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Prednisone Taper

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7 years 11 months ago #61645 by Judy14
Prednisone Taper was created by Judy14
I've been reading and following posts and have been on 1mg prednisone every other day. I convinced my hemo to keep trying to get me off, but he suggested 1mg every 3 days and my count plummeted. Looking for recommendations on slow taper from here. Am I better going to .5 every day, .5 every other day, alternating 1mg with .5mg every other day or trying to spread to every three days again? I'm just afraid if my count plummets again he won't let me pursue.
Thanks
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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7 years 11 months ago #61652 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Prednisone Taper
It would be odd for 1 mg of Prednisone every other day to do anything for counts. What was the count and what number did it fall to? If you're worried about it, I'd think that alternating 1 and .5 would be the way to go.
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7 years 11 months ago #61653 by Judy14
Replied by Judy14 on topic Prednisone Taper
Thank you! Normally, I'm in a 40-50 range 5-6 weeks after IVIG, but I was at 20, which I know is still ok, but my hemo was concerned
it dropped that fast and had me go back to 1 every other day. He knows I've been studying up, and I think I can convince him to try again, but want to do what's most likely to keep my count up. I was thinking maybe alternating 1 and splitting the alternate day into .5 a.m and p.m. for maybe 2 weeks. Then .5 2x day on both alternate days for 2 weeks, and then dropping 1 half on one of the days. That would bring me to my next IVIG/blood count to know how it's working. Do you think that makes sense, or is it being overly cautious and should I just alterate the 1 and .5 for awhile?
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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7 years 11 months ago #61655 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Prednisone Taper
If it were me, I'd go with the 1 and .5 on alternate days. Usually by the time the dose gets that low, the taper is more for the adrenals than the counts.

I'm not totally convinced that the drop in steroids caused the change in counts. The dose is so minuscule and is under the amount of cortisol that the body produces on its own. If it is the cause, then I doubt that any taper schedule would keep counts up indefinitely where you expect them to be at a certain time after IVIG.
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7 years 11 months ago #61658 by Judy14
Replied by Judy14 on topic Prednisone Taper
Thanks...I'll give it a try.
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7 years 10 months ago #61951 by Mageor
Replied by Mageor on topic Prednisone Taper
i'm on a number of medications right now with prednisone being one of them and i'm currently planning to get off some of them with... prednisone being one of them too. this is why i wanted to learn more and so i am very thankful for all the responses i found here, but i was wondering if i can ask you people some questions during or before taper? thanks for everything again!
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7 years 10 months ago #61952 by MelA
Replied by MelA on topic Prednisone Taper
Ask away, we all have opinions.

However it is wise to consult your physician about the prednisone taper and see what he/she says.
I did an extremely slow taper but I had been on it for a number of years.
"Instead of wasting your time worrying about symptoms, just get it checked out" -Nieca Goldberg, MD
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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7 years 10 months ago #61955 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Prednisone Taper
Of course you can ask! You might get 20 different answers though....
  • mrsb04
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  • ITP since 2014. Retired nurse. My belief is empower patients to be involved as much as possible in their care. Read, read, read & ALWAYS question medics about the evidence base they use.
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7 years 10 months ago #61960 by mrsb04
Replied by mrsb04 on topic Prednisone Taper
Taper slowly. Too fast can be dangerous plus the side effects of a fast taper are dreadful.
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