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What justifies an increase in prednisone?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Aug 8 6:17am | Replies (45)Comment receiving replies
Thank you nancy53.
I have been tapering at a faster rate per my dr. Got to 7.5 and then went to 6. It was the first more notable level at 6. I stayed there longer than my dr wanted and didn’t start 5 till Sunday. I just didn’t feel comfortable till then. Saw the dr yesterday figuring I was where she wanted me to be even though 3 weeks later. I just can’t get why the sudden shift to l0? I should have pushed more at the time but I was so caught off guard. I need more clarification. I have reached out but so far no response. I am troubled with this decision and it sure doesn’t do well for my anxiety. Also just being 4 days into this taper, my body is in that notice the change phase. This lack of peace doesn’t help.
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That's a faster than usual taper down under 10mg with larger drops than usual, with the rule of thumb being to taper by 10% of the dose at a time under 10mg. A 1.5mg drop from 7.5mg to 6mg is a 20% dose drop, so it's no wonder you had some stronger pain after doing it. And your last reduction from 6mg to 5mg is another 20% drop.
Did your rheumatologist give you a guide to your schedule of reductions under 10mg? It seems to be different in the US, but in Australia I was given a printed reduction schedule to reduce by 1mg every 4 - 8 weeks under 10mg, depending on how I handled the reduction. I reduced by .5mg every 3wks for a 1mg reduction every 6wks, which was mid-range in the reduction schedule. (After a flare at 6mg I'm now reducing using the longer range of 1mg every 8wks - .5mg every 4wks - but that's another story.)