Prednisalone

[Alice70]

Maybe I should be on another site as diagnoses been changed from polymyligia to rheaumatiod, wonder if you can help on here ,last week I was in hospital with chest infection while there they took the 10mgs of prednisalone from me and put me on another steriod gave it to me intravenous don't no the name only that it was 200 mgs ,they told me to go back on prednisalone when I got home,as prednisalone gives me awful side effect I decided to try going back on 5mgs instead of 10mgs I've been on 5mgs for three days now up to now thepain is OK feels like I've only dropped 1mg ,but today I feel so sick can't eat anything I am putting it down to the drop in steriods preds ,can someone advise am I correct,and how long will this sickness last

[KittyJ]

We can not advise on whether this is what’s happened as we are not medically qualified but it’s not a good idea to drop steroids too quickly and without your rheumy’s knowledge or being given a tapering regime. You need to speak to your rheumy.

[Alice70 in reply to KittyJ]

Thank you for your reply ,but what I wonted to know is feeling sick a side effect of dropping steriods also a runny watery nose

[KittyJ in reply to Alice70]

it will tell you side effects in the patient information leaflet but I never had that happen but then I didn’t drop that amount all at once. You really need to speak to a doctor.

[Madmusiclover]

Sorry no. You need to speak to a medic. Good luck,

[Alice70 in reply to Madmusiclover]

Thanks for reply ,but is feeling sick a side effect of dropping steriods

[Madmusiclover in reply to Alice70]

I don’t know. A medic will advise. X

[Deeb1764]

Go to look up for pred on weaning and side effects which will list what can happen or check the leaflet with the medication but then maybe call a pharmacy tomorrow if open as they can advise too as they will probably know the one you might have had at hospital and be able to give more info,.

[ruth_p]

According to the Mayo Clinic nausea is a side effect of steroid withdrawal. The runny nose could be hay fever as mine has started up in the last few days.

[Runrig01]

I am extremely concerned by your actions. The medication you had in hospital is called hydrocortisone, you don’t say why, but that is normally used when you have adrenal crisis.

It is very dangerous to drop you dose suddenly, your adrenals have been asleep and you need to taper prednisolone slowly to nudge them awake. Depending how long you have been on steroids, they may not wake up, and you then don’t have enough cortisol in your body, which you need to survive. The symptoms of low cortisol is nausea, weight loss, fatigue, lightheadedness, among others. I have life threatening adrenal insufficiency, from years on steroids, it was diagnosed when I had a severe stroke due to an adrenal crisis. I now carry an emergency steroid injection, which family have been trained to use. You need to get the advice of a medic asap, you need a blood cortisol taken at 8-9am, withholding your steroid that morning till blood is taken. If it comes back low, they then need to refer you to an endocrinologist. I can’t stress enough the danger of tapering prednisolone too fast. Are any of your Drs aware that you’ve done this, if so alarm bells should be ringing. Please seek advice now.

[Egpa]

Hi Alice70, when I was on them I was told by my consultant to only drop 1 mg a month and see how I got on, if the side affects were bad stay on the the last dose you were on for a few weeks more then try again. It took me 12 months to get of 10mg of pred. Had a job to get of the last 2mg. But you do need to ask your consultant if it is safe for you to do this. Good luck.

[AgedCrone]

Here are some of the side effects from tapering Pred too fast……

“If you abruptly stop taking prednisone or taper off too quickly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms, including:Severe fatigue.Weakness.Body aches.Joint pain.NAUSEA. .Loss of appetite.Lightheadedness.Irritability or mood swings.”

So it sounds as if the way you are feeling could be due to dropping Pred too fast.

So please do speak to your medical team,& get your Pred dosage/ taper checked & sorted out. Prednisolone is not a drug to be self monitored.,

[Angels54]

yes think you could be right , when you reduce from 5 mg you need to do it gradually go to 4 - 3- -3-1 it can also make you tired .

[Emye343 in reply to Angels54]

hi Angel54,

I’m about to taper down from 5 mg after being on steroids for 7 weeks. I have been given no advice about how to do it. I didn’t even know you could get steroids in amounts of 1 mg. Are you suggesting the 4-3-3-1 regimen as a daily drop or several days on 4 before dropping, for example?

[KittyJ in reply to Emye343]

I think the tapering regime is more for longer term steroids, check with who told you to taper if you need to and how To do it on such a small amount.

[Angels54 in reply to Emye343]

Hi , I was told that by rheumatologist, you can also check with chemist or rhuemy nurse .

[Emye343]

thanks very much, I will ask my gp.