prednisone

[Sclark08]

My PCP put me on a course of treatment of 10 mg prednisone 4 a day for 3 days then 3 a day for 3 days then 2 a day for 3 days then 1 a day for 3 days and see what happens with my severe sciatica flare.

Strangest thing though my sleep apnea events have all but been eliminated!! 0.00 first night 0.64 second night 0,03 third no obstructives at all just hyps and occasional ca. I also have COPD. I am wonderinf if the drug is relieving the in flammation caused by the COPD or what? My Sciatica and arthritis in general feel wonderful. No insomnia either. I know pred is not good and can cause long term effects but I sure feel good right now!!

[Thewino]

Hello Sclark,

Thinking it through, I would have to come to the same conclusion that you have reached. The anti-inflammatory properties of this medication have provided multiple benefits for you. That's great.

If it eases your mind at all: It would be unusual for an eighteen day step-down dose of this medication to cause any long-term side effects.

The long term side effects usually crop up from long term usage.

I'm happy that you have found some sciatica relief. I've heard that this can turn out to be really painful.

Be well,
TheWino

[Sclark08]

Thanks Wino!

[JDS74]

Pain, even relatively low levels can have adverse effects on sleep apneas. So it is likely that the reduction in pain is contributing to your better results.


Sounds like great news

[BleepingBeauty]

My PCP put me on a course of treatment of 10 mg prednisone 4 a day for 3 days then 3 a day for 3 days then 2 a day for 3 days then 1 a day for 3 days and see what happens with my severe sciatica flare.

Strangest thing though my sleep apnea events have all but been eliminated!! 0.00 first night 0.64 second night 0,03 third no obstructives at all just hyps and occasional ca. I also have COPD. I am wonderinf if the drug is relieving the in flammation caused by the COPD or what? My Sciatica and arthritis in general feel wonderful. No insomnia either. I know pred is not good and can cause long term effects but I sure feel good right now!!

Congrats on your good results so far. I was also on Prednisone recently (for a month), and I'm still dealing with some of the side effects more than a month after I stopped taking it. (The nurses told me that it might take several months to be rid of them all. Ugh.)

I'm glad it did what it needed to while I was on it, but I'm ready to lose the side effects now. Hope you have a better time of it, Sclark.

[BlackSpinner]

You are so lucky!
For me "feel good" and " prednisone" never occurred together within the same week.

The terms "zombie", "nausea" and "massive headache" were the mantra of that time (Along OMG I have to pack and OMG it is -30c outside)

[archangle]

Predisone and related compounds are true miracle drugs for some. Serious, magic, gift from God type of stuff. Like the leper being touched by Jesus.

Unfortunately, they have side effects and need to be used with caution. Double especially for long term use.

Be especially diligent about the tapering off process where you don't stop all at once and slowly taper off. Some of the most dangerous side effects come from that.

Long term use usually has some major side effects as well.

[deerslayer]

[quote="archangle"]Predisone and related compounds are true miracle drugs for some. Serious, magic, gift from God type of stuff. Like the leper being touched by Jesus.

Unfortunately, they have side effects and need to be used with caution. Double especially for long term use.

Be especially diligent about the tapering off process where you don't stop all at once and slowly taper off. Some of the most dangerous side effects come from that.

Long term use usually has some major side effects as well.[/qu

Absolutely ! Follow those dosage instructions to the letter !!
Since my RA Flares have not occurred for years , i have been able to cope with methotrexate alone. My Wife however, because of an ankle issue was prescribed the prednesone pack & with it a new found zest & energy....Amazing what adrenaline will do , i'm jealous....in a way that is that is serious crap, upside & down !

[Janknitz]

I have had that same great relief from prednisone, but . . .

On the last day of the taper or the day after, I turn into a CRAZY woman . It's not nice at all.

Last time was truly, truly scary. I plan to avoid oral prednisone if at all possible from now on.

[Sclark08]

I sure do appreciate all the posts and experiences. Trust me I am a former pharmacy student and well aware of prednisone but never had personal experience before now .
I will stop when RX runs out . It sure is nice not to have pain and inflammation of COPD. It's almost like I feel like I used to. I know it's only for short time! Thanks again all!

[msla]

I have had a cold and the miseries since the 11th of July. 10 days ago my knees, ankles, Achilles tendons and elbows became swollen and tender along with a chronic sinus issue. I went to a Now care and inflammation was confirmed, no rheumatoid arthritis (yea). I dot a six day taper of 4 mg prednisone and a 10 day course of antibiotics for the sinus. Both worked except one knee was so inflamed while on a trip (I could not bend it to get into the car without much pain), I had to call from the other side of the state to have Dr. fax a prescription over. I am now doing a 20 mg 2x a day for 5 days and noticed an improvement immediately. We were with a dentist who has had some experience with prednisone and he mentioned that he had experienced some sleep issues if his last dose was taken too near bed time. Just something to think about if you get the same side effect. Also, he told me that short term use, i.e. 14 days, should not cause enough disruption of the adrenal glands to worry about a taper. I'll see, I have a follow up with primary Dr. later this week.

Man, I hate summer colds

[archangle]

Also, he told me that short term use, i.e. 14 days, should not cause enough disruption of the adrenal glands to worry about a taper. I'll see, I have a follow up with primary Dr. later this week.

The idea that short term use doesn't cause problems is the standard answer, but I think that's not as certain as the doctors assume it is. The problems may be less, but they're not completely absent. There can be problems even with the proper taper.

Many doctors are too quick to dismiss the idea of side effects from many drugs.

BTW, I'm not completely against prednisone. It's like using power tools. Very useful, but you need to be vigilant about the risks.

Sometimes, the chainsaw is the right tool. Just be careful.

[msla]

Also, he told me that short term use, i.e. 14 days, should not cause enough disruption of the adrenal glands to worry about a taper. I'll see, I have a follow up with primary Dr. later this week.

The idea that short term use doesn't cause problems is the standard answer, but I think that's not as certain as the doctors assume it is. The problems may be less, but they're not completely absent. There can be problems even with the proper taper.

Many doctors are too quick to dismiss the idea of side effects from many drugs.

BTW, I'm not completely against prednisone. It's like using power tools. Very useful, but you need to be vigilant about the risks.

Sometimes, the chainsaw is the right tool. Just be careful.

Agreed.

[Sclark08]

If you have ever experienced Sciatica you would be willing to take just about ANYTHING to make that kind of pain go away.
As you get older (I am 64) quality of life takes on different views at different times. My arthritis bad back will never be corrected. I do the best I can with diet exercise etc and sometimes that is just not enough.
Meds today are wonderful but not without challenges . There are times when pain is an accepted fact and times when you need to try to feel better just to see if you can. It's nice when you find one of those times. Best of luck!

[msla]

As a builder, I know that there are times when a twenty pound sledge hammer is needed and others when a finish hammer is appropriate. Gotta use the right tool.