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I have been on 15mg of prednisone for three weeks which I take in the morning. I have some pain in the morning but usually feel pretty normal by early afternoon. Should I inquire about increasing the dose or be content now that life has become manageable enough? Just beginning to do small amounts of exercise again. I am a very active person typically. My doctor also prescribed ibuprofen which I take 200mg morning and night on bad days. I have read warnings about the Ibuprofen. I am 65 male.
Replies to "I have been on 15mg of prednisone for three weeks which I take in the morning...."
You did not mention it, but I presume you have been diagnosed with PMR, and that diagnosis included one or more blood tests like SED and CRP which are measures of inflammation.
The general rule seems to be to take sufficient prednisone to cause your PMR to go into remission, as measured by repeating the tests and considering pain levels. If it is not in remission, a dosage increase might be indicated. If you need to take ibuprofen, you are probably not in remission.
About taking ibuprofen while on prednisone, literally everywhere says to not do it. Tylenol is permitted, however.
My experience was to start on 20. After one week, I still had pain. My dose was increased to 30. The pain stopped. After one month, I tapered at 5 per month to 10. At that point, my SED test was in the normal range, and my doc said that the PMR was in remission. We then started a taper of 1 per month, and any pain was treated with Tylenol.
Pain while tapering after your PMR is in remission is normal. Pain until your PMR is in remission as measured by testing probably means you should be increasing your prednisone.
There is a lot of good information in other threads in this forum that would be of benefit to you.
Best of luck. This is not an easy journey.
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https://www.verywellhealth.com/can-you-take-advil-with-prednisone-5095941