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Prednisone and Lyme, anyone?

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Posted 10/2/2008 6:07 AM (GMT -5)
Can anyone tell me what effect Prednisone has on Lyme and how quickly would you see an effect from it?After 1-2 weeks of taking it would you see an effect?
Posted 10/2/2008 6:12 AM (GMT -5)
It has been my understanding that Steriods are one of the worst things you can do with Lyme.

I hope some others will chime in here....
Posted 10/2/2008 6:54 AM (GMT -5)

Hi masonsmom.  Is your husband taking steroids?

From what I understand, steroirds suppress the immune system which can make Lyme symptoms worse.  Dr. Burrascano mentiones this on page four of his treatment guidelines at http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_0905.html  He says, "More severe illness also results from other causes of weakened defenses, such as from severe stress, immunosuppressant medications, and severe intercurrent illnesses.  This is why steroids and other immunosuppressive medications are absolutely contraindicated in Lyme. This also includesintra-articular steroids."

 

Posted 10/2/2008 7:12 AM (GMT -5)
My husband is not taking steroids now but before he was dx with lyme he was given 2 rounds of steroids. I asked because I referred someone to our llmd and she says he wasn't sure if it was lyme and gave her steroids to see what happened, if it had no effect on her then it isn't lyme. Does this sound logical? I am wondering why you would put someone at risk and has caused me to doubt him. My husband has seen no improvement in 90 days and is in his 3rd week of a major herx, one that has him in a wheel chair. Ticker, I would appreciate your advise. Thanks, Bev
Posted 10/2/2008 7:21 AM (GMT -5)

Hi Bev.  I do not think a Lyme knowledgeable doctor would give steroids to someone who may have Lyme to test their reaction.  I would be doubting this doctor's knowledge also.

I am sorry your husband is feeling so bad.  What meds is he taking?  I think the herx shows that he has Lyme, but it seems it could be better managed.  I recommend getting another opinion.  I know this is not an easy thing to do, but it is worth it to get better care.

Your husband is very lucky to have your support.

 

Posted 10/2/2008 7:25 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Bev.  I saw on your other post that your husband has not been test for the co-infections.  I highly recommend having this done, so he can get the best treatment for the infections he has.

 

Posted 10/2/2008 7:28 AM (GMT -5)
Ticker,
He is presently taking Azithromyacin 500 mg 1xday and Flagyl 500 mg 2x day, he has not been tested for co-infections, but I think he could have babs. Low grade fever, chills, headaches, dry cough, bottoms of feet are swollen, ankles and elbow swollen, muscle twitching.....
Posted 10/2/2008 7:29 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Bev.  I really think he should be tested for the co-infections.  Having them can make the symptoms of all infections more severe.  Many Lyme doctors believe the co-infections need to be treated first.

 

Posted 10/2/2008 8:26 AM (GMT -5)
As a veteran of many immunosuppressant and steroid medications (thanks to years of mis-diagnosis), I would urge you not to take Prednisone with Lyme. Yes, it can make a person feel wonderful, but euphoria is a known side-effect of Prednisone regardless of whether or not the drug is actually doing something good for the person. Also, while chronic Lyme does involve a lot of inflammation, there are much better ways of treating this inflammation than steroids and immune suppression, such as detoxing, immune balancing herbs, anti-inflammatory diet, Vitamin C supplements, etc. Take care,
Posted 4/17/2016 10:37 AM (GMT -5)
I have been diagnosed with Ehrlichia about 3 months ago-got bit last June, and most likely have chronic Lyme going back to 2009. I have been treating my Lyme symptoms with prescribed abx(Dr. Cameron) for about 4 months. I am currently on Doxy(have been for almost 5 1/2weeks). Up until about three weeks ago, I was beginning to feely slightly better, and then I was given a short course of 3 doses of Prednisone in the hospital(40 mgs per dose over 18 hours) before a heart procedure to avoid allergic reaction to contrast dye. The good news is my heart is in great shape, but the bad news is my Lyme is a NIGHTMARE right now. I have since read all the HORROR about steroids and Lyme and I will NEVER take a steroid again. Can someone, who may have knowledge on this topic, or who has been through this before respond back, and please give me some hope that this steroids effect will wear off at some point. I know this is a set back, but I am REALLY hoping to get back on track.

Thanks,

Bonjo
Posted 4/17/2016 10:45 AM (GMT -5)
Before being suspected of Lyme, I had been on &off steroids for 2 years and I progressively got worse. My LLMD told me that steroids may help with some symptoms, but at the same time, suppress the immune system. He believes that this is why I don't have more positive bands showing. He states that a suppressed immune will not make enough (if any) antibodies to fight the Lyme infections.
Posted 4/17/2016 11:07 AM (GMT -5)
Welcome bonjo. I am so sorry you are going through this.

The first symptom of lyme I got was achy knees. I have had bad knees for years and when they got too bad I just always got steroid shots in them. Well, this time I got the steroid shots and all heck broke loose because I had lyme. I had no idea I had lyme and the symptoms were so weird.

Anyway to make a long story short, my knees did get better as the steroid wore off and my lyme got better with treatment.

The most important thing I can advise is to make sure you detox! It will help get rid of the steroids, get rid of the dead or dying lyme spirochetes, and help with all the other toxins you come across on a daily basis (there are hundreds that you encounter on a daily basis from car fumes to cleaning products).

In our first thread entitled New To Lyme?.... Start Here! There are links to detoxing sites and other ideas of how to detox. I really suggest reading it.

Good luck and welcome to our community.
Posted 4/17/2016 11:33 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks you very much for your prompt responses-I really appreciate it. My worst symptom is the unbearable headaches, along with the intense shaking of my legs and arms. I am seeing a new Lyme specialist on Tuesday-I will keep you posted.

Again-thanks for your input.
Posted 4/17/2016 3:28 PM (GMT -5)
Keep us posted and if you have any questions, please ask. We love to help others here.
Posted 4/17/2016 6:23 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks you so much for your quick response. I am just very frustrated that I am feeling as bad as I am now, especially since I was just starting to feel somewhat better from just over 3 months of abx treatment; and then I had an angiogram to test my heart-which was fine, but the Prednisone that I was given before the procedure has created what feels like a Lyme symptom parade in my body. I just hope I can recover from this Steroid induced set back as soon as possible. Again, I would like to say, it's great having this type of support from fellow Lyme sufferers.
Posted 5/10/2017 5:35 AM (GMT -5)
It is my understanding that prednisone modifies the immune system in a way that can really cause a lot of problems in someone with an active infection such as Lyme disease.
Posted 5/10/2017 11:41 AM (GMT -5)
IMO, low doses of cortisol may be OK. I take hydrocortisone (not prednisone) in a very very low dose, 5mg (in addition to cytomel, T3). it has worked very well to eliminate my afternoon fatigue.

I take this because of the adrenals. I had low DHEA, low testosterone (everything down stream from DHEA), low selenium etc.

have not had a negative impact. in low doses I don't think it impacts the immune system if you are taking a physiological dose.

anyone else taking low cortisone?
Posted 5/10/2017 12:03 PM (GMT -5)
Many here use low dose hydrocortisone for adrenal support, although I don't.

But prednisone is different and should never be used when there is a possible infection.
"Prednisone is a corticosteroid. It prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation. It also suppresses the immune system.
Prednisone is used as an anti-inflammatory or an immunosuppressant medication. "

"Steroid medication can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection. Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections."

"Steroid medication can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or worsening an infection you already have or have recently had."
/www.drugs.com/prednisone.html

"Corticosteroids may mask some signs of infection, and new infections may appear during their use. Infections with any pathogen including viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoan or helminthic infections, in any location of the body, may be associated with the use of corticosteroids alone or in combination With other immunosuppressive agents that affect cellular immunity, humoral immunity, or neutrophil function.1

These infections may be mild, but can be severe and at times fatal. With increasing doses of corticosteroids, the rate of occurrence of infectious complications increases.2 There may be decreased resistance and inability to localize infection when corticosteroids are used."
www.rxlist.com/deltasone-drug/warnings-precautions.htm

Anyone that does need to use prednisone during treatment for these infections will need a very highly experienced LLMD that is used to working with steroids during treatment of these infections.
Posted 5/10/2017 4:45 PM (GMT -5)
My entire lyme "experience" started after inhaled corticosteroids prescribed by a dr thinking i had a bad case of asthma.... i used to have symptoms before, but very mild, mostly heart/respiratory related. What happened is i started the steroids then for 2-3 weeks i felt as new, no symptoms and feeling great.

Then i crashed in a huge manner. And ofc i had no idea what was going on and why.... i stopped it but i really never recovered from that until i completed the first round of lyme abx, one year later...

if u have a real autoimmune condition, then i guess steroids are good. however if your autoimmune is produced by a chronic infection, then taking the steroids will either do nothing or make things much much worse. On a short term they may however make you feel "healed".
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