Steroid taper

[Dibola04]

Hello all, how should I reduce prednisone? I suspect I have come down too fast from 40mg and have terrible shakes and fatigue, any tips gratefully received!

[Hidden]

Hi Dibola, did you follow your doctor's advice when tapering the dose ? If you did and feel that the reduction was too fast and has left you feeling unwell, then you should get back to your doctor and let her/him know. Some people reduce the dose daily, others every second day, and others, weekly. It depends on the dose you were prescribed, what you were taking them for and how long you should stay on them for.

Speaking to your doctor should help to answer your questions.

[O2Trees]

Has your GP or respiratory nurse not gone through a tapering plan with you? It does sound like you might have gone down too fast. Please get in touch with them straightaway, tell them what's happening and ask for advice.

[Huffnpuff73]

Hey Dibola.

How long was your steroid course for?

If its over 5 days which im guessing it is a slow taper should of been discussed. (Eg 35 for 3 days 30 for 3 days etc possibly)

Also get some magnesium and multi vitamins ,b12 etc and yogurt down you if you can.

If you cant take vitamins get some yogurt cheese eggs and foods with vit c,d,b12 amd magnesium and zinc in them such as fruits,veg and fish

Oral steroids can play havoc with your gut and your bodys natural cortisone.

I always have to take some vitamins /mag and yogurt or probiotic yogurt tablet after them as i feel the same as you.

Hope your taperimg symptoms are relieved as i know it is nasty take care.

[skinnylizzy59]

Your Doctor should have discussed the programme for tapering your Prednisolone. I recently had a short course of 5 days which finished abruptly but then I was prescribed a long tapering dose of 5 x 6 tablets then 5 x 5, 5 x 4. 5 x 3, 5 x 2 and finally 5 x 1 tablet, no side effects experienced with either dose thank goodness.

It was quite irresponsible not to discuss how to take Prednisolone with you and not to issue you with a card, to carry with you at all times, saying that you were on steroids.

Good luck. Take care, Lizzy x

[Huffnpuff73]

Wow skinnylizzy my doctors or a and e has never offered me a 5 day high dose then tapered it. They told me it wasnt needed and never been offered even when asked. You must be lucky and have a good doc as ive never been offered it as they said its never needed for such a short dose.

[MoyB in reply to Huffnpuff73]

I was told the same thing by both my doctor and my consultant. However, my new GP told me to taper off and it made all the difference. I've not had a chest infection since I tapered - before, I would have the infection, take the antibiotics and prednisilone for two weeks, feel ok for one week then go down with another infection. This happened for a whole year before tapering off was suggested and seems to have been the answer for me.

[Dibola04]

Thank you for all your replies, my doctors do seem quite relaxed about the side effects of steroids generally. Will stock up with some vitamins & magnesium and reduce more slowly but it's a help to know it's not just me!

[KCC08]

I have been on prednisona since 25th Nov, 45mg a day. Last week my consultant gave me a taper plan which is to start in 3 weeks and to carry on till reduced to 15mg a day by the end of may. Looking forward to my moon face reducing and getting rid of the awful feeling in my face from the growth of fine hair, I hate it. Kath

[hallentine47]

I have reduced to 11 mg a day from 40 mg a day 6 weeks ago. Very slowly reducing by 1 or 2 or 3 a day. I certainly agree with others that you need to talk to your nurse or Doctor about how you are feeling.