New here, Weaning off of Prednisone what to expect

Hi I've just been diagnosed with Chrons Disease in May. I Currently take 40mg of Prednisone, Asacol (6 pills twice a day) 6-MP 100mg and I just had my 3rd remicade treatment last week. I haven't had any problems with anything since I started my meds on May 30th. My GI doc said that he wants to start weaning me off of the prednisone next week, somewhere around 5mg every two weeks. What can I expect? I've put on about 10lbs since I started them, how fast will the weight come back off , moon pie face go away ect. Hopefully I can be weaned off completely, what is the lowest dose that doesnt make u have the weight gain, moon pie face?

 

Alot of the side effects of Pred usually start to go away within about a month after you get off the Pred completely. Do expect some joint pain each time you go down. Hopefully the other meds you are taking will help you avoid some of those side effects. Every time I have been on Pred my usual weaning is done by about 5 mg a week. I think your GI is being cautious and weaning you down slowly, which is a good thing. It might take a little longer to loose any weight you gained, but with us Crohnies usually having a little extra weight isnt such a bad thing as when we are sick we tend to lose weight pretty fast.

Welcome to Healingwell and we look forward to hearing more from you. And don't hesitate to ask any other questions you might have, thats what we are here for.

God Bless,
Gail *Nanners*

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Been living with Crohn's Disease for 32 years.  Currently on Asacol, Prilosec 60 mg, Estrace, Prinivil, Diltiazem, Percoset prn for pain and Calcium.  Resections in 2002 and 2005.  Recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and doing tests to see if I have Inflammatory Arthritis or AS.

I started at 40mg back in May. I did 40mg for 2 weeks and then started coming down. I got to 20mg and everything started flaring up so
my GI doctor had me go back up to 30mg and come down again. We were waiting for the Methotrexate to start working so that I can get off
the prednisone soon I hope. This week I'm back down to 20mg and so far so good. I see my GI doc Friday and I am going to ask him
once I get to 10mg if I can do down a little slower too just to be safe. I didn't get the moon face this time but 8 years ago when I was on
it I did. I was also up alot higher 80mg. That was horrible!! I have put on about 8 pounds so far. I will be going back to WW as soon
as I feel better. Know that each person is different with any drug.

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Living with Crohn's Disease since Jan./2000 but had a few years prior

I'm a true Crohnie with IBS and Arthrities too

Meds I have tried:  Too many to list- LOL

Meds currently on:  Prednisone 20mg tapering

                           Methotrexate injections once a week 25mg

                           Folic Acid 5mg once a week

                           Wellbutrin

No Surgeries

Thank you for all of your replies! This is all new to me! Really hope I can come off of the prednisone.

Tannie

I have a different autoimmune disease. I've been on 60 mg of prednisone now for 3-4 weeks. I'm starting to wean by 10 mg a week. It will take me 5 weeks to get off. Slow is better imo. Today I started taking 50 and I can feel the change already.

when i was on 40mg i basically started to turn into wolverine from xmen....i noticed one day that my forehead was hairy............im currently on 30mg dropping hopfully 5mg a week as my scope came up with no inflamation i gained 10kgs this time i *think* i usally loose half the weight i put on when i drop but it does take a couple of months to come off as for the moon face the double chin takes a while i think thou im pretty podgy in the face anyway hoping (fingers crossed) to be beach ready by summer.n my lowest dose for no moon face n chubs i think is 20mg,tho i did find that when i swapped to methotrixate from aza it stops the constant eating from the roids tho my hair is falling out all over the place.

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24 yrs old



200mg azamun

9mg budesonide
35mg prednisone
40mg losec

"as i run to the toilet i think to myself.... i love my life"