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tapering prednisone

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Posted 4/28/2010 11:05 AM (GMT 0)
Just wondering if going from 20mg to 10mg is too much of a jump. I know my GI wants me off this soon because i have been on and off it now for a year! And believe me i want off myself...so tired of these side effects and want to have my normal face back...darn moonface! Just don't want to flare again. Thanks for the imput!
Posted 4/28/2010 11:53 AM (GMT 0)
My doc has me tapering off at 5 mg per week. I split the 10mg tablets in half.
Posted 4/28/2010 11:57 AM (GMT 0)
     Ditto Viking
Posted 4/28/2010 11:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lynn,
I am currently also Tapering but on my own Accord, I have been on the prednislone about 3/4 years now, some years at real high doses 40-60 MG a day, currently on 5/10 MG a day, but now im that low my symtoms seems to be coming back, stomach a bit more painful, even more mood swings, I wish i never got on this drug in the first place, seems my body is hooked on them.

I hope it works out well for you!
Posted 4/28/2010 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
I think 20 to 10 is a big drop but it works for some people. I was doing a quicker taper and I started having symptoms when my dose got low. I had to go back up to 15 and taper at 2.5mg a week. I would do what your dr says but if it doesn't work, there may be options for slowing things down a bit. If you can't follow your doctors instructions because you don't trust him, you should probably start looking for other opinions on your treatment.
Posted 4/28/2010 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Oh...don't get me wrong i trust my doctor completly. I have been with him since my diagnosis and he is great. I was just asking for others opinions. I guess i am just really nervous because i am so tired of being sick and really enjoy right now feeling good. I am hoping the the increase in remicade is what is keeping me this way. Crossing my fingers and will drop to 10mg next week!
Posted 4/28/2010 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
The slow move taper is between 10 and 0, really. I wouldn't worry about 20 to 10 so much, but I've gone to 15 before 10.
Posted 4/28/2010 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
I absolutely wouldn't go from 20 to 10, but that is just me. That is a big jump. My doc always has be go down in 2.5mg increments from 20 down, so going from 20 to 10 is going to take me 4 weeks. For me, it wouldn't be worth the risk of having problems and having to bump the dose back up again. As much as I desperately want my moonface and all of the other nasty side effects to be gone, I just don't think it is worth it. Is your doc recommending the jump down from 20 to 10? I'm sure he has his reasons if so-but if you are wanting to do it on your own, I'm not sure I would advise it. When it comes to pred tapers, I think it is always better to ere on the side of caution and take it slow, as AWFUL as it is to delay getting off of them.

Just my 2 cents!
Posted 4/29/2010 11:41 AM (GMT 0)
I have decided to go with my own gut feeling and taper to 15mg next week. I really am going to taper slowly and deal with this stupid side effects from the prednisone for a little longer if it helps not to go back to feeling that awful way again.
Posted 4/29/2010 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
      Good idea.  The doctor wants me off the prednisone by the time he sees me on the 12th of May.  I am tapering 5 mgm per week, but I do remember him telling me that after the week on the 5 mgm to take 5 mgm every other day for yet another week.  That will mean I will still be on the prednisone when he sees me eyes .  I think he wants to check to see whether my adrenal glands are functioning properly and I have to be off the prednisone in order to do that.  Right now I am on 10 mgm, which I started yesterday.  My condition is improving but I still feel some urgency, but at least am able to "hold" it until I reach my bathroom. 

     Rectal meds are helping a LOT.

Posted 5/19/2010 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
I have been researching Prednisone since January when I was put on 60mg. I am now down to 20mg but my two doctors can't come to an agreement on reducing it, one drops me 2.5 and the other wants to keep me at 20 because of the side effects that I have. So in moving my research farther I have sought out a Naturepath for his take on this. I have been under his care for 3 weeks now. In two days I will drop 5mg to 15 mgs daily. He is supplementing me with bioidentical cortisol to alleviate the side effects of coming off of the prednisone along with other drastic dietary changes and supplements. I am being treated for temporal artiritis and pmr. Just in the last week have I experienced much more energy and have seen a lot of improvement. Far from my 4 months with the regular medical field whom continues to give more and more prescriptions to compensate for the issues that the prednisone has been giving me.
My two medical doctors I feel are very good doctors. However they are only looking down the medical field that they were trained in. I am looking for what can heal me and what is causing the inflamation in my system, improve my life and get me off of the medications, not just cover up the problems. Which is what my medical Drs. have said that it is just a temporary fix. However one has to be willing to make drastic changes in lifestyle to accomplish possible change.
For anyone on long term prednisone I would encourage you to continue researching all of your options. I think a person can benefit from both the medical and naturepath. :-)

I was surprised to see how quickly the drs are removing some of you off of the prednisone. Decreasing it weekly. My 2.5 decreases were 4 weeks at a time. Which would take months to drop off completely. Maybe depends on the medical condition.
Posted 5/19/2010 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Just to update you guys..i am currently on 5mg prednisone and doing okay...keeping my fingers crossed. I had another remicade treatment yesturday and will be off the prednisone on monday...i can't wait!!!
Posted 5/19/2010 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
:) Yay!!!!!
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