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Prednisone taper and symptoms

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/22/2010 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
Only 2nd time I've had to be on pred for a flare (antibiotic induced).

Am finishing first week of 40 mgs prednisone for a UC flare and just wondering what schedule most people follow re: tapering and symptoms.  Does your GI insist you are on your starting (max) dose until ALL symptoms clear (urgency/blood/D)?  Then do you stay on your pred level a week PAST that time to ensure symptoms are at bay, and then start tapering?

For example: 40 mgs for 2 weeks until you have a 'normal' day, stay on 40 to be sure, then 35 for a week if symptoms don't return, then 30, etc.

Add'l question: first time i was on pred for a flare, I improved very quickly at 30 mgs....this time, i am at the end of a week and still have blood and rough mornings.  Does it seem to others that the more you use pred, the more you HAVE to use to get remission?

Sounds like a lot of people have blood regardless of improvement of other symptoms.   GI's and pred treatment vary so much, I was just wondering what others experience.

Thanks!

Posted 3/22/2010 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Not until all symptoms were clear, because I am one whose blood never went away completely (until Remicade).

I would take 40 mg prednisone for just a day or two, then 30 until I felt significantly better (urgency and pain subsided), then taper from there. The dosages I needed never changed over the years. I also have not had any lasting effects from prednisone, despite using it for flares for almost 25 years. My bones test fine, maybe strength training has helped.

Just FYI, because everyone is different!

I have had this for so long, I adjust my meds myself, with advice from my GI on occasion. She trusted me to know what I needed to do, and would give me prednisone or Rowasa whenever I said I needed it. She knew I wouldn't ask for it unless I really needed it! I haven't needed anything else since starting Remicade.
Posted 3/22/2010 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Im on pred at the moment, feeling a bit rough though, I am 1 week in on 40mg.

My doc has said 2 weeks on 40mg then drop to 30 for one week then every week drop 5mg.

It will mean you are on pred for 8 weeks in total.

x
Posted 3/23/2010 12:24 PM (GMT 0)
Just heard from doc yesterday and that is exactly the regimine he advised -  : )
Posted 3/24/2010 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi. I was on 60 ml until the blood went away and I had about 5 BMs a day. I think it took about a week or two. I then went from 60 to 40 in about 4 days. I spent a week to a week and a half on 40. After that I was supposed to cut each week by 10 until I reached 10mg; however, I was really miserable from the withdrawal and ended up cutting by 5 every week until I reached 10mg. Once I reached 10 my doc had me take things things pretty slowly. I think I went down 2.5 every week
Hope you are feeling better soon.
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