Pred taper question??

Hi...I tapered from 10mg to 5mg beginning today. I've had 2 afternoon bm's today which hasn't happened for about 3 weeks. No urgency or blood, just odd because I feel like I'm getting better. I'll call my doc tomorrow and have an appt on Friday. Just wondering if this is too fast...any experiences??

Thanks!

I don't think you can go based on one day alone, because I too have days like that when I will go more than normal, but I am stable and doing well for now.

That said, my GI always has me taper from 10 to 7.5mg, then a week later move to 5mg, then a week later to 2.5mg and then done. I just split the pills. I do think that at the lower doses, a 5mg jump like that can be pretty significant, so if it seems it is, I would just bump back up for a few days, then go a little slower on the way back down. (much as I know that stinks)

Or try the suppositories that I see in your sig? Maybe if you bump up some other meds while you taper, it will get you through.

I would see what tomorrow brings and go from there. Good luck!!

Yes, those are rectal meds, and if you are worried you might be having issues again, a rectal med would be a good addition. I don't do well with steroid rectals, but some people do. I have done better with 5ASA rectals like Canasa.

Also, I don't use sulfazine (sulpha allergy), but your Asacol dose is very low. That could be bumped up as well, or possibly the sulfazine.

Could be something you ate-some things run through you faster! Again, I would just wait and see how you feel tomorrow. It is hard not to immediately worry that a flare is coming on, but it might not be. Of course you want to get treatment right away if it is, but one off day might be just that.

Thanks Laura! The prednisone tapering worries me more than this disease. I'm actually getting off the asacol (can't afford it anyway) since I don't have side effects from the sulfazine. When I'm out of asacol, I'll only be on sufazine, which is what my doc prefers.

I shall wait and see what tomorrow brings! Good to know about the anucort...I have 3 refills remaining. One more question to ask at my next doc visit. When does one learn about all of this? Trial and error? I'm frustrated and just want to be better

Supa & Songlady, I thought I was taking about the same qty of meds as most on here. Maybe my sig doesn't read correctly... I take 2 500mg sulfazine and 2 400mg asacol in the morning and the same dose again in the evening.

I'm still a little unstable today, but I think I'll just give it a few days to settle on the new pred dose. I'll see my doc on Friday. I worry that 10mg to 5mg is a big jump, but I SO want to get off of this!

Thanks all!

I had my 1 month follow up today from the last 2 week follow up from being initially diagnosed. I'm back to 10mg's for the next 2 months.

Reason being...my osteoarthritic knees and 1 hand have come back to haunt me when on 10mg's. My allergies are back as well. I have to say, the one thing I loved about the pred is all of these symptoms disappeared! So, doc said that inflammation manifests itself in other areas first, so I need to stay on pred for awhile. He also reminded me again that I was VERY sick for some time (which I forget) and although I'm doing well, my colon is likely still inflamed.

Another thing I learned today...Doc said our bodies produce 7.5 mg of cortisol per day, so 10mg of me adding it isn't that different because I've likely quit producing my own...which is why we taper off...till we start producing our own. So it's not that much more and I'm not having side effects, so I shouldn't worry.

Songlady, I think my adrenal cortex is just below my ribs on either side? I'm thin enough to feel my ribs so I've been giving myself a massage there a few times a day. Maybe will help...certainly can't hurt. Also, how much pred did you take for almost 2 years? Anything like my dosage?

Thanks!