About eighteen months ago my rheumy gave me a pack of Prednisolone for "when the pain gets too bad". I've resisted them up to now, but this latest cold spell has done me in and I want to feel better for Christmas, so I've dug out the steroids. However, when he gave them to me I was only taking the sulfasalazine. Since then he's added MTX to the cocktail. My question is, is it okay to take the Prednisolone as well as the MTX and Sulfa. I know I can call my doctor and check, but I'm sure someone on here knows the answer

Anthea x

Hi Anthea - PLEASE DONT TAKE THEM LIKE THIS. As Jenni and Jean say - it can be extremely dangerous - not only physically but psychologically too. You can take anti-inflammatories like this but not steroids like Prednisolone.

I was taking MTX and Sulpha and Naproxyn and was given a month's supply but only 5mg per day. I just cannot understand why the doctor has given you a week's supply. I was under the impression that steroids didn't work like that and even if you did take 10mg tabs for a week you would need at least another week to gradually reduce the dose. If you have already taken a tab today, please get in touch with your GP to see what you should do now.

Julie

Hi ya Anthea
long time no catch up.
ohh no i had pred before i started mtx was at 10 mgand they made huge mistake taking me off it not reducing it i flared ig time.
my aunt had it reduced 1mg at time much better.
glad u asked im hun.

u enjoy xmas hope it brings u some rleif why only 1 week with christmas not enough till new year sill doc.
hugs inkyo7

I have 'phoned my gp and have to call back later today for an answer, but meanwhile NRAS were quick on the case and I've had this response from them:

It would be wise to check to check with a local pharmacist or practice nurse to ensure the correct procedure but Patient UK (http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Steroid-Tablets.htm ) does have a statement about this which suggests that if you are only taking this dosage for a week then you do not need to gradually reduce them

Stopping steroid tablets

Do not stop steroid tablets suddenly if you have been taking them for more than three weeks.

It probably does no harm to forget the odd tablet. However, you may get serious withdrawal effects once your body is used to the steroids. These may develop within a few days if you stop steroid tablets suddenly. Any change in dose should be supervised by a doctor. Any reductions in dose are done slowly, over a number of weeks.

Why is it necessary to gradually reduce the dose before stopping steroid tablets?

Your body normally makes steroid chemicals by itself which are necessary to be healthy. When you take steroid tablets for a few weeks or more, your body may reduce or stop making its own steroid chemicals. If you then stop taking steroid tablets suddenly, your body does not have any steroids. This can cause various 'withdrawal' symptoms until your body resumes making natural steroids over a few weeks. The withdrawal symptoms can be serious, even life-threatening and include: weakness, tiredness, feeling sick, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, low blood sugar, and low blood pressure which can cause dizziness, fainting or collapse.

If the dose is reduced gradually, the body gradually resumes its natural production of steroids and the withdrawal symptoms do not occur.
Added later:
My doctor's surgery has just called back and told me it's fine to stop suddenly after a week, and would have been even if the dose had been a lot higher. He did say though that if I was on them longer than a week then yes, I would have to wean off of them.
So it looks as though I'll be okay to just take them for a week and then stop. Thank you everybody for your concern and advice, I do appreciate it.
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Sorry for the panic Anthea . I've never known anyone take them like this before. I hope they help you out.

Julie

Good to know anthea thanks for posting the info shall know for future ref.
t care of you lv melly