Ways to Taper Pred

[Sangye]

Many of us have learned different ways of tapering pred from our docs. I thought we could have a thread to list the various ways.

Please remember that tapering pred has 2 major risks-- triggering Wegs and causing the adrenals to fail. Do not attempt to lower your pred even a little bit without your doctor's okay, and definitely get his/her okay before trying any of the plans in this thread.

I googled "Weaning from prednisone" today and found a few methods I hadn't heard of. They both have good reasoning behind them. I don't know or endorse anything else about the websites.

WEANING FROM PREDNISONE

HealingYou

[elephant]

Right now I am at 7 mg of Prednisone and hoping to reach 5 mg of Prednisone. I will stay on 7 mg of prednisone for 6 weeks and then reduce it to 6 mg and stay there for six weeks. Once I get to 5 mg I will have to discuss this with my WG specialist and local Rhuemy. I think in my situation they think that is will be very hard to stay on 5 mg because of my sinus involvement/maxillary damage.

[Col 23]

Thanks Sangye for this thread, I read this and I am amazed that the docs dont give this out. They sort of inidcate this verbally but you know when you have it black and white you can refer to it if you are like me at the moment and forget things. Also for the new people like me to the WGs it takes a lot to get your head around the WGs and how it all works. Only just getting it now after 6 months and continuing to learn new things every day.
cheers Col 23

[Col 23]

Hi Elephant
have you noticed any reduction in weight after you went below 10mg of the pred. I thought someone said that was the magic number for loosing some weight. I sooooo hope so.
cheers Col 23

[elephant]

Yes, I lost ten pounds. Then I lost some more weight and that was concerning...it was only because I was so busy taking care of everyone after my surgery. I gained that weight back. I didn't gain alot of weight even being on Prednisone for two years ..on/off 60 mg of prednisone. That goes to show you every one's metabolism is different.
I am on 7 mg of prednisone and I noticed I am more tired and my upper eye lids slighty swollen...I just finished my two weeks of bactrim ( two tabs a day).
But I have been exercising daily walking for a hour, and not sleeping good. I probably over did it.

[Col 23]

Wow elephant ten pounds, I am amazed you could walk for an hour though each day, were you regularly walking through out your treament?
Col 23

[Victoria]

I just posted story about my Weg husband being dx'd with blastomycosis this past week. He was on 80 mg prednisone before hospital stay for a misdiagnosed wegener's flare. Since lung biopsy finally gave us the answer the docs cut his pred to 40 for 3 days and back to 20 when we left hospital. Has anyone ever come off so quick?

[Jack]

Yes. Dropping from a very high dose to around 20 should not cause a problem because it is probably still a higher dose than your body needs to function. It is when you start to drop towards the 15 - 10mg doses and below that the withdrawal problems occure. This is because the adrenal glands need to restart in order to suplement the steroids. It also depends on how long the high dose lasted. If it was only for a short time, the adrenals have a good chance of kicking in without too much trouble.

[Victoria]

Thank you Jack. That just seemed way too fast. He was only on the 80 mg for 2 weeks. You ever heard of blastomychosis?

[Sangye]

Victoria, everything that Jack said is right on. I also wanted to add that adrenal suppression occurs if the dose is 20mg or higher for at least 3 weeks.

It sounds like he's going to stay at 20mg, is that correct?