› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Prednisone “withdrawal”
- This topic has 21 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 3 months ago by
NYKaren.
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- September 1, 2013 at 4:47 pm
I have been taking Prednisone more or less constantly since April at doses varying from 0 – 80 mg daily. The purpose of this was to mitigate a rash I was getting as a side effect of my ipi. I tapered down to zero 9 nine days ago as I had a maintenance IV of ipi 7 days ago and the two drugs don't work well together. I have had no rash (or any other sude effect) since this last dose of ipi and have not resumed Prednisone. The day after my treatment I began suffering from no appetite at all and being unbelieveably tired all of the time. My Onc indicates this i
I have been taking Prednisone more or less constantly since April at doses varying from 0 – 80 mg daily. The purpose of this was to mitigate a rash I was getting as a side effect of my ipi. I tapered down to zero 9 nine days ago as I had a maintenance IV of ipi 7 days ago and the two drugs don't work well together. I have had no rash (or any other sude effect) since this last dose of ipi and have not resumed Prednisone. The day after my treatment I began suffering from no appetite at all and being unbelieveably tired all of the time. My Onc indicates this is most likely a backlash from the Prednisone and will take some time to settle down. Has any one els had this particular experience with Prednisone? How long did it take for these effects to subside for you?
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- September 1, 2013 at 6:51 pm
I am still on 5 mg of pred, tapered from the initial 60mg after swollen pituitary from ipi. Hoping to taper completely. So, I cannot help you with this particular issue but would love for you to post and let us know how long it takes to feel better again. I do know that your own adrenals will take a little while to adjust to the fact that now they need to start producing cortisol again. I hope you get feeling better soon!
Tina
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- September 1, 2013 at 6:51 pm
I am still on 5 mg of pred, tapered from the initial 60mg after swollen pituitary from ipi. Hoping to taper completely. So, I cannot help you with this particular issue but would love for you to post and let us know how long it takes to feel better again. I do know that your own adrenals will take a little while to adjust to the fact that now they need to start producing cortisol again. I hope you get feeling better soon!
Tina
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- September 1, 2013 at 6:51 pm
I am still on 5 mg of pred, tapered from the initial 60mg after swollen pituitary from ipi. Hoping to taper completely. So, I cannot help you with this particular issue but would love for you to post and let us know how long it takes to feel better again. I do know that your own adrenals will take a little while to adjust to the fact that now they need to start producing cortisol again. I hope you get feeling better soon!
Tina
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- September 1, 2013 at 11:51 pm
After being on prednisone for five months, I'm sure your body is reacting to the withdrawal. I'm curious — how fast did you taper? Your symptoms sound like adrenal insufficiency, in which case adding some hydrocortisone or prednisone will alleviate the fatigue. I'm a Cushing's patient, and suffer from AI — I use Cortef because it is a shorter-acting drug and also because I can titrate down more easily since it is not as strong as prednisone.
If you continue having symptoms, I would suggest talking to your oncologist and seeing if you could be prescribe hydrocortisone in 20mg and 5mg tablets. (20mg is equivalent to 5mg of prednisone). Take the 20 daily for several days, then titrate down to 10mg. Stay at that dosage a few days, and then down to 5mg. If your symptoms return, reduce the titration to increments of 2.5mg.
Good luck!!
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- September 1, 2013 at 11:51 pm
After being on prednisone for five months, I'm sure your body is reacting to the withdrawal. I'm curious — how fast did you taper? Your symptoms sound like adrenal insufficiency, in which case adding some hydrocortisone or prednisone will alleviate the fatigue. I'm a Cushing's patient, and suffer from AI — I use Cortef because it is a shorter-acting drug and also because I can titrate down more easily since it is not as strong as prednisone.
If you continue having symptoms, I would suggest talking to your oncologist and seeing if you could be prescribe hydrocortisone in 20mg and 5mg tablets. (20mg is equivalent to 5mg of prednisone). Take the 20 daily for several days, then titrate down to 10mg. Stay at that dosage a few days, and then down to 5mg. If your symptoms return, reduce the titration to increments of 2.5mg.
Good luck!!
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- September 1, 2013 at 11:51 pm
After being on prednisone for five months, I'm sure your body is reacting to the withdrawal. I'm curious — how fast did you taper? Your symptoms sound like adrenal insufficiency, in which case adding some hydrocortisone or prednisone will alleviate the fatigue. I'm a Cushing's patient, and suffer from AI — I use Cortef because it is a shorter-acting drug and also because I can titrate down more easily since it is not as strong as prednisone.
If you continue having symptoms, I would suggest talking to your oncologist and seeing if you could be prescribe hydrocortisone in 20mg and 5mg tablets. (20mg is equivalent to 5mg of prednisone). Take the 20 daily for several days, then titrate down to 10mg. Stay at that dosage a few days, and then down to 5mg. If your symptoms return, reduce the titration to increments of 2.5mg.
Good luck!!
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- September 2, 2013 at 10:26 pm
I have been on prednisone so many times. For me when I start It ramps me up like the energizer bunny, its hard to sleep and you just keep going. When I taper down, near the end, I get really upset and with that I take Lorazepam.
Its a nasty drug but it really works well for rashes and hives and asthma.
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- September 2, 2013 at 10:26 pm
I have been on prednisone so many times. For me when I start It ramps me up like the energizer bunny, its hard to sleep and you just keep going. When I taper down, near the end, I get really upset and with that I take Lorazepam.
Its a nasty drug but it really works well for rashes and hives and asthma.
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- September 2, 2013 at 10:26 pm
I have been on prednisone so many times. For me when I start It ramps me up like the energizer bunny, its hard to sleep and you just keep going. When I taper down, near the end, I get really upset and with that I take Lorazepam.
Its a nasty drug but it really works well for rashes and hives and asthma.
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- September 2, 2013 at 11:52 pm
Hi Mark,
The same thing happened to me. I was so tired, I couldn’t walk up one single step. It was deemed adrenal insufficiency. Apparently, a much shorter course of dexamethasone was prescribed instead of the prednisone and it eventually did the trick.
I’m going to have to do the taper too, not looking forward to it.
All the best,
Karen -
- September 4, 2013 at 4:00 pm
Hi Mark,I’m so glad you’re feeling better.
I’ve been taking dexamethasone 4 mg. 3x/day since I was Gamma-Knifed in April for brain mets, which is approximately 80 mg./day of prednisone. My next dr. appointment is 9/11and I believe she’ll start weaning me then. I hope to go back to work in about two weeks.
The thought of going back to work now is scary, I still get mixed up a lot and it’s still hard to remember stuff. Last night I got so angry with a family member, completely my fault. I know these meds are useful, for me they’re very hard to take. I know it might be months before I’m allowed to drive again, simply can’t take the risk of a seizure.
Take care, Mark.
Karen -
- September 2, 2013 at 11:52 pm
Hi Mark,
The same thing happened to me. I was so tired, I couldn’t walk up one single step. It was deemed adrenal insufficiency. Apparently, a much shorter course of dexamethasone was prescribed instead of the prednisone and it eventually did the trick.
I’m going to have to do the taper too, not looking forward to it.
All the best,
Karen -
- September 2, 2013 at 11:52 pm
Hi Mark,
The same thing happened to me. I was so tired, I couldn’t walk up one single step. It was deemed adrenal insufficiency. Apparently, a much shorter course of dexamethasone was prescribed instead of the prednisone and it eventually did the trick.
I’m going to have to do the taper too, not looking forward to it.
All the best,
Karen -
- September 4, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Thanks for your reply Karen. Are you tapering fronm Prednisone or from the alternative? The trck seems to be in the varying tolerance each our body chemistries has for the steroid in addition to how long we took it and at what dose. I am finally returning to normal appetite and almost back to regular energ levels on day 11 following last dose of prednisone tapering from 60mg down to 0 in 5 mg increments. Hope your tapering works better for you than it did for me. Glad you are getting off it…means the condition you were taking it for is improving.
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- September 4, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Thanks for your reply Karen. Are you tapering fronm Prednisone or from the alternative? The trck seems to be in the varying tolerance each our body chemistries has for the steroid in addition to how long we took it and at what dose. I am finally returning to normal appetite and almost back to regular energ levels on day 11 following last dose of prednisone tapering from 60mg down to 0 in 5 mg increments. Hope your tapering works better for you than it did for me. Glad you are getting off it…means the condition you were taking it for is improving.
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- September 4, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Thanks for your reply Karen. Are you tapering fronm Prednisone or from the alternative? The trck seems to be in the varying tolerance each our body chemistries has for the steroid in addition to how long we took it and at what dose. I am finally returning to normal appetite and almost back to regular energ levels on day 11 following last dose of prednisone tapering from 60mg down to 0 in 5 mg increments. Hope your tapering works better for you than it did for me. Glad you are getting off it…means the condition you were taking it for is improving.
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- September 4, 2013 at 4:00 pm
Hi Mark,I’m so glad you’re feeling better.
I’ve been taking dexamethasone 4 mg. 3x/day since I was Gamma-Knifed in April for brain mets, which is approximately 80 mg./day of prednisone. My next dr. appointment is 9/11and I believe she’ll start weaning me then. I hope to go back to work in about two weeks.
The thought of going back to work now is scary, I still get mixed up a lot and it’s still hard to remember stuff. Last night I got so angry with a family member, completely my fault. I know these meds are useful, for me they’re very hard to take. I know it might be months before I’m allowed to drive again, simply can’t take the risk of a seizure.
Take care, Mark.
Karen -
- September 4, 2013 at 4:00 pm
Hi Mark,I’m so glad you’re feeling better.
I’ve been taking dexamethasone 4 mg. 3x/day since I was Gamma-Knifed in April for brain mets, which is approximately 80 mg./day of prednisone. My next dr. appointment is 9/11and I believe she’ll start weaning me then. I hope to go back to work in about two weeks.
The thought of going back to work now is scary, I still get mixed up a lot and it’s still hard to remember stuff. Last night I got so angry with a family member, completely my fault. I know these meds are useful, for me they’re very hard to take. I know it might be months before I’m allowed to drive again, simply can’t take the risk of a seizure.
Take care, Mark.
Karen
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