Reduction of prednisone intake

[Meadow6]

Hi... I had been taking prednisone for low cotisol 5mg for 5 years then reduced to 2.5 and last six months 2 . The reduction to 2 was done as a personal choice without Dr. Please advixe if it's ok

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi Meadow6,

Sorry, but I don’t think anyone on here can advise you, we are not medically trained, and mostly our knowledge of reducing Pred is in connection with PMR and GCA not for cortisol insufficiency.

You really do need to speak to your doctor regarding your reductions, you may be damaging yourself by self medicating.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There is no-one her who can advise you about whether that is OK for you or not - we are all patients ourselves. and only know about adjusting pred dose for our own illness.

I'm surprised you were told to reduce so suddenly from 5 to 2.5 if you have adrenal insufficiency which doesn't always simply recover so I think you need to discuss this with your doctor.

[PinkertonCat in reply to PMRpro]

I believe she dropped from 2.5 to 2, which is a pretty standard drop at that level.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PinkertonCat]

In the original post: "I had been taking prednisone for low cotisol 5mg for 5 years then reduced to 2.5 ..."

If the patient is on 5mg because of low cortisol it is as a replacement therapy. There is no indication in the post that the low cortisol problem has resolved - it may have of course - so the need for the replacement therapy would remain. Maybe the 2.5mg was still an adequate replacement - but before reducing any further that should have been checked. Lack of cortisol is a potentially serious condition, over time leading to Addison's syndrome. In a stress situation there is the possibility of become very unwell, even very seriously ill.

[PinkertonCat in reply to PMRpro]

Sorry.. I must have misread. I thought the reduction from 5 t0 2.5 was over a 6 month period, which didn’t sound unreasonable...but if cortisol levels were low and have not been monitored during drop, you are so right... this could be potentially serious.

[Kaaswinkel]

Just to let you know....I have only been to my GP when I had to to renew my meds. I have taken full control regarding diminishing my pred. With the help of forums like this. When I read about the input of doctors and rheuma doctors I feel so happy I have done it by myself with the forums and a bit of reading about it. I am now supplementing with hem seed oil and I do think it is a help. I also have done exercise like Zumba gold from the beginning and 40 min walk, and yes, I HAD to stop work but then..I was 66 anyway.... believe in yourself don t make yourself dependent on doctors. The prednisone does not cure your pmr it only takes the pain away, remember that. Well... that is my personal story, others might like the support of a medical doctor....all the very best for all. Alida.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kaaswinkel]

Yes, that is fine for PMR but the problem Meadow6 has is poor adrenal function where the pred is acting as replacement theapy like with thyroid problems or insulin in diabetes. YOu need enough for the body to function properly and too little can result in you becoming very unwell, even seriously ill in some situations,

[piglette]

Have you asked your doctor if 2mg is OK? It is a very small dose. If you are feeling OK with it your doctor will probably be happy.

[PinkertonCat]

My doctor is fine with me controlling my own taper. If you have dropped from 2.5 to 2 with no ill effects, that seems great! I would check in with the doc again soon and discuss continuing the taper.