You should generally not stop taking prednisone without first talking with your healthcare provider. If you abruptly stop taking prednisone, withdrawal symptoms may potentially occur. These symptoms may include muscle pain or joint pain, a fever, difficulty breathing, and loss of appetite.
The longer you have been taking prednisone (and the higher your
prednisone dosage), the longer it generally takes to taper off prednisone. Your healthcare provider may wean you off the medication slowly to help prevent withdrawals from prednisone.
(Click Prednisone Withdrawal for more information on the potential effects of a prednisone withdrawal and an explanation of how your healthcare provider can reduce your risk of developing a withdrawal.)