The thymectomy will also facilitate the control of the symptoms of myasthenia gravis by requiring a smaller amount of medications than prior to surgery. The benefits for the symptoms of myasthenia gravis may not be noticed until about 6 to 18 months after the thymectomy. Control of myasthenia gravis is provided by the use of various immunosuppressants. The most commonly used immunosuppressant is prednisone which is usually started at a high dose every day, and then reduced to a every other day regimen. The exact dose and mode of administration of prednisone must be tailored to the patient's need.
Prednisone is a type of steroid and is often associated with several side effects.
In the event of intolerable side effects or failure of treatment, other immunosuppressants may be used, most commonly Imuran. These crises can be triggered by excessive physical or emotional stress. A myasthenic crisis is a serious condition as the patient rapidly develops diffuse weakness, including weakness of the respiratory muscles which may temporarily require the use of mechanical ventilation. Under these conditions more aggressive treatment has to be implemented. The two most commonly used treatment regimens include several days of intravenous gamma globulin or several sessions of plasma exchange.