Taper or Disease?

[Stm252]

Hi All,

So every time I try to taper off the prednisone I have a major flare and the doc has me go up. Recalibrate and then taper down again. He is waiting to put me on a biologic be I am treatment resistant at this point. I am wondering how one onows the difference between a taper response versus a disease flare when you taper down on the prednoisone? I have read tapering is a real pain in the ass. So...it seems difficult to tease out. Granted I have been on Prednisone since December. And the taper is VERY slow. So I am leaning towards disease. Any thoughts?

[Alex97]

I have been on steroids like you since last Dec and every time things look like they are improving they taper them down and then I get another flare up. Bad flare last month saw me back at hospital having 3 doses of 1000ml steroids and then back on oral, starting at 60mg per day and tapering. Down to 50 this week and the start of another flare! Back to see ophthalmologist on Monday so I m sure they will put steroids back up. Hope you feel better soon!

[Stm252 in reply to Alex97]

It's a darn nightmare isn't it? Sorry to hear it sounds like you are in the same boat. Thanks for your response.

[Barry71]

I have been on Steroids for 2 years, getting under 10mg seems to be a problem for me

[Stm252 in reply to Barry71]

It's such a pain. I have been having a lot of anxiety and depression now on top of the physical issues.

[Stm252 in reply to Barry71]

What happens when you get under 10mg? What do the docs say about it? What other meds are you on?