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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 331 Location: South London
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I am currently taking Hydroxc along with steriods. My previous consultant gave me a hard time about taking steriods over a long period. I am now down to 5mg and am worried about still being on them. my new consultant doesnt think that its that I take much to worry about side effects. Anyway so my choice is either to come down slowly 1mg at a time and then wean off the steriods and move over to sulphazine. however my liver did not like methotextrate one little bit and now unsure if I should swap over to sulphazine from steriods...... My consultant thinks I will need more than the hydroxyc, so its one of the other 2. Surely I cant stay on steriods for ever? Talk about being between a rock and a hard place... Any thoughts.... 
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi I have been on prednisolone of various doses for over 20 years and am currently on a 3mg dose. In the last few years I have had to have the lenses in both eyes replaced due to steroid damage. Believe me there are good reasons for not using steroid as a long term medication if there are suitable alternatives available! I was told that anything under 5mg was acceptable but still poses a risk of serious side effects. Seems you make your choice and take a chance. RA meds are toxic, goes with the territory, its a case of finding what's right for you. Possibly worth trying the Sulphasalazine with the Hydroxy and see if that gives you a result. Nothing lost and it might just be the answer! Good luck, Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Mari,
I wonder if your consultant would agree to you starting Sulphasalazine before you start cutting down the steroids?
Then when the SLZ kicks in you could start gradually cutting down and hopefully get off them.
Hope whatever you choose to do works for you.
Love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 336
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Hello Mari, it's always difficult to know what to do.I've only had steroids as a depo or in to a joint and the results are so good that I once asked the Rheumy nurse if it was possible to take them all the time and she said that some people do. they do make such an impact on the RA it must be very hard to come off them. It's about quality of life as well isn't it.Glenys.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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Oh Glenys - what a balancing act it all is. It's sooo difficult weighing up the pros and cons isn't it?
xxxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,740
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Hello Mari sounds like asking for steriods still till suplhazine would be betetr option that way you got soemthing to help till new drug kicks in hope all goes well for you. yes glenys thats what im currently having alongsdie planequil is steriods by injection noly. i prefer that way. take care melly cuddly cats make my world seem so much more fun
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009 Posts: 653 Location: Notts
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It is very difficult, but not impossible, to stop taking steroids. I've been reducing now for 6 months, and have only managed to reduce by 1mg so far. I do worry about the long-term side effects, so I need to keep trying.
Lyn
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 331 Location: South London
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thanks for all your replies. I suppose I like the freedom of steriods as I do not have to be monitored on hydroxy and predislone and so am free from hospital visits Anway I suppose its a small sacrifice I suppose I just have to give old Sulpahzine a chance..... Happy Easter everyone
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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My opinion would be the SLZ, much as I hate to say it as I don't like it much either!
But steroid are dangerous long term and can bring all sorts of problems.
Love,
Amanda
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 561
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Hi Mari, slz was the first drug i took for Ra and i was very happy on it for 9 years then when i started ttc i had to go on steroids and at first you think their great but after a few years they can cause a lot of problems ,i was on them for 5 years and told by my consultant i would probably be on them for life but i hated them in the end , after i had my baby i was put back on slz for 9 months but they did not work and thats when i think a lot of damage was done to my joints, after trying quite a few different drugs that did not work or affected my liver i then started rituximab in november and am due for another course in the next few months ,this is the only drug that has made me feel normal again, so i would say try the slz before the steroids, (been off oral steroids for 2 years now  ), Sophie x
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