Taper (step-down) schedules

A taper is a schedule where the dose decreases over time in steps. DoseAlert handles the arithmetic — you just enter the plan.

When to use a taper

Doctors often prescribe a decreasing dose over days or weeks — especially with steroids (prednisone), antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs), opioids, and benzodiazepines. Instead of tracking it in a notebook, let DoseAlert handle the schedule changes automatically.

Setting up a taper

1. Add a new medication (or edit an existing one).
2. In the Schedule section, choose Taper.
3. Set the Start date — when the taper begins.
4. Set one or more times of day (for example, just 8 AM, or 8 AM and 8 PM).
5. Add each step of the taper. Each step has a dose amount and a number of days.
6. Save.

A worked example

Suppose your doctor prescribes:

• 40 mg prednisone daily for 5 days
• Then 30 mg daily for 3 days
• Then 20 mg daily for 3 days
• Then 10 mg daily for 3 days
• Then stop

In DoseAlert, you'd add a Taper medication with:

• Start date: today
• Time: 8 AM (or whenever you take it)
• Step 1: 40 mg × 5 days
• Step 2: 30 mg × 3 days
• Step 3: 20 mg × 3 days
• Step 4: 10 mg × 3 days

DoseAlert's Today view automatically shows the correct dose for the day you're on, and the reminder announces the right amount.

When the taper ends

After the last step's days are up, DoseAlert stops firing reminders automatically. No need to manually deactivate or delete the medication — the schedule simply ends.

Adjusting mid-taper

If your doctor changes the plan partway through, edit the medication and update the steps. Completed steps stay in your history; upcoming steps update to the new plan.

Taper plus inventory

Inventory works as expected: every Taken log deducts the step's dose amount. If step 1 is 4 tablets of 10 mg each, that's 4 tablets per day deducted. Step 4 at 10 mg would be 1 tablet per day.