Any alternatives for Prednisone • Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Top prednisone alternatives and how to switch your Rx
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Substitutes for prednisone.Is There An Alternative To Prednisone?
They have similar effects on the body but differ in their available forms and some of the side effects they cause. Both medications reduce inflammation , and people use them to relieve the symptoms of many health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis RA , lupus , and eczema.
Methylprednisolone and prednisone are both corticosteroids. Corticosteroids can reduce inflammation in the body and relieve related symptoms, such as body pain, swelling, and stiffness. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system. They are a standard treatment for autoimmune conditions, which often cause inflammation in the body. Methylprednisolone and prednisone are both common medications that are similar in price. They can come in branded or generic forms.
As with most drugs, the generic versions cost less but still comprise the same substances. Methylprednisolone is stronger than prednisone:. Prednisone is an oral medication that people take in the form of a tablet, liquid, or concentrated solution. People will take between one and four doses a day depending on the medical condition and the effectiveness of the treatment.
In many cases, a doctor will inject methylprednisolone into either the muscle or vein. However, for certain conditions, such as RA, they may sometimes inject methylprednisolone directly into a joint to reduce inflammation. Being injectable makes methylprednisolone easier than prednisone to provide in large doses.
Both prednisone and methylprednisolone are very strong medications. Doctors will try to use the lowest possible dosage that is effective, so they may increase or decrease the dosage during treatment.
People who stop taking them too quickly may notice side effects, such as:. As methylprednisolone and prednisone are both very potent, they can cause a range of side effects, including:.
The side effects of prednisone can also include losing touch with reality. For this reason, doctors may prescribe methylprednisolone to someone with a risk of mental health conditions instead of prednisone to reduce the risk of psychosis.
NSAIDs are not as effective as steroids for the treatment of arthritis, but if symptoms are adequately controlled with NSAIDs, patients may not need to take oral corticosteroids.
Common over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis include ibuprofen , naproxen , and diclofenac gel. It is important to seek advice from your pharmacist or healthcare provider when using over-the-counter treatments in conjunction with prescriptions as certain drug interactions may occur. Dexamethasone is a suitable alternative to prednisone for the treatment of acute asthma. In general, dexamethasone is better tolerated and requires a shorter course of therapy five days of prednisone versus one to five days of dexamethasone.
Dexamethasone is approximately six times as potent as prednisone, and a single dose is longer acting. Therefore, fewer doses are required compared with prednisone. A study in showed that two days of dexamethasone had similar efficacy to five days of prednisone and patients on dexamethasone had better compliance and fewer side effects.
A study in also demonstrated that two doses of dexamethasone are as effective as five days of prednisone in children with asthma exacerbation admitted to the emergency department. A meta-analysis in concludes that dexamethasone is associated with less vomiting compared to prednisone when used for asthma exacerbations. Finally, dexamethasone is available in more dosage forms than prednisone. While prednisone is only available as an oral tablet, dexamethasone is available as a tablet or solution, and can be injected via the intravenous, subcutaneous, or intramuscular route.
Methotrexate is used as a steroid-sparing agent for many diseases. It is common to use DMARDs like methotrexate to reduce prednisone doses and allow for earlier discontinuation of prednisone. Methotrexate is considered a steroid-sparing treatment for many forms of arthritis such as giant cell arteritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis , rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyalgia rheumatica, etc. Methotrexate is also commonly used as a steroid-sparing agent in the treatment of uveitis.
Methotrexate may be a viable steroid-sparing agent for myasthenia gravis , although azathioprine is better studied and more commonly used for this purpose. A study demonstrated that patients with myasthenia gravis who are treated with methotrexate had significant improvement in disease activity and reduced prednisone dosages. Two studies demonstrated that lupus patients taking mycophenolate and voclosporin could achieve clinical response while using much lower doses of oral prednisone.
In fact, these two trials had the lowest peak steroid doses and faster steroid tapering than any other lupus nephritis trial. In patients with lupus without renal involvement, mycophenolate was shown to be superior to azathioprine when combined with steroids, and thus may be a better option than azathioprine for reducing prednisone doses.
Mycophenolate can be used to reduce steroid use in many different inflammatory and immune diseases other than lupus. Mycophenolate has similar steroid-sparing effects as methotrexate when used for uveitis. In a head-to-head study comparing mycophenolate and azathioprine for the treatment of pemphigus, patients taking mycophenolate required significantly lower steroid dose to achieve clinical remission compared to patients taking azathioprine.
Mercaptopurine may be a great option to reduce prednisone doses in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The brand name of mercaptopurine is Purinethol.
Azathioprine is another DMARD that can reduce steroid doses in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. It is often used along with infliximab for this purpose. Azathioprine may also be used to reduce the use of steroids in patients with myasthenia gravis. A study comparing methotrexate and azathioprine in patients with myasthenia gravis demonstrated that both drugs had a similar degree of steroid-sparing effects.
Depending on the advice of your doctor, ASHMI might be a supplement you could try to ease both your asthma symptoms and your dependence on prednisone as a long-term therapy.
Keep in mind that I am not a doctor and can't diagnose you here or tell you how these options would affect you. Always check with your doctor before taking any medication or herbal remedy. Or do you know of any currently in the works? Thank you for your time. The less prednisone the better. There is likely no totally safe dose.
There has been increased recognition on the long term side effects of prednisone based on clinical studies.
Methylprednisolone and prednisone are both corticosteroid medications. They have similar effects on the body but differ in their available forms and some of the side effects they cause. Both medications reduce inflammationand people use them to relieve the symptoms of many health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis RAlupusand eczema.
Methylprednisolone and prednisone are both corticosteroids. Corticosteroids can reduce inflammation in the body and relieve related symptoms, such as body pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Corticosteroids reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system. They are a standard treatment for autoimmune conditions, which often cause inflammation in the body. Methylprednisolone and prednisone are both common medications that are similar in price. They can come in branded or generic forms. As with most drugs, the generic versions cost less but still comprise the same substances.
Methylprednisolone is stronger than prednisone:. Prednisone is an oral medication that people take in the form of a tablet, liquid, or concentrated solution. People will take between one and four doses a day depending on the medical condition and the effectiveness of the treatment. In many cases, a doctor will inject methylprednisolone into either the muscle or vein. However, for certain conditions, such as RA, they may sometimes inject methylprednisolone directly into a joint to reduce inflammation.
Being injectable makes methylprednisolone easier than prednisone to provide in large doses. Both prednisone and methylprednisolone are very strong medications. Doctors will try to use the lowest possible dosage that is effective, so they may increase or decrease the dosage during treatment. People who stop taking them too quickly may notice side effects, such as:.
As methylprednisolone and prednisone are both very potent, they can cause a range of side effects, including:. The side effects of prednisone can also include losing touch with reality. For this reason, doctors may prescribe methylprednisolone to someone with a risk of mental health conditions instead of prednisone to reduce the risk of psychosis. Due to these side effects, doctors may avoid prescribing these corticosteroids.
They may only recommend them if nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs are not effective or if a person has severe inflammation. Corticosteroids can interact with many other medications, including some nutritional supplements and alternative medicines, such as herbal remedies. Before using corticosteroids, a person should tell their doctor about any other medications that they are taking. Corticosteroids have a widespread effect on the body.
As a result, they can cause complications, some of which are severe. Taking corticosteroids for more than a month, which doctors consider long-term use, increases the likelihood of adverse effects occurring. It is important to note that these drugs can reduce the activity of the immune system, which makes it harder for the body to fight infection. Complications are more likely to affect people who have or have had certain medical conditions, such as:. Methylprednisolone and prednisone are corticosteroids that can have a significant impact on the body.
They are effective medications for reducing inflammation. Both medications can produce a range of side effects and complications. Methylprednisolone is more potent than prednisone. Doctors can give methylprednisolone orally or through an injection, while prednisone is only available as an oral treatment. Methylprednisolone may, therefore, be more appropriate for people with digestive issues that stop them from taking or fully absorbing oral drugs. A doctor will decide which medication is best in each situation.
People should ensure that their doctor is aware of all their previous health conditions and current medications when discussing taking corticosteroids. Rheumatoid arthritis RA is an inflammatory disease that affects the joints and also produces symptoms throughout the body.
Find out more about how…. While researchers do not know exactly what causes rheumatoid arthritis RAthey do know that heredity plays a role. Learn more about RA and genetics…. Doctors use a combination of blood tests to help them diagnose rheumatoid arthritis.
Learn more about these tests and what else the diagnostic process…. Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, swelling, and inflammation in joints and can affect organs throughout the body.
Find out more here. The exact causes of rheumatoid arthritis are unclear, but researchers have identified several risk factors. Learn about 10 of these here. How to understand chronic pain What is behind vaccine hesitancy?
The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cure New directions in dementia research Can psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain? Medical News Today. Health Conditions Discover Tools Connect. What is the difference between methylprednisolone and prednisone? Medically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, Pharm. Methylprednisolone vs. Share on Pinterest Methylprednisolone and prednisone reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system.
How do people take methylprednisolone and prednisone? Share on Pinterest People can take methylprednisolone orally or as an injection.
Image credit: Anonymous, Side effects. Share on Pinterest Prednisone can cause dizziness and nausea. Image credit: nlm, Drug interactions. Share on Pinterest People with high blood pressure are more likely to experience complications from taking corticosteroids.
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Exercising between 8—11 am may be best for cardiovascular health. Cancer: Intravenous delivery may improve nanoparticle vaccine efficacy. Related Coverage. What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis? Medically reviewed by Nancy Carteron, M. Do people inherit rheumatoid arthritis? Medically reviewed by Stella Bard, MD. Blood tests for rheumatoid arthritis: Types and what to know. What is RA? Symptoms, treatments, causes, and everything else you need to know. What are 10 risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis?
Osteoporosis, increased risk of heart disease, increased risk of infections, weight gain are all assocaited with low dose prednisone use. They include methotrexate, Arava, and the anti-TNF drugs such as Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade. These are very strong drugs as well and must be. If the arthritis persists, there are alternatives. A drug that is often used in cancer treatments called Methotrexate may be useful as it. Deflazacort (Calcort--Shire) is an oral corticosteroid licensed for use in adults and children. When deflazacort first became available last year. Drug interactions. Corticosteroids can interact with many other medications, including some nutritional supplements and alternative medicines, such as herbal. By preventing tissue damage, these antioxidants prevent unwanted inflammatory responses from occurring. Prednisone is an oral medication that people take in the form of a tablet, liquid, or concentrated solution. How do people take methylprednisolone and prednisone? Doctors will try to use the lowest possible dosage that is effective, so they may increase or decrease the dosage during treatment. But they work well for some people.Currently I have been on prednisone for a year now. I was doing ok at 7mg but not as good as They brought me down to 5mg a day and now I am fully flairs and swollen in the face, eye lids, middle of my back, lower back, arthritis spots etc. Basicly fully flairs.
I have been on the 5mg for a week now. I am only 34yrs old and worry that this might be something i need to take forever. I heard of the hardening of arteries, the knee replacements etc.
I figure with my case of RA as bad as it is and having Fibro as well as a bad case of iron deficiency anemia, that this drug just might be with me forever. My questions today are…. Is there a more safe dose to take for the body long term at my age that can help prevent the long term damage? Are there any drugs or herbal suppliments I can take to help fight against the effects of prednisone so taking 7mg a day might be ok for the rest of my life?
Are there any sub drugs out there to take instead that might work as well? Or do you know of any currently in the works? Thank you for your time. The less prednisone the better.
There is likely no totally safe dose. There has been increased recognition on the long term side effects of prednisone based on clinical studies. Osteoporosis, increased risk of heart disease, increased risk of infections, weight gain are all assocaited with low dose prednisone use. Founded in , the Arthritis Center at Johns Hopkins is dedicated to providing quality education to patients and healthcare providers alike.
Question Currently I have been on prednisone for a year now. My questions today are… 1. Answer The less prednisone the better.
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