Can anyone share your experience with a successful prednisone taper?

Posted by staylorrn2000 @staylorrn2000, Dec 26, 2024

Trying to tapper off of 5 mgs of prednisone. Currently Endo has me on an alternating dose every other day 5 mg with 2.5 mg and it’s not working. This drug has wreaked havoc with my life and I want off of it asap. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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I have taken as high as 60 mg for a week before. I have never done any tapering past 10 mg per my Dr. At 10 I'm done. I don't seem to have any delayed bad reactions to getting off at 10. I wasn't even aware they made a 5 or 1 mg. I have taken Predisone on and off for the last 50 years. I try to keep everything under control to stay off that stuff. Makes you eat like a horse and you won't sleep for days with high doses. Makes you feel mean too sometimes. Hits me differently every time. So just be aware. Its the drug! It is only temporary.

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@lisalucier

Hi, @staylorrn2000 - wondering if you are still working on your 4-month prednisone taper? If so, how is it going?

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Hello. I am still tapering. I had to go back to 2.5 mg daily for an extended period. I tried breaking that in half but started coughing too much and needed to use my resume inhaler again so I went back to 2.5. This morning I took 1.25 mg so we’ll see how it goes this time. My endocrinologist has deferred my prednisone usage to my Pulmonologist. He said he wants me to try a biologic and if that doesn’t work I might have to stay on 2.5 mg daily for my asthma.
As far as withdrawal/adrenal insufficiency symptoms, I’ve done pretty good at the 2.5mg. I’m hoping to be able to get completely off of the prednisone and only use it when absolutely necessary for my asthma. I still have no solution to my chronic sinusitis but the pulmonologist thinks the biologic might help that also.

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@1fancydancear

I have taken as high as 60 mg for a week before. I have never done any tapering past 10 mg per my Dr. At 10 I'm done. I don't seem to have any delayed bad reactions to getting off at 10. I wasn't even aware they made a 5 or 1 mg. I have taken Predisone on and off for the last 50 years. I try to keep everything under control to stay off that stuff. Makes you eat like a horse and you won't sleep for days with high doses. Makes you feel mean too sometimes. Hits me differently every time. So just be aware. Its the drug! It is only temporary.

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Thanks for your input. I’m glad to hear you’re able to successfully get off of the prednisone each time you have to use it.

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@staylorrn2000

Hello. I am still tapering. I had to go back to 2.5 mg daily for an extended period. I tried breaking that in half but started coughing too much and needed to use my resume inhaler again so I went back to 2.5. This morning I took 1.25 mg so we’ll see how it goes this time. My endocrinologist has deferred my prednisone usage to my Pulmonologist. He said he wants me to try a biologic and if that doesn’t work I might have to stay on 2.5 mg daily for my asthma.
As far as withdrawal/adrenal insufficiency symptoms, I’ve done pretty good at the 2.5mg. I’m hoping to be able to get completely off of the prednisone and only use it when absolutely necessary for my asthma. I still have no solution to my chronic sinusitis but the pulmonologist thinks the biologic might help that also.

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Hope your day at 1.25 mg has gone well, @staylorrn2000.

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@lisalucier

Hope your day at 1.25 mg has gone well, @staylorrn2000.

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I’m actually in cold clammy sweats right now unfortunately.

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@jackiet

Can you tell me what side effects are the reason behind your tapering off prednisone ?

Would really appreciate knowing, as prednisone is prescribed for a number of different medical issues. My son is currently having an issue with it. He is not being treated for a lung problem.

Thank you.

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my doc put me on prednisone. 20 mg 2x day 5 days for a. cough I had for a month. an aim. a type 2 diabetes itmakws blood sugar. RISE anB P RISE I have a bad cough for 30 days. I hope it works 2 days so far

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