Ironically I am on a prednisone taper right now, my second one, although it’s not to treat inflammatory bowel disease but “inflammatory airway disease”, which I am now seeing a pulmonologist for. This started with pneumonia in April and a persistent dry cough ever since, which is apparently coming from inflammation in my trachea seen on a scope by a ENT. Since then I had a 50 mg Prednisone taper and 2 inhalers which haven’t resolved the issue. I am now on a 60 mg taper over 12 days, an inhaler called Symbicort, the operative ingredient of which is Budesonide, and was sent for blood tests on allergies as well. The pulmonologist thinks I now have asthma or IAD to go with my IBD. The cough seems to be produced primarily when I try and talk and expel air through my inflamed trachea, and being an attorney, not being able to talk without coughing isn’t exactly a good situation.
The Prednisone has completely disrupted my sleep. I am feeling very wired and also my TSH came back low (.09) for the first time in 4 years, so the Prednisone is likely masking or counteracting symptoms I should be having from low TSH. But actually right now my Pouch is good and the least of my issues. I am just glad the taper will be over with in 12 days, it’s a rapid taper and the pulmonologist predicted only 50% improvement of symptoms. We shall see what happens. I didn’t realize tapers are problems at such lower dosages as discussed in this thread.