Anyone here ever go on a maintenance dose of prednisone?

[hedgehog]

I'm really considering asking my rheumatologist about this because my energy level is in the pits. I've only been on prednisone once, and I ended up losing weight, so I'm not worried about that side effect at least!!

[NightWatcher]

1. I was on it for a year

I started on mega doses in the hospital, but stepped down to zero and have been off it for almost two weeks now. I'm feelin pretty good. I'm on plaquenil and methotrexate right now and can't complain

[Warpy]

2. I've been on 5 a day for 22 years

I didn't gain weight, either, until I turned 50. Some people are ravenous all the time and others find out the weight sneaks up on them. You do have to be vigilant about diet.

If you can tolerate every other day dosing, you'll be able to dodge a lot of the worst side effects. I can go 32 hours but no more, I start dragging booty and feel like I have a bad case of the flu if I try, so it's every day for me.

Prednisone is an ugly, ugly drug. It's better than being in a wheelchair or being dead, my only other alternatives when I started a maintenance dose.

[libodem]

3. My ex had Lupus

He did very well when he was on an every other day dosage. The Dr explained how the off day gave your body a chance to make it's own steroids and not totally shut down production. Your adrenaline glands turn off if they have an outside source. That is why the taper is so important. That is one cold turkey that can kill you. Serious drug.

I'm one whom can barely tolerate it.

[Warpy]

4. I had a tough time until I got used to it.

I can always tell when I spaced my pill that morning, by dinnertime I'm a ball of agonizing pain.

[libodem]

5. .

Empathy vibes. Managing pain is full time job. You have to be your own nurse. And even then one forgets to be on top of it all, and then you pay. I take a pain pill three times per day. I hate it when I become aware I missed my dose, because I start hurting. It is too late then to really get back under control. I do best not letting it start or break through my threshold, if I can help it.

[applegrove]

6. I waitressed at the time a emergency room doctor put me on prednisone. My boss at work

was really confused because I was all of a sudden a much faster waitress. Made me more aggressive. I was only on it for a few weeks though.

[Nite Owl]

7. Started about 5yrs ago

at about 20mg. It was slowly brought down to a level that the pain could be bearable. I'm down to 3mg but up the dose when I need to do a physically trying project like painting or yard work. It's a terrible drug, I've gained about 30lbs (the gabipenten doesn't help with weight either). My bone scans are ok but I bruise easily and am borderline diabetic. I take methotrexate with the prednisone which is a huge help.