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.