Prednisone is usually used when the condition is acting up. I have AIHAITP. THERE IS NO NATUROPATHIC WAY TO TREAT THIS CONDITION. However doctors do not take prednisone prescriptions lightly and if your doctor is just willy nilly putting you on long stints of prednisone then they are not understanding your condition which is common for AIHA and AIHAITP. I am concerned about the damage that prednisone has done but I wouldn't be here without it either. I'm sorry but worrying about little factors when you're facing a severe auto immune condition that will kill you without proper treatment is not the right mindset. This might sound harsh but I've been facing this condition my entire life.

I've been using ChatGPT to research possible ways to replace prednisone with something more natural. Below are cytokines which prednisone suppresses.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1): Prednisone can suppress the production of IL-1, which is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a role in the immune response.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6): Prednisone can also decrease the production of IL-6, which is another pro-inflammatory cytokine that is involved in the immune response.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha): Prednisone can reduce the production of TNF-alpha, which is a cytokine that plays a role in the inflammatory response.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma): Prednisone can suppress the production of IFN-gamma, which is a cytokine that is involved in the immune response to viral infections.

Here are some natural substances that may help suppress IL-6 and most of the other cytokines at play:

Omega-3 fatty acids: These fatty acids are found in fatty fish, nuts, and seeds and have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. Some studies have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may help suppress IL-6 levels.

Curcumin: This is a compound found in turmeric, a spice commonly used in Indian cuisine. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to inhibit the production of IL-6.

Ginger: Ginger has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for inflammation. Some studies have shown that ginger may help decrease the production of IL-6.

Resveratrol: This is a compound found in grapes, blueberries, and other foods. Resveratrol has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects and may help suppress IL-6 levels.

Green tea: Green tea is rich in polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory properties. Some studies have suggested that green tea may help suppress the production of IL-6.

I've started my second taper attempt off prednisone but added some of the supplements from above this time. I'm at 15mg prednisone today and doing a slower taper.

Hi Anastasia:

I went off all prescription drugs altogether in early August of last year. I returned to the U.S. shortly after that and watched my HGB decline to 80 at which point my haematologist here told me to get help quickly!

I returned to Malaysia under the care of my haematologist there, a senior staff member and well respected in the medical community. He was personally recommended to me. And in retrospect, I have no regrets!

I checked into the hospital on October 12th, 2022 and received two transfusions, along with methyl Prednisolone IV of 250 Mg. for the next 3 days as an in-patient.
As an outpatient immediately afterwards, I was consuming 70 Mg. of Prednisolone for 2 weeks, (my HGB rose sharply), and then decreasing the dosage by 10 Mg. for each 2 week period thereafter until mid December when the decrease was 5 Mg. for each of subsequent two week periods.

During the above periods my HGB levels rose dramatically. At the end of June of this year, 2023, I found my optimum Prednisolone dosage was six, 5 Mg. tablets per week at which I could maintain a HGB level of 120.
I am still following the recommendations of my haematologist in Malaysia and I’m currently taking five, 5 mg tablets of Prednisolone per week. And I feel great!
Near the end of this month, August, I will try four, 5 Mg. tablets per week and see what happens.

The same haematologist feels that if I can maintain an HGB level of around 12 with either five or four tablets per week, then I should be safe. The key is frequent blood tests, IE. once every two weeks.

But yes, I would like to eventually get off of Prednisolone altogether but right now, I don’t know exactly how and if and when it’s possible.
And I’m trying to avoid Rituximab which I see as potentially troublesome and not a long term solution.

I would be interested to know what serious side-effects patients were having with Prednisolone over what period of time and at what dosage per week. 🤔

Thanks for your input on this topic!
And best wishes!

Interesting thought. 🤔
I’ll investigate this too.
Thanks. 🙏

Because of the side effects, I added testosterone to my daily regimen.

"Testosterone can stimulate the production of RBCs in the bone marrow, leading to an increase in the number of RBCs in circulation. This effect is primarily due to the hormone's ability to stimulate the production of erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that regulates the production of RBCs."

This carries some risks because testosterone may also accelerate or cause some types of cancer. I'm 70 and my testosterone levels were low so I thought it was worth the risk if it could help with my RBC and hemoglobin levels.