Posted , 11 users are following.
Hi,
I would like to know some of the background to the science about the Prednisone tablets please, if anyone who knows could help please.
How long does a tablet take before it starts to work its magic?
How long does the Prednisone tablet last and work for?
When tapering down Pred, if withdrawal kicks in how long does this last before this wears off?
0 likes, 6 replies
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EileenH andy34717
Posted
Prednisone starts to take effect after about an hour and a half to 2 hours - it must be absorbed in the stomach which lakes about an hour and then must be processed by the liver to produce prednisolone which is the active form. Prednisolone works faster because it doesn't have to go through the liver. Any form of coating on the tablets slows the absorption in the stomach so it will take longer to take effect. There will also be a bit of effect if you take the tablets with a full meal - slower than if you take it will just a glass of liquid. Prednisone achieves its peak as prednisolone in the blood in a couple of hours.
The antiinflammatory effect of pred lasts from 12 to 36 hours - everyone is a bit different.so there is no fixed time.
Withdrawal shouldn't happen if you taper in small enough steps and again there isn't an answer to your question - everyone is different. For some people it is just a day or two - some people feel it for a few weeks.
andy34717
Posted
Thanks Eileen,
Appreciate the insight.
Cheers,
Andy
Michdonn andy34717
Posted
EileenH, has given you a very good description. PMR is different for almost everyone and how Prednisone act is also different. Some people suffer terrible side effects, others do not. I believe in all cases it relieves the pain and crippling effects of PMR. Just be aware that a quick taper. can lead to terrible flare, nice and easy does it.
Think positive stay active and smile. 😐
noosat Michdonn
Posted
Yo say "nice and easy" but I don't know what that means. I was diagnosed about 2 months ago with PMR. My physician started me on 3 days of 40mg, then to continue with 20mg. I did not like the side effects so after 10 days I tapered to 10mg, after 10 days to 5mg. T0-day I am trying to start with 2.5mg. I have not spoken to doctor or his nurse as they are extremely difficult to contact. As another patient said, "his office sucks." I have an appointment scheduled in about 2 weeks time
EileenH noosat
Posted
Nice and easy means SLOWLY. You need to be at the starting dose of 20mg (40 is too high for PMR) for about a month. Then a month at 15mg and then dropping in 2.5mg steps to 10mg and then 1mg steps. Always with at least a few weeks at each dose until you find what you are looking for: the lowest dose that manages the symptoms as well as the starting dose did. The symptoms appear, you go back to the previous dose immediately.
You may not like the side effects but it is that or PMR - it is a chronic disorder and the median duration of pred management is 5.9 years. And leaving PMR unmanaged increases the risk of developing GCA 7-fold. And if you develop GCA you have a stark choice: take pred or risk going blind, and it will be at a much higher dose, at least 40mg for some weeks.
It sounds scary, harsh - but I'm afraid it has been reality for more than a few people.
Michdonn noosat
Posted
noosat, nice and easy, I started on 20 and rushed down 7 mg had a very bad flare, ended up in a wheelchair. Had to increase 30 mg to get any relief. I found this forum, read the article on the website, learn about PMR, DSNS and realized I had been tapering much too quickly. Now I taper using the DSNS protocol and never reduce by more than 10%. I am currently on 5 mg and holding, i hurt myself and under going other medical procedures. The side at this level are not bad after being on 30 mg for 6 weeks to stabilize and get PMR relief. To me that is nice and easy. Good luck. 🙂