Hi,
I have been on prednisolone for 5.5 years. Now on 4.5 mgs. I have a short synacthen test next Tuesday 1st Dec. Have been told by the Medical Investigation Unit not to take steroids for 48 hours. Is this normal and will I get any withdrawal symptoms?
Thank you Julie
It was 24 hours both times for me and having a quick read around, 24 hours seems to be the norm. I would have been a heap of it was me not having Pred for 48 hours. Perhaps query if it could possibly be reduced to 24 hours?
Thank you SnazzyD. They said 24hours first of all then went to check and came back with 48hours. I will query it.
I have recently had a synacthen test. Initially my consultant instructed me to refrain from taking steroids for 48 hours - but when she sensed my hesitation, agreed to a 24 hour period without steroids. I eventually decided to drop my dose 48 hours before by 1mg (from 5mg to 4mg) and then none on the day until after the test. I didn’t notice any difference until I was driving to the test, with a sense of not feeling quite right - as if I was about to go down with a bug. It must have been as a result of not taking my Pred that morning as the feeling disappeared very quickly after taking the missing dose. Hope this helps.
I only had to stop for 24 hours, each time. My Endocrinologist is well respected in his field.
I did not have to stop taking them at all.
Mmm - but didn't you have to keep the dose for the morning of the test until after the test was done?
No, mind I was only on 2mg and had been there for quite sometime while Sara and Clive argued.
The endo who was a lovely man and when I went to see him - we had a long talk (45 mins he wanted to know about the NE charity set-up(. He said just take the 2,g as normal - so I did.
me too. was on 3mg and told not to stop taking anything? I was also told I could have a strong coffee and meal during the test at the onsite cafe... My test came back normal, but I haveto try to get the actual result to see if borderline... I was wondering f the coffee made it "normal".
24 hours is common - in that you take you dose the previous day and none until after the test the next day. Point out that you may have a great deal of difficulty actually getting to the test!!!!!
My test is on Tuesday. I was going to take my last dose on Sunday, then take pills after test on Tuesday. Should I take them on Monday Morning? What do you mean by I might have great difficulty in getting to the test?
After 48 hours with no pred a lot of patients would be so sore and stiff they might struggle with walking! No - do what they say. You must ask them if you want to do it as 24 hours - which is what you normally do really unless you are someone who splits their dose.
Synacthen test results
Short Synacthen Test 
Synacthen test - update 
Short Synacthen Test results
