Treatment, and by the way, "Talk to your doctor about all the potential side effects!"

At my September 2013 visit to National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado, my doctor initiated a treatment regimen since there was evidence of progression of the Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD).  I'm going to outline the drugs and dosages here.  Side effects will be my next post.

You've probably seen the commercial on TV about an inhaled drug called Symbicort.  It's the one where the father talks about his COPD and not being able to go fly fishing with his son anymore.  After Symbicort he is back on the river fly fishing with his son and grandson.  I can't fly fish and I don't have COPD, but I am on Symbicort now and a myriad of other drugs.

The preferred drug for the treatment of CBD is Methotrexate.  It comes in 2.5 mg. tablets.  My dosage instructions for Methotrexate are:

• Take 3 Tablets weekly for two weeks (all on Saturday)
• Take 4 Tablets weekly for two weeks (all on Saturday)
• Take 5 Tablets weekly for two weeks (all on Saturday)
• Take 6 Tablets weekly for six months (all on Saturday) 

I was told that Methotrexate takes six months to actually kick in and start working the way it is supposed to to as the doctor said, "Maintain and reverse the lung damage that is reversible."  Basically the goal is to stop the progression of the scar tissue in the lungs.  Because of the time lag, Prednisone is prescribed in conjunction with the Methotrexate to speed up the process of reversal and stopping progression.

My dosage instructions for Prednisone (5 mg. tablets) are:

• Take 4 tablets daily for one month
• Take 3 tablets daily for one month
• Take 2 tablets daily for one month
• Take 1 1/2 tablets daily for one month
• Take 1 tablet daily for one month
• Stop

I was also told to take a 1 mg. tablet of Folic Acid daily.  Apparently both drugs can cause Folic Acid deficiencies. 

Finally, I was given instructions for the use of a Symbicort 160/4.5 inhaler.

The prescribed dosage for Symbicort is:

• Two puffs twice daily.  The puffs are inhaled deeply after a long exhalation and held for 10 seconds.  I typically do this upon waking and then before bed.  The inhalation of two puffs are followed by a gargle with antiseptic mouthwash to prevent thrush (yeast growth in the mouth).  I know TMI!  

One thing I should tell you about myself is that I always follow doctors orders.  Always.  Maybe its because I became used to following orders in the Army, but I follow orders.  I was anxious about starting this regimen, especially with the potential for side effects, but I do it all religiously.  I'll tell you how its going soon.

For more information on the drugs, here are some links if you are so inclined.

Methotrexate:  http://www.drugs.com/methotrexate.html
Prednisone:  http://www.drugs.com/prednisone.html
Folic Acid: http://www.drugs.com/folic_acid.html
Symbicort:  http://www.mysymbicort.com/default.aspx