Re: Re: Weaning off Prednisone

[Guest guest]

I'm phasing out prednisone and am down to 2.5 mg day, but I split the dose

between morning and night. Any thoughts on how to do your phase out with a

split dose? Or should I just stop splitting and take all 2.5 at once and then

phase down?

Thanks,

Geoff Crenshaw wrote:

> Hi Mel! Geoff Crenshaw here.

>

> > Message: 25

> > Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 15:59:33 +1200

> > From: Mel <pelmels@...>

> > Subject: Weaning Off Prednisone

> >

> > to the list also as I am a 15 year plus prednisone user. Geoffs 1 mg

> > drop for us 'oldie' or should I say " long term prednisone users " is

> > just too hard (in my experience)

>

> I'm afraid you misread the routine:

>

> Step SEVEN specifically cuts the drop rate to 1/2mg.

>

> Step ELEVEN changes the periods between doses routine such that the

> drop is manifested due to the dosing regimen.

>

> Step SEVENTEEN cuts the drops to 1/4 mg

>

> You are not reading nor quoting the routine properly.

>

> Regards, -----------------------

> Geoff ** Usual Disclaimers **

> -----------------------

> How can you have hope?

> Get under the blood of the Passover Lamb.

> EXO 12:7-3 / MAR 14:24 / REV 12:11

>

> http://www.healingyou.org/ Nonprofit: Herbs, Homeopathics & supp's.

> http://www.800-800-cruise.com/index-aff.html Make money & travel!

> http://www.800-800-cruise.com/ Over a MILLION travel deals!

>

>

> To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribeegroups

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ! Geoff Crenshaw here.

Re: rheumatic Re: Weaning Off Prednisone

> I'm phasing out prednisone and am down to 2.5 mg day, but I split the

> dose between morning and night. Any thoughts on how to do your phase

> out with a split dose? Or should I just stop splitting and take all

> 2.5 at once and then phase down?

Two schools of thought: arbitrary and selective. Arbitrary is: choose

one, work from there. Selective is: work with the one which already

gives you the best response.

I'll go with #2:

Assumptions: You take 1.25mg at 7:00 a.m. and 1.25 mg at 7:00 p.m. Do

you encounter stiffness, etc., prior to the 12 hr period expiring with

either one? If yes, lengthen the periods between doses for the one you

do NOT experience stiffness with.

If you do NOT encounter stiffness between doses, I suggest lengthening

the dosing period of the morning dose as morning stiffness is one of the

most common problems of RA and most frequently as the day wears onto

afternoon, we get " looser. "

I would only extend out the period of ONE dose. In other words, if you

are taking the morning dose at 7:00 a.m. and the even dose at 7:00 p.m.,

try putting the evening dose off until whatever time would be

appropriate, say 8:00 p.m. This way, you are " extending " the a.m. dose

into the evening longer, but still covering that initial uncomfortable

morning period.

Then wait 12 hrs for the next dose -- thus lengthening ONE dose

interval, not both. So instead of taking the morning dose the next day

at 7:00 a.m., you'd take it at 8:00 a.m. in this example.

Eventually you will get to a point when you will have to set an alarm to

awake in the middle of the night to take what used to be your evening

dose, and you should do just that.

Take it slowly and easily -- over time eventually you will find that

instead of setting that alarm at say midnight, or 2:00 a.m., it is

getting closer to 5:00 a.m., then 6 or 7.

As you work with this lengthening, remember the math and guidelines in

the protocol. It's all about very slowly lowering your average blood

serum levels and allowing your adrenal cortex time to come back 'on

line.'

HTH

[Guest guest]

,

What my daughters doc had her do was alternate the reduction from am to pm, this done every 3 days. For example: Monday you split the am pill in half and keep the pm dosage the same as it was. Keep this dosage for 3 days, on the 4th day split the pm dosage and keep the am dosage the same as it last was. Once again keep this dosage for 3 days on the 4th day split the am dosage in half and keep the pm the same..and so on until they are unsplitable.

does this make sense?? hehe,, I hope this helps, it worked very effectively for Camarie resulting in no inflamitory rebound.

Blessings,

Weaning Off Prednisone> >> > to the list also as I am a 15 year plus prednisone user. Geoffs 1 mg> > drop for us 'oldie' or should I say "long term prednisone users" is> > just too hard (in my experience)>> I'm afraid you misread the routine:>> Step SEVEN specifically cuts the drop rate to 1/2mg.>> Step ELEVEN changes the periods between doses routine such that the> drop is manifested due to the dosing regimen.>> Step SEVENTEEN cuts the drops to 1/4 mg>> You are not reading nor quoting the routine properly.>> Regards, -----------------------> Geoff ** Usual Disclaimers **> -----------------------> How can you have hope?> Get under the blood of the Passover Lamb.> EXO 12:7-3 / MAR 14:24 / REV 12:11>> http://www.healingyou.org/ Nonprofit: Herbs, Homeopathics & supp's.> http://www.800-800-cruise.com/index-aff.html Make money & travel!> http://www.800-800-cruise.com/ Over a MILLION travel deals!>>> To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribeegroups>>>

[Guest guest]

Jan- I have been there and really sympathize. I am on 10 a day- have been on

pred for about 12 years- at some dosage. Would love to be off- was once down to

2.5 also- have gone up to 15 with respiratory issues. Don't like side effects-

vanity is part- weight gain is depressing.

--------- [ ] sulfasalazine ? and more

> > >

> > >

> > > All my doctors have told me that I have to get

> > > off Prednesone, so I'm trying

> > > again. It seems that I drop from my normal 10

> > > mg to 9 mg, and I can't get

> > > past the pain that I suffer. It's a small

> > > decrease, but it whips me every

> > > time. Today I'm hurting from my hair to

> > > toenails. Does anyone have a trick

> > > or advice for me, or do I just suffer through

> > > it?

> > >

> > > I'm looking at possible meds my Rheumy will

> > > prescribe for me after talking

> > > to his nurse and having a list he gave me of

> > > the meds. Why would he

> > > prescribe the sulfasalazine for my RA, and not

> > > Crohn's, which I don't have?

> > > The other meds on his list are Plaquenil and

> > > azathioprine. Which of the 3 is

> > > better or are they all basically the same?

> > >

> > > Ken, I've had this mess for 15 years and

> > > remember having almost the same

> > > dragging, boring time you're talking about.

> > > For a long while, I moved the

> > > bed into the living room. That way I didn't

> > > have to walk much at all. One

> > > thing I did to help me was to get a

> > > motorcycle, a Honda Gold Wing. When I

> > > needed fresh air, I'd jump on it. Well, I

> > > kinda crawled to it, actually. It

> > > has cruise control and reverse, so it's not

> > > much of a problem to operate,

> > > and the fresh air and beautiful surroundings

> > > make you forget about your

> > > problems for a while. It worked for me because

> > > it was a distraction that

> > > helped. Now, after turning the bike into a

> > > trike so it won't fall over, I'm

> > > into building my race car and things like

> > > that. You've got to do something,

> > > even if it's just playing games on your new

> > > computer. That's another thing I

> > > do. I build my own computers, write programs

> > > for them, and do other work on

> > > them.

> > >

> > > Dennis

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Jan- I have been there and really sympathize. I am on 10 a day- have been on

pred for about 12 years- at some dosage. Would love to be off- was once down to

2.5 also- have gone up to 15 with respiratory issues. Don't like side effects-

vanity is part- weight gain is depressing.

--------- [ ] sulfasalazine ? and more

> > >

> > >

> > > All my doctors have told me that I have to get

> > > off Prednesone, so I'm trying

> > > again. It seems that I drop from my normal 10

> > > mg to 9 mg, and I can't get

> > > past the pain that I suffer. It's a small

> > > decrease, but it whips me every

> > > time. Today I'm hurting from my hair to

> > > toenails. Does anyone have a trick

> > > or advice for me, or do I just suffer through

> > > it?

> > >

> > > I'm looking at possible meds my Rheumy will

> > > prescribe for me after talking

> > > to his nurse and having a list he gave me of

> > > the meds. Why would he

> > > prescribe the sulfasalazine for my RA, and not

> > > Crohn's, which I don't have?

> > > The other meds on his list are Plaquenil and

> > > azathioprine. Which of the 3 is

> > > better or are they all basically the same?

> > >

> > > Ken, I've had this mess for 15 years and

> > > remember having almost the same

> > > dragging, boring time you're talking about.

> > > For a long while, I moved the

> > > bed into the living room. That way I didn't

> > > have to walk much at all. One

> > > thing I did to help me was to get a

> > > motorcycle, a Honda Gold Wing. When I

> > > needed fresh air, I'd jump on it. Well, I

> > > kinda crawled to it, actually. It

> > > has cruise control and reverse, so it's not

> > > much of a problem to operate,

> > > and the fresh air and beautiful surroundings

> > > make you forget about your

> > > problems for a while. It worked for me because

> > > it was a distraction that

> > > helped. Now, after turning the bike into a

> > > trike so it won't fall over, I'm

> > > into building my race car and things like

> > > that. You've got to do something,

> > > even if it's just playing games on your new

> > > computer. That's another thing I

> > > do. I build my own computers, write programs

> > > for them, and do other work on

> > > them.

> > >

> > > Dennis

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Hi Sally. Theresa, everybody. Just received my 3 months supply of Minocin in

the mail today and I read the paper that comes with it carefully. It says not

to take with calcium. Ask Dr. T. about that. I, too see Dr. T. but only twice

a year. I take fish oils, acidophillus & Co Enzyme Q 10. When I found out

that fish oils contain Vit D. and that's a no -no. (That's why we must stay out

of the sun and not eat or drink foods fortified with Vit. D.) I asked my

cardiologist for some fish oil w/o vit D. and she gave me " Omacor " , caps 1 Gm.

The directions say 4 tablets by mouth daily. These are samples and they didn't

come with papers saying what it contains, but I can & will look it up on line.

Take care~~~~~~Dolores

merriams_rcn_com <merriams@...> wrote:

Hi Sally,

Dr T is on vacation until July 31. My next scheduled appointment

with him is August 16 but I intend to call him the week he's back. I

lowered my minocin dose from 200mg per day to 100mg per day and I'm

feeling much better. I still have some ankle swelling and pain but

between last week and this week it's gone from a 10 (worst) to a 2 or

3. I can live with this. Last week all I could think of was when

can I take another aleve.

Also, I need to talk to Dr T about supplements. Right now all I take

are Acidophilus, calcium w/ D, Beta Carotine(sp?) and iron. I've

been thinking about adding fish oil and some others I've read about

on here.

I hope you are able to get the brand minocin. I'll keep you in my

prayers.

Thanks for your input.

Theresa

>

> Hi, Theresa,

>

> Sally in L. Rk here.

>

> Weaning off Pred is a hellish experience!!

>

> I would hope Dr. Trentham would let you stay on higher doses (or do

a dos pak during flares-ie, 40 mg 1st day, 35 next, down to 10 or

below daily) while you are getting used to the Minocin and while it

is doing its job to get you better. That's what my rheumy here did

for me and it has been really great to know I have that pain relief

at my fingertips. He basically prescribed 3 per day and I usu. keep

it to 5-10 mg daily, with Celebrex, fish oil, and now Bromelain

(pineapple enzyme) for other inflammatory and pain relief.

>

> Just looked down at list and saw Geoff is answering you about

weaning off Pred. That's good. My GP basically told me to go 10 mg

for 1 mo, then 10 mg every other day for 1 mo, then 5 mg for 1 mo,

then 5 every other day for 2-3 wks, then stop. Well I could NOT do

that without some pain relief, so I'm going Mon to see about ordering

the Brand name Minocycline and possibly getting Doxycycline from the

base, meanwhile and staying on steroids until I get back to partial

remission. (Or maybe full-wouldn't that be wonderful?) I know name

brand Minocin is expensive but it's still cheaper than the biologics

like Remicade, etc., so maybe Tri-Care (Military) will pay for

it....Here's hoping-put me in your thoughts and prayers, everbody!!

>

> Also, will see about a referral to a rheumy up near me and poss get

on sulfasalazine (DMARD) if all else fails as it has anti-invective

(anti-biotic) properties (its a sulfa drug) for Urinary tract and

vaginal infections, middle ear and ulcerative colitis and is

prescribed for RA, Crohn's and ankylosiing spondylitis (RA of the

spine, basically).

>

> Think this would be my best choice of DMARDS as I have suffered

with many of the above named infections since I got a tick bite

in '92.

>

> Good luck, Theresa!!

>

> Sally in L. Rk

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[Guest guest]

I am steady on 20 mg a day, I have tried to wean to 15 mg. When I do, I can't

breath. I get tight, wheezy, pulse ox drops and require oxygen. If I wait too

long without going back up, I end up either 1. In the hospital or 2. On a burst

and taper. So my lungs are happy in 20 for now. I am happier than I was on 40mg

a day.

Tricia

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

-----Original Message-----

From: Carol Corley <floridabouvs@...>

Sender:

Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 08:39:14

< >

Reply-

Subject: [ ] Re: Weaning off Prednisone

I have never weaned off Prednisone, but I have weaned off hormones, and I find

(as an RN), that I do best if I go waaaay slower than the medical assistant at

the doctor's office suggests. Doing it my way, I had no SE at all. Doing it

their way, I was miserable.

Carol

Member asks:

What types of problems are you having when trying to wean? I haven't had but

maybe 2 burst in the past 2 years so I am steady at 10mg per day.

I know in the past when I attempted to wean off I would feel sore and tired, but

I didn't have any other issues. I would like to have an idea of what to be

prepared for so I will know the difference between the pred wean and the xolair

side effects.