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Posted Today 2:48 PM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I have been on Prednisone in the past. (and don't like it) I have to take it again. My family Doc prescribed 40 mg for 1 week. In the past I have always had to taper off it. Does this make sense that there is no taper this time???

Thanks!

Posted Today 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
no- call a pharmacist. That is a significant dose and should be tapered
Posted Today 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Nope...my Mom was put on it for 10 days and had to taper with that. One week isn't long to be on it but I would still think that to just stop taking it after 40 mgs is gonna make you feel horrible. I wouln't want to do that either. Do you have more than a weeks worth?
Posted Today 2:57 PM (GMT 0)

No, I only have a weeks worth. I'm afraid to even start it.

Posted Today 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Docs aren't always right.
Rule of thumb =taper 5 mg per week.
To just stop it is inviting a flare and has consequences on your adrenal glands among other things.
This doc must be an idiot. I'm sure he/she wouldn't prescribe this regimen on him/her self!
Posted Today 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
I've tapered down 10 mgs per week till I hit 20 and then went down 5 mgs.
Posted Today 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
At such a high dose, I would not just stop taking it after one week. Was it prescribed by your GI or PCP? I often find that this kind of thing happens more when getting it from your PCP... Call your GI if this is the case.
Posted Today 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
for a "family doc" it makes perfect sense - for anyone else, it's ridiculous ! get a second opinion - good luck !
Posted Today 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
I know for non-IBD related issues that are treated with pred, often there is a "shock" dose and then a very, VERY quick taper. I've always been surprised by this but seen it in family/friends. That said, 1 week most likely won't do much for your IBD regardless, so definitely call the GI.
Posted Today 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
I have heard of others getting instructions like this but it's never made much sense to me. I would call my GI if I were you.
Posted Today 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
That's something an physicians assistant with no experience in UC told me to do in the ER when I had a bad attack.

I insisted on seeing a real ER doctor who knew better.
Posted Today 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
What mkl111 is talking about is a burst dose. When I've done it for my asthma, it's 60/50/40/30/20/10. That's 6 days of meds with nothing on the 7th day. It cleared a bad asthma flare two times, and a reactive arthritis flare once. But when I had a bad IBD flare that involved every major joint in my body, it took 3 months of pred to tame it.

What the OP asked was about 40 mg/day for one week. That is not a burst. Nor is it a reasonable approach to addressing a flare, nor is it a safe way to take pred IMO. The pharmacist should know this too.
Posted Today 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Check with a Pharm-D. I heard no taper is necessary if it's less than 14 days.

I think Banagirl stopped it cold turkey after  a couple days due to side-effects. Try getting in touch with her for the details.

Posted Today 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
I heard less than 7 , not 14
Posted 12/1/2011 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
That may be true for orals. Maybe it's 14 days for the cort enema.

Thanks!
Posted 12/1/2011 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Call your GI - 40 seems really high w/ no taper - even after only a few days. I've been on 20 mg pred for 3 weeks and am on a 5 mg/week taper.
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