My husband has been on steroids (Dexamethasone, Prednisolone) for 3½ years to accompany various treatments for prostate cancer.  He has now been told that he no longer needs them and to taper off over the next 5 weeks. 

As instructed, last week he reduced the dose from 10 mg to 5 mg, once daily.  This week he was supposed to take a 5 mg every other day.  This he did and then the withdrawal symptoms kicked in quite quickly:  constant fatigue, weakness, joint pain, lack of appetite and nausea.  He’s hardly eaten anything all week (although I realise the high temperature isn’t helping his appetite).  

He is insistent that the consultant knows what he is doing and is refusing to get a second opinion.  Even so, he has begun to feel that the  tapering off schedule seems rather quick and, although he was due to take 5 mg every 3 days next week (and so on, until just 5mg a week), he’s gone back to 5 mg daily for now as he’s been feeling so rough.  So far, his BP is normal and he hasn’t experienced any other symptoms in the list, either physical or mental. 

We’re not sure now how to proceed and he isn’t due to see  his consultant again for another three weeks.  Any advice and guidance would be greatly appreciated.