Karin
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Post by Karin on Apr 10, 2014 12:05:31 GMT -5
A couple of days back I've been prescribed prednisone again, because of multiple inflammations. I was relieved I wasn't put on antibiotics, because they do so much damage to my gut, but how harmful is prednisone? I know I've got some side effects (constantly hungry and mood swings). Should I take extra precautions? Take extra vitamins, supplements?
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e3
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Post by e3 on Apr 10, 2014 15:12:18 GMT -5
Sarah writes about this in her book...she thinks they are counter-productive, do you have her book?
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Post by EJ on Apr 10, 2014 17:39:09 GMT -5
Prednisone stinks. It's an immunosuppressant and can easily cause dependency (among its many other side effects). I don't have Sarah's book yet, but I'm interested to hear what others suggest to mitigate the harm from steroids.
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Post by TamarE on Apr 10, 2014 21:01:55 GMT -5
I'm on prednisone now (for Crohn's flare). Started at 50 mg daily, down to 25 mg, continuing to taper slowly each week. Sure, it's not that great for you but sometimes it's needed. Sarah took prednisone for her burn several weeks ago. She will be writing a post to discuss how she took care of herself while on prednisone and antibiotics. Karin not sure what advice to give regarding supplements and vitamins. I know it tastes GROSS. For such a tiny pill, it has a bad taste. I chase my pills with green smoothie.
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Karin
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Post by Karin on Apr 11, 2014 1:53:51 GMT -5
Thanks everyone. I do indeed have Sarahs book, but I didn't get to the part about steroids yet. There's so much information in it and I just need to take the time to let it sink in. I totally agree about the taste. It's unbelievable how such a tiny pill can be so nasty!
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e3
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Post by e3 on Apr 11, 2014 5:16:12 GMT -5
Skip ahead in the book to page 167. I found it helpful information. While I was on prednisone I wasn't doing AIP and didn't know near as much info about diet and lifestyle as I do now. I think if I had been following AIP then the effects wouldnt have been as bad. I would just say stick as much to diet as possible and try as hard as you can to get proper sleep and exercise and I think the side effects could be minimised. I look forward to seeing what Sarah writes in her post about it. Make sure you have loads of AIP friendly foods around. For me my hunger was insatiable and I gained loads of weight. If I had to take the steroids again I would stick to AIP...probably eat more and gain weight...but not worry about it because it all comes off when you stop taking the drugs.
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Post by TamarE on Apr 11, 2014 6:53:30 GMT -5
... try as hard as you can to get proper sleep ... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk For me, sleep really suffers when I take prednisone.
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Karin
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Post by Karin on Apr 11, 2014 11:08:12 GMT -5
Just last night I was wondering if insomnia could be one of the side effects of the prednisone as well. Obviously so. I'm usually a very good sleeper, staying awake at night is highly unusual for me.
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Post by TamarE on Apr 11, 2014 19:18:58 GMT -5
Just last night I was wondering if insomnia could be one of the side effects of the prednisone as well. Obviously so. I'm usually a very good sleeper, staying awake at night is highly unusual for me. Yes for sure! How many mg are you taking per day?
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e3
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Post by e3 on Apr 12, 2014 1:39:08 GMT -5
Yes that's why I said try...it's very difficult to get the good sleep you need on this drug Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Karin
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Post by Karin on Apr 12, 2014 5:03:58 GMT -5
Just last night I was wondering if insomnia could be one of the side effects of the prednisone as well. Obviously so. I'm usually a very good sleeper, staying awake at night is highly unusual for me. Yes for sure! How many mg are you taking per day? 30 mg Today's my last day and I sure am glad to take that last pill.
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Mary
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Post by Mary on Apr 12, 2014 9:03:04 GMT -5
Just thought I'd chime in since I've been on Prednisone since June 2013. I hate to be on it, but agree with Tamar -- sometimes it is necessary. I started on it when I was in my first (and very acute) rheumatoid arthritis flare. I've been following AIP since Nov 2013, and I do think AIP helped minimize the size effects for me. I've slowly lost weight (not gained). At my last appointment, my rheumatologist told me that she thought I wasn't having any side effects from the Prednisone and that I was doing very well considering how severe my RA is. (Nice to hear, because at times I've felt like the diet wasn't helping my RA, and I would have loved to be off Prednisone long ago.) I found that once I got down to 10 mg of Prednisone (I was at 40 mg, now I'm on 5 mg, and still weaning down as I tolerate) I was able to sleep a lot better.
I think all the things we are doing on AIP to heal the gut help with reducing the harm that Prednisone does to the gut.
Happy for you, Karin, that you'll be off it soon!
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Post by TamarE on Apr 12, 2014 13:36:24 GMT -5
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Post by gutsybynature on Apr 12, 2014 14:00:11 GMT -5
Tamar - Hope the prednisone gets you feeling better quickly! I too always find my sleep suffers greatly when I am on it. Any tips you have for dealing for that would certainly be appreciated.
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Post by TamarE on Apr 12, 2014 21:18:01 GMT -5
Tamar - Hope the prednisone gets you feeling better quickly! I too always find my sleep suffers greatly when I am on it. Any tips you have for dealing for that would certainly be appreciated. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I just try to take it as early in the morning as I can. As soon as I wake up. But even then I'm still up late. I have a prescription for Ambien but I've been too afraid to take it. Afraid I might sleepwalk or something strange like that...
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