Tapering Prednisone with the help of licorice.

[hwigston]

Hi everyone. I have read that taking licorice tincture will help support the adrenals while tapering Prednisone. Has anyone tried this?

[bowler]

Hi. hwigston

I have never heard of this before, however as I have problems with potassium levels in my blood I dont think I could take it, as licorice can affect the potassium.

Be nice to find out if anyone has tried it though.

Pat

[trish29]

Hi hwigston, Trish29 here !thank you for the information on liquorice while tapering down on prednisalone, I've had Many

attempts at coming down and have got to 5mg quite a few times. I had a bad flare up in January due to being told to come down too

fast,my last rheumy gave up on me and I see a new one in April, here's hoping they can help me to get down on the pred and can help my pain level. I'm so pleased I've joined the blog and reading all the questions and answers are so helpful. This is a horrible condition and most people tell you how well you look . At the moment I take between 13.05mg and15.00mg depending on pain level and muzzy heads etc best wishes Trisha 29.

[hwigston in reply to trish29]

Hi. I have temperal arteritis, and over 3 years I have very slowly reduced from 60 mg to 6.5 without any flare-ups until 3 weeks ago when I became ill with a chest infection and everything started to go pear-shaped. Dr put Pred back to 20mg for 1 week and then to 10mg which I am now on, but suffering from severe adrenal fatigue. Dr said this was not his field and I would have to find an alternative therapy to manage it, hence my question regarding licorice. He gave me a book by Dr James L Wilson about adrenal fatigue and one of his remedies is licorice. It's an American book, interesting reading but I have very little knowledge about taking Prednisone and licorice and the internet is not of much help.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hello hwigston

How disappointing for you to have suffered a flare following a chest infection, especially when you have been reducing so well. Unfortunately, it does seem quite common for our reductions to go a bit pear-shaped when we have such infections placing stress on our bodies.

Our adrenal glands are suppressed anyway when on high dose steroids, and when you reached 6.5 they will have probably have just been starting to try and wake up again. Perhaps slightly smaller reductions from 20 rather than going straight from there to 10mg might have given them a better chance to get back to their waking up stage and you to 6.5 again.

When I started experiencing a flare at 5mgs, knowing no better at the time, I continued, as advised, to reduce by 1mg monthly to 3mg when I became almost immobile and in severe pain. I was then advised to increase back up to 10mg for a couple of weeks, followed by a couple of weeks at 7.5mg, then a further two weeks alternating 7.5 with 5mg until back down to 5mg each day where I was advised to stay for many months. That proved successful, giving my adrenals lots of recovery time and I then successfully reduced, albeit at a snail's pace, to zero.

Liquorice is probably among many natural foods/supplements that are helpful for the adrenal glands. But be careful if you suffer from high blood pressure as it can increase the pressure. Years ago I used to love indulging in liquorice allsorts but gave them up when my blood pressure started becoming a problem. Avoding coffee, sugar and alcohol can help the adrenal glands in their battle to get up to speed again.

I do hope you feel better soon.

[hwigston in reply to Celtic]

Hello Celtic. Many thanks for quick response. I too thought that 20 to 10 was too big a jump, but one always think that your GP knows best!!! I will now go to 15 mg and reduce by 1 mg every month as I did previously. Health Foodshop recommended Siberian Ginseng and Ginkgo Biloba but I'm not sure of their interaction with Prednisone. I'm taking a liquid multi-vitamin, and no coffee, alcohol etc. Boring!!

[truecolors in reply to Celtic]

Use Chinese licorice to reduce prednisone use.

Use Dandy Blend, a tea to help cleanse liver, it also helps restore potassium lost by licorice. Use fenugreek to eliminate ascites, adema, and inflammation. If low on both potassium and salt, add in hemylyan salt. Use magnesium spray for skin to help potassium absorb. Use high levels of therapeutic CBD oil. Use ashgwanda to help adrenal glands deal with stress. Use freeze dried stinging nettles to to get quality vitamin c to help with detoxification and adrenal support

[bowler]

Hello hwigston

I recently had a kidney infection, which put me back [ I have GCA ] So had to go up on my Pred. dose, I have just managed to get down to 15 mgs of Pred. and guess what, I have now come down with a nasty chest infection, so I have had to increase my dose yet again.

I'm surprised that a Dr would advice an "alternative therapy" to manage GCA,

If there was an alternative to steroids we would all be taking it.!!!! I think he should be doing his homework re GCA. I have no medical knowledge but just giving my opinion.

And I agree with celtic that the drop in dosage was far too much in one go, I also think that the adrenal fatigue was because of the big drop of the Pred. What symptoms are you having with the adrenal fatigue?

Roll on the summer !!!!!!

Pat

[hwigston in reply to bowler]

Hello Pat. GP was not suggesting an alternative to Pred for managing GCA, but for the Adrenal Fatigue, hence the reason why he gave me the book Adrenal Fatigue by James L Wilson. Symptoms, the fatigue is the worse, seem to be sleeping most of the day, no energy to do the most simplest of tasks, continual light-headed and dizziness and taking a long time to recover from chest infection. The worst I have felt in 3 years. As you say roll on the summer and hopefully some sun!! Heather

[bowler]

Hello Heather.

So sorry I misunderstood your message. I blame it on this chest infection!!!!! So it's the adrenal fatigue he's not "up on" but is OK with the management GCA. I suppose like my GP they cant know everything.

I do hope you will soon feel better. My chest infection started this Thurs, although I could feel something was going on, as I wasn't feeling too good, especially also having this kidney infection. Like you this is the worse I have felt for ages.

I am use to having lots of flare ups. I was diagnosed with GCA aged 54 that was 14 years ago, and have never been off of steroids, I did manage to get down to 1mg. but then it all went pear shaped. I am still under the care of a Rheumatolagist.

Take care

Pat

[hwigston in reply to bowler]

Hello Pat. I hope you will soon feel better. I really feel for you having GCA and on steroids for 14 years. Keep positive and try to have a laugh a day that's my motto. All the best Heather

[Hidden]

Hi hwigson, Heather,

Last year, late summer, I caught a virus and it took me 8 weeks approx to get my body back on kilter. Before I became ill, I had managed to reduce to 6.5mg of pred, but because the illness caused a flare, I had to go back up to 10mg to cope with the return of pain. I am now on 7mg of pred after reducing very carefully and I feel good.

You say that you have been advised to use licorice to help your adrenal glands to cope, but this herb, although it can stimulate the adrenals, carries risks, one of which is it's ability to cause high blood pressure. Did your GP warn you of this side effect, I wonder.

Who advised you to reduce pred from 20mg to 10mg - no wonder you felt exhausted.

Prednisolone is a very powerful drug, but very effective at reducing inflammation. Give it a chance! We all hate the side effects, but most of them go away as the doses are reduced.

My advice is to drop 1mg every 2 to 3 weeks below 20mg and once on 10mg drop half a mg every 2 to 3 weeks. When you get to 7.5mg you will be nudging your adrenals to wake up from a very deep sleep, so go even more carefully with the drops. Their wakening will take time no matter what you poke them with, so let them do it in their own way - go gently.

As for sleeping - sleep is my greatest friend. Sometimes, during my recovery, I have slept 10 hours at a stretch. Don't feel guilty about resting because during sleep our body can repair, both mentally and physically.

Pats.

[hwigston in reply to Hidden]

Hello Pats. Thank you for info. I have now reduced by 2.5 after reading everyone's advice. Re licorice, GP said to give it a go as it may help. Luckily I don't have high blood pressure. I am only going to take the tea, nothing stronger. Best wishes Heather

[Whittlesey in reply to hwigston]

Hi hwigston, Sorry you have GCA. I agree with Pats on her advice on reducing. That seems to be one of the best ways. I also have GCA and in the reduction from 60mgs to 5mgs. over about 8 months, I was diagnosed with Cushingoid syndrome, which is Cushing's syndrome but from the prednisone medication. And fatigue was part of it. I also searched for Adrenal fatigue and got some good answers. I have read about licorice and discussed it with my doctor. It is good if you take it to refresh or re "awaken" your adrenals, it seems. However, from what I understand, If you take it and the prednisone, on the same day, there is something about the licorice blocking the prednisone from being fully digested -- something about some of the prednisone staying in the liver, which really doesn't help anything. There was a time when I was down to 3mgs of medrol perday. I tried using licorice on one day and the 3mgs the next day. The licorice worked pretty well. It was a gentle rise in energy. After having a flare, and being diagnosed with dissecting arteries, I had to go up to 20 mgs and then come down. I decided to wait to use the licorice. I was drinking a licorice tea and I had bought some licorice vitamins. If I can get the medrol down low enough and the doctor agrees, I might try that again. I hope you feel better and get some relief. all my best, Whittlesey