What will happen next?

[HorseLover!!]

what will happen next?

I've been on this med called prednisolone and just been back to the docs and he doesn't think it is working but has said to me to stay on it but reduce it to 3 tablets then to 2 etc.. I have to have a blood test on fri then have to see my doc again in 2 weeks.

What I don't get is if my doc doesn't think that it is working for me then why keep me on them and what will happen if this meds really isn't working what they do??

 

[Artificial]

Hi Horselover,

I would think the reason why he's keeping you on them at the moment is because you have to taper off them slowly. If you just stop taking them quickly I think you can get some nasty side effects/withdrawals. x

x

 

[HorseLover!!]

I am already getting some side effects though??

 

[Rebecca85]

Stopping prednisolone suddenly can cause your body to go into shock, which can land you in hospital (or worse). So please follow your doctors orders and taper slowly!

 

[Grumbletum]

Yea, unfortunately there are side effects when you are on it, and a different set of side effects when you are coming off it. But like Artificial says, just stopping it suddenly can cause serious withdrawal requiring hospitalisation.
I expect your doctor will want to discuss with you what the next step in your treatment plan should be and the blood test will be to check your tolerance to a med that will replace the steroid. Have they mentioned anything like that to you? Azathioprine or 6mp?

 

[HorseLover!!]

I am still taking them but I am confused as to why my doc is still keeping me on them even though he doesn't think that they are working?

no he hasn't mention anything about azathioprine yet so i don't know??

 

[Rebecca85]

He isn't keeping you on them, he's going to stop you taking them, it's just you have to reduce the dose gradually (3 then 2 then 1 then stop, over at least a month).

 

[DustyKat]

Hey HorseLover,

Please have a look at this article on the wiki...

Once steroids are taken for more than seven days there must to be a taper in order to minimise the risks of developing adrenal insufficiency or crisis.

http://www.crohnsforum.com/wiki/Adrenal-Insufficiency-Crisis

...it will explain why you can't stop taking Prednisone without tapering, whether it is working or not.

Dusty. xxx

 

[HorseLover!!]

I haven't stop taking, I was just confused

 

[Grumbletum]

Let us know what the doc says when you've been

 

[HorseLover!!]

yeah okay will do