Prednisone

[ac]

For the past few years I have been plagued with red itchy blotches on my face.  They would suddenly appear every few days, primarily around my scalpline and cheekbones.  The problem would be worse when I was under more stress.  Though the blotches would fade after about three days, they would return within a week at most, but usually sooner.  Eventually I consulted my doctor who told me I had psoriasis.  She prescribed Prednisone (pill form) for me to take for about two weeks.  After the first day of treatment, the blotches disppeared, and I did not have any new blotches appear. Within two days of stopping the Prednisone, the blotches returned.  I consulted my doctor by phone and asked her to please refill my prescription.  She said she could not give me another prescription, but that I could come in for a shot. Why couldn't she refill my prescription?  Is Prednisone a drug that should not be taken long term?  Also, will the shot be just as effective, and is it something I will have to have every so often?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Prednisone is a very powerful drug, whose side-effects mount up fast when it's taken chronically (high blood pressure, cataracts, etc. etc.)  Shots of cortisone pose similar risks.  In general, we shy away from using internal steroids in psoriasis, because the condition often flares up, sometimes worse, when the cortisone is stopped.  Facial psoriasis, if that's what it is, should be easy enough to control with topical medications.  I'd get another opinion.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[lynn119]

A related discussion, psorasis was started.

[zoie]

My nail are doing the same.  I have been diagonoses with psoriatal arthritis amoung other problems.  I have sores in my head that looks like the worst case of dander you have ever seen.  Sometimes my nails just round up under them and begin to seperate from the skin.  I always seem to have one or two fingernails or toenails doing this.  It is so terrible the other day I hit one and it seperated back almost to the root.  I hope you can find something to help.  I have been on prednisone for more than three years straight.  Without it my head gets so bad that the lymp nodes swell and I have to go on antibotic.  I fear the side effects.  I have gained almost 100 pounds and now am totally disabled at only 48.  Please let me know if you get help.  Good luck on your quest.

[DeeDee1]

Has anyone ever had any nail deformaties associated with psoriasis?  My fingernails and toenails are curving under about halfway down and then seem to be dying.  My doctor has never seen this but said he would test me for psoriasis amongst other autoimmune disorders.  Thanks for any feedback.

[Mick]

There are two method of taking Prednisone one is a one-week corse that is stoped abruptly, your body is then meant to kick of at the end of the corse in double time this didn

[ac]

My prescription was for a total of 12 days, with the dosage gradually lowered every three days.  I took 3 tabs for 3 days, 2 tabs for 3 days, 1 tab for 3 days, and 1/2 tab for 3 days.  Though the problem returned once I stopped the medication, it was not as severe as before.  Also, I do drink quite a bit of cola (Coke) every day.  Perhaps I would benefit by cutting down on the amount I drink.  

My doctor also suggested that exposure to sunlight (or using a tanning bed) would lessen the severity of the psoriasis, but I haven't yet tried this.

Thanks.