The doctor told my father to take 25 mg of prednisone for 30 days... He didnt mention anything about tapering... Does 25 mg for 30 days require tapering? or can he just abruptly stop taking it?
Can you abruptly stop taking prednisone after taking 25 mg a day for 30 days?
Question posted by javierdfm on 4 Oct 2013
Last updated on 9 October 2013
3 Answers
Anniebananie12
5 Oct 2013
Javier,
It sounds like your father really needs to take the prednisone to bring down the swelling in his lungs. I take prednisone daily for a case of chronic hives. But my father-in-law used to take it for a case of COPD, and it helped him to breathe.
In my opinion, your father should continue to take the prednisone and call his doctor on Monday. You'll probably just talk to one of the nurses who will in turn talk with the doctor and then get back to your dad on what he should do.
Prednisone is truly a miracle drug, but it is hard on the bones and has some side effects on some people.
Hope this helps!
Annie
javierdfm
5 Oct 2013
Hi Annie. The doctor who prescribed the prednisone for the lung swelling is an oncologyst... My father called his pneumologist a few hours ago and he told him to stop taking prednisone and prescribed budesonide instead, which seems to be a less dangerous corticoid steroid with less withrawal symptoms.
Thanks for your help!
endlessPred
4 Oct 2013
Call the doctor. If he is running out, ask the pharmacy to get a refill. Is it possible your dad was to go back before the end of the prescription and he forgot? Either way, he does have to taper so that he does not have major withdrawals. Be sure they understand that when you call. If he starts having withdrawal symptoms be sure he is seen immediately by a doctor or goes to the ER. Hope this works out for you.
javierdfm
4 Oct 2013
No, the prescription lasts one month, and next appointment is in 2 months...
What would be the correct way to taper?
Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.
endlessPred
4 Oct 2013
That is why you have to call the doctor or doctor on call. Also, the pharmacist, ask for one, will know this and may be able to get the tapering prescription. Talk to a nurse if no doctor around. They all know this. I think it was just an error.
I am not a doctor. One month at 25 is enough to shut down the adrenals. So usually they will cut back to 20 for a week, 15 for a week, 10 for a week. Since I don't know what they are treating, I can't really say if he can taper quicker. The usual approach is to get off as soon as possible, but too fast can cause major problems. Is he off the medication?
javierdfm
4 Oct 2013
He is on the medication right now. He started taking it 3 days ago... What worried me is that he wont be seeing the doctor till december, and the 30 days of taking prednisone end on november.
My father has lung cancer, and he got an infection after the radiation cycle which caused his lungs to swell a little bit, and thats why the doctor prescribed prednisone, but he just said "take half of a 50 mg pill daily for 30 days and ill see you in 2 months"
javierdfm
4 Oct 2013
Ok, so we called 3 different doctors and got conflicting opinions... So my father decided to not take prednisone any more.
This means he only took prednizone (25 mg) on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Can he stop cold turkey with no serious side effects given that he took the medicine for 3 days only?
endlessPred
6 Oct 2013
I have been going up and down on prednisone for over eight years. I agree with our friend below who says not to quit the prednisone. Having ling problems myself, the lungs respond strongly to prednisone to reduce the inflammation from his treatments. Whether he is switched as suggested below, or staying on the prednisone as I do, he does have to keep taking it especially at this early stage. Should he develope difficulty breathing or faints when he stands, be sure to get him to the ER.
Definitely see a Pulmonologist on this. Keep taking the med until something else I s given or a tapering schedule is produced.
I commend you for checking this out. You are saving your father from extra difficulties. I wish him well on his treatments. And strength in both of you. Karen
javierdfm
6 Oct 2013
Thank you endlesspred. We calles the pneumologist (the doctor who prescribed prednisone was the oncologyst). The pneumologist told him to stop taking the prednisone and prescribed a different steroid (butosamide?) instead...
javierdfm
6 Oct 2013
Budesonide... not butosamine
endlessPred
10 Oct 2013
Good to know that this is being worked out. Hope he is doing better.
kaismama
4 Oct 2013
No, he has to wean off of it. What is wrong with his dr?
javierdfm
4 Oct 2013
Thank you very much for your help. What wolud be the correct doses to wean of it?
kaismama
4 Oct 2013
I'm really surprised the pharmacist didn't pick up on this. Call the dr, he needs to give a tapering schedule.
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Further information
- Prednisone uses and safety info
- Prednisone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Prednisone (detailed)
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