AKA: 12 Day Steroid Taper, 12 Day Prednisone Taper
Dr. Streletz taught me the following 12-day prednisone taper she uses for discharging patients home from the hospital who have been on steroids in the hospital. For example, a COPD patient may be admitted and is placed on say Solu-Medrol 40mg IV q8hrs. Then he was transitioned to prednisone 60mg po daily two days prior to discharge and then sent home on the following 12-day prednisone taper.
12 Day Prednisone Taper
This is a schedule for a 12-day taper of prednisone. One tablet is Prednisone 10mg.
For the first three days, take 4 tablets every morning with breakfast.
For the next three days, take 3 tablets every morning with breakfast
For the next three days, take 2 tablets every morning with breakfast
For the last three days, take 1 tablet every morning with breakfast
The body’s natural production of steroids is in the morning. So the daily dose is best taken in the morning. Giving prednisone in the evening will make it difficult for patients to sleep.