Question 1

lost all my doctors this year during the insurance change i am on prednisone 5 mg two tablets a day been taking for 11 days already  i want to stop can you help me tapering how? i have rheumatoid arthritis

Accepted Answer

Tapering Prednisone: there are different ways of doing it, if it were less than 10 days duration, you wouldn't have needed to taper, also depends on other medicines you are taking and whether you were on a higher dosage before. You can just reduce the dose by 1/2 tablet (2.5 mg) a day till done. The question now : how will you manage later on without a doctor? good luck

Question 2

what is the recommended prednisone reccomended for a sever rheumatoid arthritis flare-up?

Accepted Answer

No Magic Dose: Crazy as it sounds, there is no single specific dose.  Your rheumatologist (you should definitely have one if you have ra) will listen to your story to get an idea of the severity, and over time will learn what doses work for you.  I tell my students that I use the force, and they laugh, but i'm kinda serious.

Question 3

i have rheumatoid arthritis and 4 meds have been tried but only prednisone relieves pain, will it also help cartlige?

Accepted Answer

No: There is no good data that Prednisone will prevent joint damage. In addition, its side effect can be severe.

Question 4

any explanation to why i am not feeling relief on 20mg daily prednisone for rheumatoid arthritis or lupus symptoms/pain?

Accepted Answer

Couple: Of possibilities. If this is your regular pain involving multiple joints and not controlled by the dose that usually controls your flares you might need a higher dose of Prednisone along with a different agent- Plaquenil/ Methotrexate for example. If this time the pain is different or involving only a joint or other organs it may be due to a different condition and you will need to see your doc.

Question 5

in treating rheumatoid arthritis, what are the pros/cons of managing it long-term with prednisone vs. dmards? do all dmards increase cancer rates?

Accepted Answer

See details: Prednisone has major side effects far worse than DMARDs and it does not prevent joint damage. There is a very small increase risk of lymphoma with some DMARDs. As a rheumatologist I try to never use prednisone long term.

Question 6

i have rheumatoid arthritis, i take prednisone every 3rd day, leflunomide every day, and tramadohl for pain. everynight around 2-3am, i wake up in terrible pain in my knees and hips. sometimes includes my hand and finger joints. i have to take more tramad

Accepted Answer

The : The other side of these coin, has to do with whether you need additional treatment and whether the future of your disease is been controlled. If you have features of inflammation in your physical exam or in your blood test , or if your have signs in your x rays or MRI that may damage, like erosions . You may be a candidate for biologic therapy and that might lead you to a better control of your disease , and thus less symtoms.

Question 7

dx of rheumatoid arthritis. taking enbrel and occasionally prednisone burst pack. chronic debilitating pain, not even touched by otc meds, or ensaids. please help!!!!!!

Accepted Answer

Sound like: you need to have  a frank discussion with your Rheumatologist1 the treatment of RA has advanced greatly over the past decade. Biological therapy  and combination of various medications usually result in control of pain and joint damage! SPEAK OUT!!

Hope this helps and BE WELL!
Dr Z

Question 8

i'm using plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) 200mg and prednisone 10mg for rheumatoid arthritis, can i take vitamin c while using these medications.

Accepted Answer

Re-evaluate: If you are having fatigue, joint swelling and pain while on Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) and Prednisone you may want to re-evaluate your total treatment. Vitamin c with bioflavanoids together with a high quality curcurmin and boswelia can block histamine and cytokines found elevated in rheumatoid arthritis. It is also helpful to eat foods that are anti-inflammatory,  optimize vit d3, and manage stress skillfully.

Question 9

what would be the best treatment for my rheumatoid arthritis? i am presently taking prednisone, plaquenil, methotrexate shots, and actemra infusions.  as has been the case in the past, i have built up a resistance to the actemra.  in the past i have taken

Accepted Answer

I'm : I'm sorry to read that your RA has been so difficult to control.  It would appear that you have been under the care of a qualified rheumatologist but are one of those now relatively few patients with RA that remains active despite very appropriate therapy.  Based upon what you have already tried, there would appear to be very few additional options.  I think that you doctor's suggestion of Rituximab is very appropriate,  overall, Rituximab is quite safe and has about the same potential risks as other biologic therapies.

Question 10

had a bad flare.doc put me on prednisone cause x-ray showed inflamation.waiting on blood test for rheumatoid arthritis.is it norm to still feel bad?

Accepted Answer

Yes: RA is not diagnosed be a blood test or X- Ray.  The diagnostic criterea include lab as well as the duration of symptoms and the features on your physical examination.  Make sure you are diagnosed by someone with experience in this disease.

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Doctor answers about:

Patient 2 is being treated for rheumatoid arthritis with prednisone how does this change t

A member asked:

Lost all my doctors this year during the insurance change i am on prednisone 5 mg two tablets a day been taking for 11 days already i want to stop can you help me tapering how? i have rheumatoid arthritis

A member asked:

What is the recommended prednisone reccomended for a sever rheumatoid arthritis flare-up?

A member asked:

I have rheumatoid arthritis and 4 meds have been tried but only prednisone relieves pain, will it also help cartlige?

A member asked:

Any explanation to why i am not feeling relief on 20mg daily prednisone for rheumatoid arthritis or lupus symptoms/pain?

A member asked:

In treating rheumatoid arthritis, what are the pros/cons of managing it long-term with prednisone vs. dmards? do all dmards increase cancer rates?

A member asked:

I have rheumatoid arthritis, i take prednisone every 3rd day, leflunomide every day, and tramadohl for pain. everynight around 2-3am, i wake up in terrible pain in my knees and hips. sometimes includes my hand and finger joints. i have to take more tramad

A member asked:

Dx of rheumatoid arthritis. taking enbrel and occasionally prednisone burst pack. chronic debilitating pain, not even touched by otc meds, or ensaids. please help!!!!!!

A member asked:

I'm using plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) 200mg and prednisone 10mg for rheumatoid arthritis, can i take vitamin c while using these medications.

A member asked:

What would be the best treatment for my rheumatoid arthritis? i am presently taking prednisone, plaquenil, methotrexate shots, and actemra infusions. as has been the case in the past, i have built up a resistance to the actemra. in the past i have taken

A member asked:

Had a bad flare.doc put me on prednisone cause x-ray showed inflamation.waiting on blood test for rheumatoid arthritis.is it norm to still feel bad?

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