prednisolone, what is the right way to take a course.

[rikki0777]

my name is rikki and. I was diagnosed with copd in 2010, I live in spain and have been seeing many different private doctors who allways prescribe prednisolone for my flair ups and seem to tell me different ways to take the course, I'm afraid im losing confidence in the spanish medical system. can anybody help please. thanks. Rikki.

[IPFsufferer]

I was prescribed it in 2001 for IPF, started with a high dose of 40 mg per day and stayed on that dose for 3 years, it then took a further 3 years or so to get me off it as it CANNOT just be stopped, it has to be slowly cut down over time...

[Mocarey in reply to IPFsufferer]

Make sure you take them with food. I have been on a low dose for 44 years with high doses during flair ups. They are not pleasant to take but they do their job, M

[stone-UK]

Hi

Mine says four per day , the box holds 28

[IPFsufferer]

More info xpil.medicines.org.uk/ViewP...

[costacal]

Hello Rikki, I also live in Spain and usually prescribed prednisolone for flare ups/chest infections. I am usually told to start off on say 30mg tablet daily for 4 days, then half that for 4 days then a quarter for 4 days .... stop. I am with the Spanish health authority not private. Hope this helps, costacal.

[whit]

when i have exaberations my doc says 5 a day for 1 week ,i have recently been stuck in a cycle of one exaberation following another from september until last week , so he put me on a course of 5 a day for one week 4 a day for a week 2 a day for a week then one a day for a week , it seems to have worked because i feel better now than i have for weeks. as ipf sufferer said, if you take them for more than one week you have to gradualy stop them.

[kimmy59]

I always have 5mg 5 daily for 6 days with food.

Kim xxx

[RibvanRey]

Lots of food they give me the munchies big time. It is the only time that I have an appetite. Staff make me lots and lots of pasta

[peege]

To be taken in the morning, not at night. They can keep you awake

[FarmerD]

I have been on prednisolone for all of this year,every time I get down to 5 mg another infection appears.I,m usually doing 30mg for the first week along with antibiotics.I then come down 5 mg per week.Since being put back on aminophyline I have found it easier to come down with the steroids.Currently on 20mg with new A.B. Clarithromycin as shifting this last infection is proving difficult.Hope this is of some help.Good luck,D.

[notlocal]

Useful to know that Pred comes in a 1 mg size which can make it easier to taper (come off).

[undine]

No wonder you are confused so are the medical profession with every doctor and/or consultant I have seen prescribing different doses for different time scales, but as I have a very bad time with steroids both mentally and physically I did some research myself and found a few studies that recommended 5 days at 40mg with no further days necessary for reductions as the dose and time scale is small, being as goodand effective in the study higher doses for a longer time scale. I am not saying do this, I am not a doctor but I experiment myself and this dose has happily worked for me (and when it does not I just continue and then gradually reduce). Sorry I cannot at the moment find the reference to the study but try a search.Hope this helps. Take care and by the way look into joining the Spanish public health service (in my experience they are excellent) think there are ways you can try, and get someone who can advise you even if you have to pay them it will be worth it.

[jimmyw123]

hi rikki,

i can only speak for myself, but as undine says, many doctors vary in their prescribed doses,

any previous flair ups i have had, have usually resulted in my doctor prescribing 40mg to be taken in one dose [in the morning as they tend to keep you awake, if taken later] for 7 days then stop, i had been on and off this dose for sometime.

but more recently i have been given 40mg for 5 days, then a cut down dose for a further week i,e 5mg last day then stop.

this medication can have many side effects as i have found out.

off course they can be a life saver , when we are particularly bad.

i have always had a course of antibiotics along with these doses.

i know of some doctors giving a maintenance dose each day of 5mg.

i have never had this.

[tigershay1]

Hi I always take 6 a day as 30mg with antibiotics for seven days then reduce to half for three days then down to half again for remaining days. This works best for me but sometimes have to go up if infection not cleared. I have bronchiectasis chronic bronchitis and asthma. My daughter has severe asthma and takes maintenance dose daily of 25mg she is only 23 not nice things to be taking but asJimmy says sometimes they are life savers

[rikki0777]

thank you everybody for your kind replies, I think I'm on the right track now, just need to know the best way to ease the pain of my ribs and muscles , many thanks again. Rikki.