What's the taper, what's the prednisone?

Well, I made it down to 10mg and my symptoms came back. I was doing one week increments, going down 2.5mg each time. (See my above post for original schedule)

I am now back up to 15mg and my symptoms seem to be abating. This is the second time I have had to "back-up" on my taper. If things return to normal, as they had I may try 2 week increments instead of one week.

My DR says he wants me to consider Imuran if my symptoms return again. I have only been on PRED for a total of 3 months so far. Is this long? Any other suggestions?

I was at 2.5mg and I started having symptoms. I had to go back up to 5mg and I still wasn't doing great so I went up to 10mg and now I am improving. I am going to stay at this dose for another few days, then go down to 7.5 instead of dropping right down to 5mg. I don't think I was fully healed and the drop to 2.5mg threw my through a loop.

I have 20mg and 5mg pills.

I've been on prednisone since the summer-09,started at 40mg-for 1 month,30-1 month,20-1month,15-1month,10-1month,7.5-1month,5-1month,2.5-1month,this is where i'm at now with thankfully no bleeding etc.Also on 6mp for 7 months,flare seems to be going away thank god-GGOD LUCK 

I think you should add in a mesalamine enema, bump up to 4 Lialda, and take a good probiotic. That combo might get you off of the pred.

I seem to be having the same issue at tryingtoheal. I am new to prednisone - put on it in mid-January. I have been tapering 5 mg per week from 40 mg. In the 40 -20 mg weeks, wow life got really nice. I felt pretty close to normal. When I went to 15 mg. within 2 days, a flare started back. I went to 10 mg this week and hoping that things will normalize soon, but I think that is just wishful thinking.

After reading this thread, when my doctor returns my call, I will suggest going back up to 20 or 25 mg ( as much as I hate to do that ) and then start the taper again but maybe go the route of 2.5 mg reductions and over a longer period of time. I may even cut those down as I get to the lower doses as suggested above. I am also hoping the 6mp just has not had enough time to build up in my system, but when it does, and the slow taper, maybe life will get back to good !

20mg is my "magic number". i cant get below that without major UC symptoms. even at 20mg, i still have the cramping, pain, mucus, urgency... just less bleeding. I feel like i have all of the described side-effects of pred use, and then some... easily angered (roid rage!), im always hungry (packed on about 22lbs. in the last few months), tired and fatigued all day, cant sleep at night, moonface, im cold when i should be warm but sweating when i should be cold... im a wreck. the worst part right now is the headaches. really bad at times and only on the left side, starting where my neck meets my shoulder all the way up to the top of my head. the headaches hasve been daily for about 3 months. varying severity.

I am not giving up the taper just yet. I am back up to 15mg of PRED and am going to stay here until things get completely normal (which they seem to be now that I have gone back up in dose). Then I am going to go down by .25 but stay on each step for two weeks or more instead of one week.

I should be able to do that and still stay close to the 6 month mark for how long I have been on PRED. My GI doc says he would prefer I not stay on PRED longer than 6 month. Actually he wants me to start Imuran now while I am tapering. Even though this flare has lasted over one year it is technically my first in the 10 years I have had UC.

I guess I am willing to stay on the PRED because I have only had mild side effects from it (sleeplessness, fatigue, thirst).