These are most commonly used for acute pseudogout. Higher doses are usually required initially, depending on the severity of the arthritis, and then the doses are reduced and discontinued once it has resolved. Any non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug can be used. Patients with pseudogout are usually older patients and therefore care must be taken particularly with those with hypertension or impaired renal function. Since pseudogout usually affects only one joint at a time, aspiration of the joint and injection with corticosteroids is a very effective way of controlling the arthritis.
Prednisone can be useful in patients with pseudogout.
The starting dose is 25 mg per day as a single morning dose which is then reduced as the pseudogout resolves.