Lupus Support Group

Lupus is an auto-immune disease in which the immune system cannot distinguish between threats (like viruses and bacteria), and healthy cells and tissue. As a result, the body produces antibodies that inflict cell damage, most commonly targeting joints, skin, kidneys and the nervous system. Join the group and find support for coping with lupus.

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stopping prednisone

tazesmom
tazesmom
Has anyone been able to get off prednisone?if so did you have any side effects from doing so?was reading today it can cause breathing problems,hmmm,I have been tapering for months now and then going back up due to problems and then back down,I am finally off it but I feel really bad and as I stated in another question having trouble breathing,making me wonder,Cindy
MButterfly
MButterfly
I'm having a real problem with NOT taking steroids as of late. Everything seems to get angry and painful even while tapering down.
You were right not to stop it all at once, but even tapering the dosage if you're having issues can be a problem.
We end up having to choose our poison: feeling crappy from no steroids, or feeling crappy from taking steroids.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I just got to finish prednisone!!! It took me 6 months to taper off. Tomorrow will have been exactly 1 month off. I felt nauseous tapering a few months ago, but the first 2 wks off I felt very irritable and then very emotional. I feel ok now. Praying I don't have to ever go back on it. I was taking 60mg a day. Sure hope you feel better soon. I didn't exsperience any breathing difficulties...prednisone is crazy stuff though. Thankful for how it can help my kidneys, totally DISLIKE all thesdeal effects. Let US know how you are doing. :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
Tapering down for me just needed me to be patient and see how my body reacted. If you listen to what your body is telling you, if it doesn't feel right after a week then maybe you're going to quickly.

I'm down to 5mg a day and i have been since march/april time. does anyone know if there are negative side effects to keeping on such a low dosage on the long term?
tazesmom
tazesmom
my dr. wants me off it completely,he says long term steriod use is very bad for you ,it effects your bones ,your blood sugar and much more I would think it would be okay at low doses but he sure does not,but it really sucks going off it that much I know,Cindy
deleted_user
deleted_user
I heard the same Cindy. I am kinda nervous cuz my dr said the level of protein in my urine went up to 70, I forget what normal is but it was at 100, then down to 50...I really hope I don't have to go back on prednisone. I have already been on it twice, which was 10 months out of the past year ...
deleted_user
deleted_user
I tapered down to 20mg but my breathing was getting worse the dr just said to stay on 20 for another week then go to 15mg x 1week followed by 10mgx 1week down to 5mgx1week and off it I have follow this a couple of times before and it workers for me. I hate steroids and have brittle bones I also hate not being able to breath and coughing the steroids always work so what choice do we have
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have been on 5 mg steroids for several years and was well controlled. Dr suggested I try to reduce slowly and see what happens. Got down to 2.5 mg daily but as soon as I tried to go lower felt ill with sore joints and muscles, so back to 2,5 mg and feeling ok.