I don't really see a need for that, but it would not hurt anything. You only need to be careful on the final taper. Generally, it is safe (adrenal-wise) to taper quicker from the larger dose, but you need to slow down when you get closer to the physiological levels (the amount that is closer to the normal blood levels). That is where your adrenal glands are supposed to be stimulated to start producing natural cortisol. Since you are staying on your antibiotics, there is less of a concern about relapse.

Jan

Thanks, I will remember that as I get closer to O. Meanwhile, and it may be a total coincidence, but today (one of my alternating 6 mg days) I notice a very slight, dull, but constant headache most of the day today. Reminds me of my postsurgical withdrawal from Prednisone headaches, but milder/slighter. Could be a coincidence. But it was just enough for me to give up at the gym today.

Could easily be from withdrawal. You can't really eliminate all of it, just grin and bear it. The taper diminishes it as much as possible. Then again, headaches are common events without prednisone tapers, so could just be coincidence and you were alert because you were looking for possible withdrawal symptoms.

Jan

Headaches are not common events for me, especially prolonged, dull headaches, so when I get them I take note and try to attribute causation. It really was not all that bad, but I feel fine today.

It may be useful to remember that the taper schedule can be adapted to your reaction (assuming you have sufficient medication). If you're not addressing some severe steroid issue, there's no harm in slowing down a taper if your body seems to need more time. Jan's point about giving the body time to start producing physiological doses is sound, but if you've been on steroids a long time your body may have an inflated notion of what constitutes physiological.

I appreciate your responses. So far I have been on 6 mg since Monday and the only issues I have had is trouble sleeping the last few nights, which may not be related. The dull headachy sensation has not returned.

I am to take 6 mg for 2 months, then go down to 3 mg.