What are the Prednisone 12-day taper directions?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
What are the Prednisone 12-day taper directions?
The 12-day Prednisone taper directions for 10 mg tablets are as:
| Days | Number of 10 mg prednisone tablets |
|---|---|
| Day 1 – 3 | 4 tablets before breakfast |
| Day 4 – 6 | 3 tablets before breakfast |
| Day 7 – 9 | 2 tablets before breakfast |
| Day 10 – 12 | 1 tablet before breakfast |
This is the standard taper schedule for 10 mg of Prednisone (1,2). However, the taper schedule can vary from person to person and it highly depends on the duration of your treatment with this medication.
Make sure you talk to your healthcare provider before stopping Prednisone. Your doctor will determine the best taper schedule according to the factors specific to you – like your age, duration of treatment, health condition, Prednisone-induced side effects if any, and your overall body physiology.
Why is it important to taper off Prednisone?
Tapering off Prednisone is crucial because this medication affects the body’s natural production of corticosteroids, which are essential for various bodily functions (3).
When you take Prednisone for an extended period or at high doses, your body becomes dependent on it, and suddenly stopping the medication can lead to serious side effects and health issues (3).
Gradually reducing the dosage over time allows your body to adjust and resume its normal corticosteroid production. This tapering process gives your adrenal glands (which produce corticosteroids) a chance to regain their function and prevent a sudden drop in corticosteroid levels.
If you stop Prednisone abruptly, it can lead to “adrenal insufficiency,” where your body is unable to produce enough corticosteroids on its own. This condition can cause weakness, fatigue, dizziness, low blood pressure, and even life-threatening complications (4).
By tapering off Prednisone under the guidance of your healthcare provider, you can minimize the risk of adrenal insufficiency and safely discontinue the medication while managing any withdrawal symptoms.
Tapering also helps to reduce the likelihood of other side effects, such as mood changes, joint pain, and body aches.
What to do if you want to stop taking Prednisone?
If you want to stop taking Prednisone, it’s crucial to do so under the guidance of your healthcare provider. Suddenly stopping the medication can lead to withdrawal symptoms or potential health risks (3).
Your healthcare provider will create a tapering schedule, gradually reducing the dosage over time to allow your body to adjust to the changes. This helps minimize withdrawal effects and prevents your condition from worsening.
Never stop taking Prednisone on your own, even if you start feeling better. Always follow your doctor’s instructions and communicate any concerns or questions you may have about the tapering process.
Your healthcare provider will ensure a safe and effective transition off the medication while monitoring your health throughout the process.
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References
1.-
Puckett Y, Gabbar A, Bokhari AA. Prednisone. 2023 Mar 27. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30521230. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534809
2.-
LABEL: PREDNISONE tablet. DailyMed [Internet]. Available from: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/getFile.cfm?setid=a784f545-f209-46d4-9350-ae64fad9e07c&type=pdf
3.-
Suehs CM, Menzies-Gow A, Price D, Bleecker ER, Canonica GW, Gurnell M, Bourdin A; Oral Corticosteroids Tapering Delphi Expert Panel. Expert Consensus on the Tapering of Oral Corticosteroids for the Treatment of Asthma. A Delphi Study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021 Apr 1;203(7):871-881. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202007-2721OC. PMID: 33112646. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33112646/
4.-
Hahner S, Ross RJ, Arlt W, Bancos I, Burger-Stritt S, Torpy DJ, Husebye ES, Quinkler M. Adrenal insufficiency. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2021 Mar 11;7(1):19. doi: 10.1038/s41572-021-00252-7. PMID: 33707469. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33707469/
