Question about Pred.....

[mussen]

Hi guys,
I have been on and off Pred in the first 5-6 years since I was diagnosed with crohns in 2002. The last couple of times I was on it the pred I had to either up my azathioprine or start on remicade again as well. Last time I took pred it did nothing at all.......
I was wanting to know if anyone has tried taking pred again if it hasn't work in the past with any results?

Thanks

 

[Nyx]

I actually just read that Prednisone and Remicade interact with each other...maybe that was the problem? I've never had it not work, but the only times I've been on it I've only been on Cipro/Flagyl at the same time.

 

[Fog Ducker]

I only have tried it once and all it did was fatten me up and give me bad acne.

 

[Creepy Lurker]

I actually just read that Prednisone and Remicade interact with each other...maybe that was the problem? I've never had it not work, but the only times I've been on it I've only been on Cipro/Flagyl at the same time.

Well, according to https://www.changehealthcare.com/rx_brands/drug_interactions/12643 it's meant to be monitored closely, but not avoided or contraindicated.

I suspect it's because they're both immunosuppressors and would have a cumulative effect.

 

[InkyStinky]

Hi Mussen! Sorry to hear about your struggles with meds.

I have been on and off pred many times over the years, and it still stops my flares. The goal of my current course of pred is to keep my flare-up at bay until my maintence med (6mp) starts working. Currently I'm on 20mg of pred (and 75mg of 6mp) - in the past I'd always been started on 40mg of pred for flares, but my new GI started me at 20mg this time and I was amazed that it worked (I thought I'd need a higher dose) - it virtually stopped my diarrhea and bleeding after just a day or so.

How much pred we you on when you didn't notice any results - do you/your doctor think your dose was high enough?

---------------------------------------------
IBD since 1990 (currently diagnosed as Crohn’s)
Blood clots 12/2009 (DVT and bilateral PE)
Medicines:
Prednisone: 20mg/day (of please let me start tapering soon!)
6MP: 75mg/day
Trazodone: 100mg/night (because pred messes with my sleep)
Warfarin: 12.5mg/day (anticoagulant - because of blood clots)

Ethel: “So, is everything okey-dokey?” Lucy: “No, it’s inky-stinky” ~ from an old I Love Lucy episode.

 

[mussen]

I think I was on 40mg to start with I can't quite remember.....(think all these meds are killing my braincells! )
At the time when the pred didn't work I decided for myself I wasn't going to try them again. It wasn't worth it to me to go through all the side effects and get no results. The next flare up I had my G.P tried to contact my gastro doc but could only get hold of registra, He said to start on pred. I didn't do it cause I had a few things in the next few weeks (family wedding etc)that I wouldn't get to if I was on pred with all the crapy side effects.
When I got to see my Gastro a couple weeks later, He was glad I didn't take the pred. He started me back on remicade, pred has never come up again since. We had a understanding that we weren't going to go there...
I got a new gastro Nov last year.Since things have started to play up in the last month or so, I have been wondering if she will try to get me to take pred and if I am reasonable if I decide not to?

 

[InkyStinky]

.....(think all these meds are killing my braincells! )

:ylol2: Mine, too!

Personally, if I was in doubt that pred would help my symptoms I would talk to my GI about any/all alternatives. This med has so many serious side-effects that it's only worth it to me because of the benefits, and because I'm only on it short-term until the 6mp kicks in.

I'd say that if you make it clear to your new GI that pred didn't work for you last time you took it, then she should be more than willing to explore other options with you. Do you have an appt scheduled?

 

[mussen]

ha ha.......glad I'm not the only one!!!
I have an appointment on the 8th March.
My new GI seems pretty good to talk to so far. Just wondered if I was just presuming that pred wouldn't work the next time I tried it?

 

[soupdragon69]

Hey mussen,

I tried to post yesterday then conveniently wiped it! Grrr LOL

I have been on pred in the past (and now) for asthma, arthritis and crohns. On 2 occasions I ended up on 60mg because 40mg just did nothing for me. On those 2 occasions I really struggled to cope emotionally. Because I literally became a jibbering wreck with tears streaming down my face the first time on 60mg my GP the second time only had me on it for 5 days then reduced to 50mg and down to 40mg across the following 2wks. After that it was 5mg increments until off them. I just about managed to cope with the 5 days at 60mg. IV steroids will also have the same effect on me because it is higher dose. My GP at that time told me it was now recognised that pred can cause depression! I do still get a bit "low" when reducing too. I also think its partly due to everything I have been through up to that point with that episode and things are resolving finally so its a bit of an emotional release too if that makes any sense?

Since those 2 occasions I have had 40mg several times. I find it depends on how bad I am as to the effect and how long it takes to impact. Normally I find they "kick in" around 48hrs after 1st dose. Sometimes if its my asthma for instance I only need 5 days at 40mg. With my crohns flare we tried the 5 day plan and it just didnt work. So I am now on 40mg for the next 2wks and starting to pick up a bit. After that I reduce by 5mg a week as I feel able to.

I also think that our absorption issues have an impact at times as many meds I have to have generally higher doses of for it to do what its supposed to. Tramadol for instance has a side effect of constipation and it has no effect whatsoever on me. Thyroxine is at 200mcg a day which is quite high.

Personally I think it is down to the circumstances at the time and these vary even in the individual as shown by my comments above.

Does that help any??

 

[Astra]

hiya Jan
I'm new to Pred and it has been the best thing for me! But.....
bit worried now about the tapering off cos....
I was on 40mg for 4 weeks and a complete wreck! Jittery and whizzing, you've prob read about all that ages ago!
Now on 30mg this week, taper down then each week by 5mg, see consultant on 8th April to see how it went
someone on here warned me about depression, I don't feel depressed as such, but very fatigued! really hit the deck this week, after bombing it about for a month! but sleeping ok at the mo.
will I get depressed? what shall I look out for? is this common with Pred?
thanks for any advice
Joan
xx

 

[soupdragon69]

Joan,

Fatigue is very common with decreasing pred. Depression is just another POSSIBLE side effect and not everyone suffers with it. I only get it on very high doses like 60mg. Other than that I am fine for instance.

Glad you are doing ok otherwise and hope that GI of yours sorts things out overall for you.

Generally the aim of pred is to reduce inflammation and it can also be fairly normal to have little sort of spikes of temperature fluctuation as you reduce. My main thought though would be to watch for any of the symptoms you had before you started pred and moreso if they last for say more than a couple of days. Could mean things are starting to flare again and you need further review as an example.

Others may have some thoughts also.

Hope you continue to do ok honey.

 

[mussen]

Thanks Jan,
Sounds like you have a rough time with it!
Pred really affects my mood when I'm on it, feels like I have black clouds hanging over me,and it messes with my head. I also get nausea and weight gain, sleep problems etc. I get the side effects within a day or two of starting on it and the don't do away unless I'm pretty much off it completely.
Thats why I kinda came to the conclusion I wasn't going to bother with it anymore, especially if I have to be on high doses of pred (Usually have ended up on 40 or 60mg in the past)and take a couple of months to taper off with no results!

 

[soupdragon69]

Totally understand where you are coming from Mussen on this and why you have come to conclusion you have!

Looking forward to seeing you around more. Keep posting!

((hugs))

 

[Astra]

Thanks Jan for your help
feel really groggy this morning like I'm getting a cold?
but I'll watch for the signs and rest
Joan x

 

[soupdragon69]

Joan,

I will happily ramble on in general. If I can help in any way just PM or post. The rest will do the same.

Hope you are feeling a bit better!