I know I’m often spouting doom and gloom about prednisone.

Prednisone saved my life, and I truly consider it a miracle.

Because so many people feel betrayed that no one told them about prednisone side effects, I made it my mission to share the story of how miserable prednisone makes people.

But today, to send you off to New Year’s Eve in good spirits, I wanted to share a good story.

A Prednisone Warrior wrote in to tell me that he has had “only good experience with Prednisolone over many years.”

He gave me permission to share his story with you.

Watch now!

Written by Prednisone Warrior – Jorgen

Yes, I did read your emails and your lists, and I certainly do not think it reflect my situation at all and do not cover the situation as I have. I have therefore described my situation below, and it is a part of my medication list describing all my prescribed medicines and my experience of taking them. Feel free to use all or some of the below in you newsletters seen from someone who basically only have good experience with Prednisolone over many years.

Cheers,
Jorgen

My very first intake of Panafcortelone was in October 2016 when I was diagnosed with Proximal Myopathy followed by diagnosed Polymyalgia Rheumatica. My GP prescribed up to Panafcortelone 25 mg per day to take for this condition until it disappeared which took a few days, then to reduce the intake very slowly to eventually reach zero intake.

However, when I then reached an intake of 3 mg per day, the Polymyalgia Rheumatica came back, so I took 15 mg of Panafcortelone for a few days until it disappeared. Then after I reduced the intake of Panafcortelone to 3 mg per day as the time before, the Polymyalgia Rheumatica came back again, and I treated it the same way. When the Polymyalgia Rheumatica again disappeared, I was now aware that it was an active condition and dormant in my body, which could flare up anytime. So, I have since taken 5 mg of Panafcortelone every day as a precaution, well knowing that my GP would prefer me to be on zero intake.

I am aware of the slight difference between Panafcortelone and Prednisolone and that it suppresses my native immune system and stop my body producing cortisol.

But Panafcortelone is a short acting glucocorticoid which suppresses the HPA axis (1.5 Days after a single oral dose), and it is fully eliminated from my body around 11 to 16.5 hours.

I understand that the physiologic dose is 5 mg, which is the amount of the drug given that is roughly equivalent to the amount of a similar substance normally produced within my body; this dosage is typically used to replace the endogenous substance when my body is no longer able to produce the substance. I also understand that if my yearly intake is Panafcortelone 5mg per day or less, it will still allow my native immune system to recover.

After the cases of Polymyalgia Rheumatica the Panafcortelone was, with a lesser intake, used to reduce inflammation in various places in my body and coughing. My own desired intake for some years now has been a maintenance intake of Panafcortelone 5 mg per day, which seems perfect for me. There has been a remarkable difference in my continuous overall well-being in me taking the 5mg Panafcortelone early each morning and then taking much less say just 3mg or worse nothing.

In a research event I could stop taking the Panafcortelone again to see what happens if absolutely need be like in an official Trial. A couple of times in 2022 and beginning of 2023 I have again experienced starting cases of Polymyalgia Rheumatica and since I now know the feeling when it comes, I immediately take 15 mg Panafcortelone for 3 days and it stops the Polymyalgia Rheumatica each time and straight away.

Side effects of the intake of Panafcortelone tablets:

I have not really felt any side effects, and the known increase in weight and blood sugar level by taking this medication, I cope with by taking also other medication. I keep in mind that the higher the intake the higher would be the unwanted increase in blood sugar level also the higher the intake the higher would be the unwanted increase also in weight, but I stay with 5 mg per day.

If I increase the Prednisolone intake to more than 5mg each morning, I easily get nightmares at night, but that is not a big concern, when I continue with just the 5mg per day. I experience no known other side effect with the intake of this tablet.

Maintaining a Precautionary Dosage

I really appreciate him taking the time to write this all out, for us so that I could share it with you. You could read the living experience of someone who has been on prednisone for more than seven years. He understands what it feels like to be on high doses, to have to deal with the side effects, and found a happy dose for him where his disease is at bay and he’s getting the minimum side effects possible.

That’s my goal for all of you, to get on the lowest effective dose for your condition. Whatever it is, whether it’s PMR or some other form of arthritis. For me, it was my immune system and attacking my platelets. So there are lots of reasons people take prednisone, but whatever it is, getting to the lowest effective dose possible is the best.

If you want to know other ways to get that best balance of benefits and risks, to get the most happy benefit from taking Prednisone by decreasing the side effects and the best way you possibly can. You should download my prednisone checklist on it. I have the top side effects of prednisone and what you can do to counteract them.