Hi Dorothy @oakbourne, Thanks for the private message. I thought I would answer your message in the discussion you started as your information and questions may be helpful for other members also. You mentioned that doctors should not prescribe prednisone because of possible side effects that it can cause osteoporosis and cataracts. Also, it is like you say difficult to taper off prednisone.

I've been prescribed prednisone twice by my Mayo rheumatologist for 2 separate occurrences of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). It was a miracle drug for me as I've heard it was for others. Within hours of taking my first dose the pain was gone and I had immediate relief. I also spent 3-1/2 years tapering off the first time and when it came back 6 years later, I spent another 1-1/2 years tapering off. It is not meant to take for the rest of your life and it can be like you say, hell to taper off and end taking. There were no ordinary antibiotics to my knowledge that can help with PMR.

Here are a couple of references I found on prednisone, osteoporosis and cataracts. I think it's good information but as a patient it does provide you with more reasons to learn as much as you can about any health condition you have and what the available treatments are so that you can have the discussion with your doctor to weigh the risks and benefits for each of the available treatments.

- Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis and Osteonecrosis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3417039/
- Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia—Results of treatment with clarithromycin versus corticosteroids—Observational study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5612459/
- Bronchiolitis Obliterans with Organizing Pneumonia (BOOP): https://foundation.chestnet.org/lung-health-a-z/bronchiolitis-obliterans-with-organizing-pneumonia-boop/

Can you share your reference to the book written by a well known lung specialist who stated ordinary antibiotics will cure Boop Pneumonia without steroids?