I was on Prednisone for more than 12 years. I wasn't able to get much below 10 mg. My absolute lowest dose was about 7 mg but that caused my symptoms to return. I was informed that being on Prednisone for such a long time was going to make tapering off Prednisone a difficult challenge. It won't make any difference how you taper if your adrenals don't start producing more cortisol.

When I tapered off Prednisone, my endocrinologist said I needed to stay on a prednisone dose of 3 mg for "as long as it takes" for my adrenals to produce more cortisol. I was told not to attempt to taper any lower than 3 mg until my cortisol level improved. In total, it took me over a year until my cortisol level was called "adequate" after I could stay on a 3 mg dose of Prednisone.

Corticosteroids, like Prednisone, are synthetic versions of the hormone cortisol that the adrenals produce. I called Prednisone a "cheap imitation of cortisol." You have to have more of the cortisol that your adrenals produce or you need to stay on Prednisone.

It would have been physically impossible for me to stay on 3 mg of Prednisone for a long time. I commend your continued efforts. I didn't think of it as my personal failure. The fact was ... Prednisone suppressed my adrenal function so it was physically impossible for me to taper off Prednisone until my cortisol level improved.

Good luck with your continued efforts. I had an easier time tapering off Prednisone when I was on Actemra. This biologic didn't suppress my adrenal function and effectively controlled my inflammation. After I was able to stay on 3 mg for an extended period of time, my cortisol level improved and was "adequate" My endocrinologist said I could simply stop taking Prednisone ... no tapering was needed. I did a fast taper because my endocrinologist said I could discontinue prednisone when I was ready.

How long you need to stay on 3 mg varies from person to person. My rhematologist said he didn't care if I needed to stay on 3 mg for the rest of my life. At that dose, the side effects of Prednisone are considered to be minimal. I was ecstatic and so was my rheumatologist that I was able to discontinue Prednisone.