I realize everyone's case is different, but for longterm use (as in several years), has it ever been suggested that you try other drugs, such as methotrexate? It too has a whole list of serious side effects, but for some, it's a case of picking your poison.
Methotrexate is what i take now. But i take it for severe eczema. I have severe asthma as well as my severe eczema so for the past 4 years (since i was 16) i would be on prednisone for either my eczema flare or an asthma flare. I think one yr i went maybe 4 weeks without prednisone.
For me, i went through major prednisone withdrawl a few times....that is miserable within itself. Butu the worst side effect for me was the weight gain. When i started takign prednisone when i was 16 i weighed 130lbs....after 3 yrs, i maxed out at 195lbs and im only 5'3"...it was terrible.
I ended up at Johns Hopkins for my eczema and i was started on cyclosporine for about 5 months but than my kidney function began to decline so my derm. switched me to methotrexate.
I now take methotrexate once a week and it has worked wonders. I have to have labs done every 5 weeks to check my liver function and blood levels but so far after about 4 1/2 months all is good. The one side effect that i have experienced is stomach problems but it usually only happens the day after i take it (i take 6 pills on tuesdays and i usually feel pretty crappy on wednesdays) and i cannot drink any alcohol, and when i decide i want to have kids, i have to stop the meds. Under no circumstances can you get pregnant while taking methotrexate. If that happens, you have to terminate so if there is a possibility of gettign pregnant methotrexate is not recommended. The most concerning side effect for me is that methorexate can cause lung fibrosis adn with my asthma being so severe already that is a concern but i'll take the methorexate over prednisone any day