Prednisone Taper | Arthritis Information

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Question - I have been taking 10 mg. prednisone, 5 mg. the next day, 10 mg, etc.....
 
Doctor said I can "try" to cut it lower.  Dummy that I am, I never asked how much.  Is it safe to just try the 5 mg. daily?  Or should I cut pills in half, etc?
Prednisone is nothing to fool around with I have heard. I would ask the doctor. I know it has to do with how long you've been on it, the dose you have been taking, etc... Now that I'm down to 10 I'm only allowed to drop 1 mg every 2 to 4 weeks. It sounds like your situation may be different.

Call your RD about tapering dosages.  Each one of us is on a different schedule and it has to do with length of time you've been on Pred., highest dosage, how your body reacts to tapering, and if flare is under control.  It's good to know that you've been able to taper. Take care.  Lindy

Predisone, I am going threw that right now I have been on up to 30mg a day. I drop it by 5 mg a week until I got down to 10mg. And my doctor really yelled at me but now that I am down to 10mg. He has me taking 7 1/2mg for 2 weeks and then 5 mg for 2 weeks and then 1/2 which is 2-1/2 mg I think and then stop. I have been on preisone for 2 years now and it started to affect my hips really bad so he wants me off. I just started enbrel and that has really helped me. I do have pain and I take 2 excedrin every 4 hours and that gets me threw the pain. I think I am having the pain now from withdrawing from the predisone. It can help you but it can do alot of damage. You do what you doctor wants you to do like thet said  this drug is nothing to fool around with if your not sure call you doctor and he'll will tell you I am sure. You take care of yourself and god bless you. JoanJoan
Isn't Excedrin aspirin? My doctor forbade me to take anything but Tylenol while on prednisone because he said that they would be more likely to cause stomach bleeding. Since I am on MTX and that is toxic enough for your liver- I always hesitate to take the Tylenol which they say is the same!
Thanks....I'll call tomorrow.  I was just going to drop to 5 mg each day and now you have me thinking that may not be a good choice.  I've been on it for over a year and a half.  Thanks!!!!!!!!My doctor's last words were- don't try and push it! If you drop 1 mg and after 2 weeks you still have pain DO NOT drop for another 2 weeks. You can put yourself in a very bad flare! My horrific onset is too fresh in my mind to risk that!
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