Steroids???

[Ginny]

Can anyone tell me why they don't give steroids to IC patients? I know I asked my doctor this question many years ago but don't remember the answer. Someone just asked me and I did not have an answer.

Ginny

[pingpong]

Steroids such as prednisone are great for relieving inflammation, but they have very dangerous short-term and long-term side effects. Short term, they cause weight gain from increased appetite (I'm not talking munchies here, I mean stomach-growling hungry) and water retention, increased susceptibility to infection (viral, bacterial and fungal), easy bruising, and insomnia. Long-term use can lead to osteoporosis, cataracts, and chronic diseases that result from weight gain. It's too bad, since they really are effective and very inexpensive, but the side effects really are dangerous.

[Ginny]

Honestly, after 20 years of IC and a host of other illnesses those side effects don't scare me. I ended up with Type 1 Diabetes at age 47 because of an autoimmune process that caused inflammation in the pancreas that lead to diabetes. And I did end up with heart disease from the diabetes.

I realize it is hind sight but 20 years of pain from IC and the other illnesses that go along with IC have been bad enough to warrant steroids. I remember asking for them at one point.

Thanks for your answer. I appreciate your time.

Ginny

[IcyAngel23]

For extreme cases drs do try steroids. I was on a steroid called CyclosporineA which isn't your typical steroid but none the less it is. It's also an anti-rejection drug and is very experiemental. It really helped me but it caused seizures,migraine headaches, toxic blood levels and low kidney function. If it wasn't hurting my overall health I'd still be on it.

[Ginny]

What a shame that they can't find something along these lines without all the side effects.

Ginny

[Dean76]

Maybe their are some safer steriods? I know their are hundreds of them. It seems steriods have got a bad rep. because of their abuse with sports. I think it may be an unexplored avenue for IC. Like Ginny said, Its your QOL that matters. Maybe the side effects of the steriods are not near as bad as the side effects from having IC not. I hope more people respond to this topic. I would like to hear what others think on this subject.

[pingpong]

The steroids that are abused by athletes are anabolic steroids. Corticosteroids are used as antiinflammatories for diseases such as lupus, arthritis, allergies, etc. They still have risks, though.

[jen48446]

I took one pill of some type of steroid a couple of years back, it helped my allergies tremendously however I hope I don't give too much information on this but I totally pooped blood the next day. I freaked! I called my doctor but they were closed so I called my pharmacy & they told me to take a antacid & that would help buffer my digestive system. It helped & I called the doc & they gave me something else to take. :angel: :cat: