Hi Barbara

You have done really well to have come down this far and by staying on 15mg for a time you will give the steroid a period of 'evening out' and the pain and swelling time to settle before going any lower. I imagine, from my own experiences of being on pred, that the reduction will need to go really slowly from here on in as clearly your body is not liking the adjustment. Possibly something like a reduction of 2.5mg every two weeks until you reach 10mg after a month, then even slower after that. Perhaps 1mg a time until you reach a point where you really cannot go down further without problems with inflammation. An alternative drug may need to be added to the mix.

It took me ages (months!) to get down from 7.5mg to 5mg and what seemed like forever to get down to 3mg which is the maintenance dose I've been on since October 2007. Can't get it any lower and in fact have now had to add back in Naproxen which is a safer alternative to the prednisolone as it was the only way to control the inflammation. Ideally the rheumy wants me off the steroids completely, been on them for 20+ years, but without better control from elsewhere it's just not do-able!

The only way to avoid flares, in my experience, is to take it very very slowly. Your body will soon tell you when it isn't getting enough steroid. All that said your rheumy may have other ideas as it has been a short term med so they may have a different way of reducing. I hope you have a successful appointment with a suitable plan for the coming weeks.

Lyn x

Hello Barbs
aww no yes seems far to quick,id explain how you feel and see what they suggest.
ive not been on the tablet form by my aunt did she reduced at 1 or 2mg at time.
and slowly.
glad nurse told you stay on higher dose,sorry see your suffering so much.
sending you a hug
melly

Hi Barbara

I also have been on pred a long time, and have managed to get down from 5mg to 4 mg, but it's taken ages with a few hiccups along the way. I'm now trying to get down to 3mg, so that will probably take me 6 months as well. I would think it would be very difficult for you to reduce you dose very quickly, and if it makes you feel worse, then stop and go back to your old dose for a while, and try again later

The docs make it sound so easy to to do, but as lots of now know, it's very difficult.

Lyn

Hi Barbara

Can't really help but wanted to send you a big hug

Love Jeanxxxxx

Hi Barbara,

I have been up and down on steroids for such a long time and always reduce in the same way. From 15mg, I would have alternate days 15mg/12.5mg for one week. Then I would have a week at 12.5mg. Following week would be 12.5mg/10 mg alternative days with 10mg the whole of the nextweek. I always do this until I get to 7.5mg then come down 1mg at a time alternative weeks.

Thanks everyone. I went for bloods today, and spoke to one of the nurses about it. He advised to stay on the 15mg for now, until my appt. At the moment I only have the 5mg ones, so cant go more slowly than down to 10mg anyway. Hopefullly they will understand why I couldnt get down to the 5mg. I think I was so hopeful as when I started on the 30mg it was amazingl, no pain or much swelling at all, felt wonderful!! so thought as I lowered the dose it would be the same. How dumb am I???!!!

Seems sensible to stay on the 15mg whilst things settle, but you should be able to cut the 5mg tablets into two thereby dropping by only 2.5mg!! Once settled it might be worth trying Eleanor's suggestion, it's an effective way to reduce. Good luck,

Lyn x