Checked against the current FDA label, named clinical trials, and the sources listed on this site.
01When a long 20 mg course is stopped
If after long-term therapy prednisolone is to be stopped, withdraw gradually rather than abruptly. Relative adrenocortical insufficiency may persist for months after discontinuation of therapy. A 20 mg tablet is one labelled strength. In any situation of stress occurring during that period, hormone therapy should be reinstituted. Surgical procedures, trauma, and intercurrent illness are such stresses.
Method in brief: open primary sources, annotate against the current FDA label,
countersign by Dr. Nora Lindqvist, MD, then seal with a dated review.
Full walk-through on the method page and
editorial standards.
How to cite this page - Vancouver style
Juvia Pharma Drug Reference. When a 20 mg prednisolone course needs a taper [Internet]. Stockholm: Juvia Pharma; 21 October 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 21]. Available from: https://juviapharma.com/postscripts/prednisolone-taper-basics/
Desk thread
Answers follow the U.S. prednisolone tablets prescribing information.
Helga Nystrom, Kalmar writes
On 20 mg for eight weeks already. Printable taper from this page?
Desk reply
If after long-term therapy prednisolone is to be stopped, withdraw gradually rather than abruptly. Relative adrenocortical insufficiency may persist for months after discontinuation of therapy. A 20 mg tablet is one labelled strength. In any situation of stress occurring during that period, hormone therapy should be reinstituted. Surgical procedures, trauma, and intercurrent illness are such stresses.
Before you start, stop, or change any medicine mentioned above, run it past your prescriber or pharmacist - they hold your chart, this despatch does not. Desk notice.
