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Decreasing Prednisone

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Posted 3/21/2011 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone just a few questions about tapering off prednisone. I have been on it for a few months now, and after it didnt help me at 60 mg per day or even through iv dosage in the hospital i was put on remicade and am now extremely improved in terms of my health. I am now down to 10 mg/per day and am dropping to 5 soon, however, even though ive been going slow on the taper and the remicade is working great im going through massive depression and find I'm ridiculously tired all the time, sleeping way beyond 8 hours a night and struggling to get out of bed in the morning. I'm just wondering if it is connected to tapering off prednisone, or if I'm just having depression issues? I have been on prednisone before but never for that long and dont remember feeling anywhere near this bad while tapering.
Posted 3/21/2011 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
chris im tapering at the mo, when i first start pred im very low and mood swings and lack of sleep, mayb u r the other way around, keep in mine its not u its the tabs, try taking your mine of it, a bit of walking etc. good luck and keep the chin up
Posted 3/22/2011 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
Prednisone tapering caused me to have emotional issues. I felt very depressed after each drop down in dosage.
Posted 3/22/2011 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
It is wonderful that you've been able to get down to 10mg and are planning to go to 5mg soon. Yay for Remicade!!! I do believe the exhaustion is in part due to tapering off prednisone. I hope you get your energy back when you're off. I bet it takes a few weeks to feel bad to normal, maybe longer. Please keep us updated on your progress.
Posted 3/22/2011 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
That is pretty normal for pred tapering, unfortunately. You could ask your Dr. about a slower taper, but you might just want to hang in there and get it over with. Good luck. Hope you are feeling better soon.
Posted 3/23/2011 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone, i dont think i can taper any slower im dropping 5 mg every two weeks right now which i believe is pretty slow, im down to 5 mg today and i feel more exhausted then ever. I had a remicade infusion this morning and i have an essay due tomorrow, and yet i have barely been able to keep my eyes open all day. Not to mention the fact that im in a horrible mood and depressed beyond belief...i hate this disease, the multiple drugs i have had to try, and i think above all i hate the darn side effects that come with it all. My school work has gone to hell, relationships are beyond belief complicated, I have barely been able to work, and I dont talk to half my friends any more because im too tired to go out most of the time. I guess i just hoped that this time through i would get better and everything would be back to normal...but once again i find that there is more to getting better then just taking a new drug after months of being sick. Sorry for the rant and frustration, but sometimes just way to much builds up at once.
Posted 3/23/2011 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
     Glad the Remicade is working for you.  Yep, prednisone does HORRIBLE things to you.  It gave me insomnia like you wouldn't believe.  My taper was always 5 mgm per week after it was once brought under control.  The GI doctor usually started me at 40 mgm but when I became prednisone dependent the 40 didn't cut it.  I then had to start at 60 mgm..ugh..what an ordeal.

     Do they give you Benedryl before your Remicade infusion?  If so, that is what could be causing your exhaustion.  That is what it did to me.

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