anyone respond just to rectal steroids, not oral?

Hi Beth,

Last year when I had my worst and longest flare ever, I eventually just tapered off the Pred because I felt that it wasn't helping. At 40 mg I was great for a couple weeks but once I got down to the 20, I was the same as I'd been. I decided that I'd tough it out and just get off the Pred anyway. Because the only other option was to raise the dose again.

Since you're taking both oral and rectal steroids, your body is absorbing a certain amount of steroids every day. Let's say it's just 10% of the rectal dose and 100% of the oral. (Not that I understand the science of this.) So if you taper either of them, you might see changes because your *overall* steroid absorption is lower.

I wonder why you wouldn't taper the oral meds before the rectal meds. That's what I would do: I would keep the rectal meds constant and taper off the Pred. I would do it that way just because I'd want to take steroids for as little time as possible and the oral meds are the stronger ones. So I'd want to see if I could get my oral Pred down and still feel decent by continuing the rectal meds.

Did your doctor suggest tapering the rectal steroids?

Julee - I'm on the oral pred for my kidneys so, that is why I am not tapering 'yet', (sorry I did not provide that info earlier), was hoping since I was on the pred for that it would help w/my UC. I don't really think it has though. I was on the pred for a few weeks and my flare just got worse and worse and that's when I went on the steroid e's, i've been on the pred for nearly 2.5 mos now and the steroid e's for 2 mos. Was tapering every other day a week ago and this time, tried to go two days in between the taper.