From the Research
A typical 5-day prednisone taper for full body urticaria (hives) would start with 25mg on day 1, then decrease by 5mg each day (e.g., 20mg, 15mg, 10mg, 5mg, 0mg), as supported by the study 1 which demonstrated the effectiveness of a short course of oral prednisone in antihistamine-resistant chronic urticaria. This short-term steroid course helps rapidly reduce inflammation and suppress the immune response causing the widespread hives. While using prednisone, continue taking antihistamines as prescribed since they work through different mechanisms. Be aware of potential side effects including increased appetite, mood changes, insomnia, and elevated blood sugar, though these are less common with short courses. Some key points to consider when using prednisone for urticaria include:
- Take the medication in the morning with food to minimize gastrointestinal side effects and reduce interference with sleep.
- If symptoms return after completing the taper, contact your healthcare provider rather than restarting prednisone on your own.
- Identify and avoid potential triggers of your urticaria, such as certain foods, medications, or environmental factors.
- This short steroid course provides quick relief while giving time for antihistamines and trigger avoidance to control the condition long-term. It's also important to note that the study 2 demonstrated the effectiveness of a 4-day "burst" course of prednisone in acute urticaria, which supports the use of a short-term prednisone taper in this context. However, the study 1 is more relevant to the question of dosing for a 5-day prednisone taper, and its findings should be prioritized. Other studies, such as 3, 4, and 5, provide additional information on the treatment of urticaria, but are not directly relevant to the question of dosing for a 5-day prednisone taper.