Prednisolone - anyone taken this before?

[Daffodil1983]

As the title says. Has anyone taken the steroid Prednisolone after multiple losses? Been prescribed it by my consultant but now a bit scared about reading the care leaflet and all possible side effects. Would be good to hear from anyone who has actually taken it in real life x

I took it all the way through pregnancy to help with RA. It was fine, no side effects for me. It did interfere a bit with sleep, so take it in the morning.

I did with this pregnancy after multiple losses and failed IVF cycles.

I'm going to be honest - biggest pro was that it 'worked' in that this pregnancy stayed. I also didnt have any symptoms from the tablets whilst taking them.

But oh my god, the withdrawal when I came off them. I had to take a full week off work and I've never taken illegal drugs but I can only compare it to what I imagine that must be like - shakes, sweats, headaches, vomiting, for days. And then 75% of my hair felt out. It was HORRENDOUS.

That said, I'd have walked through fire for this baby and I would definitely take them again, even knowing what I know now. But I'd have been much more prepared for the withdrawal.

Yes, I took it for my two successful pregnancies after multiple losses. I weaned off it at 14 weeks. No issues taking it at all. Was a low dose though - 10mg.

You’re meant to do a very gradual dose reduction when coming off it to stop withdrawal symptoms.

Have taken it before for asthma control, agree to take it in the morning to stave off sleep issues, otherwise had no side effects.

I did a very gradual dose reduction. Original plan was plenty reasonable and then it was more than doubled when I struggled, it was still horrendous.

Thanks so much everyone for replying. I’ve read so many positive stories about the pregnancies sticking I am hopeful but still concerned about the side effects. It’s great to read some people have none. I’ve been prescribed 5 tablets in the morning from a BFP if I’m lucky enough to get another one. X

Following this thread. I have had six first trimester losses (plus one living child), and had extensive testing with Dr Shehata two days ago. If it turns out I have high NK cells, I will probably have to take this too...

Hello, not sure if anyone is still checking this thread but wanted to find out if the prednisolone worked for you both @TammyinCork and @Daffodil1983 ? (i hope so!)
I went to Shehata for tests last April and my results were all normal, he suggested I do his protocol anyway. It was very hard to know what to do and instead I went with the free IVF that the NHS offered me. But i find myself 9 months down the line having done one round of IVF and lost another pregnancy from it just wishing that I had gone with Shehata and tried prednisolone (i know multiple women it's worked for but they did have high NK cells). I asked the NHS if i could take it (i've had 3 natural miscarriages before the IVF) and they said no. Now just trying to decide whether to go back to Shehata but it's all just so expensive and hard to know what to do.
Hope you're both in a better place xx

Hi, not the same but I had 3 miscarriages and then took prednisolone, progesterone and aspirin, the next pregnancy was healthy. Who knows if it was the drugs or other factors. I got my private prescription from Nova fertility from an online consultation and I expressed I wanted to try it, not sure if they are still about, cost a few hundred for the drugs and consultation but didn’t have to do any tests with them (had the basic nhs tests that were normal) x

@AHGiraffe Thanks so much for sharing this - it's exactly the kind of thing i wanted to hear. That's great that it worked for you. I'm going to try Nova Fertility, is there anything you recommend I say or tell them in order to get the drugs without having to do tests there?

No problem I couldnt read and not share my experience as it was all I searched when I was on the journey. I didn’t have to lay it on thick with them, it was Dr Lamiya I spoke to. She offered more drugs and explained all the pros and cons of each and those were the ones I felt comfortable trying at that time. Wishing you all the luck x

I looked up Nova and coincidentally it's run by the consultant that I've seen at UCLH who was totally against immunology treatments and was the one who suggested I do IVF (despite no one else I've spoken to agreeing that IVF is the right course for me). I've found Dr Lamiya at Create Fertility and i'm going to have a consultation / second opinion from her and hopefully try the prenisolone route. Thanks for your help xxx

Hi, hope you don’t mind me jumping on. Meeting with a recurrent loss clinic soon (nhs) and hoping to request prednisolone. I have also heard of people using hydroxychloroquine, does anyone know what the difference is? Are they both used for the same thing? After 4 miscarriages, and all (general loss) tests coming back ok, I just want to try something.

Hi, unfortunately we tried two cycles with the prednisolone from ovulation and failed to get pregnant. We then moved to IVF but have since had a cycle in Spain which has probably failed: 9 eggs collected, 8 mature, 7 fertilised and only 1 made it to blastocyst stage and has been sent off for PGT-A testing - I will find out the results next week. If abnormal, I may need to do more rounds.

So very sorry for your loss, @patti436 - it's so hard to know what to do, especially as you tested normal with Dr Shehata.

@TammyinCork oh i'm so sorry to hear that it hasn't worked for you yet, so sorry. And to go to Spain for treatment and only get one blastocyst must be really hard. I have everything crossed for you that it's viable.
When you did the prednisolone from ovulation were you doing it along side super-ovulation or just naturally with your cycle?
I guess it's the beginning of another year and all the fear and sadness tied up with it but i have been properly spinning out today and feel so mad, lost and confused 😢i'm sure you and all the women looking for help on here can relate...

Hi Patti,
I am so happy to report that yes it did work. I am currently 20 weeks pregnant :-) convinced that it was the prednisolone that helped about 4 miscarriages in a row.

I hope to hear of some more good news for you ladies still trying so hard x

Thank you... I just took it with my natural cycle. We said we wouldn't bother with superovulation and would go straight to IVF if trying naturally didn't work. Wishing you so well for your next steps...

Congratulations to you! That's lovely news!

I went to dr Shehata after 4 miscarriages, years ago now. 3rd and 4th tested on NHS and all healthy no apparent reason to miscarry. Dr Shehata's tests only showed borderline NK cells but I decided to try the prednisolone in combination with aspirin and the IV. Had 4 subsequent pregnancies on this protocol; 2 easy and successful. The other 2 resulted in miscarriages and the tests indicated a trisomy in both cases (different each time, both incompatible with life past early pregnancy), so just very random and unlucky. May not be rational but but made me believe that the protocol is able to support a healthy baby but doesn't prevent the natural course like in the case trisomies, so if the treatment didnt work, there may be a good reason for it.

@TammyinCork thank you x wishing you lots of luck
@Daffodil1983 thanks for letting me know your experience, really pleased to hear it's worked for you and also wishing you lots of luck

@Luckyduckymum thanks for sharing, did you do the protocol with natural conception?

@PollyDollysHouse so sorry for your losses, I'm afraid I don't know about hydroxychloroquine. But we're in a similar boat and I really hope we're able to get the right medications / support we need and it's 5th time lucky for us both

That's right.

I hope you appointment at Creative Fertility goes well.