Tapering off pred

[Lunitik AP]

Hi all,

I recently started to get stomach cramps and completely lost my appetite again after about a year in remission after surgery. The doctor put me on 30mg of pred to start with and I was told to taper off 5mg a week.

At first it worked amazingly well, I couldn't stop eating and had no more pains, but as I got down to about 10/5mg the symptoms just came back.

Anyone else ever have this problem? If so what was your next step?

 

[lola99]

I had the same exact problem when i was on prednisone. I was on 20mg and weaned from 15 to 10mg. When i got to 10mg i started feeling terrible agian so my gi said to start taking the full 20mg agian. I took it agian and started feeling better but then i started getting cushings and my face was huge and i got buffalo neck so i had to get off of it. Now im taking imuran and entocort and having occasional discomfort. my doctor had me take entocort while weaning from prednisone so i wouldn't flare while trying to get off prednisone. I didn't flare the second time i weaned but im not 100 percent since starting the imuran since it takes awhile to work.

 

[Carrie]

Seeing symptoms return as you're tapering off prednisolone, especially when you start approaching the lower dosages, is quite common. As Lola hinted, you may need to go back to your previous dosage for a few more weeks before trying to taper again, and take the remaining tapering a bit more slowly than you did for tapering at the higher dosages. So for example, instead of staying on 20mg for only one week, extend it to two to four, depending on your symptoms.

Regardless, give your GI a call and let them know you're struggling, and they may be able to provide you some additional support with other medicines to help you get off the prednisolone more quickly.

 

[Jessica]

Couple months ago I was put on 60mg/day taper 5mg/wk. I was okay until about 20/25mg. I stepped it back up to 30mg/day and tried again. Worked like a charm.

Definitely give your GI a call and ask about slowing it down or going back up a little and trying again.