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Lowest dose of Prednisone?

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Posted 10/29/2017 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone know what the lowest does of prednisone is that can be taken . I don't want to get into the whole issue of obeying my doctor and taking the large PRESCRIBED AMOUNT ...

Lets just say the dose prescribed is too high for me to want to go through the side effects .
after many years of being overweight I recently lost 45 lbs * with more to lose (
the last thing I am willing to do is let this drug cause weight gain with everything else it does ( talk about depression .. )it will get me for sure

As for talking to my doctor ... he is not the talk able type ...it is his way or no way ...

i would like to know what was the lowest dose anyone has taken and the tapering effect ...

please ...
thanks
Posted 10/29/2017 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
You should find a different doctor if your one is that impossible to talk to. You don't have to take any prednisone at all, but it's better to be honest with your doctor. One possibility is to take Entocort (the generic name is budesonide) instead of prednisone. It's a steroid designed to target the intestines; it's not as strong as prednisone but still fairly effective. And because it's topical rather than systemic it has far fewer side effects.

The lowest effective dose of pred would vary from person to person, so I don't really like to speculate. Speaking for me, nothing under 40mg pred did very much. But I would enquire into Entocort as an alternative. Are you on any other meds, 'cos steroids should never be your only Crohn's medication.
Posted 10/30/2017 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
You didn't really give us much information. Are you flaring? What dose did your doctor suggest and for how long? What meds are you on regularly to keep your Crohn's under control?

I've had minor flares that have only needed 20mg of prednisone for a week or two with a quick week-long taper, and I've had major flares that required starting at 80 mg for a few days, then 40 mg for almost a year that took forger to slowly taper down from.

One thing I've learned, though, is that it's better to take 40-60 mg for a week to nip a flare in the bud, then taper quickly as opposed to trying to just take 20 mg and have it not be very effective and get stuck on it for longer.
Posted 10/31/2017 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you both for some very good info.

I do appreciate you’re input.

I had been on Remicade for years , but insurance changes and Johnson and Johnson no longer helping now makes it impossible ...had a colonoscopy showing active disease ; reason for the prednisone.

NiceCup if I could go to another Dr I would have a long time ago...this town is terrible when it comes to doctors...the one I have is noted as the best....and he is ....here

I take charge of my own health because there is concern only while in his office , then told “see ya in a year” ...all very disturbing

Oh well it is what it is
Posted 11/1/2017 11:25 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry about the Remicade. It's so wrong when patients are taken off necessary medication because they can't afford it anymore. Is another biologic a possibility? Prednisone alone won't control your disease. Unfortunately there's not much else besides biologics which will - 6MP or azathioprine, perhaps. Or methotrexate.

Could you go outside of town to see a better doctor? It means more travelling which isn't ideal, I know.
Posted 11/1/2017 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
If you're worried about the side effects from taking prednisone-steroid, had you considered a budesonide-steroid instead? Budesonide is known to have less side effects than prednisone. Additionally there's a variety of delayed-release budesonide steroids like Entocort EC, Uceris/Clipper among others.

Had you looked into various assistance programs available for remicade: /www.remicade.com/crohns-disease/cost-support
Posted 11/2/2017 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
I'd look into trying a different biologic or possibly being part of a clinical trial. Prednisone is not a long-term solution and IMO is overkill if you are showing inflammation but no symptoms. But for real I would get my hustle on and figure something else out ASAP before it gets worse/unmanageable. You sound apathetic and that won't get you anywhere. Also going behind your GI's back and asking a bunch of internet strangers how to manipulate your prescription is a very bad idea.
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