Generally speaking ... the likelihood of prednisone side effects are related to:
1) dose--the higher the dose the more likely you will have side effects.
and
2) duration--the longer you take prednisone the more likely you will have side effects.
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Some say a low dose (under 5 mg/day) taken long term is generally safe. However, there is increasing evidence that long-term and low-dose prednisone use can still have negative effects.
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Actemra works for approximately 50% of GCA patients as defined by sustained remission within a year of starting Actemra. Many people are able to discontinue Prednisone but some are maintained on a much lower dose of Prednisone. What is called the "cumulative dose" of Prednisone over time is significantly less when treated with Actemra. When Actemra works ... it works well with fewer side effects. There are potential side effects from Actemra but generally it is well tolerated when compared with prednisone.