Guest guest Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 Hi everyone, My doc wanted me to try tapering down my prednisone from 10 mg a day to 7.5mg a day. I have tried it for a week now and notice a definite increase in pain. He didn't say how long to try it before deciding it wasn't working. Anyone have any experience with this? What did you do? How long did you try reduced dose? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 , When you start taking prednisone, your body stop producing it's own. When you start to taper, it forces your body to make it's own steroids and the lag time can be painful. The longer on prednisone, the harder it is to taper off. Some people can only decrease by 1/2 mg a day or every other day, and it can take a year or more to completely get off. Others that haven't been on it long can taper more quickly. We're all different and react differently. I can't tell you anything from experience since I've refused to take prednisone, knowing it's potential for serious side effects. Many here have had experience with tapering and can tell you from experience. I have many links about prednisone and tapering on my website: http://rheumatoid.arthritis.freehosting.net/drugs.html#prednisone Good luck with you taper. I hope you're able to do it without a great deal of pain. a On Sep 8, 2005, at 2:15 AM, wrote: > Hi everyone, > My doc wanted me to try tapering down my prednisone from 10 > mg a day > to 7.5mg a day. I have tried it for a week now and notice a definite > increase in pain. He didn't say how long to try it before deciding it > wasn't working. Anyone have any experience with this? What did you > do? How long did you try reduced dose? Thanks. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 , When you start taking prednisone, your body stop producing it's own. When you start to taper, it forces your body to make it's own steroids and the lag time can be painful. The longer on prednisone, the harder it is to taper off. Some people can only decrease by 1/2 mg a day or every other day, and it can take a year or more to completely get off. Others that haven't been on it long can taper more quickly. We're all different and react differently. I can't tell you anything from experience since I've refused to take prednisone, knowing it's potential for serious side effects. Many here have had experience with tapering and can tell you from experience. I have many links about prednisone and tapering on my website: http://rheumatoid.arthritis.freehosting.net/drugs.html#prednisone Good luck with you taper. I hope you're able to do it without a great deal of pain. a On Sep 8, 2005, at 2:15 AM, wrote: > Hi everyone, > My doc wanted me to try tapering down my prednisone from 10 > mg a day > to 7.5mg a day. I have tried it for a week now and notice a definite > increase in pain. He didn't say how long to try it before deciding it > wasn't working. Anyone have any experience with this? What did you > do? How long did you try reduced dose? Thanks. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 Lynn, Most people that start prednisone aren't aware of it's side effects, so don't feel bad. The only reason I knew about them is because of my anatomy & physiology teacher that I had in college. I'm blessed that he was so graphic. Looking back, he probably had some experience with prednisone. I don't know what his problem was, but he couldn't stand up straight or bend his neck. When I was first diagnosed, the first thing my rheumy TRIED to put me on was prednisone. I graciously refused. Sorry about your scan. Even though I haven't taken steroids, I still have a problem with bone loss. a On Sep 8, 2005, at 12:10 PM, Ruf-Caimi wrote: > Hi a, > I was just reading this with much interest. My dexa scan was not > good at all. Plus I am losing height which really surprised me. I > use to be 5 ft 10, I am now 5ft > 8. So they told me to try and loss the predisone. Which I am > doing right now. I hope this all goes well. If I had know about > all the side effects 9 years ago I would > never have taken it. My scan is so much worse than it was two > years ago. At that time I was told it looked good. > Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 Lynn, Most people that start prednisone aren't aware of it's side effects, so don't feel bad. The only reason I knew about them is because of my anatomy & physiology teacher that I had in college. I'm blessed that he was so graphic. Looking back, he probably had some experience with prednisone. I don't know what his problem was, but he couldn't stand up straight or bend his neck. When I was first diagnosed, the first thing my rheumy TRIED to put me on was prednisone. I graciously refused. Sorry about your scan. Even though I haven't taken steroids, I still have a problem with bone loss. a On Sep 8, 2005, at 12:10 PM, Ruf-Caimi wrote: > Hi a, > I was just reading this with much interest. My dexa scan was not > good at all. Plus I am losing height which really surprised me. I > use to be 5 ft 10, I am now 5ft > 8. So they told me to try and loss the predisone. Which I am > doing right now. I hope this all goes well. If I had know about > all the side effects 9 years ago I would > never have taken it. My scan is so much worse than it was two > years ago. At that time I was told it looked good. > Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 Hi , I am trying to taper off of predisone right now. My understanding is it has to be done very slowly. It could take a year or so for me to get off of it. Yes there is more pain but I will have to deal with that I guess. I absolutely have to get off the predisone. Lynn wrote: > Hi everyone, > My doc wanted me to try tapering down my prednisone from 10 mg a day > to 7.5mg a day. I have tried it for a week now and notice a definite > increase in pain. He didn't say how long to try it before deciding it > wasn't working. Anyone have any experience with this? What did you > do? How long did you try reduced dose? Thanks. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2005 Report Share Posted September 8, 2005 Hi , I am trying to taper off of predisone right now. My understanding is it has to be done very slowly. It could take a year or so for me to get off of it. Yes there is more pain but I will have to deal with that I guess. I absolutely have to get off the predisone. Lynn wrote: > Hi everyone, > My doc wanted me to try tapering down my prednisone from 10 mg a day > to 7.5mg a day. I have tried it for a week now and notice a definite > increase in pain. He didn't say how long to try it before deciding it > wasn't working. Anyone have any experience with this? What did you > do? How long did you try reduced dose? Thanks. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2005 Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 It's good you didn't take predisone a. I so wish I had know all about it. So far I am okay. It is just something I had to do. I don't know what will replace it but I will cross that when I come to it. It is back to school work for me. I am really stressing out about it all. Hope I can settle down soon. If not I may not go back in the spring. I am so unsure as to what these professors want, guess I was just very use to Bucks. My friend and I knew everyone, including teachers. Hope you and are doing well. Also hope you don't get that new hurricane. a wrote: > Lynn, > > Most people that start prednisone aren't aware of it's side effects, > so don't feel bad. The only reason I knew about them is because of > my anatomy & physiology teacher that I had in college. I'm blessed > that he was so graphic. Looking back, he probably had some > experience with prednisone. > I don't know what his problem was, but he couldn't stand up straight > or bend his neck. When I was first diagnosed, the first thing my > rheumy TRIED to put me on was prednisone. I graciously refused. > Sorry about your scan. Even though I haven't taken steroids, I still > have a problem with bone loss. > > a > > On Sep 8, 2005, at 12:10 PM, Ruf-Caimi wrote: > > > Hi a, > > I was just reading this with much interest. My dexa scan was not > > good at all. Plus I am losing height which really surprised me. I > > use to be 5 ft 10, I am now 5ft > > 8. So they told me to try and loss the predisone. Which I am > > doing right now. I hope this all goes well. If I had know about > > all the side effects 9 years ago I would > > never have taken it. My scan is so much worse than it was two > > years ago. At that time I was told it looked good. > > Lynn > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2005 Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 It's good you didn't take predisone a. I so wish I had know all about it. So far I am okay. It is just something I had to do. I don't know what will replace it but I will cross that when I come to it. It is back to school work for me. I am really stressing out about it all. Hope I can settle down soon. If not I may not go back in the spring. I am so unsure as to what these professors want, guess I was just very use to Bucks. My friend and I knew everyone, including teachers. Hope you and are doing well. Also hope you don't get that new hurricane. a wrote: > Lynn, > > Most people that start prednisone aren't aware of it's side effects, > so don't feel bad. The only reason I knew about them is because of > my anatomy & physiology teacher that I had in college. I'm blessed > that he was so graphic. Looking back, he probably had some > experience with prednisone. > I don't know what his problem was, but he couldn't stand up straight > or bend his neck. When I was first diagnosed, the first thing my > rheumy TRIED to put me on was prednisone. I graciously refused. > Sorry about your scan. Even though I haven't taken steroids, I still > have a problem with bone loss. > > a > > On Sep 8, 2005, at 12:10 PM, Ruf-Caimi wrote: > > > Hi a, > > I was just reading this with much interest. My dexa scan was not > > good at all. Plus I am losing height which really surprised me. I > > use to be 5 ft 10, I am now 5ft > > 8. So they told me to try and loss the predisone. Which I am > > doing right now. I hope this all goes well. If I had know about > > all the side effects 9 years ago I would > > never have taken it. My scan is so much worse than it was two > > years ago. At that time I was told it looked good. > > Lynn > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2005 Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 Lynn, How long have you been on prednisone? and at what dose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2005 Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 Lynn, How long have you been on prednisone? and at what dose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2005 Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 I have been on Predisone for 8 or 9 years. All different doses right now I am at my lowest. I started at 10 and gradually have come down to 4 pills a day. The primary just told me it could take two years for me to get completely off of it. I plan to do it faster than that if I can. What I did was I took four pills one day the next three pills. I did this for about 6 weeks. I am now on three pills everyday. Yes there is more pain and stiffness. I am also very tired but I try to push through it all. I am having major bone loss, probably due to the predisone. To add to this I can not tolerate calcium, it is really hard on my stomach. I don't eat dairy but I consume a ton of veggies. I have very severe stomach problems. My other problem is what will replace the predisone. I am not a candidate for Enbrel or anything like it. I had a very severe problem with remicade therefore, I can not take any of the new drugs. They all work the same way. I wish I could, when I tried remicade it was working great. Don't let my situation stop you from doing what you have to do. Predisone made this bearable for me, now I don't know what is going to happen. But I believe is praying and hoping for the best, so we will see what happens. Lynn wrote: > Lynn, > How long have you been on prednisone? and at what dose? > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2005 Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 I have been on Predisone for 8 or 9 years. All different doses right now I am at my lowest. I started at 10 and gradually have come down to 4 pills a day. The primary just told me it could take two years for me to get completely off of it. I plan to do it faster than that if I can. What I did was I took four pills one day the next three pills. I did this for about 6 weeks. I am now on three pills everyday. Yes there is more pain and stiffness. I am also very tired but I try to push through it all. I am having major bone loss, probably due to the predisone. To add to this I can not tolerate calcium, it is really hard on my stomach. I don't eat dairy but I consume a ton of veggies. I have very severe stomach problems. My other problem is what will replace the predisone. I am not a candidate for Enbrel or anything like it. I had a very severe problem with remicade therefore, I can not take any of the new drugs. They all work the same way. I wish I could, when I tried remicade it was working great. Don't let my situation stop you from doing what you have to do. Predisone made this bearable for me, now I don't know what is going to happen. But I believe is praying and hoping for the best, so we will see what happens. Lynn wrote: > Lynn, > How long have you been on prednisone? and at what dose? > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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