Corticosteroids for Polymyalgia Rheumatica or Giant Cell Arteritis

Corticosteroids can keep your immune system from fighting infection. When you are taking this medicine (and even when you have finished taking it), try not to be around people who are sick. And make sure you talk to your doctor before you get any vaccinations.

People who take corticosteroids for more than 2 to 3 months should take calcium and vitamin D supplements or other medicines, such as bisphosphonates, to prevent osteoporosis. For more information, see the Medications section of the topic Osteoporosis. Your doctor may want you to have a bone density test to check for osteoporosis.

Taking medicine

Medicine is one of the many tools your doctor has to treat a health problem. Taking medicine as your doctor suggests will improve your health and may prevent future problems. If you don't take your medicines properly, you may be putting your health (and perhaps your life) at risk.

There are many reasons why people have trouble taking their medicine. But in most cases, there is something you can do. For suggestions on how to work around common problems, see the topic Reference Taking Medicines as Prescribed.

Advice for women

Women who use this medicine during pregnancy have a slightly higher chance of having a baby with birth defects. If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, you and your doctor must weigh the risks of using this medicine against the risks of not treating your condition.

Checkups

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

Lower-dose corticosteroids cause fewer side effects and have fewer long-term risks than do higher dosages. Your doctor will give you as low a dose as possible to treat your condition. After your symptoms have gone away and your lab tests are normal, your doctor will slowly reduce your dosage over a period of months.

If you need long-term corticosteroid treatment for either condition, you are at risk for bone thinning (osteoporosis). This is because corticosteroids reduce how well your body takes in Reference calcium Opens New Window, which is important in building bones. To prevent osteoporosis, doctors recommend doing weight-bearing exercise and getting 1200 mg of calcium and 800 to 1000 IU of vitamin D daily. You may also need medicine that prevents osteoporosis, such as alendronate or risedronate. Reference Postmenopausal Opens New Window women can help reduce their risk of osteoporosis by using Reference hormone replacement therapy Opens New Window. For more information, see the topic Osteoporosis.

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