What dose prednisone are you on? | Arthritis Information

I am trying to taper from 10 mg by reducing by 2.5 mg every 2 weeks. I started Sunday and things are kicking in big time already whereas I had been feeling very good. Can I stay on 10 mg of prednisone long-term if this does not work? The immuran I know is helping because I used to feel terrible on 10 mg of prednisone -its just not helping enough. I am really bummed about this - I have had 2-3 really good weeks and now it is already going downhill again. I'm going to give it a few days to see if I adjust to the lower dose.

Laker

I'd been on 10 mg. for years, and recently tapered to 7.5 mg and am tolerating it. Yes, I've a definite increase in symptomology, and lots more pain, but not sure that's due to the pred wean or the disease.

I was on 10mg.. my RD told me to decrease it by 1 mg. every two weeks. That seemed to be okay, until I got down to 5 or 6, then the pain and swelling came back big time... so I upped back to 10.... now at 7.... and with all that's going on with me know, I don't know what to say... I think you can stay on 10mg for a while, as long as it makes you feel good. I never got the moon face or the large weight gain only a few unwanted pounds)...
Good luck!

Hi Laker,

I'm on 10 mg too, but have the puffy face and weight gain. I wanted to decrease it. My doc had me go to 10 mg one day, 5 mg the next, etc. It did not work for me. I was in misery. Back to 10 mg and not happy about it.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

I was on it once for five months and will never take it again. I'm back on 15 for 1 week, then 10, then 5! I feel like a million bucks!but I know it is masking my real 'stiff fingers and feet'! So will see my doc tomorrow afternoon and ask him 'What's up?". Lynda10 mg is still considered too high for a maintenance dose but the docs won't usually scream at you. I'm on 10 now reduced from 20. I am starting to have very serious problems with the long term prednisone use. But I need help with my RA and we are struggling with that.

We all know of some of the major things with pred use. My latest experience is when I had my shoulder surgery, my veins which are small to begin with are now almost non-existent. They had to stick me over 25 times, with most of those done after I was asleep. When I woke up, I looked like the doctors had taken a baseball bat with bruise all over my body that lasted for a couple of weeks. It took them an hour to find a good vein. That would have been disastrous if it had been an emergency surgery.

I think the key with most people who have had trouble tapering is to do it at a slower rate even going down a 1/2 mg at a time if necessary. Your doctor should help your work out what you need.

7.5 mg is considered a safe maintenance dose by most doctors. But keep in mind that people have different reactions to prednisone use. Some people need very little exposure before they have a lot of problems.

The ideal is to have your illness managed by your biologics, etc and then get rid of the pred.

Hope that helps. Other problems that can develop are bone necrosis which is bone death. The list expands. So keep trying. I know it is hard as I struggle with this tough issue myself.
4mg predlisone I was on 30 for a while, 2 years ago, then tapered over months down to 15, stayed on that for a while, then down to 10, and now I'm on 5 and it hurts! So I should be starting on the Sulfasalazine whilst waiting for funding for HUmira. I am holding at 5, been up and down on it for a year. Decreasing my 2mg is a pretty big step, I wouldn't decrease more than 1mg at a time and once you get around 5mg, go to decreasing my .5mg steps. It takes my body just under 72 hours to respond to a decrease. I got down to 3.5 but was just too miserable, still not good at 5. Have been on 7.5 for a while now and holding. I have been on 5mg twice a day. Yesterday I started like the doc said to half a tab (2.5 mg) twice a day. Maybe this is too much taper at once. This morning I felt a little stiff in my fingers and knees. I am going to stick it out because it could also be due to the humidity. It is not a flare, just a little stiff and sore. I am kind of bummed because I have been feeling really great. If I get worse or no relief I will call the RD on Friday.I've been tapering down from 32mg (5wks ago) right now I am at 3.5mg. I certainly feel it for about three days, then the pain kinda settles out. I've been lowering by .5mg each week since I got down to 5mg. My rheumy wanted me to stay at 5, but I think meds are working, so I will continue to decrease until I see him on the 23rd.

Thanks for your replies. I only have 10 & 5 mg tablets so the least I can decrease by is 2.5. I started feeling a little better this afternoon, although this morning was quite bad and I debated about going to work. I think I will continue with the 7.5 a few more days to see what happens, and if it doesn't work, call to see if I should be tapering more slowly. The weather is bad which is not helping.

Laker

Hi There: I'm on 10 mg/day and have been on it for a while. I am very round. Yes, very round indeed.

I am on 10mgs a day. First time I have been on oral in a while. Usually go in and get IV or systemic shot.

But on 6/17 I started 20 mgs, went down to 15, then 10 then 5. Got so bad the only way I can function right now is on 10.

I go to the RD tomorrow and we will reassess at that time.

I am very round as well. I'm on 2.5 a day, sometimes 5. The dr told me not to ever go higher than 15.I'm on 5mg but there are occasions when I go to 7.5 or 10 started on tapering 60mg more then a year ago. was down to 5 in a few months. stayed on that for about 4 months then went down to 2.5 for a long time. Right now im on 10 and not happy cause ts not quite doing the trick! I have been at 2.5 for 3 months and prior to that was at 3mg for a year. I want off this stuff so I have been taking the pain and swelling. My feeling is put me on a bioligic and get me off this stuff.I was on 2.5mg, but got bumped back up to 5mg Right now I am doing a pred pack. Laker, you can ask for a prescription for 1 mg Pred. This is a lot easier to taper with. I only go down at 1 mg at a time because I've been on it so long. The other thing that others have tried to get over that wall is to take the lower dose in the morning and then add an extra 1 mg Pred later in the day if the situation gets unbearable. This kind of helps with the oh, it might be a flare that day and still helps you stay encouraged. I wish I wasn't so round. Anybody have any advice on getting less round when on pred.? I am very round as well from the prednisone, my mom evens comments on my face. I just started provigil and hoping it will give me enough energy to start a water class at my YMCA. I have been too utterly exhausted to do anything but I know the water takes the stress off my joints and I am hoping to lose some weight despite the dreaded pred!

Michelle,

I know what you mean. I want to do a water class too, but don't think I am up to doing it 3 nights a week. I have gained 20 lbs. this past year.

Laker

I'd like to do a bit more exercise myself - just not finding the energy. Since I've been looking around here I've noticed the posts about Provigil. I'm going to ask my doc about it.

The weight is a serious bummer - I know it makes the pain worse. I know you all understand the difficulty of getting exercise in when you have all of the other daily tasks involved. I too have had folks comment on photos from before meds and now. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside - love it when people point out stuff you already know. As a matter of fact, we see ourselves every single day. Ugh.

Have a good night everyone. Hoping tomorrow is a good day for all.

Jen

I am on predisone 10 mg. lxdaily. I hate predisone. I don't even look like I use to. My face is round now. UGLY. I would love to get off predisone, but everytime I try I start hurting bad. Also it keeps my sugar out of whack. I have to be soooo careful.

I am struggling along at 7.5. It seems like the first couple of days I reduced were the worst, but all my symptoms are returning and I am soooo tired. Makes me wonder if this taper makes sense. I want to get back down to 5 but if I feel too lousy to function properly, what is the point?

I get the round face too, and have lost a lot of hair, and gained 20 lbs. In fact, I look very different than I did 2 years ago. It upsets me, and I can't do anything about it so I try not to think about it. My mother bought me slim-fast (oh boy, thanks for the encouragement-not!) That has more calories in it than I normally eat for lunch! I think breathing makes me gain weight.

Recently I was feeling so much better (on 10 mg of pred of course!) that I was able to start swimming and biking and I lost a few lbs. That is all over now that I cut down to 7.5 mg.

Laker

Michele and Laker:

I would like to encourage you both to start the water exercise class for arthritics. Even if you don't think you can do the three nights a week, Laker, even one night would be better than none. I think you'll find yourself looking forward to going more than once a week, however.

Michele: I know it's hard to believe, but manys a time I have to drag myself to water exercise only to find once I'm in the water, I'm energized just by the theraputic value of the warm water and the lessening of a strain on my joints.

To the rest of you: try it, you may like it. The arthritis classes are generally fairly low cost and I think you'd find a multi-tiered benefit from going.