Prednisolone

[Streamextream]

My cat has been on Prednisolone for 9 months at 2.5 for suspected ibd and pancreatitis. I went to new internal med vet who said his pancreas was pronounced but normal and ultrasound normal. He wants him off Prednisolone within 3 weeks. For the last week I started every other day. Is it too soon to do every two days as my vet wants me to do that. But I’m nervous for withdrawal symptoms.

 

[daftcat75]

Far be it from me to question a professional, especially a specialist, but this does seem a little quick.

My Betty has been on pred for almost a year for suspected IBD. After the initial symptoms settled down, we tapered twice from 5 mg/day to 3.75 and then to 2.5mg/day. That’s where we left it in order to circle back to long overdue dental care. Then I gave us both a break from vets and we kept it at 2.5 for several more months before I wanted to revisit it. She’s become pudgy and I know her arthritis would feel better with less weight. The plan from our IM specialist which we’re about three weeks away from her inde-pred-ence day: we reduced to 1.25 mg/day for one month, 1.25 every other day for one month, and in three weeks, (we’re one week into this final stage) we’re going to stop altogether.

If you’re concerned the taper is too rapid, tell your vet or specialist. It’s not a sprint here and 2.5mg is not that high a dose. But I will tell you that Betty and I certainly noticed a difference in her arthritis going from 2.5 to 1.25. That’s not a good enough reason to keep her on pred though. We’ll try something else after she’s off the pred.

 

[Rysiek]

My cat has been on Prednisolone for 9 months at 2.5 for suspected ibd and pancreatitis. I went to new internal med vet who said his pancreas was pronounced but normal and ultrasound normal. He wants him off Prednisolone within 3 weeks. For the last week I started every other day. Is it too soon to do every two days as my vet wants me to do that. But I’m nervous for withdrawal symptoms.

I have no experience with this, unfortunately. But my vet asked me to do every second day and then every three days and I share your concern...
Unsure what to expect...
My cat was on it only around three weeks, just 1mg a day

 

[stephanietx]

When I give my kitty a round of pred, the instructions are 7 daily, then 7 days of every other day, if that makes sense.

 

[Streamextream]

Far be it from me to question a professional, especially a specialist, but this does seem a little quick.

My Betty has been on pred for almost a year for suspected IBD. After the initial symptoms settled down, we tapered twice from 5 mg/day to 3.75 and then to 2.5mg/day. That’s where we left it in order to circle back to long overdue dental care. Then I gave us both a break from vets and we kept it at 2.5 for several more months before I wanted to revisit it. She’s become pudgy and I know her arthritis would feel better with less weight. The plan from our IM specialist which we’re about three weeks away from her inde-pred-ence day: we reduced to 1.25 mg/day for one month, 1.25 every other day for one month, and in three weeks, (we’re one week into this final stage) we’re going to stop altogether.

If you’re concerned the taper is too rapid, tell your vet or specialist. It’s not a sprint here and 2.5mg is not that high a dose. But I will tell you that Betty and I certainly noticed a difference in her arthritis going from 2.5 to 1.25. That’s not a good enough reason to keep her on pred though. We’ll try something else after she’s off the pred.

Yes I was concerned because he has been on it for months. He has been doing every other day now at 2 for about a week. I felt three weeks to be completely off seemed quick. He has very high triglycerides so that’s why the vet wanted him off. He thinks it could be from the Prednisolone. But we also changed his food to prescription. Do you know what to look for if withdrawal symptoms occur?

 

[stephanietx]

When my husband was on pred for asthma, he did a 21 day script. The last week or so, he tapered off slowly. He would do 3/4 pill, 1/2 pill, then 1/4 of a pill over a period of a week. I think that if you go to half the dose for a few days, then 1/4 the dose for a few days, you'll be okay. Most of the time, the biggest withdrawal symptom is aggression. You may also see more lethargy/tiredness because pred can hype you up. I would also watch litter box habits and look for nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.