Trying to reduce Prednisolone | Arthritis Information

After a few years, I seem to be on a medication regime that is keeping my RA fairly stable.
After discussion with my Rheumatologist, he agreed to me weaning off the Predisolone. I have only been taking 5mg per day, but if I can come off it altogether that would be better. I moved to 4mg per day and have been doing that for about a month. The plan was to drop 1mg per month, until I was off the Prednisolone.

My problem is that since I cut down on the Predisolone, my RA has become a problem again from early evening onwards. I wouldn't have thought that cutting back 1mg would have made this much difference. Is this a coincidence? I am wondering if this is just co-inciding with a flare that was happening anyway and to 'ride it out' - or give in and go back to 5mg Prednisolone.

I understand that each of us is different, but wondered what have others found on cutting back on Predisolone.

Thanks

MX 20mg/wk Plaquinel 400mg/day +Orencia
I find that 1mg CAN effect the RA. Go slow and confide in your DR. I cannot see a problem staying on 4mg for awhileWhen I was first diagnosed in 2007 I was on Prednisone for 30 days at 10 mg/day. When I got off it I had no problems. I've been on it now at 5 mg/day for 30 days and have another 30 days to go until I come off it and switch to Enbrel. Hope I don't have any problems like you are experiencing. Hopefully you will be able to wean yourself off without too much more difficulty.Thanks 6t5frlane and Flamingo for your replies I've taken the MethylPred dose pack, really low and short term dose, and when I go off I rebound badly.

Have you tried Kenalog injections in the joints? They work better for me.

I haven't tried it yet, but my naturopath told me to try licorice root tea. Two bags in a teacup, steeped until strong, every morning and night. I'm going to try it when my RD gives me the go ahead to start tapering back from 10 mg. a day. Supposedly it serves a dual purpose of helping with inflammation and helping to detox.

I have been trying for years to get off Prednisone and every time I go down it causes a flare. We're waiting (hopefully) for the Actemra to really kick in and then I start the official taper. Good luck to you.

[QUOTE=Sam1234]I've taken the MethylPred dose pack, really low and short term dose, and when I go off I rebound badly. Go back to the 5 and drop by .5 mg a month and see if it makes any difference.... ask doc about it first.[QUOTE=JasmineRain] [QUOTE=Sam1234]I've taken the MethylPred dose pack, really low and short term dose, and when I go off I rebound badly.

Have you tried Kenalog injections in the joints? They work better for me.

[/QUOTE]

We get it. You like kenalog.
[/QUOTE]

Seriously, Jasmine, was your comment really necessary?

Even though YOU may have read a number of times that I like Kenalog, for others this might be the first time they're reading about what works for me [and potentially for them]. So why would you want to deprive them of what could be information that might benefit them?

Yes, I did think it necessary. Frankly, I am tired of having to wade through the run-off from your fountain of knowledge. You regularly declare members' physicians as incompetent, proclaim their treatments as little more than malpractice fodder, and push kenalog and celebrex like a bimbo drug rep fresh out of the quarterly company sales rep pep rally. You know, Jasmine, I left this website for months because of the rudeness of a few posters like you. Finally, after being hounded by a number of members to please come back because of my knowledge, I did.

Be careful of what you're saying because I've never declared any physician incompetent.

Clearly I intimidate you. So stop ruining it for everyone and put your big girl panties on and just ignore my posts.

I too am on prednisone and I can't get past 7.5 mg or the pain starts getting bad but the doctor has me going from 7.5 to 5, maybe I need to do by 1 mg. Thanks for the info SnowOwl and I will talk to my Rheumy about it on Thursday. I want to bad to get off of it.

Also, Sam1234 I didn't know about the Kenalog injections and I appreciate the info. Keep posting as it does help other people that may not have seen it before or forgot about it. The whole reason we belong to these sites is to find useful information, to see what other people are doing to get through life with these diseases and to Vent, etc.

Thanks, Sandy

I was on steroids for several years. My RD recommended the I use the every other day method.

I followed his advice and tapered the prednisone very slowly.......It worked very well for me.

Concerning the weaning of prednisone and joint pain I will say this. I too went down some of the time at 1/2 mgs. But many times when the pain didn't subside at a certain mg, I realized that I had actually reached the point of effectiveness oof the primary drug(s) I was using. Also, I found the best way for me to wean was to go say from 8mg to 7 mg like this 8, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7,8 7, 7, 8 ,7, 7, 8, 7, 7, 6, etcs.

And of course to Sam. I remember that post where Jas asked you about being a Doctor. I think that you were actually telling a member that their Doctor was wrong and should be doing it your way. C'mon, you had been giving out medical advice as if you were a Doctor and actually smarter than most Doctors. Good for Jas. Why didn't you answer her? If you are going to give out medical advise that overrides a "real" physician, you sound pretty full of yourself, as usual, no offense. Like the above post from you about your knowledge that everyone is wanting because their Doctors are lacking your "great knowledge". This post is about weaning from prednisone and as Jas said, we all know about your love of kenolog and we know that we should "never" let anyone give the injection except an orthopedic physician. It seems to me that if someone continues to need injections, then maybe they need a medicine change unless there is so much damage to the joint that RA meds won't help and only a tranplant will work. Corticosteroid injections are dangerous in the long term. Why not just up the prednisone a couple of mgs? Oooops, pardon me, I'm arguing with the great knowledge. Beg your pardon. You are all over the forums trying to play Doctor. You sound like a know it all that really knows nothing except kenalog. You get on peoples nerves. You are so full of yourself. No offense.

LEV

Thank you to ALL of you for the great information. I'm trying to stop my dance with this devil and all of your information is helpful."he should know better than to leave it to ibuprofen. Shame on him."
"you should be prescribed NSAIDS in addition to the MTX. "
http://www.arthritisinsight.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25207&KW=&PID=280010#280010

I can't imagine why a rheumtologist would be adivisng on lifestyle changes and the like. The rule is simple to keep moving and doing what you can safely do. The last thing you want to do is LESS than you currently do, so why would you ask for this? Swim regularly if you can; walk, ride a bike......do cardio, etc. Keep that body moving.
http://www.arthritisinsight.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25168&KW=&PID=279957#279957

http://www.arthritisinsight.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25285&KW=&PID=280501#280501
I'm on Celebrex and refuse pain drugs because I need to, as you do, have my wits about me.

http://www.arthritisinsight.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25299&KW=&PID=280605#280605
For starters, I question the high dose right out of the starting gate. WHOA!

http://www.arthritisinsight.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=26926&KW=&PID=285967#285967
And about the MTX - it's absolutely silly to be worried about MTX when used for arthritis. If you were talking about cancer, where the dose is so much, much higher, that would be another story.
If you're getting this info from the "nurses" in the doctor's office, be reminded that very, very few of these "nurses" really are RN's.
Word of caution: I wouldn't let anyone do these injections except an orthopedic surgeon who does these day in and day out. Lots of MD's like to think they know what they're doing, but in my book only an orth surgeon really has the experience.

http://www.arthritisinsight.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=26933&KW=&PID=285711#285711
Topical anti-inflammatory? Seriously? Sorry, but this, to me, is like giving a person with wide-spread chronic pain an aspirin.

http://www.arthritisinsight.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25015
Check with the psychiatrist prescribing this drug. Presumably it was a psychiatrist. I am staunchly opposed to anyone other than a psychiatrist prescribing psychtropic drugs. Other physicians by and large have little understanding of neurochemistry and often treat these drugs like baby aspirin.

Most antidepressants give you cotton mouth and sometimes brain fog for a a few weeks, then the bulk of the symptoms wear off. But that's neither here nor there.

Antidepressants are sometimes used for anxiety disorders. What kind of doctor prescribed the antidepressant?

http://www.arthritisinsight.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=24872
I have a very firm belieft that NO ONE except a board certified psychiatrist should prescribe these meds. Other doctors tend to not really know what they're all about. They also tend to mis-prescribe psychiatric meds. You wouldn't go to your OB/GYN for carpal tunnel treatment, would you?

[QUOTE=Sam1234]You know, Jasmine, I left this website for months because of the rudeness of a few posters like you. Finally, after being hounded by a number of members to please come back because of my knowledge, I did. HI Seadragon,

I was on the meth/pred combo from May forward. I was also on the 5 mg per day. My rdoc wanted me off pred if I could manage. She had me go from 1 each day to 1 every other day and lastly to 1/2 every other day, this took about 2 weeks, and I get some tweaks and small flares from time to time, but they seem to go away rapidly. My bloodwork is still coming back that I am in the ok range I think everyone is different, and you need to do what is good for you, but it can be managed, imo.

Many blessings.

Shar