I took 5 mg of prednisone for four months when first diagnosed last year. That low dose didn't help much, but it did make my hot flashes kick back in even though I'm on HRT.

When I quit the prednisone, I had to wean down over two weeks, even from such a low dose. The first week taking 2.5 mg a day and the second week, taking 2.5 mg every other day, then stopping altogether.

I've never heard of taking prednisone "as needed" like that.

I agree I have never heard of using prednisone on an as needed basis. Even in my nursing career I have never heard of that. I have been on 10mg pretty much since April when I try to back off on it the pain always returns. It is the drug we all love to hate. Good luck

I went off hrt last year but have noticed that when on steroids they kick right back in; yuck!!! Trish

I did that for two years. But my doses were 1mg tablets and to try to never take more than 2-3 mg at a time. Usually 1mg worked for me.

Caution - I still ended up developing hotflashes and disrupted cycles as side effects from the low dose almost daily for those years. I now also get stress fractures as well. Be careful with it !

I'm currently taking 5mg daily and it definitely helps me. Ill take 10mg if I'm having a bad flare but usually the 5mg is enough. I actually usually take my dose at night before I go to bed because I don't always eat breakfast and if I don't eat with the steroid I get really bad stomach pains.

Yes, as needed.
That is all I have ever been told to do.

But, I was told to take 1/2 the pill (so 2.5mg) the first day. If it was enough, take it 2 more days. If it wasn't enough, take a 5mg pill day 2 for 2 days, then do down to 2.5 for two days.

Basically, if I take 2.5, I am supposed to take 3 days of it.
If I take 5mg, I take it 2 days, then 2.5 two days.

***but I actually only use 1/4 a pill when needed and add another 1/4 if no improvement 12hrs later. Prednisone RAISES glucose on me so I am really careful with it.

I take prednisone on an as needed basis, and like doing it this way. If I'm going hiking or having a really active day, this insures that I will feel good. Most days I don't even consider taking any. I've been doing this since I weaned down from high doses over a year ago. I usually take just 2 mg if I need a bit.

I am back on 5mg prednisone for symptom relief while waiting (hoping) for other meds to kick in. However, it takes at least 2 weeks for the 5mg dose to give me any relief.

I take 20 mg a day and that at times is not enough but I don't want to be on anymore than I have too.... Seems odd to me that you can take as needed but if that's what your doctor told you than I suppose it's fine, if it helps. I know for me 5 mg would do nothing. I tried to taper on my own a few weeks ago and got as low as 10 mg a day but couldn't stand the pain so I had to go back up... What bothers me is I feel steroids are only masking the problem and I can't tell if my RA meds are working or not? All the best to you and God Bless!!

I was never told as needed by my Rheumy but Son was told as needed by his Primary
I always had to wean off it slowly.

Yes. My rheumy said for me to take it as needed if I am having a bad day. I do this not even 1x a week.
It does help on the day AFTER I've been working very hard in the yard, etc.
I am planning on taking a trip to see my daughter 1500 miles away and I think it could really help me bc I do not travel well w/ RA. It is exhausting.

I'm glad that she has given me this option but I am not taking advantage of it.

My former rheumy was letting me stay on a low dose, 7 1//2 mg daily, allowing me to increase for flares. I've told my new rheumy I want to wean off, and I'm currently on 6 1/4. I can definitely see keeping it on hand for flares and using as needed. Personally I'd rather not be taking it at all, and just using it that way, for flares. That's my goal.

I have been on 5 mg more or less for 17 months now, since Simponi failed.

I am definitely "as needed." My rheumatologist has given me free reign to take what I need, increase if necessary. In fact, his only warning was not to take too little, and suffer and be in pain!

He saw me last year on no biologics and I was so badly flared, I could not get off the toilet one night. He doesn't want that to happen again. My hope is that I can try mthx again, and get off prednisone in the fall. But I am not holding my breath it will not cause my liver enzymes to go up.

I began with 20 mg a day for several months while starting MTX. Started feeling better and started weaning off slowly to 2.5 I then had to have carpal tunnel surgery and had to go off MTX. Pain started coming back in forearms to hands and ankles to heals. I went to 5 mg and just today started on 10. The doc has given me the OK to go up or down, but says I need to wean slowly. I usually stay at the same dose for about a week to 2 then go down. Kinda bummed to go back up again.