topic Re: Any advice to avoid side effects when taking prednisone? in Wellness

Any advice to avoid side effects when taking prednisone?

LTT1 — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 15:34:26 GMT

I would love to know if anybody has found supplements or foods that help to counteract swelling from taking prednisone? TIA!!

Re: Any advice to avoid side effects when taking prednisone?

1jenniferjuniper — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 16:01:11 GMT

limit salt

Re: Any advice to avoid side effects when taking prednisone?

sydsgma1 — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 18:48:13 GMT

When I take it..a burst and taper for ra, it reduces my swelling...but my dr did advise me to drink lots of water . I am fortunate not to have any side effects,

Re: Any advice to avoid side effects when taking prednisone?

LTT1 — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 22:08:51 GMT

@sydsgma1

@1jenniferjuniper

thanks to you both for your suggestions!

Re: Any advice to avoid side effects when taking prednisone?

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 23:32:26 GMT

@LTT1 wrote:
I would love to know if anybody has found supplements or foods that help to counteract swelling from taking prednisone? TIA!!

Are you taking it occasionally ... on on an ongoing basis?

Re: Any advice to avoid side effects when taking prednisone?

Snowpuppy — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 04:42:44 GMT

Take as low dose of Pred as you need to control symptoms. My dr will give it to me in 1mg dosing so I can adjust and taper but I don't take more than 5-10mg for an auto immune disorder when it flares.

Pred interferes with blood sugar. For water weight, try a good Vit B Complex in a veggie cap early in the day with water. Vit B is a great way to make you tinkle plus give you some energy. Don't take it later than early afternoon, can keep you awake at night.

Re: Any advice to avoid side effects when taking prednisone?

sfnative — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 06:15:14 GMT

Loves,

Number of mgs and # of doses per day and for what period of time has it been prescribed? It would really help to have this information.

~Rebecca

Re: Any advice to avoid side effects when taking prednisone?

Elliot Grace — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:56:30 GMT

For long-term therapy- high protein, calcium and potassium intake. Low sodium and carbs.

Re: Any advice to avoid side effects when taking prednisone?

Gooday — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:20:51 GMT

@Snowpuppy wrote:
Take as low dose of Pred as you need to control symptoms. My dr will give it to me in 1mg dosing so I can adjust and taper but I don't take more than 5-10mg for an auto immune disorder when it flares.

Pred interferes with blood sugar. For water weight, try a good Vit B Complex in a veggie cap early in the day with water. Vit B is a great way to make you tinkle plus give you some energy. Don't take it later than early afternoon, can keep you awake at night.

You are right on about the blood sugar! DH takes 2mg. per day as part of a regimen of anti rejection medications for a kidney transplant. The prednisone and the Cellcept both raised his blood sugar. He is on 2 oral medications for that as well as a weekly injectio of Bydurien (sp).

If it's short term, deal with it as it's only temporary.

Re: Any advice to avoid side effects when taking prednisone?

neala — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 17:34:41 GMT

I've taken it sometimes for arthritis. Agree w drinking lots of water & limit salt but I never had side effects.

Re: Any advice to avoid side effects when taking prednisone?

LilacTree — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 18:44:52 GMT

I've been on low dose prednisone for rheumatoid arthritis for over ten years. Right now my dosage is 6 mg per day. I never got the swollen "moon" face even when I was taking higher amounts. One thing I have always done is avoid any salt and I drink a lot of water. I don't eat salty prepared foods either. I never drink sodas of any kind.

However, let me just warn you that these physical symptoms are not the worst things that prednisone does to an individual. It has completely destroyed my back and spine to the extent that I have 10 or 11 vertebral compressions, have had to have kyphoplasty surgery on two of them. That, of course, is because it intensified the osteoporosis I already had, and will start osteoporosis in someone who never had it. I am in pain from my back issues every single day. I mean every day, there is never a day I do not have pain.

I also have growths all over my body, all over itching for weeks at a time, various other rashes, and it affects the liver and other bodily organs. And it's extremely difficult to wean off. 6 mgs is the lowest I can go without getting Mack Truck RA pain. It's because of these side effects that my advice would be to take it as a last resort.

You don't see these things right away. Prednisone is a deceiving med in that it relieves the pain so quickly and one thinks it's a miracle . . . but down the road, after years, is a different story.