Though AAV is a continual situation with no remedy, it’s essential to work along with your care staff to deal with it and any unwanted side effects of corticosteroid therapy that you could be expertise.
“It’s essential to have open communication about unwanted side effects you might be experiencing,” Dua says. “If we aren’t conscious of your issues and points across the drugs, we will’t appropriately handle them or take steps to attempt to assist reduce the unwanted side effects and toxicities you might be experiencing.”
This begins earlier than therapy begins, Savjani says. Along with discussing corticosteroids’ dangers as you develop a therapy plan, contemplate constructing a prevention plan for unwanted side effects, she says.
Steroids’ unwanted side effects throughout AAV therapy could be troubling, however it’s best to by no means cease them abruptly, or chilly turkey. As an alternative, work along with your care staff on a technique to taper your dosage, particularly when you’ve got taken steroids for various weeks.
“When you have been on steroids chronically, usually outlined as greater than three months, your physique’s personal cortisol system, the adrenal glands, can shut off,” Dr. Lally says. “For those who cease the steroids too abruptly with out tapering, which permits for the adrenal glands to begin producing cortisol once more, there could be what’s often known as an adrenal disaster.”
- Extreme fatigue
- Aching and joint ache
- Lightheadedness
- Lack of urge for food
- Nausea
- Weak point
Drugs resembling avacopan might allow you to taper off steroids, Warrington says. When you have extreme granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis, two varieties of AAV, you additionally could also be prescribed drugs resembling rituximab (Rituxan) or cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) alongside steroids to assist get you nearer to remission, Savjani says.
