Prednisone

After 2 yrs of living with low platelets with no treatment I had to go on prednisone today after discovering petechiae on legs over the week-end. I usually live pretty normal with 30,000 - 40,000.

I really scared to take this medication but I have no choice. The last time was in 2010 and I ended up in hospital with a severe infection (diverticulitis). I do have diverticulosis and I have had in under control for past 2 yrs.

My new Hemo that I saw today did not have the best bed side manners and I was not impressed with him. He wrote a script for prednisone 20 mg ..... take 2 daily and Qty is 60. So I will be taking it for 30 days.

My question I have is I was on prednisone many yrs ago and always tapered off. He has nothing written down about tampering .... only take 2 a day. Am I correct on this and has he made a big error?

I forgot to mention that he also prescribed Omeprazole to take with the prednisone and I have no idea why. I have never been prescribed that before.

Charlotte:

40 mg's of Prednisone taken for a month should be tapered. DO you see him again before the 30 days is up? If not, I'd call and ask about the taper.

He prescribed the Omeprazole to protect your stomach lining. Prednisone can cause reflux/GERD, so that is a good idea.

Thanks Sandi I haven't been on it for awhile but I do know it is a tampering off period but wasn't sure about the 40 mg a day. Last time I was on it my doctor wrote a script for 60mg and I was tampered.

I see him on Thursday after my lab work. I had lab work last done in Aug and they were 30 without any petechiae. So I will have labs done Thursday and see him after.

Today I was speaking how horrible prednisone is and I hated to go back on it after 2 yrs. Also mentioned my diverticulitis attack 3 days after starting prednisone back in 2010. My Hemo must of had a bad day today so he took it out on me. He told me "don't you think I know what the side effects are I am specialized in this and have so many with ITP that I treat" He told me to deal with it.

So now I am scared to tell him of his mistake of not tampering me off. Like he said he "specializing" in it. I don't have a choice in getting another Hemo because he is the only one where I live.

Charlotte, I know how hard it can be dealing with doctors. Can you consult the MD's who treated your diverticulitis? See how they feel about you taking prednisone again. They are 'Experts' too. Good luck.

The only people who are Prednisone specialists are the people who have been on it. You can't possibly get it without having had the experience. If need be, you could taper yourself successfully when the time comes, assuming you have enough pills to get through a taper. Hopefully, he will allow his ego to see that his patient needs some guidance.

Kara thanks and it is sad that we have to endure so much from doctors even though they get our money for their services. My Gi doctor who treated the diverticultis in 2010 said low doses are safer with people who have diverticulosis so I am hoping 40mg is a low dose. He said 75% of people over 50 have diverticulosis but being on prednisone could always flare a problem with diverticulosis even with small doses.

Sandi I agree and thanks so much for your help and support.

He won't have made a mistake. I'm guessing he's just waiting to see what your response is to see when to taper. It could take anything from a week to 6 weeks to get to normal counts on steroids and when that happens or when he feels your count is high enough he will tell you to start tapering.

It's important to get on with your doctor, any chance of seeing a different one?

By the way 40 mg is not a low dose. 5 mg is a low dose.

Ann I made a phone call this morning and have an appointment Wednesday with my Hemo I was seeing back in 2001. I have to drive 45 minutes but to get a good one I will do that.

I wonder if antibiotics can be taken with 40mg to prevent a latent infection already present in your body when prednisone can reactivate it. I am really scared to take this prednisone because of the diverticulitis.