medicine available over the counter

[bandos2000]

this medicine is great, Methylprednisolone tablets , its a corticosteriod and was prescribed for me in the phils, so was wondering if anyone knows if its available over the counter in thailand, as here its not. it was prescribed for me for atopic dermatitis , which it made better, but as i also suffer from psoriatic arthritis , it had the added benefit of making me feel like a young man again.....at least until i stopped taking it . instead of struggling to walk up stairs, i could run up them, felt the best i have for years, but alas the aching bones are back now.maybe if cannot get that, there is a similar medicine available over the counter.

[Sheryl]

It requires a prescription. It is a serious medication and can have serious side effects (though it is also very useful in treatment of autoimmune disorders and a few other things).

 

As you have discovered it should never be stopped abruptly, has always to be slowly tapered off. And should only be used under medical supervision. Long term usage in particular has serious drawbacks.

 

For the arthritis, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory (NSAID) (ibuprofen, naproxen etc) may help and is available over the counter. Be sure to only take on a full stomach as can cause gastric irritation.

 

Best to see a dermatologist re your psorasis/atoopic dermatitis for optimal treatment.

 

And if the arthritis does not respond to over the counter NSAIDs, see a rhematologist, there are some very good ones at Bumrungrad.

[bandos2000]

Hi Sheryl, thank you for the reply and advice, it was the first time in my life to use that medicine, and it worked wonders for me, it was prescribed by a dermatologist in manila, and we did lessen the dosage before stopping, so was only on it for around a week. im aware it has some serious side effects, but im going to see the doctor again and see what she recommends next, as the reason i saw her in the first place was because of a persistent rash which she said was dermatitis, but still hasnt totally gone. for years and years have been taking NSAIDs , mostly piroxicam,and even methotrexate at one stage when things were really bad, but  just had to stop, some real side effects with that.. but since living in s.e.asia for the last 8 years havent really needed those anymore.its fair to say im around 80% good with arthritis without any medication, but sometimes it feels good to wake up feeling normal and have energy. thanks again.