Tapering

[UnXmas]

When you tapered off prednisone, did the side effects decrease as you decreased the dose? If you experienced mood swings or insomnia, at what dose did they go away? Or do these side effects continue for a while even after you have stopped taking the medication? I know it's different for everyone, I'm just wondering what possibilities I can expect.

I'm tapering but the side effects still feel about the same at 25mg (I was on 50mg).

 

[muppet]

The side effects tend to disappear at/below 10mg/day for me, but I think this is a highly individual thing.

 

[CrohnsChicago]

This last pred taper, I actually became a bit moody towards the end of my taper and for about two weeks after I was finished. I didn't realize that's what was happening though until later when I looked back on my reaction to certain situations. I would be overly excited, angry (vocal and irritable), sad (I would sometimes wake up crying for a moment for no reason at all), or just plain indifferent to people and situations. They definitely came out in the form of various levels of outbursts. That actually didn't happen when I was on the higher dose weeks.

Not sure if you are female or not, but I got yeast infections during the end of each of my tapers and had to be put on flagyl (amoxicillin gives me yeast infections also now).

One time I actually got strep throat during a taper.

 

[UnXmas]

This last pred taper, I actually became a bit moody towards the end of my taper and for about two weeks after I was finished. I didn't realize that's what was happening though until later when I looked back on my reaction to certain situations. I would be overly excited, angry (vocal and irritable), sad (I would sometimes wake up crying for a moment for no reason at all), or just plain indifferent to people and situations. They definitely came out in the form of various levels of outbursts. That actually didn't happen when I was on the higher dose weeks.

Not sure if you are female or not, but I got yeast infections during the end of each of my tapers and had to be put on flagyl (amoxicillin gives me yeast infections also now).

One time I actually got strep throat during a taper.

Yes I'm female. I've never had a yeast infection in my life though.

So it does seem like it's normal to still be getting strong side effects even when down to a moderate dose. 25 mg doesn't sound that much when people are on over double that, but I guess it's still strong enough to effect your mind and body.

 

[CrohnsChicago]

yep. and mind you the taper I am referring to, my starting dose of pred was 30mg. The pred treatment before that i started at 35mg. I never stayed on prednisone longer than two months.

So it can have a strong effect at that high of a dosage. I will say that by the time I got down to 15mg, the hunger and extra energy levels would start to subside.

 

[lizzy16]

Hi Unxmas, I've found that the insomnia and the nights sweats pass as I lower my dosage but other effects such as moon face and pimples have stuck around until the pred is fully out of my system - all highly individual though, and each course has been different for me!

 

[UnXmas]

Hi Unxmas, I've found that the insomnia and the nights sweats pass as I lower my dosage but other effects such as moon face and pimples have stuck around until the pred is fully out of my system - all highly individual though, and each course has been different for me!

Thanks, that's good to know. I can imagine that some effects take longer to disappear. I thought the insomnia would go quite quickly, but I'm still not sleeping as well as normal. I wake up in the night and then again really early in the morning and can't get back to sleep, which isn't like me at all. I haven't actually had night sweats. It's so weird how it is different for everyone.

 

[Hobbes650]

Hi UnXmas, Everyone does have their own epxerience, but one thing is certain- the longer you are on Prednisone and the higher the dosage, the longer it will take to get back to normal. I just started 12.5mg a week, and my taper takes me into Feb. But the last two weeks my knees are feeling much better. My face though, is still rather plump. I'm sleeping better too.

 

[UnXmas]

I slept a little better last night. Here's hoping it's the start of a pattern!

I'm also wondering whether some of my anxiey and restlessness might be due to another med I recently started for something else. I asked my doctor - she said it was unlikely, but it is listed as a very rare side effect. The insomnia's definitely the pred though, so tapering should see it carry on improving.

 

[UnXmas]

Well that didn't last - back to sleeping poorly again. I don't understand why I feel the same now that I'm nearly down to the amount you're supposed to produce naturally as cortisol or whatever it is as I did on 50mg. It's got benefits too - I still have more energy, generally better mood and my digestive system is better still. I'd read that some people get a return to an IBD flare when they taper, but that doesn't seem to have happened.

It's just weird though as I thought the side effects were dose-dependent. With me they seem more time-dependent: they took a while to come on, so I had no side effects for a few weeks, then, on the same dose, I developed loads of side effects. And now I've been on it a while, even at a low dose it seems to be having just as much an effect.

 

[muppet]

I can't endorse this method as I think alcoholic beverages have deleterious effects for Crohn's sufferers, but I've found that when I'm having trouble sleeping, a glass of red wine with dinner usually cures my insomnia later that night.

Note I said a glass.. and not a bottle.

 

[Scaryman]

yep. and mind you the taper I am referring to, my starting dose of pred was 30mg. The pred treatment before that i started at 35mg. I never stayed on prednisone longer than two months.

So it can have a strong effect at that high of a dosage. I will say that by the time I got down to 15mg, the hunger and extra energy levels would start to subside.

I'm tapering from 40 mg since June of this year down. I do not look forward to the aftereffects of my tapering, so who knows what's in store as I take humira and tapering prednisone if I have a bad flare while tapering as University of Chicago says I have to have surgery.

 

[UnXmas]

I can't endorse this method as I think alcoholic beverages have deleterious effects for Crohn's sufferers, but I've found that when I'm having trouble sleeping, a glass of red wine with dinner usually cures my insomnia later that night.

Note I said a glass.. and not a bottle.

Lol unfortunately (or fortunately, perhaps?) I don't drink alcohol. Otherwise I'm sure I'd have tried that by now!

 

[Scaryman]

I agree with all the medications and I'm on with alcohol warnings plus doctors warnings and pharmacist warnings I have to stay away from alcohol.

I think it's it's too much like pouring alcohol on open wounds.

 

[UnXmas]

The other strange thing with my insomnia is it seems to make no difference taking the steroid earlier in the day like it's supposed to. I forgot one morning and took it afternoon, but slept pretty much the same. And today I actually ended up having a nap in the morning right after taking it!