Prednisolone reducing dose- what were you prescribed?

[TheScenicRoute]

Hi are there any ladies here that were on prednisolone steroids for the first 12 weeks? Can you remember what your reducing regimen was? I've just had mine and I'm shocked, apparently I'm to reduce from the 20mg, to 10mg for just 3 days! Then 5mg for a further 3 says. That's full dose to stop in 6 days!!! I can imagine (having done this properly over 3 weeks on one occasion, and then cold turkey on another - that was after less than 3 weeks total course) I'm gonna feel shit! Plus I'll be trying to work full time. I'm thinking of taking matters into my own hands and doing 15mg/10mg/5mg over 15 days. I'd love to know what you were prescribed.

I'm worried because no word of a lie, I actually thought I might die the time I did it cold turkey, I need to be in tip top condition whilst I'm working, can't have the migraines and horrendous palpitations that I had that time.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

My (useless) consultant suggested halving the dose every two days by cutting the pill in half...
By the time I got to weaning off I had found a lovely obstetrician who prescribed me a load of 5mg pills, My initial dose was 25 mg, reduced by 5mg every 5 days. So happy I did it the slow way as still had some funny side effects, can't imagine what it would be like going cold turkey!

Thanks mezza, that's what I was thinking. I was so sure that other clinics did it much more slowly than 6 days.

I'll be interesting to hear from others.

Hi, I was told by my private fc to reduce by 5mg every 4 days until I got to 5 mg and then stop - I was on 25mg to start with. I had to see my gp for something else and she was surprised that I was weaning off them so quickly. At that stage I was down to 10mg I think so she prescribed me some 1mg tablets so when I got to 5mg I could go down from 1mg every 4 days. I also saw an nhs consultant after I weaned off pred completely for a different matter and again she was very surprised at how quickly the fc had recommended weaning off them.

If you've got concerns why don't you speak with your gp about it and get another prescription so you can try and wean off them more slowly?

meant to say go down by 1mg every 4 days!

I only started weaning mine at 28 weeks (down from 20mg) and did it quite slowly, partly because I'd been on them for so long, and partly because I was a bit worried about a pre existing condition flaring up when I came off them. I cut down by 5mg per week, and because DD was born early at 32 weeks, was still taking 5mg/day. It wasn't a prob, apart from that I had to have a hydrocortisone drip due to protracted delivery. If you want to take it at your own pace, it shouldn't be a massive issue, although some studies have shown steroid use after the first trimester to be possibly linked to foetal growth restriction. Anecdotally, DD was on the 92nd centile at birth so that def wasn't an issue for us.

I'm so greatful for your replies. Thanks for your help :)