Tapering down to 10 from 20 seems the hardest???

Hi, Susie-- I decreased from 10 mg Pred daily to 5 mg yrs back; that went well, then I did have trouble weaning off the 5 mg. My gastro RXed a small quantity of 5 mg tablets that I took sparingly while transitioning onto oral mesalamine (at that time it was Dipentum). Meaning, in addition to the daily mesalamine I took one 5 mg tab Pred for a couple months after quitting the main Pred dose taper schedule ONLY on a day when I felt a "something brewing" situation developing. I told my gastro about it, and gastro commented that the random 5 mg tab was acting "like a bandaid on a slightly cut or scraped finger"! We agreed that it was acceptable because it definitely enabled me to fully transition to mesalamine within a couple months. (Of course I was also being careful about diet and nutrition, too, & took vitamins.) If your energy level fluctuates at 10 mg Pred, don't be surprised-- because your body has been "pumped up" by a strong steroid and now needs to readjust gradually to pre-Pred chemical balances. That Pred is strong stuff which can affect every part & organ of one's body! Stay determined to succeed with taper soon. / Old Hat (40+ yrs with left-sided UC; in remission taking Colazal)

20 to 10 is too big a jump for me, I usually have to do some time at 15 first. I’m usually ok with bigger jumps higher up but there is something about that drop from 20 that is hard on my body.

I agree it was also the danger zone for me. I scoured for best practice research on tapering and it was so poor. I found one that suggested going down by 2.5mg per step after 20mg. You can get 2.5mg tabs.

I would recommend dropping by 2.5 mgs now you that you are at 10. Tapering too fast is a shock to the system. I believe most people naturally produce around 7.5 mg (equivalent to pred) of cortisol, so as you get below 7.5, your body will likely be low on cortisol and you will feel tired and mentally foggy until your body starts making it again.

Hey everyone!

Well I dropped from 10 to zero and by the end of the second day I was already feeling that low, cramping inflammatory pain. I even gave it two more days to make sure it wasn’t something that would go away and it has not at all. Called my GI and I’m back on prednisone, 20mg for a week then tapering by 5mg every week until completion. I took my first dose this morning and this afternoon I’m already feeling better! Thank God I’m starting at 20 now instead of 40 at least. Also continuing on Mesalamine 4.8 grams once daily until I am stable then dropping down to 2.4 once daily as maintenance.

We’ll see how it goes this time!!