Prednisone taper regimens
Common regimens:
Prednisone, 40 mg PO qd x 3 days, then,
30 mg PO qd x 3 days, then,
20 mg PO qd x 3 days,
then 10 mg PO qd x 3 days, then stop.
OR
Prednisone, 20 mg PO qd x 7 days, then,
10 mg PO x 7 days, then,
5 mg PO qd x 7 days,
then, 2.5 mg PO qd x 7 days, then stop.
OR
Medrol dose-pak (4 mg, 21 tabs), over 6 days. 6-5-4-3-2-1
OR
day 1: 2/1/1/2
day 2: 1/1/1/2
day 3: 1/1/1/1
day 4: 1/1/0/1
day 5: 1/0/0/1
day 6: 1/0/0/0
Medrol dosepak: Take as directed.
40 mg PO daily x 3 days
20 mg PO daily x 3 days
20 mg PO daily x 3 days
5 mg PO daily x 3 days
**A person on steroids for less than 2 weeks, can discontinue steroids abruptly without fear of steroid withdrawal.**
The Medrol(R) dosepak contains 21 methylprednisolone 4-milligram tablets. The dosage for each day follows:
1) Day 1 - Take 2 tablets before breakfast, 1 tablet after the noon and evening meals, and 2 tablets at bedtime.
2) Day 2 - Take 1 tablet before breakfast and after the noon and evening meals. Take 2 tablets at bedtime.
3) Day 3 - Take 1 tablet before breakfast, after the noon and evening meals, and at bedtime.
4) Day 4 - Take 1 tablet before breakfast, after lunch, and at bedtime.
5) Day 5 - Take 1 tablet before breakfast and at bedtime.
6) Day 6 - Take 1 tablet before breakfast.
7) Even if this medicine is not available early on the first day, all 6 tablets should be taken on the first day. All of the tablets can be taken as a single dose or they may be divided into 2 or 3 doses and taken at equal intervals before bedtime (Pers Comm, 2000).