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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/29/2012 11:40 AM (GMT 0)
Last Thursday, I finally convinced my GI I was in a flare.  He prescribed a prednisone taper starting at 40 mg and tapering 5 mg every five days.  This morning I took my sixth dose.  So far the prednisone has only lessened my cramps.  Still have urgency, blood, soft stools.  My GI is on vacation until after Labor Day.  I'm supposed to start taking 35mg on Friday.  I don't know if I should reduce the doseage or stay at 40 mg until I can speak with him.  How long can it take for prednisone to start working. 

I was on a prednisone taper in April 2011 that put me in remission for a year.  I'm worried the prednisone will not kick in this time.  I thought it would work quickly since I started at a higher dose this time.

Any thoughts to share?  Thanks--the support of this group of fellow sufferers comforts me.

Posted 8/29/2012 11:46 AM (GMT 0)
I meant to say tapering every seven days not every five days. Sorry
Posted 8/29/2012 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
did you have your stool tested? Maybe you have c.difficile or another bacterial infection. If that is the case, Pred will actually make it worse.
Posted 8/29/2012 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, investigate further. Pred should start working within 1-2 days, so I find it strange it hasn't helped at all after nearly a week. May be worth staying on it at 40mg a bit longer, since a group of slow responders have been identified, but if not even a partial change is seen by day 10, I would start tapering off that $@~^ pronto.

Getting tested for a bacterial infection sounds like a good idea as well.
Posted 8/29/2012 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
call your doctor's office anyway. maybe someone is covering his urgent/emergency calls. or have him paged on an emergency basis.

feel better.
Posted 8/29/2012 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your responses. I'll call the doctor's office tomorrow to see if I can talk to anyone. I'm having my stool tested on Friday. Also having some blood work done. When I took prednisone in Aprill 2011, I remember it took a several days to kick in, but I don't remember how long. Not sureI should drop down to 35mg on Friday if I still don't have any improvement.
Posted 8/29/2012 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Pred can stop working all together, it happend to me...I was on it a handful of times over a 7 yr period and wham, it stopped working all together...evil med!
Posted 8/30/2012 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
This pred is so confusing. Yesterday and this morning the cramps are just about gone. However, my bms are softer and shapeless with mucous. I'm bringing in stool samples today and having blood drawn. Maybe the tests will provide some answers.
Today was day 7 at 40mg of pred. Tomorrow I'm supposed to start 35mg. I'll do that and see what happens.
I don't know what else to do.
Thanks to those of you who responded.
Posted 8/30/2012 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
Think I'd stay on the 40mg a bit longer, at least until you get the test results back. Won't do you any harm to stay at 40mg for a couple of weeks and, if you are a slow responder, will give more time for the Pred to fully work. But if you drop down to 35mg the Pred will already become less effective.

Tbh, I only really decently responded to 40mg of Pred. Even 35mg didn't feel like it was doing as much as 40mg.
Posted 8/30/2012 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Agreed. My doc has put me in 40mg pred, with a 2 week interval for tapering 5mg. Although noticing some good efects, the "remission" point took more than 10 days.
Posted 8/30/2012 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
NCOT and Djin-
Thanks for your responses. I am going to stay at 40mg until my doctor gets back on Tuesday. I called his office today and was told a NP would get back to me today to discuss pred doseage but no one has. Djin--hearing you say getting to remission point took more than 10 days gives me hope. I am feeling better but I'm not there yet. Today was the 7th dose so I will give it a few more days. Thanks again! You folks are awesome!
Posted 8/31/2012 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Just a quick update. I spoke with the nurse practioner today who said to stay at 40mg until I speak with the doctor next week--unless I feel 100% better--then I can taper to 35mg. Feeling pretty good today with almost normal stools but still had some blood on stools this morning, so I guess I'm not 100%

In the meantime, I broke a tooth and had to have a a root canal. Will be having the tooth cap. The dentist had some concerns about the prednisone, so I'll just hope for the best.

Hope you all have a good weekend.
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