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When does Prednisone Kick in?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/6/2011 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
So I've been on 60mg of Prednisone (first time taking it) for four days now and still having urgency, bleeding, diarrhea. I feel slightly better, but not as much as I thought I would. This has been my worst flare to date and wondering if there is an average time most of you have had with the Prednisone kicking in.
Posted 10/6/2011 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
For me it usually kicks in at around the 4-5 day mark and results were more apparent by a week or so. I'd give it a few more days and if you don't see any improvement, call your doc. You might have to up the dose.
Posted 10/6/2011 12:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks WingZero...my doc already up the dose from 20mg, which he had me taking for a week and pretty much did nothing, to the 60mg. This is my longest flare to date and the most dibilitating. Going on 3 weeks - how long are people's flares usually? Mine use to clear up in a couple of weeks or so with Canasa, enemas and my Apriso....this time I had to add Prenisone too and still flaring 3 wks later!
Posted 10/6/2011 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
I started at 40mg and it took me 2 weeks to get my stools back.  Some people response very quickly, some respond slowly, and some jsut don't respond.

Sometimes the dose makes a difference. 60mg used to be the "old train of thought" now they say 40mg is sufficient.  Also remember that steriods can interfere with healing...especially blood clotting. I noticed it took longer for outside wounds, cuts, scrapes, burns to heal while on Pred.

Are you taking anything else along with it?  Some suppliments / hebal remedies can also prevent blood clotting or interfer with the medicine being absorbed.  A good website to check this out is http://www.umm.edu/altmed/

 

Posted 10/6/2011 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
In the past my flares were very mild and infrequent - only two flares within 8 years and both went away within two-four weeks. This current flare has lasted almost two months now.

I'm so sorry you're flaring and miserable. I wish you well. Nobody deserves to go through this kind of thing, ever.
Posted 10/6/2011 12:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Peace&Harmony I'm going to check out that site. Ugh 2 mos WingZero? That really sucks. I'm starting to lose hope. I actually have a job interview tomorrow that I need to somehow pull the strength together to get to and then if I am fortunate enough to get it hope to God I am able to start when they need me too! I can't imagine another month of this. I've been a hermit for 3 wks. Hope we're all feeling better soon!!!!
Posted 10/6/2011 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
Don't lose hope hun, things will get better. Try not to worry about the interview tomorrow for the moment (I know that is hard!). If you need to, take some immodium (if you have D) beforehand. I also really like enteric coated peppermint oil pills (pepogest) for spasms and those have helped me out quiet a bit in the past when I've had to go on an interview while flaring.

Calm your nerves my dear, everything will be ok. <3
Posted 10/6/2011 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
I can relate. I was started on 20mg of Prednisone on 8/31. It did nothing. I went up to 40mg 4 or 5 days later and was on that for like 3 weeks. Stools now formed but still blood. I am tapering and not on maintenace med. CAn't take mesalamine :( I don't know what is going to happen as I taper. I have had very few flares and last time I did Prednisone withing a week I was almost normal and tapered without problems. Give it a little time, I hope you respond soon. Especially siince you are able to take mesalamine too. Best to you on the interview!
Posted 10/6/2011 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
my horrible flare took over a month for the pred to kick in, I thought I would have had to have my colon out it was so bad 25+ times a day, it did get me into remission.
Posted 10/6/2011 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
btw, I was at 60mg a day too.
Posted 10/6/2011 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
For my son, prednisone usually takes about 2 weeks or so to kick in. For my daughter literally only a few hours, but then she was on 40mg and only weighed about 60 pounds.

My daughter's flares are usually pretty short lived, but my sons often last anywhere from a month to his longest one that ran over a year (15 months). Most of that time was mild, but then it progressed to his worst flare ever. 2-3 months would be average for him.

Hope it kicks in soon and you get a wonderful, long remission!!
Posted 10/6/2011 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for everyone's kind words - this forum is such a comfort.
Posted 10/6/2011 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
The first time I took prednisone, it kicked in right away. I started on 40mg. After I relapsed at 2.5mg, I had to go back up to 15mg and that did nothing to help my symptoms so I had to go back up to 40mg and start over. That time, it took 2 weeks before my symptoms improved. I have to wonder if it's harder to get things under control if you're on a lower dose that's not working and you jump up to a higher dose?
Posted 10/6/2011 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Could be, I was on 20mg for like a week and it hardly did anything and now my doctor switched me to the 60mg, I know he was trying to combat the side effects, but it seems it might have been better to have just started me at 40mg. Live and learn I guess.
Posted 10/7/2011 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
That is exactly what I thought. Same low dose did nothing and then jumped to 40mg. Formed now but still blood. I don't know why they want me to taper. I'm not sure how to go about disagreeing on this. They are the ones that have to call in the refills. I'm at 30mg now and very fearful of going lower when I see blood. I did ask the nurse and she said to try and taper. Blood is a laxative and if you are having formed stools to taper. They are already frustrated with me because I don't want to do 6mp. BTW my results are in on that test you have to get before starting it. I get them tomorrow. Still awaiting call from Dr. Sullivan in PA for phone consult on LDN.

BTW can you take LDN and 6mp together? Not that I want to just asking.
Posted 10/7/2011 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
I was put on 30 mg. by my PCP. He said 30, 40, all the same. Nothing happened at 30 and I pulled myself up to 40 and it did the trick.
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