**Prednisone**

[leo2634]

Hello all my Brothers my Doctor told me I could start reducing my Prednisone so I went from 10 mg. To 7.5 about a week now and I feel horrible. It's like having a bad cold without the stuffy nose part I basically feel all around lousy. Did any of you have this experience or am I just getting sick for real?

[tango65]

Are you still taking Zytiga?

[leo2634 in reply to tango65]

Yes 750 mg. Daily.

[tango65 in reply to leo2634]

One possibility, albeit remote, is that reducing the dose of prednisone when taking Zytiga is causing hypokalemia (low potassium) which could be associated with fatigue and weakness.

healthline.com/nutrition/po...

Many people take 5 mg of prednisone with Zytiga and they do not have any problem, but everybody is different.

You could increase the prednisone dose to what you were taking and get in touch with your doctor.

[Hidden]

I think it's something else, a 2.5mg change in Prednisone is small. Can't see it being from that.

[efsculpt]

You need to be on prednisone when on Zytiga. When you go off both, taper off slowly the prednisone.

[Wings-of-Eagles]

Probably getting sick for real I've been taking 10mg Prednisone for 7 years no side effects at all but that's just me

[LearnAll]

A steroid (prednisone or dexamethasone) is necessary if you are on Zytiga (Abiraterone)

WHY ?

Because Zytiga suppresses our natural steroids from Adrenal gland ,thus reducing our capacity to deal with stress and reduce our capacity to fight diseases.

Therefore, a steroid (predni or dexameth ) is given to compensate for our lack of natural steroids caused by Zytiga)

On a side note, Zytiga can lower potassium in your blood...That's what it did to me in first month. I started drinking a glass of fresh, organic carrot juice daily and eat 4 dates in morning. Within 4 weeks, my potassium bounced back to normal (now 4.2)

[leo2634]

I know I have to be on Prednisone while on Zytiga and why my question was the dosage decreases might be causing my general feeling of cold like symptoms. I think the decrease of 2.5 mg. In just a weeks time probably isn't why think I'm just getting sick . I've sent a message to my Doctor to make sure. I just wanted to know if anyone else had a similar experience.

[dadzone43]

10 mgm Prednisone is about equivalent to what the adrenal gland normally produce. A 25% reduction should not have a profound impact. Suspect something else. Bananas are an easy source of potassium. I agree with others that a slow taper is more physiological than a fast one; it gives your suppressed adrenals a chance to wake up.

[Tall_Allen]

You may have an underlying allergy that prednisone has been suppressing.

[leo2634 in reply to Tall_Allen]

I think you are right TA that's exactly what it feels like. Omg the not that asked my Doctor about decreasing the dosage I think I should have left well enough alone. What are your thoughts of 7.5 mg. Prednisone to 750 mg. Zytiga

[Tall_Allen]

The prescribed dose is 5 mg/day for mHSPC or 10 mg/day for mCRPC. Your doctor can adjust to suit you individually.

[leo2634]

I thin I'm going back to 10 thanks

[StePeteMN]

For what its worth, I dropped to 5mg two months ago without any problem; I think my face is not as puffy, too. And I eat a banana a day which has increased my K.