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Got the Shakes-Tapering on Prednisone

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Posted 2/25/2012 5:37 PM (GMT -5)
I started tapering from 40mg of Prednisone last week and I have had the shakes ever since. I was at 40mg for over 5 weeks before I started tapering. My symptoms have not returned and I have 1-2 formed BMs a day with some mucous and traces of blood. I went down to 35mg for 5 days and now my GI asked me to do 30mg for 3 days and get back to him. I am still using the cortifoam in the AM and mesalamine enema at night.

Am I getting the shakes from tapering too fast or is this a side effect of the prednisone? Not sure if I need to be eating more frequently or what to do???
Posted 2/25/2012 5:50 PM (GMT -5)
I'm just making an assumption based on something my doctor said. But it very well could be that you're taking too much mesalamine. This is exactly why my old doc wouldn't let me get mesalamine enemas, because he said another patient of his started getting the shakes by taking too much. Ask your doc about this... Hope you feel better. :(
Posted 2/25/2012 6:24 PM (GMT -5)
Its from the prednisone. I was told it was to do with blood sugar. When i was on 20+ mg of prednisone i got the shakes really bad. Sometimes i couldn't even hold a pencil. This was usually only in the morning and once i ate something it got better. Do you get this in the morning?? Maybe you do need to eat more frequently
Posted 2/25/2012 6:48 PM (GMT -5)
I've never had the shakes from tapering pred, but I wouldn't be surprised if that is part of it. I'd also say it seems like a fast taper for having been on 40mg for 5 weeks.
Posted 2/25/2012 6:58 PM (GMT -5)
All really good points and I think all of them could be contributing to the problem. The one I can control right away is to eat more frequently (easy with prednisone) and then I will speak to the doctor about the mesalamine and fast taper on Monday. It does feel like a fast taper but I think he is worried because I have been on it for so long. As long as my symptoms don't return I am happy to follow his regiment for now.

Thank you again for all of your insight!
Posted 2/25/2012 7:38 PM (GMT -5)
I am on 30mg of pred and have been on it since Jan 28th and I get the shakes all the time.  It is annoying and it makes me feel like I am sick.  Like my body is jello.  Last time I was only on 20mg of pred but for about 5 months and my doctor tapered me 5mg every week until I was done.  I go on Tuesday to the doctor and I will probably be tapering then but I have a cruise scheduled for the end of April and I don't want to have really bad symptoms when I go so I might ask to stay on it until then but I get so moody on it.  I mean crazy.  I also stress about everything. Ugh!!!  Good luck.  It helps my symptoms so much but ugh it is a nasty drug.
Posted 2/25/2012 10:10 PM (GMT -5)
WiMomofThree,

If I do too much then I feel weak and need to sit or lie down. I feel like I have no muscles or strength---just like jello. I know the feeling that you want to be better so you can go on vacation. It is my daughter's first birthday party next Saturday and I was worried that I would not be able to make it to the celebration because I would be in the bathroom all night. Thank goodness my symptoms are better now. Just dealing with the dreaded "pred" side effects. My moon face is unbelievable!

Are you still having symptoms after being on 30mg for so long? Are you still tapering 5mg each week?
Posted 2/25/2012 10:41 PM (GMT -5)
this is normal. it happened to me when i was tapering, too. i was constantly tapping my feet and i couldn't get my contacts in because my hands were shaking all the time.
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