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How long till Pred starts working

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/18/2009 11:27 AM (GMT 0)
I am in a full blown UC, Have not had problems for several years. How long does it take Pred to start doing something? Besides making me feel like crap. Been on them about 2 weeks. Started at 10mg now at 20mg.
Posted 2/18/2009 11:41 AM (GMT 0)

I've never seen anyone start at 10 mg and work their way up. Physicians usually start someone out on 40 to 60 mg and they reduce the amount of Prednisone by 5 to 10 mg per week. Quiting prednisone immediately can cause severe side effects.

If Prednisone is going to work at all, you should see results almost immediately. Prednisone no longer works for me. 

Posted 2/18/2009 11:50 AM (GMT 0)
How long until the cramping stops?
Posted 2/18/2009 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
For me it stopped within several days of taking Prednisone. It sounds to me that you are not on a high enough of a dose. The lowest dose I ever started out on was 40 mg. The only thing I can recommend is Gatorade and vitamins to help with the dehydration, that may help reduce the cramps.
Posted 2/18/2009 12:14 PM (GMT 0)
Are you talking abdominal cramps or cramps all over. When I am in a flare I cramp all over. My muscles feel like they are being torn apart. When this happens, I put salt under my tongue and I usually get immediate relief.

Posted 2/18/2009 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Abdominal cramps, they come and go. I have been drinking more water and sometimes I add gateraide. I am seeing my Dr. tonight and am going to ask to increase the Pred and put me on asacol. Bad part about all this, is I may be starting a new job.

Posted 2/18/2009 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
I hope you have an understanding employer, good luck on your new job. What is your diet like? I eat small meals, around 6 per day. I also eat healthy. I was in remission for 3 years and I got use to eating and drinking what I wanted, when I flared, I had to change my diet. Fresh vegetables and red meat will cramp me up immediately after consumption. I eat steamed vegetables and chicken without the skin. I'm fairly confident the right level of prednisone will get you back in remission, especially if you haven't taken it in awhile.
Posted 2/18/2009 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, dont have the job yet. What makes it stressful now, is to start a new job with full blown UC. Hope they dont call me to soon, this way I may get a handle on it. I dont think a new employer wants to hear that you have med. problems right off the bat.

Posted 2/18/2009 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
Prednisone shouldn't be tapered up. It should be started at a high dose and then when you're in remission, tapered off slowly. Is it possible you misunderstood your doctor's instructions?

As many posters before me have said, I've started at 40 mg, and I saw significant, and I mean SIGNIFICANT results the next day.
Posted 2/18/2009 3:11 PM (GMT 0)

I think all are right.  I started at 40mg and got relief from bleeding and cramping two days.  Check with your doc. 

ElaineNY

Posted 2/18/2009 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
30 or 40 is a good place to start. I usually notice improvement the first day! The side effects are crappy, but the urgency of a flare is worse, for me.
Posted 2/18/2009 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
I started at 40mg and noticed a difference within 24-36 hours if I remember correctly. It was bliss.
Posted 2/18/2009 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I always started at 60 and felt good within hours. 10 or even 20 won't do anything if you're in a full-blown flare. Get a new doc.
Posted 2/18/2009 7:45 PM (GMT 0)

Can anyone tell me when - at what dose and time prednisone quit working for you when tapering.  Will I get to 20 and see symptoms again - or again are we all different??

ElaineNY

Posted 2/18/2009 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Pred for about 2 months and I'm still waiting for it to start working! I started at 40 and have tapered to 20 with no apparent effect on my symptoms, but pretty nasty side effects.
Posted 2/18/2009 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
I have never started on Pred any lower than 40mg. I usually stay on that dose until my symptoms disappear for about a week then taper by 5mg a week. Side affects are not great, weight gain and others, but they are better than the flare.. Ask your doc about uping your dose.
Posted 2/18/2009 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
Started on 40mg until my flare seemed under control for the most part. Started tapering down to 20mg, then 10mg. Was doing good at 10mg until the doc wanted to start me on Entocort (week and a half ago) as I continued to taper the Pred. I am still at 10mg because the Entocort feels like it has regressed my condition. I was feeling great until I started the Entocort.

So to answer your question, 10mg I was feeling fine until I mixed in another drug.
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