A prednisone taper gradually reduces your corticosteroid dose over days, weeks, or months to prevent prednisone withdrawal.
Stopping prednisone abruptly can lead to adrenal insufficiency, which causes severe fatigue, body aches, and nausea.
Your healthcare provider will likely recommend a prednisone taper if you have taken it for more than two weeks.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Why Prednisone Tapering Is Necessary
Prednisone is a man-made steroid used to treatinflammation.
Like cortisol, prednisone tempers the body’simmune systemto better cope with mental and/or physical stress.
This includes a steep and immediate reduction of inflammation so that it can respond physically.
Prednisone is extremely effective in mimicking the effects of cortisol.
This can take longer than you think.
Don’t take a stab at stop or taper prednisone without your healthcare provider’s knowledge or advice.
There are no set rules for tapering off prednisone.
The schedule will differ based on your dose and how long you used the medication.
The decision depends largely on the healthcare provider’s clinical experience.
People who have been taking prednisone for a very long time may need a much slower taper.
In some cases, the dose may be decreased monthly.
If withdrawal symptoms continue beyond a week, talk to your healthcare provider.
Sometimes, your healthcare provider may temporarily increase the dose and taper more slowly.
Even so, some people may still experience symptoms.
The healthcare provider would then gradually taper the 4-mg dose.
Prednisone Withdrawal Symptoms
Symptoms of prednisone withdrawal can range from mild to severe.
Typical prednisone withdrawal symptoms include:
People on long-term prednisone therapy have the greatest risk for withdrawal symptoms.
However, it can occasionally affect people who have taken the drug for a short time.
Alternatives to Prednisone
Some healthcare providers will opt for a different corticosteroid than prednisone.
These medications can have the same benefits but with fewer side effects.
If you are concerned about prednisone, tell your healthcare provider and ask if there are any reasonable alternatives.
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
Tapering may not always prevent withdrawal symptoms.
There is no way to predict who will experience withdrawal and to what degree.
Summary
Prednisone is a corticosteroid used to treat inflammation.
It mimics the stress hormone cortisol.
When taken for extended periods, prednisone interferes with the body’s natural production of cortisol.
As a result, it is not recommended to stop prednisone abruptly.
Doing so can cause body aches, fatigue, fever, and other uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
To minimize or prevent withdrawal, your healthcare provider will instruct you on how to taper the dose gradually.
Be sure to follow your healthcare providers instructions.
You may still experience symptoms for a few days when first starting, but these will generally subside.
Prete A, Bancos I.Glucocorticoid induced adrenal insufficiency.BMJ.
2021;374:n1380.
doi:10.1136/bmj.n1380
American College of Rheumatology.Prednisone (Deltasone).
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Prednisone.
2023;18(4):e0281585.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0281585
MDCalc.Steroid conversion calculator.
