I'm not even sure the "correct" theory is correct.

If a patient is not on Pred yet, a doctor can put them on it every other day. Why? In an attempt to keep the adrenal glands working.

When someone is on Pred every day, the adrenal glands stop working. Why? Because Pred is doing their job for them.

So that first scenario can work, but what often happens—especially if a patient is started at a high dose (by high, I mean anything above 5 mg.)—is that a patient begins to see a dip in symptoms on the off day and ends up needing it every day anyway.

The second scenario, when doctors don't think, is when a patient has been on Pred for a while. At that point, the adrenals are not working. When they do this, frankly incredibly stupid, alternating days routine, they are putting a patient's very life at risk.

Adrenal insufficiency, no matter the cause (i.e., primary from Addison's disease or secondary from Pred), can be life-threatening. A patient can have symptoms such as profuse sweating, extreme fatigue/inability to stay awake, muscle pain, confusion, etc. Those are warning signs, not "side effects!"

That's why coming off of Pred is so hard.

Steroids are useful, but the side effects and inability to withdraw are overwhelming to one's body and life.

I don't honestly believe that the every other day while beginning Pred works. It definitely doesn't work, and is dangerous, after a patient has been on Pred for a while. It doesn't take that long for a body to get used to a drug. Our bodies adapt fairly quickly.

Even a drop from 40 to 30 can have ill effects. Doctors do NOT think about adrenal insufficiency!! Why I don't know. You might be able to handle a 10 mg. drop. But you might not.

Pay close attention to any new symptoms! A drop in dosing might require 2 mg. at a time. Or less.

I hope you can get through this. And I have to wonder—did you have diabetes before you were given Pred? If so, then the prescribing doctor should be given a lecture on idiotic doctoring.

Annie