Taper after 2 weeks of prednisolone?

[Ladypig8]

Hello, just wondered if anyone know if I need to ask to taper down prednisolone after having 12 days of 30mg prednisolone? I did have a 2 day gap within this of no prednisolone. Am I right it’s only if you’ve had 14 days you need to taper? Thanks very much for any advice. Previously felt very grim after a few weeks of prednisolone so keen to avoid that again.

[Muldrew]

hi Ladypig8

I taper if more than 5 days

but you could always do so quicker than normal

( I have about 5 infections a year)

IE (if normal dose 40 mg)

2 days 30 2 days 20 and 2 days 10

Or just ask your asthma nurse/GP or Asthma help line

[Muldrew in reply to Muldrew]

Sorry just seen you are on 30 so skip first step

😊

[Ladypig8 in reply to Muldrew]

Thanks loads for this : )

[Africanleopard Verified User]

Hi Ladypig8

This is really difficult to answer because everyone is different and their asthma responds and behaves differently. So apologies for this long answer.

What applies in one person’s asthma may not be appropriate for another.

So your question can’t be answered without a clinical examination by your doctor or asthma trained nurse if there is one in your practice. This could be done remotely by phone by someone with expertise in asthma, however a face to face consultation is more appropriate after an attack and certainly if the attack is ongoing. So I suggest don’t change before you see or speak to your doctor if this can wait till morning. If you are having difficulty breathing or if you are not responding to your reliever or if your peak flow is fluctuating A&E would be appropriate and if you do decide to go there, make sure the triage nurse is aware that you are having an asthma attack and are not responding after 12 days of oral corticosteroid and therefore need to be seen urgently.

If you are well enough to wait to see your doctor tomorrow, the questions to ask are: Why were you advised to take the course for this length of time? Was it based on past attacks? Was this attack a very severe one - if so then a longer course was appropriate.

Then the key question is whether this attack is over - do you still need to take your reliever inhaler? If so how frequently?- if you need this more than once a day, your attack is not over- if you need it more frequently than 4 times a day- then you are seriously ill and should be sen immediately? Has your asthma been confirmed - ie do you have asthma or something else?

The other way to tell if your attack is over is to check your peak flow. If your readings have not returned to your best level, or if your readings are fluctuating from morning to evening or from day to day or before and after using your blue reliever then the attack has not resolved.

Finally are you taking a preventer - ie an inhaled corticosteroid inhaler- if not that may be why you had this attack.

So it’s not straightforward I’m afraid. I think you should contact your doctor and be seen urgently. If you are on an inhaled corticosteroid it may be appropriate , if the attack is over to simply stop the tablets, if not you may be advised to taper them down. In either event after needing this prolonged course, you should ask for a referral to see a severe asthma specialist. Do ring the helpline as well.

[Ladypig8 in reply to Africanleopard]

Thanks loads for this, I was thinking about prednisolone side effects when coming off it but there’s also a possibility of course that my asthma will make itself known to still be having a flare up as soon as I stop, hoping to see GP again tomorrow and will call the helpline too. Thanks again

[Patk1]

I'd ring Yr gp or pharmacist to get instructions on how to proceed.x

[Ladypig8 in reply to Patk1]

Thanks loads will try this

[JBrixton]

Your prescription should end/complete by the number of pills you have left to take. 6x5=30mg so 6=1day 12=2days 18=3days and so on. Your directions should also be on the dispensing label, if you cant read this have someone to read it to you.

As suggested above. If you can't breathe go to A&E or your GP and say you are having trouble breathing and they will see you immediately.

If you are expected to be on Prednisolone for an extended time you will be given a Steroid Patient Card to carry at all times and you should not stop taking your pills at all.

Also read the patient info leaflet that comes in the box and look at the section (maybe 4) and look at the 'Possible Side Effects' and see of any of them are the same as yours. Sometimes these just have to be tolerated for the greater good. If they are intolerable contact your GP Surgery and say that you need to speak to a doctor or nurse urgently and don't be fobbed off.

Experience.... Mother on steroids for over 40yrs. Me, many short course steroids. Brother on steroids for 2yrs for an unrelated condition.

[Ladypig8 in reply to JBrixton]

Thanks loads for this, they are amazing drugs but the side effects are rough aren’t they, thanks again