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Has anyone with COPD tried to reduce daily steroid dose.

I am 69 with severe COPD and Emphysema and have been taking prednisolone steroids

for 4 years on and off but almost constantly for the last 2 years. I have reduced from 30 mg to 9 mg very gradually to avoid with drawal reaction but I seem stuck on 9 mg. I have tried reducing to 8 1/2 mg but after a few days find my breathing very labored and so I increase back to 9 mg. With all the side effects and problems being created by the Steroids I really want to get of them other than when I have a virus or exacerbation. Has anyone else been in a similar position and how did you get on please.

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hallentine47

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15 Replies

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sassy599 years ago

Hi hallentine, my hubby Pete has sarcoidosis and COPD (Bronchitis) and has been on steroids for 25 years reducing from 30mg to 10mg. The Hospital doctor now wants him to reduce down to 5mg as steroids have caused a few problems over the years. He is currently on 9mg and next month 8mg etc. We have yet to see if he can do it but it would be good if he could.

I do wish you well and will let you know how things go. Take care xx

hallentine47• in reply tosassy599 years ago

Yes please. I am very interested i his progress as it sound so like my own situation. Thank you sassy59

seyre9 years ago

I have been lead to believe that once you are below 10mg there should not be any side effects. Personally I think if it makes it easier to breathe I would continue as you are. Sue x

hallentine47• in reply toseyre9 years ago

Hi Sue

My community nurse would agree with you but I a told I have steroid induced boarder Diabetes and onset Osteoporosis and my Dentist says I have bone loss. I have had taken out three big molars in a year and it all points to long term use of steroids. Its catch 22!

sassy59• in reply tohallentine479 years ago

Pete has osteoporosis and his teeth are crumbling hallentine. Xxx

duffer9 years ago

I always struggle to come off steroids once I get below about 10mg. I think what is happening is that your body normally produces about 7-8mg steroids daily anyway. Once you start taking Prednisalone above 10mg your body detects enough steroid levels and stops producing any. Once you start reducing to near this level, especially after a long period, your body has not started to produce again yet so it suffers low steroid level effects.

I have to 'acclimatize' to each reduction before moving on to give my body time to react and start producing natural steroids again. I would suggest you stay at 9mg for at least 2-3 weeks and then reduce at 1mg per month. It may take some time for your body to react but it will sort it out if you give it time.

Hope this helps, good luck. Joe

rattles• in reply toduffer9 years ago

Excellent reply duffer, the only way is to do it very slowly as duffer has said. Best of luck. x

hallentine47• in reply toduffer9 years ago

Thanks Duffer. I have managed to reduce in the way tou suggest from 30 mg a day over 3 years but its these final numbers that confound me. I don't seem able to reduce even half mg without problems below 9mg.

9 years ago

Are there any herbalists near you? If so try to get to one. Liquorice in pure form has natural steroid properties and may help with the effects of reducing them. I went down 0.5 at a time and suffered awful withdrawals. Pains in my joints etc. You should be checked for adrenal fatigue as you reduce them as Duffer previously mentioned your body can stop producing steroids if on them a long time.

I hate the bloody things. Good luck xxx

hallentine47• in reply to9 years ago

Thank you nfanning fir that information and I will look into it my local Health Food shop to see if they can help. I hate the bloody things also but without them I would have been in serious trouble last December when I spent 18 nights in Intensive Care as a result of Pneumonia.

• in reply tohallentine479 years ago

If you can get to a herbalist rather than health food shop it would be even better but anything is better than nothing! Jesus you poor thing. Best of luck reducing them, it's not easy xxx

jellytas9 years ago

Hi,it's not easy ,I've tried hard myself recently but without complete success.Every time I get down to a lower level (below ten) like you I get bad and have to increase again.I found Duffer's comments very comparable.There's a good site on line,give it a try:

CSS Association.org Reducing steroids while on a low dose by Marian Mesker.

Good luck.Nigel.

hallentine47• in reply tojellytas9 years ago

Thanks Nigel. Plenty to get whats left of my teeth into!!