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Thursday, October, 29, 2009

Prednisone Use For Long Term Flare In Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Prednisone, the Dirty Little Secret, Becomes More Respectable

By Mark Borigini, M.D. Health Expert
Many rheumatologists at least verbalize a reluctance to use “cortisone”-like drugs such as prednisone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; but many, if not most, rheumatologists do use prednisone. Prednisone, even in low dosages, can cause high blood sugar, cardiovascular disease, weight gain, and osteoporosis. And prednisone may also contribute to increased infection risk, hypertension, depression, cataracts, and peptic ulcer disease.

But prednisone is an excellent anti-inflammatory... Read more »

Expert & Community Posts

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Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Ten Years Later
By Cathee McKeown , Health Expert

...help. That is the irony of it all. During my worst flares the only thing that would get me... Read more »

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Steroids Get a Boost from New Research
By Christine Miller , Health Expert

...prednisone for me several times when I had acute flares. I remember I took it for no more than... Read more »

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Better Living Through Chemistry
By Lene Andersen , Health Expert

...that the meds I was taking were low on the ladder of rheumatoid arthritis treatment, so perhaps... Read more »

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A New Drug May Protect Bones in People With Rheumatoid Arthritis
By Mark Borigini, M.D. , Health Expert

...are taking or have taken corticosteroids such as prednisone at some point in the course of their... Read more »

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Which Biologic Agent Will Become the Standard Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
By Mark Borigini, M.D. , Health Expert

...that the standard of care when it comes to treating rheumatoid arthritis in is: If a rheumatoid... Read more »

Health Guide

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Medications
...effective when used in combination with methotrexate.Side effects include gum disease, hair growth, and flare-ups in the joints, but they are usually manageable. There has been some concern over... Read more »
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Treatment for Severe SLE
...intravenous administration of methylprednisolone using "pulse" therapy for 3 days is proving useful for flare-ups in the joints. Combinations with other drugs, particularly immunosuppressants, may... Read more »
Rheumatoid Arthritis: The "Loser" Disease
...comment! Read all of Sara's Posts Visit The Single Gal's Guide to Read more »
Dating With Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain comic
...Buy My RA a Drink? and leave a comment! See all of Sara's comics Visit the Single Gal's Guide to Rheumatoid Arthritis   Read more »
Surviving A Rheumatoid Arthritis Flare
...all of Sara's Posts Visit the Single Gal's Guide to Rheumatoid Arthritis Read more »

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