A good drug is prednisone, but it is seldom used because it has long-term side effects, which scare both physicians and patients. Osteoporosis is on of the most feared long-term effects of steroid use. If the dose of prednisone is more than 7.5 mg per day over six months, a bone scan should be done. If bone density is decreased, treatment with etidronate and calcium may prevent bone loss and permit the continued use of steroid therapy. P rednisone is the preferred agent because its cheap and effective.
All inflammation is likened to a fire.
You get out the fire extinguishers and go to work. Drugs are used as short-term tools. Diet revision is used to control the disease long-term. Prednisone is often a magic drug that relieves terrible pain and suffering often in the first 48-72 hours of therapy. The problems with prednisone arise with long-term use.