Prednisone Taper and Quitting!

From Tuesday 01/03/16 I have quit taking prednisone.

I was on 10mg dose last week, was tapering from 80mg from the beginning December.

Massive headaches Wednesday, took Tylenol.

Feeling extremely tired and body pains today.

I want to go to the gym but dont want to make myself weak and sick.

Well, you just can't stop at 10. I have been decreasing by 1.25 per week and am down to 3.75 with no issues.

Jay ..may I suggest you read articles regarding the life threatening dangers of abruptly stopping corticosteroids

My doc had suggested drops of 2.5 per week and after listenning to people here, I told him I was going to do 1.25. Just in case. He laughed and said ok.

Stopping at 10 mg's is not a good idea. Once a person gets to 10 mg's, the taper should slow down and be done in small increments.

If you abruptly stop taking prednisone or taper off too quickly, you might experience prednisone withdrawal symptoms:

Severe fatigue
Weakness
Body aches
Joint pain

Prednisone is similar to cortisol, a hormone naturally made by your adrenal glands. If you take prednisone for more than a few weeks, your adrenal glands decrease cortisol production. A gradual reduction in prednisone dosage gives your adrenal glands time to resume their normal function.

The amount of time it takes to taper off prednisone depends on the disease being treated, the dose and duration of use, and other medical considerations. A full recovery can take anywhere from a week to several months. Contact your doctor if you experience prednisone withdrawal symptoms as you are tapering off the drug.

www.mayoclinic.org/prednisone-withdrawal/expert-answers/FAQ-20057923

To avoid discomfort and possible flares below 7.5 mg prednisone, some patients mentioned tapering by 0.5 mg each time, in which case 1 mg. pills come in handy.


When you have been taking steroids for a longer time your adrenal glands (small glands situated just above the kidneys) no longer produce cortisol, the natural corticisteroid hormone, produced by the body to fight illness and cope with stress. This explains the inability to respond to acute physical stress. In certain cases, like an operation or other stressful events, an increase in steroid intake may be needed. So, you are living with a body that's relying on a drug to get enough cortisol to function properly.


At 7.5 mg. prednisone (this is an average, it could differ from 5 - 10 mg. for different people) the adrenal glands should get activated and produce their own cortisol again. Eventually the adrenals will take over again, but this needs time.


FOR THIS REASON YOU SHOULD NOT SUDDENLY STOP TAKING YOUR STEROID TABLETS OR ALTER THE DOSE SIGNIFICANTLY WITHOUT DISCUSSING IT FIRST WITH YOUR DOCTOR. SUCH ACTIONS MAY RESULT IN ADRENAL CRISIS.


www.cssassociation.org/patient-stories-reader/items/reducing-steroids-while-on-a-low-dose-activating-the-adrenal-glands-by-marian-mesker.html

Did your doctor tell you to do that?

Jay, I think you are wise to skip the gym for a time. Be careful to not push yourself- you are having signs of adrenal insufficiency. An endocrinologist told me once the only way to heal the adrenals is sleep- and of course a slower prednisone taper helps too.

Just from my personal experience- After tapering prednisone, I found it hard to recover from exercise because I had low adrenals. My muscles after riding a stationary bicycle would be so weak and legs so wobbly that I could barely walk.

Thanks for sharing! take care and good luck

Barb- good job listening to your body! You are setting a good example for your doctor and maybe he'll learn something- haha At least you'll have the last laugh! I've read many stories of people who want to taper fast because they hate prednisone and just want to get off of it- like they'll feel better but no. thats a rough road. Slow and easy is the way.

Hello Posey,

You are right on the money.

I feel lot better after sleeping for close 9 hours.

Feeling slightly sore but feeling fine.

Prednisone did not do anything for me, once nplate started working my hema wanted me to taper.

I was already on this for close to 3 months.