Prednisone taper experiences

Just went over my labs today w/kidney doc, my kidneys are responding well to the prednisone (4.7grams a day of protein loss to 3.2 a day) and I think it's gotten even better since my lab last week.

Hey! I have tapered a couple of times. I usually taper 5mg every 7-10 days. Now don't be suprised if you see a surge in symptoms for a few days after you taper. It is just your body adjusting.

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Tabitha (Tab)

100mg Azathioprine, 2 Fibercon, Colazal-6 a day, Acidopholis Pearls, Prilosec OTC

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Co-Moderator UC Forum

I have tapered 4 times. The first three, my GI had me taper by 5 mg every 7 days. This last time, he had me taper by 10 mg every 7 days. I noticed more issues with tapering this last time. I assume it was because it was a faster taper.

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Current Medications:

The taper from above 10 mg is fairly easy and I wouldn't worry about the 60mg to 40mg recommendation. The hardest part of prednisone taper (on the body) is when you start reducing from 10mg to 0mg.

Sue

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dx proctitis in 1987

I have tapered many times at 2.5 to 5 a day and it was fine and yes the whole your body adjusting thing goes up and down. This past year I had a terrible pregnancy that resulted in beign on steriods for the last 3 months of my prenancy and I was tapered 5 mg weekly. They were thinking possible c-section due to stuff and well needed me off the prednisone before I dilever because healing is so terrible (especially being cut open like that) when you are steriods. Oh my gosh either I tappered to fast or entered into a new field of my disease. I ended up being on pain killers longer then my last c-section and as a result of the steriods and possibly tappering to fast. I have cushings and adrenal fatigue. I just felt like sharing this becuase I think the 60/40 thing is crazy and you are right to do 5 at a time. Doctors don't want you to know the actual things that will happen to you when on steriods. So sad it is that way so luckily you have us! Too many times we find ourselves self perscribing because each UC case is a personalized thing.

Gastro had me taper 5mg every week until I got to 15mg then I am to cut 2 1/2mg each week.

Sorry about the spelling errors above on my other post.  To put more details into min towards the end I was doing 2.5 too.  What symptoms are you having I wonder if they are similar.  Even if you aren't bleeding and have diarreah there is still something that can be going on still.  It is the nature of the beast I swear.  Ok I just might be preaching to the choir here.  But what are your other symptoms?

Ok seriously I can spell I keep typing fast and getting a head of myself.  What am I saying I am a terrible speller!!!

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Survivor of UC since 1997

I am down to 5mg per day and have like 4 more days left of pills. I have tiny barely visible spots of blood now, but I am still wanting to come off. My UC is so much better that I eat like 1 sugary thing a day and I know I should stop that. So I WIll stop the sugar and come off prednisone finally.

I can taper from 40mg to 30mg in one week, but after that I drop by 5mg every 7 days. My UC stops within 24 hours of getting on pred, and never returns even once tapering (though I am steroid dependent, so my body really LOVE the pred). my guess is that if you are having UC problems at 60mg, than the pred isn't working for yuo, as opposed to kind-of working. but, that's just my thoughts. in any case, hang in there, the pred symptoms do lessen, I promise. and if you can handle such a dramatic taper, the good news is that the symptoms will lessen more quickly. I don't know how yuo're feeling, but if you have the energy to exercise, I HIGHLY recommend it. It is the only thing that keeps me from going totally insane on pred. feel better soon.

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29/Female/NC
Pancolitis dx 3/07
*12 Asacol/day
*100mg Imuran/day (steroid dependent)
Various vitamins, probiotics, fish oil.
Engaged: June 1, 2007

ok the aches and pains is sort of like cushings syndrome. Google it and read about it! It is side effect of steriods. Your body has had a pretend cortisone in your body for too long and so it doesn't really try to produce its own resulting in the aches and pains. Your body isn't naturally helping itself with swelling or pain in general anymore. But you are correct with excersise and water and eating healthy and most importantly time you will notice a difference. It has taken me 6 month to feel better and I am still in need of improvement. I have come a long way though.

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Survivor of UC since 1997

I tapered by 10 mg every 7-10 days (making sure I was stable before tapering) until I reached 20mg. Then I tapered by 5mg every 7-10 days (once again making sure I was stable) until I reached 10mg when I began tapering by 2.5mg. I am steroid dependent, so I had a really rough time getting off the pred.

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Pan-colitis and GERD diagnosed May 2003

 

Asacol 12 per day,  Azathioprine 75mg, Rowasa and Canasa as needed

Aciphex, Effexor XR, BCP, Rhinocort nasal spray

Culturelle, Biotin, Folic Acid, Forvia, Calcium, and B12

 

Osteopenia (hip and spine) from prednisone use.  Started Azathioprine because I was steroid dependent.

 

Co-Mod for the UC forum

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