Tapering off of Prednisone

I also support the slow taper after a unsuccessful faster taper...presently going down 1 mg per month - now at 7mg/day - with the addition of methotrexate once a week under my Rheumy's care.

Hi, I tapered down from my prednisone until I wasn't taking any. Within a couple of days, I was back on it. I started back at 4 mgs. and gradually increased to 6. That was a few weeks ago. I am now down to 5. I will stay at that for a few weeks, and then go to 4. This time I will taper a litter slower than I did before. Wish me luck!

Best of.luck to you!

@floridabonnie You are fortunate to be on a low dose. Yes, slow and easy does it, but some doctors are now leaving patients on 2-3 mgs. prednisone long-term. No side effects and some evidence it reduces recurrence. I think it's Dr. Dasgupta (a UK PMR expert) who is experimenting with this.

I am going to taper .5mg after reading advice from others. I experienced my first flare up after I overdid the physical activity a couple of weeks ago. I was suppose to go down to 6 mg and instead went from 7 back up to 8 for several says. Then back to 7 for almost 2 weeks and today at 6.5 . I have appreciated the posts that make me realize slow tapering is extremely important.

I agree, we need to take it slow. Thank you for your input

Think this has been asked many times, but when increasing dose due to Flare Up, should there be no pain/discomfort. I did go up to 20mg, and I have to admit, the first/initial time at 20mg, after ~7 days, ALL pain/discomfort was gone. It has now been 10 days at 20 mg, and I still have some discomfort. Not bad - very tolerable, but not like before where I was painfree. Is this normal??

Also I have also been prescribed hydroxychloroquine to help with the tapering. At the moment we are still determining if this is the right drug, as I am a G6PD Enzyme Deficiency carrier, and Chloroquine med's are not recommended for G6PD deficiencies. My question is - do these medications aid in the tapering process? Have others experienced the hydroxichloroquine? and side effects

Thanks

I was prescribed hydroxichloroquine by rheumy #2 (I've had 4) who was the one that wanted me off prednisone in 6 months. I didn't feel it helped me at all, kept me feeling generally unwell for the 2 months I took it and only pushed me into a flare because rheumy #2 thought it "might" do the trick. I have heard of very few that found hydroxichloroquine effective for reduction.

I saw my Rheumatologist yesterday and he said he wants me to stay on 5 for about 2 months, then go to 4 for a couple of months, etc.. if the pain stays away keep tapering, but much slower than last time.

@floridabonnie Sounds like a good plan. Praying it works for you. Slow and easy does it.