Prednisolone

[ks1966]

Happy new year good people

Does anyone know what is the prednisolone tapering off dose and duration for a RA flare up?

Thank you 😊

[Lolabridge]

I think it varies depending on how long you have been taking it.I have been on it for a while and my consultant only allows me to reduce by 1 mg per month.

What were you advised to do by your Rheumy?

[ks1966 in reply to Lolabridge]

Hi. 20 for a week. Then 15 , 10, 5 for each week

[KT888 in reply to ks1966]

Hello! This is the same dose my rheumy prescribes. My flares don't last more than 2 weeks though.

[Hidden in reply to ks1966]

The weekly reductions of 5 mg seem to be standard, but some people find they have to reduce more slowly in going from 5 to 0. I took 4 months over those last 5 mg and I see Neonkittie took 8 months. On the other hand, I had been taking Pred for 4 months before I started that last taper.I would say, keep in touch with your rheumatology department, follow their advice and don't worry if you have to stretch out the final stage of tapering. You will be on a very low dose by then, no more than your body would produce naturally according to my consultant, and you should manage to get off it very safely.

[charisma in reply to ks1966]

I have had to have Prednisolone for over a year before Rituximab. Did not taper off till after second round of infusions as RA is severe in my case.

[KittyJ]

It would depend on how long and what dose you are on ( as Lola said) Your rheumy team will advise you as it will be different for each individual 😊

[Neonkittie17]

It can vary with each person. I started on 20mgs Prednisolone for one week then 10 for two then 5 for a month, then a slow, slow taper for another 8 months. That was on the say so of a senior rheumy.

[Hidden]

Your GP or RA clinic can advise you all we can say is what we do but a quick call will resolve this. My team know I go up and down based on flares and asthma so all ok but if new to it get the correct advice.

[nomoreheels]

It's a personal thing. You've come to the end of your taper & you're having an RD flare are you? That would make me think that your personal tapering plan has been too rapid & you've disease activity. I'd contact your team, they may want you to continue on a specific dose for a while longer. Is it bridging between new treatment? If it is then maybe you need to give the pred a while longer till the new med has reached it's potential.

[ks1966 in reply to nomoreheels]

Hello. I haven’t started treatment yet for my RA. My gp said the pred is temporary. My appointment with the rheumatologist is in January 15. He wants a f2f face to face consultation

[Knit12]

I was the same when the RA meds I had been on for 20 years. Unfortunately I had just moved location and had to wait for new rheummy set up. GP prescribed just what you were and the same tapering. Initially they don’t like you being on them too long. A week or two weeks top on each strength.

My latest flare when I was inbetween biologics I was on 5 mg every other day. Gradually I stretched that out and the most I went was 4 days. My new drug was so successful I stopped taking them altogether.

When you see your rheumatologist don’t be surprised if they give you steroid injection or more tabs to tie you over until new meds kick in. Good luck and hope you get a good rheumatologist.

[ks1966 in reply to Knit12]

Thanks. Out of curiosity what’s your new med? Mtx didn’t work for me. He’s considering biologics

[Knit12 in reply to ks1966]

You are a long way off mine it is usually a path you take. Methotrexate tabs then injections (side effects were terrible for me) then Amgevita, followed by Benepali , then Tocilizumab and now on baricitinib which again I have side effects but have been told they will wear off in a few months. This one you get put on when the others don’t work. Everyone is different so you can only go by your own experience, hopefully you get something soon for you

[Whitegate]

Lolabridge has it like I did

[Happy5]

It should be on the packet ? Have you no way of contacting GP, RA dept to check ?

[ks1966 in reply to Happy5]

Hello. I did. I was wondering if there different protocols

[Happy5 in reply to ks1966]

Ah got you

[Mmrr]

I was finding 1 mg per week from my daily 20 mgs a bit of a challenge. I'm doing better on reducing by 0.5 mgs every 5/6 days. I have been on 20 mgs for a long time though.

[Angels54]

I was on 6 mg was told to reduce to 5 mg for next month, now reduced to 4 mg , will continue until I get down to 1 mg .