Tapering off of Prednisone

Now that I'm at a lower dose (11.25mg), the side effects of the Pred have lessened. I was getting such periods of a fast heartbeat at times and seeing the pulsations visually. I'd lay down and try to slow my breathing, I was and still am drinking more water than usual. It will get better, I promise. Just be patient and do go slowly.
I called this morning and found my doctor had filled 1mg Pred hahaha. With the directions to take 2 per day. oi.
I'll get it filled and round it off to 11mg daily (I'm sure he meant 12). Hang in there.

i too am being tapered off prednisone i took 10 mgs a day and now 7 1nd 1/2 i am suree when i go i will be down to 5 i have had some side effects so i just want to get off it for good. it did the job now i want to be rid of it hopefully sooner than later

I am being judged as over PMR right now, and am off prednisone entirely. What I found is that although PRM pain has diminished to almost nothing, there are many other pains associated with having been somewhat inactive for the past 4 years. Also the signs of old age, 79, that have been hidden behind PMR pain. I am finding that, hard though it is, exercise and physiotherapy are helping a lot. I am having less stiffness and pain and I think by the time gardening season comes around I should be close to being normal again. It takes time and concentration but the end could well be in sight for you.

Hello- I’m wondering if anyone had had a workup for adrenal insufficiency or been treated for it while tapering prednisone? I made a separate post last week to ask, but didn’t get any replies so thought I’d try here.

My father has tapered down to 5.5 mg but getting below that has proved difficult. He’s had two incidences of low-grade fever of 99 degrees lasting for 2 days and extreme fatigue that’s lasted 3-5 days. He has other serious disabilities from a stroke and is high risk for infection and pneumonia so “muddling through” the fever and malaise for much longer than that is very disruptive and even dangerous, though we do what we can.

Since this has happened multiple times, his rheumatologist requested a cortisol blood test with his regular labs. A quick Google search revealed there seems to be a different test for adrenal insufficiency, and I couldn’t really find much clear information. It’s all mixed up with the healthism scare of “adrenal fatigue.”

Has anyone been diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency while recovering from PMR, and if so what were your symptoms and how did your doctor diagnose it? Thanks for any help you can offer.

I am tapering very slowly. Originally at 50mg to combat Lupus. Then gradual reduction to 10 over several months. Now I'm going down 1mg every week for final phase out.
I am finding it so hard - agony!. Depression is so deep, mood states all over the place, body can't work, sleep disturbances in the night, falling asleep during the day.
What I want to know is, how do I know if my adrenal is adjusting? Does it have to wait until I'm completely off them, or is it beginning to change now. Can someone tell me the chemistry side of it? When does the adrenal kick in?

@tjw17 slowly over 12-18 months. Exercise and a good diet will help but it takes time.

@tjw17 1 mg / week is a little aggressive taper. I would try for a 20% taper per month to give your adrenals time to adapt. When you get down to low doses start cutting one in half and/ or alternating every other day.
Good luck

@rhb80 agree

@tjw17 You can drop from 10 to 8 mg, then drop 1 mg / (month, two weeks?) whatever you want to try.
When you get down to 4 mg then drop 0.5mg per interval.
After 2 mg you just have to proceed slowly with the remaining taper. Use half tablets and or skipping a dose every other day or every third day.
You’re just trying to avoid a relapse and having to go back up into the “ penalty box” with a higher dose again.

Here's my question. I'm down to 2.5. It's going good. I don't want to ruin it. My question is, can being over taxed emotionsally or physically bring on a relapse?
I thought this might have been due to a virus or even a flu or covid shot. (I did get a lower dose of the flu this past fall and nothing changed. I probably won't risk another covid shot.) However, I've seen comments about PMR coming on during stressful situations. Is that really possible?