No Prednisone, is it dangerous?

[Trevgrrl]

Going of prednisone and I was at12mg for awhile. Then suddenly there was a mixup at the pharmacy and now I've gone 2mg a day and now I have no pred. at all, and the drs won't call back with refills. Is it dangerous to go without pred for a few days?? I have been doing very well without too much pain from PMR, just arthritis, I think. I'm taking pain pills regularly.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Short answer - yes.

Could lead to adrenal crisis. You need to impress that upon your doctors and/or pharmacy…..and seek medical advice asap.

[jinasc]

Yes it is dangerous and you must get help............if GP etc won't help ring 111.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to jinasc]

Trevgrrl is in the US…so 911-agree with you.

[jinasc in reply to DorsetLady]

I am still learning and thank you.

[piglette]

Get hold of some steroids from somewhere. Your adrenal glands will need them.

[Trevgrrl]

I've tried to contact drs and pharmacy and get no reply or a no to an emergency few pills. Will I be safe for a day or two? I guess I'll go to Urgent Care tomorrow though there is a snow storm coming.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Trevgrrl]

Sorry, but not good enough from doctors nor pharmacy -they should know the risk of suddenly stopping steroids.

You need to go to Urgent Care. End of!

[singingloud]

I would show up at the doctor’s door this morning and not leave till you were given a script. Then I would find a new one as soon as possible. Take care.

[Trevgrrl]

Oh, I wrote a long message to you all, and forgot to send it. Anyway I got scared early this morning and called 911 and ambulance people got my story and took my vitals, telling me I didn't have symptoms of adrenal crisis. They gave me a steroid shot though not prednisone and some phone numbers to call. Later I got hold of my rheumatologist who apparently was off the days I called for a refill and her assistant didn't answer. My dr told me I had to get off pred by two years because she was retiring and my next dr wouldn't give me pred. So anyway she called in my 12mg refill and my best brother brought it over to me, so I'm OK. Thanks,all

[piglette in reply to Trevgrrl]

What a relief. Out of interest why won't the new doctor give steroids? Seems strange.

[Trevgrrl in reply to piglette]

That is just her opinion, which she will probably tell the new dr. I took so long at a high dose that my now dr got mad at me.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Trevgrrl]

Sounds like a doctor to avoid! Even her successor can't just stop pred overnight if you are a long term steroid patient. The ambulance crew got it not quite right - it isn't you HAVE an adrenal crisis - it is avoiding developing one!!

[piglette in reply to Trevgrrl]

I agree with PMRPro a doctor that you should cross the road to avoid it seems!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Trevgrrl]

good end result -but unnecessary stress for you - Rheumy assistant should have replied to you…and your doctor shouldn’t be making decisions for her predecessor.

[Thelmarina]

In the UK we rarely see the same doctor. If it’s the same in the states you’ll be ok! We also can change doctors here. It’s so hard when you’re feeling low to tackle doctors. However, you will have a new start with a new doc who maybe better. By the time he/she arrives you may have dropped your dosage a little which will reassure him/ her. Good luck! ❤️

[Trevgrrl]

The rheumatologist told me that because I had gone up and down with the pred. that she can't make my prescript. with refills. I was wrong in some ways, but so was she. Now I am cutting down very well without so much trouble, so maybe I did need the higher dose when I couldn't bear going down. So I don't completely blame her, but she seemed very unsympathetic to my illness, though she and my regular dr seemed to think she was the best.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Trevgrrl]

They do say that self praise is no recommendation!

If the refill is for a standard amount - it will just last different times. Where's her problem?

[Trevgrrl in reply to PMRpro]

I think it was a power struggle, and she didn't like that I wouldn't obey. But I was hurting! I know I was wrong in some ways, though.