What dosage or mg do you take a day?

I take 5 mg of the med every day and have been doing this since May. I take and extra 5 mg when I know I am going to have to do more than usual like going on a trip or going to have to do more than usual. My rheumy said to do this and it would be okay but I have heard others says you can't do this.

What dosage do you take and how long have you been taking it?

Does it work for you and are you on any other meds along with it?

I also take Methotrexate shots every week.

Stinker

I've been on 5 mg a day since March, sometimes take an extra one if I have important stuff going on. Am waiting for Orencia to kick in (in a couple of months). I just had my initial dose last week. Then I should be going off the pred. My rheumi says the pred only masks the symptoms. It works though.

My doctor suggests 5 a day but I am sceptical.

Hello, I was first put on predison 8 years ago. I was taking 20 mg. After a year or two, she took me off predisone and replaced it to mobic. Now, I am back on predisone and have been taking 10mg for the past year.

Swollow it fast....it taste like crappy!

I take between 5 to 10 mgs a day for the past 6 months or more. It does help with the swelling but not all the time. I started MTX almost 4 months ago and it hasn't really done anything yet. My doctor said I will have to add Enbrel (or another drug) to the MTX if it doesn't start working soon.

I'm looking forward to the day when I don't have to take Prednisone anymore. I've gained a little weight and my cheeks are puffy! (Good ol' vanity!) :)

Hope you are having a good week!
Wendysj

Hi Wendy,\

I know that Prednisone and any steroid is a miracle drug. Yes it can manage minor and major flares but make sure you are informed about long-term use of steroids such as prednisone.

I refuse to take prednisone orally because it affected me mentally - I became somewhat manic - laughing uncontrollably happy sometimes and then suddenly a raging angry beeeotch! I also experienced the typical moonface ( and I have a driver's license photo to remember it by!;-} and weightgain. It made me huuuuunnnnnnnnggggggrrrrryyyyeeeeee! It has been probably 13 yrs since I have taken prednisone orally. I was taking anywhere from 15mg-40mgs. Never again! It was scary to feel so out of control.

I occasionally will get cortisone injections in my super-flared joints. Most recently my knee with very good results. I seem to get an overall 'good feeling' the day after the injection and much more energy with full mobility in 3-5 days. I still have some swelling in the knee. But it is minor compared to what it was (I couldn't walk - it was as large as a bowling ball - couldn't bend or put weight on it - arggghh).

I have also had cortisone in IV form for a full body flare in my first year of diagnosis. The drug infused was called Solumedrol (spelling?). I was in so much pain everywhere. The weight of the bed sheet on my body hurt - my jaw, ribs, everywhere was in pain. I couldn't do anything for myself. My doc checked me into hospital where I received the IV and literally 3 hours later I was walking/jumping/running down the hall of the hospital. I felt like I could do gymnastics.

Moral of my story is...beware of this powerful drug. It may also harm your bones with long-term use. I wish you luck with MTX/enbrel combo - it helped me go into a remission after about 2 yrs of use.

ive been on pred for over two years no, started at 20mg a day for almost a year am now on 7.5 mg aday because they are worried about my bones and getting brittle bone, so i have to take something else for that. its so annoying, u take one type of medication and then u have to take another just to deal with the side effects and then another to deal with those side effects. i swear i shud rattle when i walk. xx

I was on 40mg to begin with and have slowly worked down to 5mg once a day. I don't know about you but have found out I have put on a lot weight since I started using it. Lois