Can you just stop taking steroids (prednisolone) after 8 weeks?

[Yourinmyspot]

The hospital (dermatologist), put me on a 8 week course of prednisolone for a skin condition. I had to take 30mg for the first 4 weeks then 20mg for the next four weeks. They said they would see me in six weeks but that’s not going to happen as it was five weeks ago and I haven’t heard from them yet. If I don’t get one in time is it okay to stop after 8 weeks? It’s only a low dose.

No not ok- you need to taper

Absolutely not. DD was only on a 15 day course and even that required a taper.

Nope definitely not you need to taper and have some kind of medical supervision even if just a phone to check in whilst doing so.

Long term steroid use for asthma and eczema myself.

Can you call consultants secretary?

No as pp have said you need to taper down slowly say by 5mg every 2 weeks or you’ll get a rebound effect and may end up worse off.

You MUST taper. I was on a low-ish dose for IVF reasons and even with the tapering, the withdrawal effects were horrendous. Your GP should be able to help you with enough medication to taper down and the right schedule for that.

Thank you for the replies, I will speak to someone.

I managed to speak to one of the dermatology nurses this afternoon and they are giving me another 4 weeks worth and sorting an appointment.

Great news. Go steady coming off them xx

You need to taper slowly because you can suffer an adrenal crisis if you don’t as even after 6-8 weeks of steroids it can shut off your own cortisol production and cause secondary adrenal insufficiency- have a google of this. I have Addisons (which is a form of adrenal insufficiency but caused by an autoimmune issue) and I advise in an adrenal insufficiency group and we have a lot of people with secondary adrenal insufficiency caused by relatively short courses of steroids.

What withdrawal side affects did you have? I'm going through this atm and I honestly feel so rough xx

I’m tapering after 4 years and having to take it sooo slowly or otherwise I end up feeling horrendous; low blood sugar, temperature spikes, horrendous fatigue and my joints really ache.

Thank you for getting back to me :)

If you’ve been on them for 4 years you should be tapering under the supervision of an endocrinologist if you’re not already doing so, as you probably have some degree of adrenal insufficiency and are at risk of adrenal crisis.

Yes, I’m under endocrinology and have my emergency Hydrocortisone too.

If at all possible, if you're in the situation of needing steroids again (Psoriasis? Eczema?), ask them for a steroid injection instead. The advantages of doing this instead are that it's more effective at lower overall dosage, you tend to miss out on all the worst side effects, it lasts longer and you don't need to taper, as it gradually reduces over time.

As with all steroids, injections carry risk, too, but in a situation where you need emergency relief, it cuts out the one major risk that you've been dealing with - abrupt cessation.

Thank goodness! 😁