Tapering question

[Scaryman]

Just started prednisone tapering again. They want me to go for 40 to 30 and 40 to 30 every other day alternating 40mg to 30 the next day then back to 40. This is for 1 week then go from there. Keep in mind I been on 40 mg for six months. Is this normal?

 

[CrohnsChicago]

Hi Scaryman!

Trying to understand...

the first week is every other day 40/30...the second week would include a decrease of 30/20 possibly and so on, and so on...?

(Sorry, bad at math and numbers sometimes)

How long have you been on this round of prednisone treatment already?

Not familiar with this type of tapering, but very curious to understand the benefits and effectiveness of it based on your symptoms and other current treatments....

 

[Scaryman]

Hi Scaryman!

Trying to understand...

the first week is every other day 40/30...the second week would include a decrease of 30/20 possibly and so on, and so on...?

(Sorry, bad at math and numbers sometimes)

How long have you been on this round of prednisone treatment already?

Not familiar with this type of tapering, but very curious to understand the benefits and effectiveness of it based on your symptoms and other current treatments....

Not sure of second week but first week your correct. I've been on it 6 months. University of Chicago says if I flair while tapering off prednisone then for resection and cannot be avoided. This may be why you're seeing weird tapering routine which is my question

 

[Patootie]

Hey Scaryman!

For the whole of this year Prednisone was the only thing that made me feel anything like human, but in my experience the doctors don't like you to take it for too long. I was on 40mg a day for 6 weeks then a reducing dosage by 5mg a week. When down to 5mg then reduced by 1mg a week until off it entirely. I have taken 2 courses of Prednisone and did this both times. As far as I'm aware this is pretty standard due to the serious side-effects of steroid usage.
Have you been told the reasoning behind this 40/30 tapering?
I hope you are taking a shed load of calcium as steroids strip your body of it!
Hope you get some answers!

 

[Scaryman]

Only reason is to take as many precautions tapering since I have so much on the line. As mentioned I've been told by a top GI on the field that when I go on MTX/HUMIRA treatment the pred taper, if I have a bad flare while tapering then my 3 strictures will have to be surgically intervened. Either stricturplasty or resection. So I asked my local GI to take every precaution (slow taper) he can, this is the result. Ehich is why I ask if people ever seen a taper 40 one day 30 the next, then back to 40 then30 again for 1 or two weeks then go from there.

 

[Patootie]

ah okay I get you, not heard of this approach before! I imagine they're doing this as you've been on a steady dosage of 40mg for such a long time. To get your body prepared for the lower dose. From what I know it sounds reasonable and most likely to give you a chance of success at a lower dose.
Didn't mention before but I flared back up as soon as I hit 30mg a week, which has led to me having a resection (October 2012) and a temporary ileostomy. And I'm really glad it happened. Feel better than I have in 10 years and my surgeon said its the worst case he'd seen. So my experience isn't reflective of pred, in fact pred kept me going when I should have been on the floor.
Fingers crossed for you, let us know how things progress.

 

[Scaryman]

ah okay I get you, not heard of this approach before! I imagine they're doing this as you've been on a steady dosage of 40mg for such a long time. To get your body prepared for the lower dose. From what I know it sounds reasonable and most likely to give you a chance of success at a lower dose.
Didn't mention before but I flared back up as soon as I hit 30mg a week, which has led to me having a resection (October 2012) and a temporary ileostomy. And I'm really glad it happened. Feel better than I have in 10 years and my surgeon said its the worst case he'd seen. So my experience isn't reflective of pred, in fact pred kept me going when I should have been on the floor.
Fingers crossed for you, let us know how things progress.

Both my doctors are well known in the field and I know what's at stake. So I trust the taper regime they have me on and plan on following it. I was just wondering if t was an odd taper, or if anyone else heard of it. Thank you for answering.

 

[kh216]

Recently I did a similar type of taper for 6mp and it worked out fine.

The important thing about tapering with Prednisone is that it is done gradually so that your body can used to the decrease. My tapering off of Prednisone was a little different but it sounds like your doctor wants you to taper off very gradually and that is probably a good idea for you.

 

[CrohnsChicago]

Since you have been on it for longer than a few months, it is probably safer for you to taper this way as your adrenal glands at this point may have become fully dependent on the prednisone to function and need VERY slow tapering to wake them back up so they function again on their own.

I would more likely than not trust the docs, keep a watchful eye on symptoms and report anything out of the ordinary.

Good luck and let us know how it goes! :hug:

 

[Scaryman]

Since you have been on it for longer than a few months, it is probably safer for you to taper this way as your adrenal glands at this point may have become fully dependent on the prednisone to function and need VERY slow tapering to wake them back up so they function again on their own.

I would more likely than not trust the docs, keep a watchful eye on symptoms and report anything out of the ordinary.

Good luck and let us know how it goes! :hug:

I plan on keeping a keen eye on things and listening to my body. Thanks for the input.