I went to see my rheum and she put me on methotrexate and prednisone and I was just wondering if anyone else is taking these kinds of meds or have taking them in the past and if there is anything I should know about them. I just started 2 days ago but I cant take the methotrexate yet because I am sick and she wants me to get better first. I feel alittle better already just with the prednisone and I wonder why that is. I have been hurting so bad these last 6 months its hard to go that long having R.A and not being treated for it. I up intil yesterday stoped doing everything I once enjoyed I just laid around in bed almost all day and I cant wait to enjoy life once again.


8 Tips for Coping with Lupus
10 Ways Lupus Affects the Body
Conditions That Mimic Rheumatoid Arthritis
5 Tips for Exercising with Lupus
Prednisone can make pain feel better for a while. It has side effects such as upset stomach, trouble sleeping(take in am), and over long term use may cause much weight gain and lots of other trouble. Methotrexate works on some but I am a patient who cannnot tolerate it. After three days I was so dizzy and sick I could not get out of bed and the bed would not quit spinning. My hair fell out too . This reaction means stop taking it right away. Hopefully that won't happen to you.......meds affect everyone differently. Start researching biologics and other meds. Prednisone should only be for a short term...........I personally adore the biologics but you need to discuss with your Doc. Hang in there.
Thankyou so much the info helped alot so if I start to see stuff like what happened to you then I know to stop taking it and call my doctor. She has a follow up appointment to see how I am doing with the meds but all the info I can get really helps!
Hi Alice-
I was on prednisone for 18 months, after I had my son. It allowed me to breastfeed and function (my RA went into remission during pregnancy and came back with a vengeance afterwards). When I finished breastfeeding, I also went on methotrexate and slowly weaned off of the prednisone. I am now only on methotrexate (for almost a year). The prednisone caused puffy weight gain (about 10-15 pounds or so), made me ravenous, and slightly elevated my blood pressure. The methotrexate has definitely thinned my hair a little which I'm not thrilled about but it's not noticeable to others (if it was, I'd be off of it right away!). My skin is also ridiculously dry but my rheumatologist says that's the disease not the meds. She also wants me to keep coming down off of the methotrexate and start Plaquenil. Not so sure about that b/c I've been so successful with the methotrexate. Hope it works for you. My suggestion would be to get off the prednisone as soon as you can. I call it the devil b/c it makes you pain free pretty quickly but there's always a price to pay (there can be some nasty side effects). Good luck to you!
you are so right!
I also wanted to mention that I do have minor side effects from the methotrexate. I take seven 2.5mg pills on Monday nights... and my family calls the next day "medicine Tuesday." I am incrediby fatigued (moreso than the usual RA fatigue so it's pretty bad) and have diarrhea in the am for a couple of hours. Then I'm fine. If I didn't work at home, I'd definitely have to switch the day to a weekend b/c I couldn't go into an office like that. But I've been noticing a lessening on the stomach issues lately. Hope you're doing well!
will 5mg of prednisone taken long term have a bad effect on the body