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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Advice on tapering Prednisone
        
(Message started by: Richr8 on Jan 15^th, 2006, 1:57pm)

Title: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by Richr8 on Jan 15^th, 2006, 1:57pm

Well, I am going to be an optimist here and assume my current cycle is broken. I have had nothing more than chronic K3s in about three days which are easily knocked down with Relpax if they become too annoying or long lasting. For whatever reason O2 won't touch these. When this happens my Doc usually has me start tapering off of the Pred at about 5mg a week until I am at "0" from 60 mg. As you can see this takes about 12 weeks. Of course I am anxious to get off as soon as possible due to the possible side effects and the high level of anxiety it causes me, not to mention the sleep issues. What do those with experience recommend here. I see a lot of discussion on tapring, but no specific tiimings or dosages. I get the sense that t is much quicker than twelve weeks though. Of course, I would discuss any recommendations with my Dr. first.

Thanks,

Rich

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by E-Double on Jan 15^th, 2006, 2:01pm

SLOWLY!

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by MJ on Jan 15^th, 2006, 4:19pm

Stick with the doctors advice on this one. Dangerous things may happen if you dont.

Most of us I think take a prednisone dose pak which is a prescribed course of medication with a prescribed tapering off daily intake included all in one package. This is a much shorter course of action generally less than 1 to 3 weeks total use.

If I understand correctly you have been using pred continually for a while which I never heard of for clusters.

Be carefull

MJ

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jan 15^th, 2006, 7:54pm

As Eric said, SLOWLY!!

I've only taken the Pred Dosepak. From 100mg/day to 0 in about 10 days - usually, by then the prevent is working. Whatever you do, don't do repeated packs or stay on Prednisone for long periods of time - that's when the really bad things start to happen.

These things are outside of what happens to your appetite.

Go carefully,

Kris

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by chewy on Jan 15^th, 2006, 8:06pm

The best advise anyone can give you here is to follow your Doctor's advise.

The quick tapers are not designed for someone who has long term use.

Title: Thanks all!
Post by Richr8 on Jan 15^th, 2006, 8:12pm

I was just looking for a short cut off of the pred.

rich

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jan 15^th, 2006, 8:42pm

No short cuts, Rich. The sudden stopping of Prednisone can really hurt you. Slowly but surely wins the race ....

Kris

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by Guiseppi on Jan 15^th, 2006, 11:18pm

I've used predisone for up to 8 weeks, at a dose of 30-40 mg a day. Sometimes under a doctors orders, occasionally because I just couldn't stand the headaches anymore and had to have a break. At 30 mg a day I taper down over 5 days and then I'm off completely. That's how the doctor tapered me off the one time he had me on it that long so that's the taper I use. I haven't suffered fom any bad reactions yet but have read enough to know it's nasty stuff. Good luck.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by chewy on Jan 16^th, 2006, 12:04am

Quote:

No short cuts, Rich.

Nope. Not with prednisone and I use it all the time when in cycle. Its one drug I dont play around with.

12 weeks out of your life isn't that long.

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by zwibbs/Scott on Jan 16^th, 2006, 1:37am

Slowly is the only way. My Neuro had me taking 60 in the first 7 days then dropped each set of 7 days until 0. He also had me raise the Verapamil from 240 to 720 during the same period of time. IT WORKED !!! But it was very important to stay the course that he prescribed !

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by Svenn on Jan 16^th, 2006, 1:41am

Tapering it down with 5mg every 4th day

Svenn

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by zwibbs/Scott on Jan 18^th, 2006, 1:40am

Tapering it down with 5mg every 4th day

Svenn ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Once you get to 4 days of 5mg of Prednisone you can stop, as your body creates approximately 7mg of Prednisone on a daily basis. 5mg is really too low.But you have to go by whatever your Neurologist tells you.I would ask him/her how much your body plays in this.

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by MJ on Jan 18^th, 2006, 2:35am

on 01/18/06 at 01:40:37, zwibbs/Scott wrote:

your body creates approximately 7mg of Prednisone on a daily basis.

Hmmm thats interesting. Any further info on that?

MJ

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by MJ on Jan 18^th, 2006, 3:32am

Nevermind huge amounts of info on this.

From
http://www.transweb.org/qa/qa_txp/faq_pred_discont.html

Why Can't Prednisone Be Discontinued Suddenly?

Prednisone is a synthetic steroid hormone. It cannot be stopped abruptly because the adrenal gland, which makes natural steroid hormones for the body, is suppressed by long term prednisone administration. Since some steroids are necessary for life, abruptly stopping prednisone leaves one without any steroids at all, a condition known as Addisonian crisis. Given time, if the adrenal is stimulated to produce steroids by gradual reduction in the dosage of prednisone, it will eventually begin to wake up and produce natural steroids in most cases. It is thought that if one becomes ill, more steroids are needed since the natural response to stress (like trauma, an operation, an infection, etc) is for the adrenal gland to pour out steroids. Until one's adrenal gland is up to par though, this is not possible. So anyone on steroids or recently weaned off steroids needs to be aware of this. We give all our patients "Medic Alert" bracelets that state they are a transplant patient and have been on steroid supplements. I recommend all transplant patients have one.

Jeff Punch
Transplant Surgery
University of Michigan

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by zwibbs/Scott on Jan 18^th, 2006, 6:29am

your body creates approximately 7mg of Prednisone on a daily basis.

Hmmm thats interesting. Any further info on that?

MJ --------------------------Yes--My Neurologist told me this yesterday. He said 5mg of pred--is like throwing a cup of water on a house fire. He has been excellent for me, and I think that he knows what he is talking about.

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by chewy on Jan 18^th, 2006, 7:21am

Quote:

get to 4 days of 5mg of Prednisone you can stop, as your body creates approximately 7mg of Prednisone on a daily basis

That may not be so if you have been on a level dosage for an extended period of time.

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by LeLimey on Jan 18^th, 2006, 7:26am

Rich remember none of us are doctors, whilst we can give you the benefit of our personal experience it won't be 100% accurate for you as we're all individuals and some of us have some real pred horror stories too.
It's most definitely not a drug to be messed with.
Getting more info as you have done here is great but don't act on it without your doctors input.
Take care
Helen
Here's another site that may help although I think it only reiterates most of what has already been said
http://www.medicinenet.com/prednisolone/article.htm

Title: Don't worry.
Post by Richr8 on Jan 18^th, 2006, 9:21am

I've been following these posts and have every intentin of following my dr's advice. On a positive note, and aside from the fact that the pred totally amps me up and screws with my sleep. it once again seems to have broken my cycle whiich of course, at least to me, is the most important thing. I'll be starting the Dr. recommended taper of 5mg every 5 days, shortly.

Again, thanks all! You've been a great help thriugh this one.

Hopefully now it's a matter of getting off the meds and getting my wits and my strength back.

Rich

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by TxBasslady on Jan 18^th, 2006, 9:21am

I've used the Pred only twice. My taper was either a 12 day or 14 day. The first taper gave me 197 glorious pf days. The second taper I only got 42 pf days.

I'm episodic and have not had a need to take the Pred on a long term basis. I started w/60mg per day and ended with 10mg. My doc said there are at least 150 different ways to taper the Pred. Just depends on the individual I guess. For some, the Pred doesn't work at all. For others, the CH returns as soon as they taper. I had pretty good luck with it, but prefer not to take it at all. Lots of horror stories about it.

Good luck and hopes that your cycle has ended.

Jean

Title: Re: Advice on tapering Prednisone
Post by sandie99 on Jan 18^th, 2006, 10:38am

Rich,

I understand very well that you want to live without meds asap, but take it slowly. Back when I took prednisolon, my doc said that if we'll taper it too quickly, I'll be at ER shortly. So do it slowly. I can't recall that how much I was taking it, but tapering period lasted 6 weeks.

Anyway, I do hope that your cycle is coming to its end. :)

Best wishes,
Sanna