I have been taking 20 mg of prednisone for three months. My Rheumatologist and Specialist are starting a prednisone taper to 15 mg for three weeks, 10 mg for three weeks, 7.5 mg for three weeks, and then 5 mg. My rheumatologist has also taken me off bactrim now that I am below 20 mg of preds. Have any of the rest of ya'll been taken off bactrim? I also take methotrexate now as opposed to cellcept. My last lab results showed no active Wegener's antibodies in my system. My creatinine was 2.1 (blood) but normal in the urine scan. My doctors think my Creatinine was high because of a diuretic I had to take due to a bout with CHF. My heart is now pumping at a normal rate and I am holding the diuretic for a second creatinine test monday. I am also holding the methotrexate in case it is a kidney problem. My question, would taking an 81 mg low dose apsirin nightly for three months effect your kidneys? My creatinine was 1.4 in September and the 2.1 in November alarmed me. My creatinine has not been over 2.00 since May 2010. I had to have an increase in prednisone in May 2010 to bring my creatinine back down. I dont want to go back up on preds. How long do you stay on preds and at what mg dosage? I started out at 60 mg for 4 months then went to 40 mg then back up to 60 mg and was then tapered to 20 mg. Is is common to go up an down for a while until all is "normal"? I was diagnosed October 23, 2009. I have also gained weight on the preds.