What do you think of this prednisone dose?

[KWalker]

As some of you know, I have a prescription filled for a course of prednisone. I've been having some other problems so the doctor decided to also prescribe prednisone in case I wanted to try it again.

The dose he gave me is:

40mg/one week
20/mg one week
10/mg one week
5mg/one week

From what I've been reading, this doesn't seem like a very long dose at all.
Will a dose this short/quickly tapered even make a difference?
Do you think I'll get the moon face with this?
Is the taper too fast?

Any opinions appreciated

Thanks!

 

[hawkeye]

It seems like a quick taper compared to any pred that I have had for a flare, especially the 20mg drop between weeks 1 and 2

 

[parentnj]

I think everyone is different, our son got his flare under control by taking one 20MG pill and then 10MG a day for several weeks. It all depends on how you react to it ... the 20MG drop seems like a lot if you are taking 40MG for a full week. I would watch side effects and slow taper if you need too.

 

[KWalker]

I only have enough pills to do the dose. I could be wrong and there's a typo that says the big drop but that's what I see.

 

[xmdmom]

No moon face on this regimen is my best guess as it's quite brief, esp the higher doses. What is it supposed to be treating?

 

[KWalker]

Well I'm having problems with an abscess and although prednisone use is controversial with abscesses I want to use it in combination of my cipro and flagyl because there is clearly something going on that is causing the abscess problems.

I was looking at my prescription again though so look if there really was that big of a jump from 40-20mg and I realized my script was even shorter than I thought.

It is 40/3 days
20/3
10/3
And 5mg for five days.

That's not even half a month! Will it even kick in before the prescription is done?

 

[KWalker]

I was just thinking, would it be more effective to take 20mg for the whole time so I could take them longer?

 

[Twiggy930]

Definitely no moon face with that course of pred. My son is in the middle of doing a course of pred that is similar. He is doing 40 mg (9 days), 30 mg (5 days), 20 mg (5 days) and hold at 10 mg for a while (how long is yet to be determined). This course of pred he is doing for some Crohn's related enthesitis in his heel.

Good luck with it.

 

[kel]

That is a fast taper wow. I don't have experience with that short of a cycle. But, in my experience you will notice a difference within 24 hours of starting your dose.

 

[Jennifer]

Well I'm having problems with an abscess and although prednisone use is controversial with abscesses I want to use it in combination of my cipro and flagyl because there is clearly something going on that is causing the abscess problems.

I was looking at my prescription again though so look if there really was that big of a jump from 40-20mg and I realized my script was even shorter than I thought.

It is 40/3 days
20/3
10/3
And 5mg for five days.

That's not even half a month! Will it even kick in before the prescription is done?

In the past I've taken short courses of Prednisone such as 50mg for 10 days with no taper (if taken for more than 10 days then a taper is likely needed). Prednisone is really meant to be taken short term as you know. This course of steroids makes more sense than the one you posted originally. If you continue taking it long term its possible that it could make the abscess worse rather than help the underlying issue. Also Prednisone acts very quickly. Some notice a difference within a day while others may take 3 days to a week to notice a difference. If this doesn't work then you can talk to your GI about going on it longer but again, you're dealing with an abscess so it may not be the best option.

 

[KWalker]

Thanks everybody. Jennifer, this is just in hopes of a "quick fix" because I need an updated referral to a GI so by taking the Prednisone I'm hoping it will do something positive until I can get into the doctor. I can also get more Cipro and Flagyl no problem so at least I'm not on the prednisone alone

 

[Jennifer]

Hopefully you wont have to wait too long for an appointment with a GI once the referral goes through. Is it a new GI or do you just need another referral to continue seeing your current one?

 

[KWalker]

It's kind of a long story. It's with a "new" doctor. I already had a referral to see him with an appointment and everything, he has all my medical records, etc. BUT, at the same time I was having problems with the previous abscess (which is why I wanted to see him) but it progressed to the point where I ended up at the hospital so a surgeon took over and was dealing with it. At the time the surgeon trumped the GI because I needed surgery and the GI couldn't help me with that.

So regardless that the doctor's has all my stuff, I need a new referral before he's willing to see me.

 

[Jennifer]

Still a new patient though. Sometimes it can take 3-6 months to see a specialist but hopefully they will be able to make an exception and get you in sooner.

 

[ryansbronco]

It's kind of a long story. It's with a "new" doctor. I already had a referral to see him with an appointment and everything, he has all my medical records, etc. BUT, at the same time I was having problems with the previous abscess (which is why I wanted to see him) but it progressed to the point where I ended up at the hospital so a surgeon took over and was dealing with it. At the time the surgeon trumped the GI because I needed surgery and the GI couldn't help me with that.

So regardless that the doctor's has all my stuff, I need a new referral before he's willing to see me.

I'd think your surgeon should be able to get you the referral