Hello all - I was diagnosed with Meniere's very recently - earlier in January, having had symptoms for about six months but escalating. I also have systemic lupus which must be related or at least affecting each other. Together with my rhumatologist I decided to go on a short round of prednisone which I am starting to taper off of now. I noticed the menier'e symptoms improved on prednisone but didn't go away all together. I am nervous to go off of prednisone because I don't want to go spinning again - do any of you have other conditions - autoimmune conditions - and have you found effective treatment for meniere's in light of your existing treatment? I am on methotrexate and plaquinel.
The fact that the prednisone helps you with MM indicates your MM is autoimmune. Many of us have other autoimmune conditions or our family members do. I have seasonal and food allergies and thyroid issues, my brother has lupus my other brother has migraines, my cousin has MS. check out this article you may find it enlightening http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568997212000092 this is at the end of the report. Take-home messages • Meniere's disease is an autoimmune disorder. Its etiopathogenesis includes viral infection. The histopathological correlate of Meniere's disease is endolymphatic hydrops and vestibular endorgans demonstrates variable degrees of neuroepithelial degeneration • Due to the possible autoimmune pathogenesis of the disease, pharmacotherapy for Meniere's disease may include corticosteroids, etanercept and warfarin. The use of antiviral agents corresponds to the viral hypothesis and has eliminated the various surgical methods of the past. • Gene therapy could be used in the future to transfer genetic material into inner ear cells using viral vectors and to protect, rescue, and even regenerate hair cells of the inner ear
thank you Vicki - do you think the anti-viral drug works when the MM source is auto imune? are we stuck with prednisone only?
I had a full rhematiod worup after my diagnosis and it didn't show autoimmune. I had amazingly good results with high dose prednisone early on but over the course of a year on and off, it stopped working as well. Now the AV's and JOH regimen are better without all the horrid side effects of P. That stuff messes you up big time. Research what it is actually doing and you might think twice. Hope that is helpful. Holly