HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Tapering Prednisone

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/10/2009 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
So I have been on 40mg prednisone for about 10 days and its doing nothing. Doc says to go down 10 mg weekly. After getting home I decided I'm unwilling to be on it this long (i have been on predinsone probably for as much as 3 months before, though not for a long time and not continuous. I have been on it in the past in 8 or 9 times for, about a week to two week spans). Anyway wondering if anyone in the past has done it this way, 10 mg down every 3 days. Is this too fast? I have some muscle aches but I had this before the predinsonse too. I'm going to listen to my body on this but I want to know if anybody has done it this fast?
Posted 4/10/2009 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
I know the feeling of wanting to be off of the pred as quickly as possible. However, I believe it's best to follow the doctor's orders. have you discussed your feelings with your doc?

Each time I'm on the pred it seems to take longer to be effective :(
Posted 4/10/2009 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
No I haven't discussed it with him and frankly I'm not sure I will because I doubt I will see him again. I was so angry because he doesn't get how bad I really am and has shown that he has no idea about diet. I know how dangerous predinsone is but being on it and coming off (though I've been spared most of the bad effects so far that people have had). One second thought it might not be a bad idea to call (even though I plan on seeing him again) just to discuss it with him.
Posted 4/11/2009 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
When I've tried to that, because I am really wanting to avoid a moonface or weight gain, it never worked.
I end up biting the bullet and going back to a larger dose with slow tapering if I want it to do any good.
That's my experience.

Did you find a Naturopathic Doc yet?
Posted 4/11/2009 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Once you get to 10mg, do not go too quickly. Your body produces about 7.5mg a day of prednisone on its own... When you are taking pred, it doesnt produce any. So once you reach the 10mg threshold you have to taper slowly - sometimes 2.5mg a week or even less...It can take many weeks to finally taper off completely from 10mg.... I think that dropping 10mg per week is definitely too fast... I wouldn't drop more than 5mg a week until you reach 10mg, then start tapering in 2.5mg increments.

My .02...
Posted 4/11/2009 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
I just saw my GI this afternoon, and he said for me to start taking 10mg of pred every other day, then to quit after I go for an interview on April 23-24 (my primary goal in treatment right now was to be well for my interview). He said he thinks taking 10mg every other day actually works better to get your adrenal glands going again.

There are a lot of different schools of thought on pred, it seems.

And don't be too mad with your GI about diet...what makes UC symptoms worse is so individualistic, he's not going to be able to tell you what to avoid. It really is something you just have to figure out for yourself.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply