Prednisone and libido

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and take prednisone occasionally when My joints swells up and and get painfull, stiff.

My libido comes down when I quit prednisone. Fluid retention starts to build up without prednisone.

What can I do instead of taking prednisone.


I heard lot of side effects of taking long tern prednisone including diabetes.

If there any adrenal support medicine available that will help me not taking prednisone. Lasix also makes me urinate and helps helps with pain and stiffness.

What maintenance medication are you taking for the RA? Might be time to change that up to reduce the number times you have to take a course of prednisone.

Nandrolone.

excelnelg said:

Nandrolone.

Click to expand...

Does that help with RA?

Have you ever tried Ginger? It can help with joint and bone health, and has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.

Realized my response above was poorly worded and may no make a lot of sense. The point I was trying to make is that if you need the prednisone, the RA may not be well controlled. Uncontrolled inflammation and not feeling great could then be the cause of your lower libido.

Currently I am taking Sulfasalazine, Methotraxate , tramadol and temporary prednisone.

For for sleep Diazepam. For anxiety Telazine and clozepam.

So Nandrolone will fix the issue if I do not take Prednisolone. Does Nandrolone increase libido?

I have used prednisone in the past and it increases my libido (and hunger) a lot. But, like you said, it can have long term consequences in decreasing bone density and increasing metabolic issues.

Have you tried any of these? Are you on TRT? Yes, nandrolone may help with joint pain.

Biologic DMARDs​

Biologic DMARDs are genetically engineered proteins that target specific parts of the immune system
1
5
. They are typically used when conventional DMARDs are not effective enough. Examples include:

• Adalimumab (Humira)
• Etanercept (Enbrel)
• Infliximab (Remicade)
• Rituximab (Rituxan)

JAK Inhibitors​

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are a newer class of medications for RA
5
13
. They work by blocking specific enzymes involved in the inflammatory process. Currently approved JAK inhibitors include:

• Tofacitinib (Xeljanz)
• Baricitinib (Olumiant)
• Upadacitinib (Rinvoq)

Nandrolone decanoate, an anabolic steroid, has been studied for its potential effects in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, research has shown mixed results regarding its efficacy in managing RA symptoms and disease progression.

## Effects on Bone Metabolism

A controlled trial investigating the use of nandrolone decanoate in RA patients found that it had no significant impact on bone metabolism[1][2]. The study involved 47 patients, with 24 receiving 50 mg of nandrolone decanoate intramuscularly every three weeks for two years, while 23 patients served as controls. Despite producing a significant anabolic effect, nandrolone decanoate did not demonstrate any measurable action on bone metabolism in RA patients.

## Clinical Outcomes

The same study reported modest clinical deterioration in both the treatment and control groups, with the exception of grip strength[1]. There were no significant changes observed in:

- Total body calcium
- Total body phosphorus
- Body weight
- Bone index/bone width measurements

## Hematological Effects

Interestingly, the study found that nandrolone decanoate may have some beneficial effects on chronic anemia associated with RA[1][2]. Significant increases were observed in:

- Total body nitrogen
- Total body potassium
- Hemoglobin
- Packed cell volume (by six months)

These improvements in hematological parameters suggest that nandrolone decanoate might help alleviate anemia in RA patients, which is a common complication of the disease.

## Side Effects

The main reported side effect of nandrolone decanoate treatment was hoarseness[1]. No significant radiological changes were observed in the patients receiving the treatment.

## Potential Benefits in Male RA Patients

Some research has suggested that nandrolone decanoate may have more pronounced benefits in male RA patients. A study examining its use as adjunct therapy in male RA patients reported an increase in hemoglobin levels (from 13.9 ±1.8 to 15.9± post-treatment)[7]. This finding aligns with the hematological improvements noted in the earlier study.

## Joint Pain Relief

While not specifically studied in RA, nandrolone decanoate has shown promise in relieving joint pain in hypogonadal men. A pilot study found that nandrolone decanoate improved joint pain in these patients within 8 weeks of treatment[8]. Although this finding is not directly related to RA, it suggests potential pain-relieving properties that could be relevant to RA patients experiencing joint pain.

In conclusion, while nandrolone decanoate does not appear to significantly impact bone metabolism or overall disease progression in RA, it may offer some benefits in managing anemia and potentially alleviating joint pain. However, more research is needed to fully understand its role in RA treatment, particularly regarding its effects on male patients and its potential for pain relief.

Citations:
[1] A controlled trial of nandrolone decanoate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in postmenopausal women - PubMed
[2] A controlled trial of nandrolone decanoate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in postmenopausal women. | Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
[3] https://www.semanticscholar.org/pap...shaw/90b1f7e77b95a8fff686a0776a763b69b7a54361
[4] Nandrolone decanoate relieves joint pain in hypogonadal men: a novel prospective pilot study and review of the literature - Tatem - Translational Andrology and Urology
[5] Effect of nandrolone decanoate (Deca-Durabolin) on the disease activity of female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus - Rheumatology International
[6] Europe PMC
[7] https://www.researchgate.net/public...py_in_male_patients_with_rheumatoid_arthritis
[8] 027 Nandrolone Decanoate Improves Joint Pain in Hypogonadal Men Within 8 Weeks: Updates to a Novel Prospective Pilot Study

Thanks for the detail report.