Is It Harmful To Take 1 or 2 Tablets of Gupisone 5mg Everday Rheumaic Condition

Question

My wife is suffering from Rheumatism - gets sever pain from below the hip especially the Knee. Doctor suggested a series of Gupisone 5mg - a 1 month course, thereafter repeated for another month (the dose was 4 5mg tabs - 3 times a day 1st week, 3 - 5 mg tans - 3 times a day - 2nd week, 2 - 5mg tabs - 3 times a day - 3rd week and 1 - - 5mg tab - 3 times a day - 4th week. ).
The severe pain is still there and 1 - 5mg tab a day keeps here better throughout the day.

Is it safe to have a 5mg tab a day as long as she feels good.

We are afraid that this drug has serious side effects which will harm her later thru the life.

Answer 1

It is better if you'll stick to your doctors course of medication. After the 4th week, you should go back to your doctor to discuss further treatment for your wife. Gupisone have the active ing. of Prednisolone which is a corticosteroid, a steroid, and we know that it is not advisable to use this without the doctors advise. The long-term side-effects include Cushing's syndrome, truncal weight gain, osteoporosis, glaucoma and cataracts, type II diabetes mellitus, and depression upon dose reduction or cessation.

Answer 2

Gupisone's active ingredient is Prednisolone, a corticosteroid. Unless directed by your doctor or under his assistance, it can be used as a long-term therapy. However, there are side effects for long-term treatment as well as for short-term.

For a short-term treatment, these may be the side effects:
1. water retention and fluid accumulation because of increased sodium levels
2. weight-gain associated with water retention
3. hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance
4. hypokalemia (decresed potassium level)
5. gastrointestinal discomfort (also includes nausea, vomiting,
6. mood changes
7. insomnia
8. nervousness, restlessness
9. mania, depression
10. hallucinations and violent behavior.
11. loss of appetite

Long term effects include but not limited to:
1. Cushingoid appearance (moon face, buffalo hump on neck, thinning of the skin,
2. hirsutism or virilism (excessive hairiness on women in those parts of the body where terminal hair does not normally occur or is minimal)
3. impotence
4. irregular menstruation
5. progression to peptic ulcer disease
6. development of increased intraocular pressure and cataracts associated with increased glucose levels
7. development of glaucoma
8. osteoporosis, increased risk to fractures because of decreased calcium level
9. hypertension or heart failure due to long-term fluid retention and increased cholesterol level
10. increased susceptibility to infection

The strategy of your wife's doctor in treating her condition is to gradually decrease the dosage of the drug until the day that it will be stopped. Gupisone shouldn'y be stopped abruptly. Gradually reducing the dosage will prevent serious withdrawal effects such as hypotension, dehydration, fever, mental changes, muscle pain, joint pain and difficulty breathing.

About your question if 5mg/day is safe to take. Yes, it is a low dose . Low doses means limited side effects compared to those who take higher doses. Some patients with rheumatism are maintained on 1 tab of 5mg/day. Then, adjustments are done depending on the patient's response to the treatment. Talk to your doctor to know the course and length of therapy and the possible risks of taking the drug.