How helpful are steroids for treating Temporal Arteritis?

richie540 · Newbie Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 2

Hello, folks. My husband has been diagnosed temporal arteritis. I don’t know much about this disease, but his doctor recommended steroids as a possible treatment. I would like to know how helpful these medications are for treating this condition. I would appreciate all your replies. Thank you all for answering to my post.

case186 · Newbie Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 2

Hi. Temporal arteritis has a generalized vasculopathy of medium and large arteries in its background. New onset of headaches with patients older than 50 years should point to this disease. This condition is usually treated by high doses of prednisone. Immunosuppressive drugs such as Imuran can also be used here. Treatment with steroids can relieve patient from its severe symptoms. It improves vision on affected eye and prevents blindness on contralateral eye. However, steroids have many side effects. Your husband should take them strictly by his doctor’s instructions. I hope I’ve helped. Bye!

Guest · Guest

Don't want to scare you, but my Mom has had severe mental side effects either from Prednisone or temporal arteritis which Dr's have not been able to treat at this point. PLEASE make sure your husband gets immediate psychiatric and neurological evaluation if you notice any change in behavior at all as I think my Mom would be in a much better place if we had done this (or Dr's she was seeing at the time) when we started noticing behavior changes. Seems like TA is generally treatable with little side effect, so hope the best in your husband's treatment!

How helpful are steroids for treating Temporal Arteritis?

LIFEFORM SOCIAL COMMUNITY NETWORK