PREDNISOLONE FOR FD // ALTERNATE DAY vs EVERY DAY

[mariko]

Good morning,

Lucy has a condo at Lantus Land, but I wanted to post here too.
I'm hoping someone may have had similar experience or have some suggestion.

Lucy's condo @ LL

Lucy has been on prednisolone for over the past 5 years for her IBD and asthma.
She had been on alternate day dosing of 5mg.
She has been on insulin since April this year, and I noticed that her numbers were higher in the cycle she had a pill as well as the following cycle.
So, after talking to the vet on last Sunday, I changed the dosing to 2.5mg every day, so her cycles would be more even.

Then yesterday night, I came across some information that stroids may be give on alternate day dosing in order to reduce adrenal suppression (it was BJM's post), which got me to google further.
I found a lot more info that says alternate day is better, in order to keep the body's own adrenal glands to remain active.

Now I am thinking and really worried that changing her pred schedule wasn't the right thing to do.
Maybe I should have adjusted the insulin rather than the steroid?
I know she is already dependent on prednisolone since she's been on it for so long, but I don't want her adrenal glands to lose their abilities to work on their own completely.
I don't know which is better......

Previous : 5mg alternate day
Since 7/3 : 2.5mg every day

I'm seeing the vet this Sunday, so I'm going to discuss this with her again.
We may try something like 3.75mg (3/4 tablet) alternate day, so it's on alternate day schedule but a little less dose and maybe her diabetes can be controlled a little better....
I'd really appreciate it if someone can give me more information or idea before then.

Thank you!!

 

[BJM]

If the condition that requires the steroid is permanent rather than transient, she'll always be on it, so it won't matter if its daily or alternate days.

This is something to discuss with your vet again, because getting it wrong may harm your cat.

 

[mariko]

Thank you for your reply, BJM.
Lucy will be on prednisolone permanently (the vet says "highly unlikely" she'll be off), but I want Lucy to keep her adrenal glands functions so at least I may have a try at reducing the pred dose in order to give her a better chance at insulin remission.
I am wondering if the alternate day dosing may preserve the functions better the every day dosing IF the time comes in future when I can consider reducing pred dose.

And of course I will discuss all this with the vet on Sunday when I see her, and I will not make any changes without her approval, but anything additional information is very much appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[BJM]

My current housemate was on long term prednisone growing up. They did do alternate day dosing. He was able to get off it eventually, but it was very difficult. Even when I'm on a taper for asthma - gradually decreasing doses - its rough - you can feel like crap.

It may be different for cats, though you may notice irritability, increased activity, appetite, and thirst while on the steroid. I observed that in a couple of cats I've had who had prednisone.