Prednisone withdrawal

Hi Peggy, how long were you on the 10mg before reducing the dose? 10mg is considered a low dose, perhaps you are sensitive to it. Depending on how many pills you have left, I would divide them up to 5mg & then split the dose to 2.5. Hopefully doing it this way you will not suffer so much. Take care.

The body naturally produces about 5 mg - long term prednisone use can sometimes cause the body to quit producing what it needs. Sometimes it's necessary to have some adrenal gland tests to see what amount your body is producing... it can be dangerous to go lower than 5 without this testing or without the close supervision of a Dr. It's what keeps the heart beating!!!

After years of prednisone, when I came off, after we got below 10 mg, it was down by 1 mg per week. If I felt okay at the end of the week, I could go down again after waiting 1 more week. If I didn't feel okay, I had to go up 1 mg and try again after waiting a week. It was a slow dance!

Peggy, I saw in another thread that you have been on pred for years. That explains why you got into trouble dropping the dose in half.

I have been border line diabetic for years. Any time I have had to go on steroids it always shoots the sugar reading high. The last time I was in the hospital I was on insulin shots 3 times a day. First thing the dr said to my family was why didn't you tell us she is diabetic! This was a hospitalists that knew nothing about me. It took awhile but once the pred cleared my system I did not need anything further.

Take care.

Peggy, if your rheummie is not open to doing the labs, please ask your gp to refer you to an endocrinologist, treating adrenal issues is their specialty. My husband is diabetic & he was seen by one & she was a tremendous help.

Diet is very important even for people that are considered borderline.

Hey Peggy
I have not been on prednisone for many years but here's what I remember
I was weaning from 40 mgs per day and it took me 1 1/2 years
Once I got down to 10 I was only allowed to drop 1 mg every 2-4 weeks
I was told that the lower the dose the slower the wean
I remember it being difficult- it often took me the 4 weeks to be able to comfortably drop the 1
All my best
Weary

I had a similar experience to WearyRA after being on it for about a year it took me probably close to 6 months of lowering and upping repeatedly to drop off of it completely. I had very bad physical withdrawals coming off of it when I got under 10MG/day. Leg cramps, sweating, diarrhea and incredible spikes in pain and swelling. I have taken it a few times since when I have had very bad flares but I am very leery about not taking it long term again. I want to avoid that at all costs if I possibly can.
My MIL was diagnosed with RA recently and due to a myriad of other immune related problems as well has very few options for treatment. She has been taking it this whole time and the Doctors have not coordinated very well on just how she should do that. They kept trying to lower her dose and she would have incredible flare ups. I told her that they were dropping her too fast. She has been suffering terribly and has been in a near constant state of flare. I think they may have found something new to try her on but I do not remember the name of it. I hope that it is effective and she can finally find some relief.
I hope you can find a happy medium with it psbg. Sometimes there just are not many options for us even with all these new treatments. I will keep you in my prayers..