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What is a typical dosage of prednisone?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/15/2010 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
so, im really having trouble kicking a minor flare....i have never taken prednisone for more than a week, and that was only once for an extreme arthritis flare up....what would be the typical dosage to get out of a minor flare (2/3 bloody stools a day, with serious (can't walk) arthritis flares). im really concerned about the side effects, but if i can only be on it for 2/3 weeks or so with minimal side effects, then im thinking about?? im not sure if its worth it? or just stick with the asacol/rowasa.
Posted 2/15/2010 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Iv been on Prednison for a long time. Im at a regular dose of 10mg that seems to be the lowest I can go without a flare. 30-40 mg is what my doctor usually bumps me up to when I start to flare but it is different for everyone. The side effects are rough moon face, tired, munchies, joint pain, are some that I had trouble with but for a short time you shouldnt get anything to bad. It is the drug that everyone loves to hate.
Posted 2/15/2010 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
     Over the last eleven plus years I have suffered with ulcerative proctitis, I have been on prednisone a lot.  It has given me osteoporosis and while on it my blood pressure soars and so does my blood glucose level.  Unfortunately, it is the only drug that helps me out of flares.  The doctor hates me to be on it and tries to give me a lower dosage for a shorter time but I am still flaring.  He never starts me out more than 40 mgm.  The route I generally have to take is 40 mgm for a week with a 5 mgm per week taper.  I started to flare a few days after my 3rd Remicade infusion but suffered until mid January (2 weeks) before resorting once again to prednisone.  This time he started me at 40 mgm for one day then dropped it to 20 the following day with a 10 mgm decrease every five days.  This did not get me into remission.
Posted 2/16/2010 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Last time my doc said to use 40 mg for one day, then 30 mg for at least a week and, if I was improved, tapering down 5 mg at a time from there. I found I needed to take at least 20 mg until I was out of the flare, or it wouldn't work. I think if you taper so fast as to be off it again in three weeks, it won't work. It's not the same as, say, taking a course of prednisone to treat poison ivy or something like that.

I have had no lasting effects from taking prednisone for flares -- once a year or so -- for more than 20 years. My bone density tests fine.
Posted 2/16/2010 7:13 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think you can possibly get on and off prednisone in 2-3 weeks but I am not sure. I have been on prednisone only once, currently, and it's been quite a while. I initially thought I could get on and off in a short time but with the tapering, it has to take longer. I starteed at 40mg which I think is a lot but I guess it was necessary to get me out of my flare - it was quite intense. After one or two days at 40, I was much better. I think most people start around 40, maybe 30 if you are lucky and tapering at even 10mg a week it would be 3 weeks and most people don't taper that quickly. The reality is, you may have no choice in this, asacol/rowesa only helps so much. I tried increasng my asacol/canasa, no luck at all. I hope you have better luck with 5ASAs. It seems like if you were never on 5asa, maybe you would have luck getting out of a flare with them but if you are on them and you flare, you probably need more. I am scared for the day I flare again and I am a huge worrier so it's difficult to deal with.
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