Short course of prednisolone, should I taper off or stop cold turkey

Chest and lungs
1

Hello, my husband has been prescribed 20mg prednisolone for 2 weeks, should he just stop or should he taper off when the time comes.

2

Hello Linda,

Anytime I have had prednisolone I have always had to taper off.

3

Thanks Marion, will get my husband to check with dr how to do it, as it just says 20mg for 2 weeks on pack.  Maybe he should do a week of 20mg then week of 10mg.  Is the tapering off to stop side effects or infection returning do you know?

4

Hello

I've been taking Pred fot nearly three years, gradually reducing.

I would definitely contact your gp before altering medication.

☺

5

Thanks for you comment, will get husband to check with dr.

6

He needs to taper off prednisone.  I've been taking it for years, in large doses and tapering to smaller doese.  If he goes cold turkey, there is a 'kick back' affect.

My understanding is that your body produces a certain amount of prednisone naturally, so to decrease the dosage too quickly, will throw your body out of wack.

If I'm on 20mg a day, I would then go 20 one day, 10 the next day, 20 the next day for several days then to 10, 0 several days. 

7

web search on "tapering off prednisolone". You will find various doctors describing why tapering is essential and none advocating an abrupt end.

For what it's worth, two different pulmonologists (not specifically for bronchiectasis) advised me to taper as follows:

reason for taking - early stage investigation of my repeated infections and mucus production before bronch was apparent from CT scans. 8x5mg per day for 4 weeks followed by one week at 6x5mg, one at 4x5mg and one at 2x5mg

reason for taking - recovery after radiation treatment of lung lymphoma. 5x5mg for 3 weeks followed by a 1x5mg reduction every 4 days.

You will see from reading the websites that the qauntum, length and taper will vary according to the nature of the disease/symptoms and other judgemental factors. Best to get doctor's advice

8

Thanks for that steve, will get him to take advice from dr.  At the moment he is just on 20mg per day so not a high dose.  Keep well

9

Thanks Elizabeth, will check with dr too. Keep well.

10

yes Linda when my husband takes prednisolone always told to taper off

11

Thanks Jeannie for your reply x