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Chronic Fatigue while tapering Prednisone for PMR

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Apr 21 9:44am | Replies (95)
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@tsharkey01

I was on prednisone since 8/22. My rheumatologist wanted me to taper off. In September I got down to 7.5 and then had a flare and went back up for a couple months. I have now been off prednisone for 2 1/2 weeks and I am always tired. I tried taking vitamin b12 and iron and don’t feel any difference. I feel as though this is my new normal. I have no energy at all 😞

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Replies to "I was on prednisone since 8/22. My rheumatologist wanted me to taper off. In September I..."
DadCue | @dadcue | Mar 20 7:15pm

Prednisone has lingering side effects after we taper off. When I tapered off prednisone, having no energy lingered for more than a year. In my case, the low energy level was related to a low cortisol level.

Taking prednisone long term may affect your adrenal health. Tiredness and fatigue are often symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. This side effect of long term prednisone use may take months to improve. This particular side effect is why we need to taper off prednisone slowly.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/does-prednisone-tapering-minimize-withdrawal-190242
The other side of tapering off slowly is to take Prednisone for the least amount of time as possible. It is difficult to do both.

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