reducing prednizone | Arthritis Information

I am in the process of decreasing the pred. I have heard that it could cause pain and discomfort.
Does any one know how you feel when decreasing?
I am not sure if what I am feeling is the pmr or the effects of reducing the drug.
If any one is in this situation i would like to hear how you are doing.
I am down to 6 mg a day, but my body is screaming for help, what is this from?
to top it off i am having big time stomach problems, ended up in the er on Friday, only to wait 5 hours, they gave me some white liqiud to drink and took a cat scan, did not see anything, so i left still in pain, I might have to see a gastroenterologist {not happy about that)
Betsy made a statement on one of her posts that describes me to a tee. It's like painting over rust. & nbsp; Love to all...Georgiana

Georgiana,

When i reduced my prednisone dosage too fast, my symptoms were:

*Extreme fatigue

*Renewal of pain

*Stomach upset

*Dry heaves

*Loss of appetite

*Night sweats

You really didn't give much info on how much for how long and etcs. Also, prednisone is very damaging to the stomach and other gastro area. My doctor likes me to take Omeprazole. It not only protects the stomach from the effects of prednisone but also repairs damage. Also, mixing prednisone with alcohol is very damaging to the stomach and gastro areas. When i wean from pred i usuaklly go down 1/2 or 1mg per every two weeks. And as always, my information should not be taken as professional advise, talk to you Doctor or hit the urgent care.

LEV

Hi Gorgianna, I'm at 6mg too. We're both rusting at the same rate I guess. 6mg was bad, but when I went to 5 it was horrible. I couldnt stand it. I called the rheumy. She said go back to 7. I did and it didn't help. I went to 8mg myself and got it under control. After three weeks or so I was able to go back to 7, then back to 6. I'm doing fine right now, but they gave me a shot in the shoulder and I wonder if that doesn't help the pain all over.

My rheumy gal says this is the way it is at the end. We reduce it, if it doesn't work, we go back up a couple, but not back to say 10. Remember, we are reducing at a much higher percentage now than we ever have. 5mg to 4mg is a whole 20% for instance. That's a lot for our rusty bodies to adjust to.

I have read several times where we will have withdrawal from the prednisone when it's over. The symptoms are the same. So how will be know? One person said they hurt for 6 months after the last prednisone, then it went away.

So, so good to hear from you, girlfreind. Love

Yep, that's what I found as well. I got down to 5 mg (after 6 one day and 5 on the alternate days for a month which had gone well). Lasted about two days on 5mg. then everything went crazy. It just started a huge flare. I should have gone 5-1/2.

The pain from the withdrawal is almost the same as the pain from the condition, so it is hard to tell. I think we could call it a medically induced relapse. Something like that anyway.

I also have sero negative RA, so on other meds as well.Then I had to go back up to 8mg, along with Ibuprofen. After three or 4 days it improved painwise, although left me totally wiped and and all the fatigue, no sleeping etc etc. I had to give up my full time job, and after a good three months, began to feel more like myself again.

As Brich says, to drop 1 mg is a huge jump - and at the lower doses -the ratio gets higher - you certainly feel it. My Rheumy puts me on the alternate day thing (with1 mg changes), and then only dropping 1/2 mg from the higher dose after a month. UUmmmm 6 then 5 alternate days for a month, then 5-1/2 for another month, then 5-1/2 5 alternate days for another month - then 5. That's as low as I've ever got, albeit temporarily.

These low dosages are the toughest to reduce.

I'm due to start another reduction soon, but with the beginning of our winter here, the old creakies are aching somewhat - and after the last one, I'm rather reluctant about doing it at the moment. I see Rheum again in August, so that'll be slap bang in the middle of winter, and we'll see!!

Prednisone - the drug we love to hate - or hate to love!!

My one and only five-month course of Predinsone with the subsequent withdrawal will be my one and only time I will agree to being on this drug. I know now what a heroin addict must go through during withdrawals. Then all my blood levels went crazy (including going seropositive for the first time), and the rheumy said it was from being on the Prednisone. I am still suspicious of the reasons for being on it, and what good it did, and definitely will never go through that withdrawal ever again. But, if it works for some of us, go for it.

Georgiana-

I am amazed at your post. It is as if I wrote it about myself. I too am tapering off prednisone. My Rheumatologist (new One) from Stanford says we have to get me down on the prednisone so he can diagnose me accurately. I have developed bleeding problems from the paper thin skin due to prednisone long term-Over 15 mg for 1 1/2 years.

I am at 9 mg/day and my body is screaming for more prednisone! The pain all over and headaches are horrible. Rheumatologist wants me to start an antidepressant for pain control.

Has anyone had experience with using antidepressants for pain?

Prednisone- a double edged sword for sure!

Karen

Rosey,

When I had a couple of herniated discs about 9 years ago, the neurologist put me on low dose trazodone (25 mg at night) for pain/sleep. It really helped. I took it for about 7 years, and then it didn't seem to work so well, so I was put on Elavil. Elavil makes me groggy in the morning. If you don't have to go to work, that's okay, I guess. The antidepressants don't really eliminate the pain; they just alter your perception of it, and help you to sleep, which is a big thing. I always felt so much worse if I didn't sleep well. The only drawback to the antidepressants is that you get dependant on them. They are not addictive, but do promote dependency. When I tried to get off, it took me a good 2 weeks to be able to sleep sort of okay again. But now I am back on them, as I just can't sleep for the discomfort in my back. I only take one at night, and not during the day.
Hope this helps you to decide whether or no to do the antidepressants.

Reni

Reni
Rosey, lots of good advice here, but try posting your message on the Depression Board as well. Just click on "Arthritis Forum/MessageBoards" at the top of this page. Might get some more insights. I tried to come down two weeks ago. I had 10mg that I cut in half and then cut a half in half again, so I was taking about 7.5 mg.

Saw the Doc's office two days ago and they put me back up.

I am livid. I could raise my arms fine.

Just have trouble walking and some other things they think may not be PMR.

But you know what bothers me....is what the stuff does to you mentally.

I found a difference in how I felt in my mind when coming down even just that much.

Back to 10mg. and back to my problems.

Come down sooo slow over a looong period of time if you can.

Think he put me up because I'm so fatigued and my CRP is just a bit elevated. Sed was fine but we all know those are undependable anyways.

Hope you can make it down and stay off at some point.

~Kewanee

Rosey......the headaches...god I know what you are talking about! Those awfull headaches!

Try this! At night before bed take 2 aleves with food and water to spare the stomach . It takes away the headaches caused by the prednisone. It did mine so it may do the same for you.

Thank you all for your input and support.

It can feel really lonely- going through all this. No one in my circle of family/friends has a clue what this is that I have.

I try to hide what I feel from others and pretend I am O.K.Only my husband really knows what this is like for me.

I see my MD Friday and we will talk about the Trazadone for pain.

Will try the aleve for headaches.

This taper- wow! On my forced walk this morning I just wanted to lie down on the side of the road and go to sleep.

What I would give for an ounce of energy!

I've been decreasing my pred. since I started taking it. I'm having a lot of side effects. Will increasing it up a bit take these away?

this is sure not a fun thing to have. I have enough stuff wrong with me, I really didn't need this. Again we get up every morning thinking and hoping this is going to be a good day, and sometimes it is. I really love those days. It tends to put the other bad one in the shadow.

any clues of the side effects would be appreciated. I put in an other post, side effects as of now, sight,weakness,yeast infection.

anna