Coping With Prednisone and Other Cortisone-Related Medicines : It May Work Miracles, but How Do You Handle the Side Effects? [Hardcover]

Eugenia Zukerman (Author), Julie R. Ingelfinger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 1997

Approximately one million Americans per year take high doses of prednisone and related drugs (glucocorticoids) to treat serious illnesses and conditions ranging from asthma to rheumatoid arthritis to kidney disease to organ transplantation. Wile these medicines may have unpleasant, even devastating side effects, including gastrointestinal problems, intense mood swings, changes in hair and skin, and increased susceptibility to infection, they may also be the only treatment available for serious or life-threatening illnesses.

When the world-renowned flutist Eugenia Zuckerman was prescribed prednisone to combat a rare lung disease, she teamed up with her sister, Julie R. Ingelfinger, a well-known specialist in pediatric nephrology and hypertension at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, to write the first ever, comprehensive guide for patients undergoing this difficult treatment.

Packed with everything your doctor didn't have time to tell you, including recipes, exercises, and tips based on personal experience, Coping with Prednisone is an invaluable handbook for health-care workers, caregivers, and especially for patients themselves.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When flutist Eugenia Zukerman developed a rare lung disease and began taking the powerful drug prednisone as part of her treatment, she was subjected--with little choice and less preparation--to a barrage of side effects: intense mood swings, bloating, changes in her hair and skin, gastrointestinal problems, and more. Physician (and sister) Julie was shocked to discover how few materials were available to help patients cope with this difficult medication. Together, the distinguished sisters created a highly readable, easy-to-understand, and complete guide through the treatment experience.

Coping with Prednisone begins with the basics, leading readers through the many promises and perils of prednisone, from its side effects to a diet that promises to "beat the bloat and the munchies" with helpful recipes. What makes this guide compelling is not only the easy-to-chew, easy-to-digest presentation, but also the sisters' unique way through it. They include information on such common yet daunting problems as changing doctors, treatment for the very young and very old, long-term medication, and withdrawal from high-dose steroids. Tables analyzing generic and brand-name drugs, various preparations, and organizations that offer help conclude this outstanding and much-needed volume.

From Library Journal

Prednisone has been dubbed a "wonder drug" because of its effectiveness in treating everything from asthma and rheumatoid arthritis to kidney disease and organ transplants; however, long-term use may cause side effects such as bloating, weight gain, and depression. Zukerman, a renowned flutist and arts correspondent for CBS's Sunday Morning, discovered prednisone's down sides when she took it to treat a rare lung disease. With her sister, a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, Zukerman has written an empathetic, easy-to-understand, and factually accurate guide that offers suggestions, recipes, and exercises for relieving the drug's unpleasantness. She includes additional information about the chemistry, preparations, dosage, and a bibliography about the medication. Despite a few generalizations (rheumatoid arthritis is serious but not life-threatening), this work is recommended for consumer health collections, although readers taking the drug will want to buy their own copies. A more thorough source for libraries is the annual Complete Drug Reference 1997 (St. Martin's, 1996), which covers 10,000 drugs.?Margaret Norden, Marymount Univ. Lib., Arlington, Va.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 179 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (July 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312155026
• ISBN-13: 978-0312155025
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding and comprehensive, February 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Coping With Prednisone and Other Cortisone-Related Medicines : It May Work Miracles, but How Do You Handle the Side Effects? (Hardcover)

A small, yet ever so comprehensive book which provides detailed medication information, as well as a much needed description of the patient's experience/perspective while on long-term prednisone therapy. From diet guidelines,mood swings, possible side-effects (both short and long-term), resources, and effects of withdrawal, the authors have provided concrete information interlaced or interwoven with the patient's experience. In this case, the patient, Ms.Zukerman, has, I feel, captured the essence of the experience, which may either validate other patient's experiences, or, minimally, provide support for what can be a very isolating situation. Each patient, of course, will react/respond to prednisone in their own specific or particular manner, which is dependent on many variables. (The disease itself, personality characteristics, amount and duration of the medication.) For some, seeking only concrete information, the book provides that in a clear, succinct manner. For others, who experience mood swings, difficulty with coordination, cognitive functioning, and physical side effects caused by the medication, it is Ms.Zukerman's ability to convey the experience which makes this book outstanding.

The book should be read by patients before they embark on long term prednisone therapy, and by family members, as well. Any physician who places patients on prednisone should, I believe, read Ms.Zukerman's account. Thanks to the authors for this much needed book !

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent source of information!, May 22, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Portsmouth, NH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coping With Prednisone and Other Cortisone-Related Medicines : It May Work Miracles, but How Do You Handle the Side Effects? (Hardcover)

I have been on Prednisone for almost 2 yrs. and I wish my Doctor had handed me this book 2 yrs. ago! It covers the side effects of this drug better than any other souce I have found. It also helped me understand that as I come off of using Prednisone that one is not instantly back to normal. I can certainly recommend this book.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prednisone, Pemphigus and Me, December 12, 2000

By 

Susan (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coping With Prednisone and Other Cortisone-Related Medicines : It May Work Miracles, but How Do You Handle the Side Effects? (Hardcover)

I have a rare, autoimmune disease called Pemphigus Vulgaris. When I was diagnosed I was placed on a high dose of prednisone in 1998 and I am still on prednisone to help keep my disease under control.

I knew nothing about my rare disease or about prednisone and found this book "Coping with Prednisone" which became my lifeline as to exactly what prednisone was, its side-effects and what I could do to help prevent many devastating side-effects of a drug that was to become my friend and my foe.

I still use it as my bible of information on prednisone and refer to it often, as new questions or problems arise. Although it isn't specifically written for my disease, I found it to be convenient to read and easy to refer to.

Actually, when I found the book was available on Amazon.com, I read a review here by someone else who had pemphigus and I contacted him via his email. I ordered my book and have never looked back.

I have come a long way since I bought this book back in 1998 and have become very knowlegeable about my disease and prednisone, including writing my own online newsletter about pemphigus.

So, I would highly recommend buying this book if you want to learn a lot about prednisone...no matter the disease or medical condition you may have that calls for you taking prednisone....especially if you have to take prednisone for more than a few months.