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Methotrexate to wean off long term Prednisone for PMR

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jun 18 6:31am | Replies (26)
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@chzuck

One question I have, Is there a time frame for Methotrexate to work? I started it in November 2023, should I have seen results by now? In the beginning of the year I started weaning off Prednisone by 1 mg/month. I got down to 4mg and just could not function due to the pain. I went back to 7 mg/day, but that did not make me pain free during the day to comfortably do the things I wanted to do. Two weeks ago I went to 8 mg/day and started hydroxychloroquine. Currently I feel pretty good.

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Replies to "One question I have, Is there a time frame for Methotrexate to work? I started it..."
stevieb | @stevieb | Jun 1 11:33am

I started using the Hydroxy chloroquine when I was at, I think 15 mg of Prednisone .... because I was having a hard time dropping even 1 mg without significant prolonged neogative effects. But I started taking a Chinese medicinal herb Practioner's custom mixed , daily "tonic" the same time. And I was able to wean down to 6 mg several times before being forced back to 7 or 8. But the duration and intensity of flares did diminish.
But I was warned to be careful to get my eyes checked while on it, and that degraded vision was one side effect.
So after over a year ( maybe two I can't remember) .... I asked my doctor if I had to wean down on the Hydroxy and I'd it was ok to try going off it to see what happens..... I did and felt no difference. (I continue to take the Chinese tonic). So for me specifically I'm guessing the Hydroxy helps initially acclimating the body to the weaning down.
But also, the cost was just ridiculous (for me)

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