Prednisone taper.
Posted , 6 users are following.
Whilst in hospital for pneumonia I was given a daily injection of hydrocortizone and ceased MTX and hydroxychloroquine, the improvement in condition was quite noticable. On getting out of hospital I continued with antibiotics and was feeling quite good, still not back on MTX and hydroxychloroquine I assumed that was the eason. however once I ran out of antibiotics the pains returned withing 24 hours. Yesterday I saw the Rheumatologist and he has decided to continue with cimzia and a leser dose of MTX. Really keen to get me off prednisone, he put together a tapering plan, personally, I call it a pain plan. I'm currently on 6.5 mgs of prednisone,morning and night, the Rheumatologist's plan is to drop the night from 6.5 to 5 mg for one week, then from 5 to 4 the second, 4 to 3 the third, 3 to 2 the fourth, 2 to 1 on the fifth week and then zero on the sixth. After that I start tapering the morning dose. I really do think these medical professionals, and I use the word 'professionals' loosely, should get their heads out of their books, listen to their patients and join the rest of us in the real world. Previous experience in tapering has taught me tapering this quickly results in unbeleivable pain so I dropped last nights prednisone from 6.5 to 5 and this morning I can tell you I really felt it!. I may suggest to the Rheumatologist to take15mgs of prednisone for a few months and then try 'his plan', I think he just may enjoy it!
0 likes, 8 replies
steelctygirl tony09890
Posted
Hi Tony, my Rheumatologist also wants me off the Prednisone but EVERY time I wean the pain returns with a vengeance. I don't want to use the prednisone but we are playing a game here. I get a flare, she puts me on prednisone then pain eases & I'm weaned....and so on. The doctor also refuses to give pain medicine so I am in excruciating pain until the 3rd or 4th day of the prednisone at least. Hope you find a solution, keep us posted & good luck
jo66120 steelctygirl
Posted
Guest tony09890
Posted
Doesn't your rheumy give you pain meds?
steelctygirl Guest
Posted
No, I have seen two rheumatologist , one in Pgh. where I was hospitalized & one closer to home & both say they do not give pain medication. I am at a loss as what to do for pain? I have not slept all night for weeks.
Guest steelctygirl
Posted
I maybe wrong but this is the way I look at it. If you are in constant pain and the rheumy refuses to give you pain meds they are torturing you. That's sadistic in my book. My first rhuemy refused to give me pain meds and refused to answer simple questions so I went to my family doctor. Now my family has pressured me into going to a new rheumy and I'm afraid it will be the same thing. I figure when they can give me the right meds and I am free of pain then I can drop the pain meds. I will also refuse to take prednisone daily and from what I am reading, rheumy's are giving out pychotropic meds now and I will refuse to take them. I've seen to many people screwed up on them.
steelctygirl Guest
Posted
Gloria814 Guest
Posted
I think the doctors are under constant pressure to not give out pain meds sufficient because of the epidemic of abuse of narcotics so it's almost as though their hands are tied. It is not fair to patients that actually have a disease that warrants potent pain med
Prednisone is a very serious drug and while it gives almost instant relief it has many devastating side effects so the docs do try and wean off slowly down to the lowest possible dose that provides relief and then back to MTX or whatever. It is a sorry visous cycle
Have the docs suggested amytriplline for sleep / pain. It is an antidep. but it also helps with pain managment and sleep. I have been on it many yrs ago for depression and it sure made me sleep-like a zombie. Some people are on low doses, I don't think it interferes with RA drugs but I am not certain about all the drugs
timothy11402 tony09890
Posted
I use a "short burst" (a ten day plan) once or twice a year when I have a bad flareup. Normally the tapering part works well. But one time, when I finished tapering off, my flareup came back worse than before. So my rheumatologist put me back on a short burst and had me taper off by quarter tablets. It was a pain, took a lot longer, but the "soft landing" worked. Prednisone is not something we can stay on indefinitely.