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How long for pred to kick in?

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Posted 5/12/2013 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I posted a thread last week about whether to take pred or not, finally I took the prednisone, 40mg, today was day 7, but it's not really making me feel better... What should I do... Mornings are ok after after I take the pred, but now it's evening and I am in major pain, cramps, blood, D, gas... Was in bed again all day :('

Why is it not kicking in?
Thx r
Posted 5/12/2013 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
How much do you weigh? 40 mg might not be a therapeutic dose for your bodyweight. If this is your first course then I would expect some improvement by day 7.
Posted 5/12/2013 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
I just recently started another course of pred - starting at 40mg for 2 weeks and then tapering by 5mg per week (first day at 30mg today). It kicked in and put me bk into remission within a couple of days so you should get in touch with your doctor if you don't think its having an effect.

Hope you start feeling better soon!
Posted 5/12/2013 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
My son is on day 3 at 40 mg and he is having some improvement already. Hes not back to normal (if there is such a thing), but its slowly getting better. Ive heard from others that it can take 2 weeks to notice an improvement. Just to be safe, you may want to call your Dr.
Posted 5/12/2013 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies and support. I weigh around 53kg at the moment and have lost around 10kg since this flare began, not good I know. I thought once I'd be on the pred I could start eating again, but am in pain after eating. Will call GI tmrw, though I don't think he works Mondays...
Posted 5/12/2013 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
Oh and yes, this is my first course and I'm supposed to be at 40 mg for 2weeks.
Posted 5/12/2013 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
I would go up to 60! But sometimes it has taken up to two weeks for 40 to work for me
Posted 5/12/2013 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
i noticed an improvement from the pred within the first day. i'm surprised you don't have a nurse to call & check in with you? my gi's nurse called to check in with me once a week when i was on my first round of pred.
Posted 5/12/2013 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
I had improvements my first round after just a few days. However, that was over a year ago. I am finishing my second week at 60 for my second ever flare and have noticed no difference. I am the same way.. I am "ok" a while after I take it but nights are bad. First round I was eating everything in sight, this time.. Nothing.
Posted 5/13/2013 6:50 AM (GMT 0)
Are you badly flared ? It's working, but I think you need something else along with the steroid or an increase. I experience the same thing with the prednisone. When I take it in the morning... I REALLLY am feeling that I'm in need of a dose. An hr. after my AM dose, I am fine, the bleeding stops and I feel good. Evening time up until the next dose in the morning is usually when I start to feel the prednisone wear off = feeling crappy. I to resort to other means other than increasing the prednisone to feel better. Increase the probiotic or make this soup that has been a life saver because it nourishes and also heals the gut pretty quick.

Do you take anything else with the prednisone? Usually thats how prednisone is used anyway; with another drug so that when you taper, you are still taking something to help your gut.

I think we metabolize quickly OR maybe we dont absorb the stuff we eat very well. If you feel really terrible, I'd call your doctor (if he's helpful and listens) and tell him whats going on. Maybe try the enemas or the suppositories,,depending on where your disease is.
hope you feel better soon!



Rabs10 said...
Hi everyone,

I posted a thread last week about whether to take pred or not, finally I took the prednisone, 40mg, today was day 7, but it's not really making me feel better... What should I do... Mornings are ok after after I take the pred, but now it's evening and I am in major pain, cramps, blood, D, gas... Was in bed again all day :('

Why is it not kicking in?
Thx r

Posted 5/13/2013 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
everytime ive taken pred its taken 2 weeks for me to actually start feeling better and i always started at 40mg and would taper 5 mg every week. are you taking suppositories or enemas at night?
Posted 5/14/2013 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
My sons GI always told us to reduce the Prednisone dose by 10 mg's each week, when tapering. From the posts I've been reading here, it seems like most of you reduce the dosage by 5mg's each week. Just wondering why he told me that. My son has been on prednisone twice before and he did ok with taperig by 10 mg's, but im curious if he would have done better with a slower taper.
Posted 5/14/2013 12:16 AM (GMT 0)

herbgarden said...
My sons GI always told us to reduce the Prednisone dose by 10 mg's each week, when tapering. From the posts I've been reading here, it seems like most of you reduce the dosage by 5mg's each week. Just wondering why he told me that. My son has been on prednisone twice before and he did ok with taperig by 10 mg's, but im curious if he would have done better with a slower taper.

typically, a slower taper decreases the chance of the flare coming back, and gives the adrenal glands an easier time adjusting back to what their job is suppose to do
Posted 5/14/2013 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you, im going to do the slower taper this time
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