HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

What Causes Gout Attacks Despite Taking Prednisone?

Posted on Tue, 6 Oct 2015

Question: was given 2 pills by a physician stated it was prednisone 20mg apiece stated they were boosters because I had been on prednisone 20mgs for a 4 days with no effect for gout attack condition had gotten worse. I thought prednisone was white or pink depending on dosage wanted to know is there such a thing as prednisone booster? and what type of pill could I have been given?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (51 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Explained in detail

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

Depending upon the degree of inflammation e.g related with the psuedogout , dose of 2 mg/ kg/ day can be advised in case of prednisolone as a single dose (booster can be meant for that) or in divided doses.

The formulation of prednisone can vary. One cannot be entirely sure of the medication. As an intelligent guess , it could have been prednisolone 20 mg tabs as stated by your physician.

Let me know if you need further clarification

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.

For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below

http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107

Dr. M.S. Khalil

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (1 hour later)

as stated I went to the doctor and on Friday they gave me more prednisone in gradually decreasing dosages of 40 20 30 10 each day they stated the pain and swelling should be gone by Monday my question is is this usually the case because the pain and swelling is still present what is the usual time frame for the pain and swelling to subside? is there a possibility the prednisone is not working or does it take a period of time before it starts to take effect

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

The degree of inflammation is the main determinant of the dose. If you were my patient and the episodes were recurrent, I would have suggested a non tapering optimum dose i.e at least 60 mg per day daily for two weeks. At optimum dose the effect should be evident by day 3 or 4. Prednisolone use beyond 2 weeks should not be stopped abruptly. For two weeks use no tapering is needed. Minimum maintenance dose can then be started after tapering if the pain and inflammation subsides. Tapering from the word go in your case was not the right idea in my view. You may discuss this option with your doctor.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar