Thanks for all the replys ladies. You helped my make the decision to get my prescription filled. Now I'm wondering if I'm getting a high enough dosage to make a difference. I'm only on 5 mgs. a day and I don't think I've read any posts regarding that small amount of the medication. I guess I'll know in a few days if it's working or not. I'ts only been 3 days now.
First I don't want it, then I do...up and down, down and up. The story of my life!
I didn't get any reaction to prednisone in the beginning until we upped the dose to 20 mg. If I want to feel really good, 15 mg. is a maintenance dose. I'm on 6.5, now, slowly coming down to 6, and not liking it much. I don't know that 5 will give you the relief you're looking for. Hi Kahlil, it's really going to depend how much inflammation you have going on; 5mg may just be enough to help or to show that it will help - if you do benefit some but not enough he may then increase the dose. It could be just that your doc is wary of the drug and wants you to have as little as you can get away with? I hope you get the relief you need in the end either way :)
I was taking 5 mg for almost a year. It helped me tremendously.
Susan
I take 5 mg a day and it has been a help. I have tried to talk 2.5 mg and I really notice the difference. However, I don't want to take more than 5mg because I'm too scared of the side effects.
Caroline
I was on 15mg a day for a couple of months and than backed down to 10 and than 7.5. I just backed down to 5mg a week ago and I can tell the difference. My hands are really starting to swell again, despite starting humira.
I've been lucky in that the side effects have been minimal. It has made my insomnia worse and my dreams are totally freaky but I've only noticed minimal moon face. I do have some muscle weakness but the docs say the steroid isn't a high enough dose to cause that so its probably from my illness.
I read somewhere that the body manufactures 7.5 mg of cortisol per day. So we can handle taking low-dose prednisone (7.5 mg or less) without causing (any? major?) side-effects. A google on 'prednisone dosage arthritis' will find the site I looked at, from memory.
Having said that, I'm currently on 60 mg (temporarily) for a severe flare!
I'm on my 8th day, started at 20mg for 5 straight, now I'm on 15 for a few days then decrease till theres no more pills...I think, perhaps the swelling is less...it's still pretty stiff, but my finger is less swollen...what is this pred. supposed to do? take ALL the swelling? or just take it down a notch? anybody know? I haven't heard from the doc yet, so I wondered if you all knew...thanks everyone!!Ive been on 20mg since around july 27th. I have been tapering down and now am on 10mg. So far I am not in pain.I think it really depends on the person. I've never been below 10 since starting it. I'm tapering. And I hurt. But I've been on it a long time. I have to get down to something reasonable. Sept 1. I'm supposed to drop down to 11 mg.
I think you just have to see if it helps you. If it doesn't then ask the doctor to increase it some. If you are really swollen and in lots of pain, it's worth it to go up some. If you can do the 5 mg, then that's awesome.
Hi,