Reducing steriods

Been on then for nearly 20 years, I now take just 2mg daily, a very low dose but every now and again, about once a year I have to increase to 10mg daily for a few weeks and then reduce back down to 2mg. I do this slowly over a couple of weeks and don’t find it a problem. Your tiredness could be due to other factors for example have you got osteoporosis because you have been on steroids for so long as this will make you tired. As you are seeing the Dr and having blood tests I would just follow his advice. Don’t know how old you are or if you are retired but if like me you are retired then you could just ease up and have rests or a daytime nap. Wish you well

I used this taper plan, it’s very slow but worked for me with very little side effects, I hope I never have to take it again.

www.imperialendo.com/prednisolonewithdrawal

The taper plan didn’t work for my husband. He’s stuck on 3mg per day plus inhalers that apparently add another 3 mg. If his body or mind are stressed he shows signs of adrenal insufficiency and has to increase its dose. Deep tiredness is his first and main symptom.

When I had polymyalgia rheumatica, it took me 6 years to taper down from 20mg to zero. My rheumatologist agreed to let me use my judgement and my GP let me make appointments for blood tests when I felt I could make a further reduction, One of my inflammatory markers was very slow to reduce, but eventually reached a point when I could say goodbye to the pred,

Yes I’m on 2 mg so I’m actually doing ok it seems but it’s the tiredness , yes I’m retired too, and yes I have blood tests and have been regularly every six weeks for 17 years , no haven’t got osteoporosis have a dexa scan every three years, Barmeyoldbat and thank you

How are you feeling since you came off them annodomini well done

Grandmama thank you for the graph that’s interesting, my consultants told me to taper down one milligram every three months

I have pic, a liver problem, and steroids have shown to help that’s why I stay on them, don’t want to end up waiting for a liver transplant. Also I have an under active thyroid and my medication for that has been 125mg for some years but for months I have been on my knees with tiredness and after many test the Dr suggested dropping to 100mg and what a difference I could run a marathon, well almost 10 yards of it. It seems as you get older you need less thyroid, so it’s worth having any other medication checked, you never know. Wish you well

I'm tapering off steroids at the moment.

I can't say I feel much better with or without them; well, less exhausted, with a much fatter face with them.

Barmeyoldbat I’m sending private message

I've been taking Prednisolone for asthma and sinus problems for about 7 years. I started on 30mg and later got down to 15mg a day - very very slowly at just 1mg every 3 weeks, but if I go any lower my asthma & sinuses become a real problem. I've never had regular blood tests or any other tests, and haven't been able to see my GP since the pandemic began. I just put in repeat prescriptions and stay on 15mg. I also take Seretide and Salamol inhalers, Omeprazole, Montelukast, and Acdal-D (calcium and vitamin D).

I have developed the round face, weight gain, tiredness, weakness and instant bruising that's associated with steroids. I now can't walk very far (I'm talking yards not miles) and stairs are challenging so I rarely go out anywhere.

My GP has now sent me an appointment for a blood test next week and a face-to-face consultation the following week. Not sure how I feel about it, I don't really want to know what the tests might reveal. As I understand it all steroids cause the same problems so changing my prescription probably wouldn't make much difference, and they can't refuse to give me them as that would be dangerous. Bit of a catch 22 situation.