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Need help with Prednisone

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Posted 5/31/2013 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi.

I had a Gout attack in my ankle last week and the Doc gave me NSAD's which relieved the pain but not the redness/swelling. So this week the doc prescribed me 50mg of Prednisone, 1 tablet each day for 5 days. So my question is, is this a high dosage? Is it something I should be worried about? I have taken one so far and I can already feel some muscle aches around my body. Please help me thank you.
Posted 5/31/2013 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
50mg is a pretty high dose. did he give you 5 days of 50mg and that's it? usually your suppose to tapper off the pred.
Posted 5/31/2013 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, just 50 mg, no taper, 1 tablet per day for 5 days.

The Pharmacist said for people who are taking for less than a week they don't have to taper, they can just stop it anytime. He said it only applies to people who are taking it for several weeks or months.

Also I am 25 years old.
Posted 5/31/2013 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
That's a pretty big dose to just quit taking. NSADS are bad for UC.
Posted 5/31/2013 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
I don't take NSAD's any more, I stopped taking them last week Sunday when the pain was gone.
Posted 5/31/2013 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
are you doing anything non-med wise to try and keep the gout at bay ?
Posted 5/31/2013 11:58 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum.

Like the others have said, prednisone should be tapered especially at such a high dose, and NSAD are very bad for UC.

What are you doing for your UC?

What meds are you on?

Posted 5/31/2013 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
This morning, the swelling is pretty much gone but some of it is still there but the redness is gone, don't know if it will flare up again, because it has turn red every night around 10, but it seems it is working because last night I did not get a flare after taking the roids.

Yes I am on a gout-friendly diet since last week. Eating lots of certain fruits, cherries,strawberries etc, veggies, brown pasta, moderate intake of lean white meat (chicken breast) and Fiber, no red meats no fish, no alcohol. Drinking a lot of water as well.

I don't take NSAD's anymore, It was blue-white capsule, I only took it for 5 days, I stopped last week Sunday, but they did help me with the pain, they cured the pain that was preventing me to walk.

For Preds, I called the Doc up and he said you don't need to taper, if the ankle is recovered then stop after 3 tablets (3 days) if not continue the 5 days. He clearly said no need to "taper."

Also the Pharmacist said the same thing, he said no need to "taper" on such a small cycle.

Post Edited (Timbuktu87) : 5/31/2013 10:42:56 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/31/2013 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Yes the doctors are right when you are only taking it for a short period of time. It would only be worry someone if you needed to extend the period you were taking the medicine, but it sounded like it was affected so I hope you are feeling better!
Posted 5/31/2013 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
It is high, but since you're only going to be on it for 5 days I wouldn't worry. I have had doctors put me on quick doses, and no taper. Its when you are on them for a while, and your own corticosteroids may be suppressed so stopping can be hazardous.
Posted 5/31/2013 11:25 PM (GMT 0)

fightingeveryday17 said...
Yes the doctors are right when you are only taking it for a short period of time. It would only be worry someone if you needed to extend the period you were taking the medicine, but it sounded like it was affected so I hope you are feeling better!

The purplish/red skin appeared again today, don't know why it is showing up. It was gone yesterday. Does anyone know if that is just the damaged tissue from the gout attack that is healing itself or something else?

Edit: 20 minutes later, the purple/red is gone... It seemed to appeared just for a few minutes.

Post Edited (Timbuktu87) : 5/31/2013 5:56:30 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/1/2013 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
This last Saturday I was put on prednisone for just 5 days. I was taking 3x 20mg tablets once a day, so 60mg once a day. Today was my last day. I will be taking none starting tomorrow. I was a little worried about that too, but it seems you would only have to taper off if you were on for an extended period of time.
Posted 6/1/2013 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
The swelling is gone but the issue that is bothering me now is after my 2nd tablet of 50mg pred, within 1 hour I got shortness of breath and insomnia, the breathing thing has been happening all night and would occur in certain episodes, go away, and then come back.

Anyone know what this is?
Posted 6/1/2013 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
That is caused by prednisone.
Posted 6/1/2013 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the responses guys.

I went to the Doc today, he checked me out, he told me to stop the Pred because the gout is pretty much gone, the red/purple skin still seems to appear rarely but he didn't say anything about that, he also said 1 tablet of 50g pred should be enough to take acute action, but I took 2 so far, anyways he said I don't have to take it anymore, just stop, no taper, I told him about my trouble breathing the entire night and Insomnia, he did the Oxygen Test -> Normal, Blood Pressure twice -> Normal, Inhaling Normal/Deep Tests -> Normal, Heart and Stress ECG Treadmill -> Normal. The results were all normal. I guess that is the good news so far. After doing all the tests, he told me to go home and rest. After being on the treadmill for the ECG, I do feel somewhat better in terms of breathing. I also have not exercised in years... My heart rate after the ECG test took some time to drop down to normal but the person who was administrating the test said that is probably because you did not exercise in a long time.

Post Edited (Timbuktu87) : 6/1/2013 1:30:25 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/2/2013 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Ok so I am not on pred anymore for the past 1 and a half days, I was just concerned when the shortness oh breath and anxiety will go away from prednisone? Also is there any medication tha can help me breath better?
Posted 6/2/2013 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Shortness of breath may not be the pred. The insomnia def was. If it was the pred it should be gone (give it another day or two). It could just be your anxiety.
Posted 6/2/2013 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
It takes around 2 weeks for even high dose pred to suppress the adrenals, so 5 days should not require any taper. Those sort of regimens are often used for things like poison ivy.
Posted 6/2/2013 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
The doc had me to stop after 2 tablets (2 days), because the Heat/Inflammation of the Gout is gone. It's been about 1 day and a half while off the pred. The Insomnia is totally gone, I was able to sleep last night properly, the shortness of breath / anxiety seems to still be there. That is what I am concerned about because it is really annoying as I am used to taking normal breaths. The breath problem started after my 2nd tablet of Pred. I also have had stress in the past so maybe the anxiety from the preds made it worst. Should I give it a few days? From the tests I have done at the medical center it seems my Stress ECG heart, lungs, oxygen level are all normal. I guess the main issue is that I am not used to breathing insufficiently, I have always breathed normal at normal levels my entire life.

Post Edited (Timbuktu87) : 6/2/2013 10:02:41 AM (GMT-6)

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