I keep relapsing when I try to get off prednisone

Posted by yeb @yeb, 6 days ago

I was diagnosed with PMR in 2015. I keep trying to get off prednisone but every time I get to 4mg I relapse and have to go back to 15 or 20 and start over. Very discouraging. I want my life back. I have tried weekly methotrexate with the prednisone but it does not seem to help. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

barracudacool | @barracudacool | 3 days ago

In reply to @abbeyc "What dose steroid were you on when you went on Kevzara?" + (show)

15mg

aussiedogmom | @aussiedogmom | 1 day ago

In reply to @barracudacool "I am on Kevzara now. No side effects and it has been a game changer for..." + (show)

Kevzara has been a game changer for me, too. Although it usually takes a few months to build up amd be effective, I had great relief from the 1st injection. Total game changer.

1942marilyne. Marilyn McFarland | @1942marilyne | 1 day ago

I am 3 1/2 years and no solution. Now trying to change from dexamethasone 4 week trial and back to prednisone probably 10 to 12 again for prednisone. Dexamethasone caused increase o f cataract pressure. All suggestions welcome

jabrown0407 | @jabrown0407 | 11 hours ago

I posted about adrenal insufficiency earlier this week on another comment. You might need to consider that is a portion of your problem. It can cause systemic pain when titrating down off the prednisone that could be confused with PMR pain. Waking up your adrenal glands is a major portion of the steroid triturating process. Adrenal insufficiency can be identified/eliminated via blood tests. Talk with your PCP or Endochronogist about eliminating this as a contributing cause for the steroid titrating problem.
When I titrated down I started dropping by only half a mg once I hit below 5mg. So I would move from 5mg to 4.5mg then to 4, etc. It was not easy, but I was successful. Dropping from 5 to 4 is a 20% drop whereas 5 to 4.5 drop is only 10%.

Here is a short Mayo Clinic article on Adrenal Insufficiency https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-understanding-adrenal-insufficiency/