I wanna stop taking methotrexate and prednisone.
Has anyone tried using turmeric instead of prednisone and methotrexate and wondering how the results are? I’m on 25 mg of methotrexate once a week and 5 mg of prednisone I’m willing to stop and take a chance and try the turmeric. Please respond.
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If turmeric did anything, we'd all be on turmeric instead of prednisone. If you're serious about the idea of suddenly dumping prednisone and methotrexate, suggest you do a couple of things first:
1. Pack your bag for hospital
2. Google "adrenal crisis", a potentially fatal result of suddenly stopping prednisone.
Not kidding.
Are you just sick of the whole thing? What's going on for you?
If things are that bad for you check with your doctor about starting Kevzara and getting off the methotrexate. It would take some time for the Kevzara to take effect, but that is probably the fastest and safest way to get off of prednisone. I take a similar drug, Actemra, and it has allowed me to get off of prednisone, and I haven't had any side effects from it. Kevzara is approved for PMR and Actemra is approved for GCA. You still have to taper prednisone when you take Kevzara or Actemra, but you can usually taper faster than if you're just taking prednisone or prednisone and methotrexate.
I appreciate the response. I done feel the methotrexate is doing anything (14 weeks now)
And would like to taper off of prednisone (of course)
Have been investigating Tumeric and it’s affects on inflammation
I think Megz is right. If turmeric worked to a clinically significant level, we would all be taking it. BTW- I have tried it for osteoporosis arthritis and my general achy body over the years (given it the "college try" as they say). I don't think Drs are that arrogant to not try everything with this disease. You (farnhamlaf1) are so close on the 5 mg per day to the magic "0" mg per day. I am at 6 and taper to 5 in a week. I believe the methotrexate does not have to be tapered off but check with your dr on that before dropping it. The adrenal crisis does seem real for most people if they suddenly drop off prednisone. The Kevzara route is perfect (?) for someone who has had flares or is stuck at a certain level of prednisone. IN fact, that is what they applied it in the clinical trials. I have an open prescription for it (i can use it within the year; my insurance decided to cover it). My general practice dr who is helping me with the PMR journey said (and I concur) why potentially ruin a good taper that I am having by starting Kevzara. It has its own issues, as well. So far, I have not had any tapering flares on prednisone but I have Kevzara as an option if I do. Tapering from 5 mg should take 3-5 months but then everyone is different. Finish those last few miles of this marathon! you can do it. I too am fed up with prednisone but then I think most of us are.
I've been taking Turmeric for over 2 months. It helps, but my experience is that it is no way a replacement for Prednisone. I don't think you could take enough to even replace a 5mg Prednisone.
Exactly petermccarville...if someone is that close to finishing, why change?
I am at 6 and tapering to 5.5 this week. My doctor keeps pushing Kevzara. (So much so that I wonder if she gets a kickback.) I keep saying no. Then I'll have two problems.
I know nothing about tumeric.
But question, what happens if people quit the methotrexate or kevzara but keep tapering the prednisone? Anyone know?
If the PMR is still active and you keep tapering, at some point the symptoms of PMR will become active again. I think of prednisone like a blanket that smothers flames. The embers keep burning under the blanket, and if you take the blanket away, the embers flare back up. In most people PMR burns itself out in a year or two, but it can last longer.
@gman254 do you take methotrexate as well?
"What happens if people quit the methotrexate or kevzara but keep tapering the prednisone? Anyone know?
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Probably nothing changes ... You just keep trying to taper off Prednisone and hope you don't have a relapse and side effects from long term prednisone use.
I stopped methotrexate because of elevated liver enzymes and nausea. Methotrexate was helping me decrease my Prednisone dose but I hated the retching I had every morning. When I stopped methotrexate, I had to increase my Prednisone dose again.
I don't have any experience with Kevzara. My rheumatatolgist wanted me to try Actemra instead.
Actemra has been a blessing. I tapered off prednisone relatively quickly compared to the previous 12 years. I regret that Actemra wasn't offered to me sooner because I had so many relapses when I tried to taper off Prednisone. I didn't mind the relapses as much as all the side effects from Prednisone. My experience with 12 years of long term Prednisone use was an insidious downward spiral of my overall health and well being.
Prednisone is still used for rapid initial symptom control. However, the goal of "modern treatment" is to shift patients to alternatives to prednisone to avoid the severe long-term complications of prednisone.
I had what is called "relapsing PMR" when I tried to taper off Prednisone. On Actemra, I have had 5 years of sustained remission with no relapses. Actemra has also improved my quality of life compared to when I took Prednisone. There is a reason why alternative medications to treat PMR are called "steroid sparing medications."
Was Actemra prescribed for you due to GCA? It’s not for PMR I thought. .