Prednisone

[jenawri]

Hi,
I am taking Prednisone for Lupus Nephritis and my Nephrologist is starting to decrease my dose. I am currently taking 60 mg every other day.. this week I am decreasing to 40 mg every other day for 4 weeks, then I am decreasing to 20 mg every other day. I am not sure yet what I will be doing after that. I was just wondering if the decrease by 20 mg each time was a large decrease or if that is normal. I am doing well and I am worried that is she decreases my dose too quickly I might flare. This is my first time on prednisone, so I guess I don't really know how it works.
Thanks!!
Jennifer

[raggedyann1]

jenawri,

Your answer would partly depend on how long you have been on such a high dose?? If it is only a short period of time I believe doctors do large decreases like you are describing. I know that once you get to 20mg it normal drops to no more than a 10% decrease. And often once down to 10mg doctors will opt to do 1/2mg decreases depending on their patient. I am currently on a taper to get me off of prednisone so I am dropping 1mg every 3 weeks, but that was from a 3mg starting point.

The alternate day taper you will be doing in a few weeks is often used. When you get to lower doses an alternate day taper can help to jump start your adrenal gland to start functioning again.

The biggest thing is to call your doctor if you begin to feel really bad after several days. There is always some adjustment we go thru, at least that is my experience, but it should subside fairly quickly unless you also have fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia hates prednisone and hates tapers even more.

Take care,
Karen

[chantal]

Yep it does make a difference how long uve been on it, and also its usually not uncommon to taper quickly at first from a high dosage but once u get down to 40 or say 20 for sure u should be going down by halfs, Ive been going down from 40 for almost a month, but ive been on prednisone for a long time, and im going down by 5 every two weeks because of complications with a leg thingy (caused by prednisone) .. but I say if u feel fine and your doctor is saying its okay it should be fine. Good luck
love chantal

[3forme]

We are all individuals!!!!!
Repeating the above EXCELLENT advice
If you feel weird, Kooky, bad, physically or mentally during your taper--CALL DOC. ASAP!!!!

Hugs and best of luck!
3forme

[jenawri]

Thanks so much for all your replies! I will find out at my next appointment what my dr plans to do after the 20 mg dose. Hopefully it will be a slow taper, I really want these kidney problems to be over! Thanks!
Jennifer

[tasha20]

Well i know i have been on Predsnione for almost 2 months and when i first got put on them i had a dosage on 1000mg IV for three days. Once i was released from the hospital i dropped to 60mg, and i've been on them for a month and i know i have gained 30 pounds and they just recently dropped mine to 50mg. My doctor is only reducing mine by 10 mg ever 2 to 4 weeks.

:lol: I TOLD HER I WOULD BE GLAD WHEN I AM COMPLETELY OFF BECAUSE I HAVE GAINED ALOT OF WEIGHT..BUT THEY SAY IT WILL COME OFF EVENTUALLY.. BUT IT IA WORTH IT...

[Andrea54]

I've had Lupus with Nephritis for 31 years and I have had the Pulse Threatment three time in 36 years. I was one of three patients who ever had it back in 1974. It's written in one of the older Lupus books. Your doctor probably will wait to see how you feel once your at 20 mg. that seem to be a magic number for them. Anyway I'm glad your feeling good I hate when that kicks up. I have gained and lost some much weight over the years I hate it. Right now I'm at my big fat time from size 4 Petite to 12 petite and I'm 4 11'. Good Luck and don't worry.
andrea