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Prednisone question

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Posted 5/24/2010 11:13 AM (GMT 0)
When you go off Prednisone does the rectal bleeding return. As I have tapered off the Prednisone my rectal bleeding has increased ... is this normal....I am on 5mgs a day and will be completely off it by Friday.

Any advice would be helpful...
Nancy
Posted 5/24/2010 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
Have you talked to your doctor about this?
I believe the goal is to have no bleeding once you're off the pred. (With me, bleeding is my primary symptom, so if I'm bleeding, I know I'm still flaring.) I generally use cortenemas for flares, but if I'm doing a taper and bleeding starts up again, I back up to the full dose for a while and then start the taper over again.
Are you using any rectal meds to support the bottom of your colon as you taper the pred?
I really think you should speak with your doc, because s/he would want to know about the bleeding, I would think...
Keep us posted!
Posted 5/24/2010 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
For me bleeding is one of the first signs of a flare, so I would think your bleeding would mean that the pred is not totally doing the job. I'd call your doctor though because you never want to mess with a taper on your own. Good luck and let us know how you are!
Posted 5/24/2010 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
No you should not still be bleeding. As others stated if you are then the pred has not taken care of the flare. The goal with pred is to get you into remission. You should contact your doctor.
Posted 5/24/2010 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
I was having this problem with my last flare and I requested mesalamine retention enemas; they enabled me to taper off the prednisone.
Posted 5/24/2010 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
I also think that if it blood increases already you are not ready to taper off so much. Maybe go back to 15 for a while?
Posted 5/24/2010 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
     I am awaiting surgery on June 28th.  I have been on prednisone (this time) since January.  Every time I taper down to 5 mgm the bleeding returns.  The surgeon does not want me on a high dose of prednisone, but then, he doesn't want me in a bad flare either, sort of a catch 22.  I was tapered down to 5 mgm last Wednesday and the bleeding returned Friday.  So I increased the prednisone to 10 mgm on Saturday....bleeding stopped, but still have the urgency and pressure.  Going to try to hold it at 10 mgm for a bit before tapering to 7.5.
Posted 5/26/2010 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
I am going to see my doctor on Monday....How long can you safely be on prednisone...I was just wondering about this...please advise I have been on it for eight weeks.
Posted 5/26/2010 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
That's a long time but not too long, I think. With some other diseases people have to take it for years. Regarding safety, it probably depends on the individual.
Posted 5/26/2010 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes you may have to bump it up to 20 and then re-taper with additional meds, like mesalamine retention enemas. The longest I have been on prednisone at one time was a little over 4 months, but that was after only a one month break after an 8 week round because I re-flared. I don't think being on it at all is good but sometimes there just seems to be little options. If you have been on it 8 weeks a few additional is not so bad, in my opinion, particularly if you try to add some other treatment in to allow you to get off the prednisone.
Posted 5/26/2010 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
     I've been on predisone for 16 out of the last 24 months.  Currently awaiting surgery because 6MP (for seven years and still flared), Remicade and Humira have all failed.  I am now prednisone dependent.  I was finally down to 5mgm, started bleeding, increased to 7.5 then to 10 mgm.  Today was horrible...everything I ate came out with bleeding, urgency and cramping.  Had to increase the prednisone to 40 mgm.  Feeling somewhat better tonight.
Posted 5/27/2010 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
Christine1946

Why the long wait for the surgery?

Dan
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