acts up and I have to go back up. They want to put me on Imuran but I see the side effects of that are worse most especially since I have a job where I am the only employee and need to be at work every single day as I do not have a back up.

I have had to learn to pace myself and rest at home in order to ensure I am at work every day so you learn to give up a lot of things.

I am just grateful to all the people that helped me get back on my feet.

Kat