pred question | Arthritis Information

Hello all,

I've been on 5mgs of prednisone for about a week and a half. Should I have felt results yet? I'm concerned that this dosage isn't enough because I'm still in the same amount of pain.If it's not working and it should be, I'll call my rheumy tomorrow and ask for 10 mgs.

Thanks for any input

Susan

Typically, for a bad flare, you need a Medrol dose-pak -- where you'd start high, maybe at 60 mg, but come down from that every two to three days for 10-14 days until you bottom out at ten or five mg a day. Then you can maintain on five or lower. (I've been told that 5 mg is not enough to remit the flare.) Best wishes with it.

I agree with blithespirit - you would usually start on a much higher dose to get a flare under control. Apparently our bodies produce 7.5 mg of cortisol per day, under usual circumstances, so 5 mg of pred is not even more than that!