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Prednisone taper

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/21/2021 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
I started prednisone a couple weeks ago. It's been 4-5 years since I've been on it. We started at 40mg for a week, then 30, and yesterday I dropped to 20. Today I feel awful. Lightheaded, nauseous, and have diarrhea. I think last time I was on pred I did a slower taper going down by 5mg every 5 days. Every time I take prednisone the side effects get worse for me, insomnia, irritability, mood swings. I'm wondering if I'm more sensitive this time to the change in dose each week. Is that possible?
Posted 8/21/2021 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
That is definitely possible! Usually I do 5 mg every 5-7 days when I taper. If symptoms start, go back up and get under control, then go down again by just 5 mg.
Posted 8/21/2021 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks!! That seems smart to step down by 5mg. I'll go back up by 5mg tomorrow and hopefully will help until I can check in with my GI.
Posted 8/22/2021 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
I am just not able to take prednisone anymore. The nausea and rage from it are just too much for me. If at all possible then I will take budesonide/entocort and or Uceris/budesonide.

The absolute best thing I have found to stop a flare is solumedrol IV, but you can only get that in the hospital. It has very little nausea side affects.

When I was in the hospital last year an internal medicine doctor found cortef for me or hydrocortisone. It is MUCH better in terms of side affects than prednisone, but it does not have the anti-inflammatory strength of prednisone. It is still a very strong medicine, and it is all I will use now.

The only issue with it I have is more with doctors. They get confused with the doses to try and make it equivalent to a prednisone dose. It is not that hard though it is about 5mg of pred for 20mg of hyrdocortisone/cortef.
Posted 8/22/2021 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
I wish I could take budesonide. I get similar side effects and it doesn't seem to do anything. Thanks for sharing the other steroid options. It's good to know.
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