Pred Taper Completed

**Pete** · 07-01-2018, 05:13 AM

It’s been a week since I took my last prednisone tablet. Prior to beginning the taper, I had been holding at 5 mg/day for 2+ years.

I started tapering down on October 9, 2017, at the rate of 0.5 mg per month. Since pred tabs (especially 1 mg ones) are hard to cut, Dr Villa Forte suggested a series of alternating doses. The process proceeded uneventfully.

Here is the dosage schedule I followed:

10/9/17: Began alt 5/4 mg
10/16: 4/5
10/23: 5/4
10/30: 4/5
11/6: 5/3
11/13: 3/5
11/20: 5/3
11/27: 3/5
12/4: 5/2
12/11: 2/5
12/18: 5/2
12/25: 2/5
1/1:5/1
1/8: 1/5
1/15: 5/1
1/22: 1/5
1/29: 3/2
2/5: 2/3
2/12: 3/2
2/19: 2/3
2/26: 2
3/5: 2
3/12: 2
3/19: 2
3/26:2/1
4/2:1/2
4/9: 2/1
4/16: 1/2
4/23:1
5/21: 1/0
5/28: 0/1
6/4: 1/0
6/11: 0/1
6/18: ZERO, ZILCH, ZIP, NADA!!!

I continue to feel very well. I’m very grateful...

**drz** · 07-01-2018, 10:10 AM

Glad to hear it went OK for you and hope your remission also lasts a long time.

**Pete** · 07-01-2018, 12:37 PM

Thanks, @drz!

Looking forward to some more good years.

**gilders** · 07-02-2018, 06:34 PM

That's great Pete!
I always try to reduce the pred to zero. It works wonders at high doses on my rheumatism, but the side effects are awful.

**NatriceRomeo** · 07-04-2018, 02:50 AM

I’m so happy for you! I have been trying to taper from 5 mg for the past several months. However, I ran out of 1 mg tablets-the Drs won’t contact the pharmacy for a refill. It’s been 2 weeks! So I’m back up to 5. I’m pretty disappointed. One day Pete, I’m going to be as successful as you were coming off of the prednisone.

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**Rose** · 07-04-2018, 02:55 AM

1 mg tabs of pred are not available in South Africa. When I was tapering I was told by my pharmacist to dissolve the 5 mg tab in 5ml of water. So when reducing to 4mgs would take 4ml of the water, reducing to 3mg
I would then take 3ml of the water. Worked for me though never did go below 2.5mgs as my doctor wanted me to stay on that dosage.

Rose

**NatriceRomeo** · 07-04-2018, 05:01 AM

That’s a great idea!

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**Pete** · 07-11-2018, 11:51 AM

I had my first labs done today since getting off pred. Everything was either stable or within the normal ranges. My creatinine is usually a little above normal, and it was again today (1.45). CRP was elevated (9.9) but just below the upper limit. I continue to feel very well.