Has anyone taken Zolidime and weaned away from this medicine? How did you do it?

Question

I've been taking it for my RA for about 4 years

Zolidime is an anti-inflamatory made in mexico

Answer 1

Couldn't find much about it online except for the suggestion that Zolidime contains dexamethasone.

Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid which makes sense because steroids are often used to treat severe RA. The trouble is that when someone has been on steroids for a long time (and 4 years certainly counts!), the withdrawal of steroids needs to be done gradually and under the supervision of a doctor.

The reason for this is that the body gradually gets used to the presence of corticosteroids coming from outside the body and gradually slows down its own production of corticosteroids. Then, when the steroids from outside the body are abruptly withdrawn, the body has no steroids at all and gets quite sick with adrenal insufficiency - nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, low sodium, high potassium, low blood pressure, shock, and death.

The other trouble with withdrawing steroids is that the symptoms of the underlying illness often come back once the steroids that had suppressed the disease come back.

That being said, there ARE very good reasons to come off of steroids if you don't need them anymore. The withdrawal, however, needs to be done gradually and under medical supervision.

Bring the package insert (and a translation if possible) to your doctor's office and let him/her know you're interested in getting off of the medicine and see what they say.

Good luck!