Hope I am in the right area - I find this all a bit confusing as IT isn't my strong point! I live just over 2 hours south of Sydney, I'm from England but now an Aussie. I have had iritis for 4 years. First 2 years controlled by maxidex but now taking prednisone and methotrexate. Would be great to hear from other iritis sufferers in Oz. My email address is mandyjoy62@yahoo.com.au
Mandy Joy, Welcome to the group. I'm from the USA but wanted to greet you to the site. I suggest you post to the General Discussion forum as not many people post to this link.
when does the predinisilone taper begin for you since you are on Methotrexate? I assume your eyes are quiet at this time because of the MTX??
Wish you the very best,
Mike from Tacoma, Washington USA
Thank you for your message and I will enter a post under general discussion as you advise. I have been on MTX for 9 mths and prednisone for 2 years. Every time I try and come off the prednisone my iritis worsens and I often get a swollen retina. I have been advised that it's best to be on both medications so I can keep the level of prednisone low. My iritis has never gone away in 4 years so I think I have it pretty severe.
Re: New Member - hello Australian's
can your doctor increase the amount of methotrexate to a level that you can get off of the prednisilone? this is the method used by ocular immunologists here in the USA.
the goal is no inflammation off all steroids. then you stay at that level for a period of time so that the immune system stops making the cells that are attacking your eyes by mistake. then you are slowly tapered off of the methotrexate. sometimes the amount of methotrexate is pushed to a level greater than that used by rheumatologists to treat arthritis for example. at levels above about 20mg it is given by injection which reduces side effects of the drug. it is done like a diabetic injects insulin, under the skin usually in the belly area. many of our members take it this way rather than the oral method.
your cystoid macular oedema is of great concern as it can be a vision robbing complication to the disease process.
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