For all you Predisone junkies out there whats considered a normal dose of this stuff.
I was on and off of predisone in the early years of RA, but it's been a long time since I've even been prescribed it. Today my GP prescribed it in the hopes of helping take care of this bronchitis. I'm starting on 2 20mg tablets a day for seven days and then after that 1 a day for 3 days. That seems high to me.
I'm sure this infections and a course of treatment for an RA flair would be different; but does this sound right?
Lovie
Lovie:
Two 20 mg tabs a day is high if you were going to take it every day from now on but for the treatment of your bronchitis, that's the dosage my mom always gets. High dosage for a week and then start coming down. Believe me, I've seen my mother have bronchitis enough to know. Hope you get rid of that crap soon!
Prednisone Junkie
Thanks so much Allen....That's exactly what I'd hoped to hear.
Take Care.
Lovie
Good luck Lovie! LOVIE, AGREE WITH "BINGE". IT'S A POWERFUL MED FOR INFLAMMATION IN LUNGS AND/OR ASTHMA FOR SHORT TERM USE. ALSO WILL HELP PREVENT PNEUMONIA. IS YOUR MD GIVING YOU AN ANTIBIOTIC AS WELL?? YOUR ON MTX AREN'T YOU?? YOU DID COME OFF DIDN'T YOU? I GOT PNEUMONIA WHILE ON MTX AND IT WAS VERY SCAREY. HARD TO GET OVER BUT HOPE YOU ARE DOING BETTER. ARE YOU STILL HOME OR BACK AT WORK?? TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF!Hey Lovie,
How's the bronchitis going? Hope you're feeling better today.
Allen
Karen~yes, I'm taking "Levaquin" also. They say that's a pretty powerful antibiotic. First I took amoxicillin, then I took agumitten (Who knows how to spell this stuff; not me!!) now this. Hopefully this will be the ticket.
Feeling stronger already; and I'm sure that's the predisone. (Thanks for asking Allen)
Yes; I'm back at work. I spent some time at home last week; and about a total of 5 days in bed after the original dx of bronchitis, but I can't stay in bed too long or I feel even worse. I'm just working and then trying to take it easy once I'm home in the evenings. I'm so tried of this!! Hopefully this will be the end of it.
Oh; And yes. I'm on MTX and Humira and I've been off my meds more times in the last month than on. I restarted my meds after I finished that first round of antibiotics and then was even sicker about two weeks later. I don't think I had conpletely recovered the first time.
Thanks guys.
Hi Lovie,
Hope you get well soon.I was on 20mg.prednisone for RA-before being diagnosed with RA-when I would get brochitis .(I have asthma)they would give me augmentin and prednisone-I was on 10mg.prednisone and weaned down.Thats the only way i could clear it up-besides doing my breathing treatments with albuterol.So maybe they have you on such a high dosage because of RA combined.I haven't had brochitis. since being diagnosed(knock on wood)Did they give you a nebulizer to do breathing treatments?Hope you get rid of it,Sherry
Lovie, I just got put back on pred.
I'm on 40mg of pred per day for 7 days, then 30mg for 7 days, then 20mg for 7 days, then 10mg for 14 days and then 5mg until I see him again in October.
I'm also on 3mg of folic acid daily, 20mg of mtx weekly and .125mcg of synthroid daily. Looks like we may add an injectable soon. He keeps talking about it so I think we are headed that way.
Well I was just wondering about cutting back like your talking about. Every time I've been prescribed it in the past for RA I cut back slowly like you said.
But my instructions this time are 40mg for 7 days and then 20mg for 3 days. Then nothing? Does that sound ok?
Allen; is this the way they have done it with your mother when she's been on it for bronchitis?
It seems like 20mg for three days and then nothing is too big of a drop.
I've still got several days before I get to the last three days...so somebody try to answer that for me.
Thanks; you guys are always so helpful.
Good Luck to you Cristene. Hope this new combination works well for you. Are you talking about a biologic when you talk about an injection? I've used Humira with MTX since December and really like it (except when this month when I've been with out it!!)
Lovie, Not that I am an expert, but my rd and gp were adament about me weaning down from 20. That seems like a huge drop to me. When I lower the dose just 5 mgs. I feel a big difference. Maybe you should call rd and share your concerns. I think dropping off pred. that quick would send me for a spin emotionally. It has such a huge effect on my moods. Cris, I didn't see your post. So did you talk to rd about getting an mri for your knees? I am sorry you had to go back on pred. but I hope it makes you feel better. What did doctor say about exercise. Look forward to hearing how your dr. visit went. PS Cris, I did some research on Humira. I could not find one mention of weight gain for a side effect. Anyone else hear that a side effect of Humira is weight gain? I am hoping to start Humira next week and I am already worried about my weight from the pred.
My mothers dosage schedule went from 40 mgs for a week to 20mgs for 3 days to 10mgs for 3 days to 5mgs for 2 days. I don't know if there are different schedules for different people but I do know the prednisone is used to increase your lung capacity when you have bronchitis. Hope this helps. Just get well Lovie!
Allen
Lovie, I got your message and couple of weeks later . I have been out of town going to weddings and visiting my sister in California. I had a really good time. Thanks for thinking of me. I actually when to my rheumatoid doctor, it was so nice seeing a doctor who is a specialist in RA. She gave me a tb test right away, and was surprised my other doctor had not!! I had to do some x-ray's for her and I have an MRI the following week. I guess she wants a close up look at my body. I have been on Humira for about a month and I still dont see a huge difference, but you it takes about 3 month's right? So I will try and I stress try to be patient. I sure hope this works. I take prednisone but it is only 5 mg a day. I have taken steroids before for bronchitis and they do have the dose high at first and then it drops. I think they just want to attack the germs right off. I hope you are feeling better and again thanks for thinking of me.
Now after my bout with infections over the last month I've been off MTX & Humira for close to 4 weeks now. I know for a fact that the combination of both has made a dramatic difference in my life. The predisone has helped me some with my RA symptoms as well as the bronchitis; but today I drop to 20mg and I'm already in pain. I'm scared and after the above comments about the predisone I'm going to call my RD now and see if he's prefer a slower taper off. I think I would!! Thanks guys. You are always so helpful to me! Lovie.....Could it possibly be that the script was mis read by the pharmacist? Dropping from 20mg to nothing is dangerous I believe. PLEASE call your doctor AND the pharmacist before you stop completely....I would hate for anything to happen
Hope you continue to feel better! Lulu I'm finished with the Levaquin now; but still have three more days of 20mg predisone prescribed by my GP. I've got a call into my RD right now because I don't feel right about the directions either. Those were her exact instructions though; they were typed so I could clearly read them myself. I've always cut down to like 5mg before totally stopping. I'm kindof hoping they'll give me some more to get me through. I could use it!! Thanks! UPDATE: I just talked back to my favorite nurse at my RD's office. (Love having one particular person you can call and she knows who I am everytime!!) Anyway; she spoke to my doctor and he said it would be fine to stop after the three days on 20 mg. SO; I'll go with that. Keep your fingers crossed for me guys. He also recommended I wait one more week before restarting my Humira and MTX just to be certain I'm over it. Keep me in your prayers. Hi Lovie: This is from druginfonet.com: Abrupt Stop of Prednisone Answer: Anything less than 3 months or so can tolerate abrupt stoppage without problems. Over three months would depend on your age and the steroid dosage, but most would have some sort of taper at that point. I wouldn’t be concerned with short bursts and abrupt stoppage. Hope this helps and hope you get to feeling better soon! Allen Good luck Lovie. Your a smart gal, just pay attention to your body and you will know what is good for you.
I really trust my doctor and my nurse and I always listen to their advise first, but when I talk to everyone here I also get a little confused because I know that first hand experience and knowledge is just as good as a doctor that only sees me every couple months. I respect the opinions of our members so much. That clip did help alot. ALOT!! Lovie - Glad you rechecked with your doc...I always like to be doubly sure! But hey.....if your interested...I've got an over stock of prednisone, if you know what I mean....
Lulu
I actually might be interested in something a little stronger!!Psssssss I have some 20mg, 5mg and 1mgs set aside
Question: I have been prescribed prednisone (60 mg a day for 12 days and then to stop with out tapering), but every thing I read says abrupt stopping of prednisone can have serious side effects, including death. I would like to know if the 12 days at 60 mg is short term enough so as not to be concerned about all the emphatic warnings about abrupt stopping the prednisone.
Thanks.
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