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Any Tips For Tapering Off Prednisone?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jul 24 11:10am | Replies (111)Comment receiving replies
That's my situation now at 7 mg. Most days I'm very stiff and painful in my shoulders when I wake up since going down to 7, but it usually subsides as the day wears on. Three more days then I drop down to 6 mg. Seriously considering staying at 7 a while longer because of how the PMR has reared its ugly head but so want to taper to 4 or hopefully zero.
Replies to "That's my situation now at 7 mg. Most days I'm very stiff and painful in my..."
This worked for me with minimal issues:
From 10 to 5…1 per month.
Below 5…0.5 per month.
You can expect some pains when you decrease a step, and at random. Tylenol is typically recommended.
Avoid NSAID’s unless your doc prescribes. They interact unfavorably with prednisone.
All pain is not PMR pain as you decrease. Conditions such as osteoarthritis that were formerly controlled by your cortisol production can develop, and can be an issue until it is restored.
Avoid increasing the prednisone as a quick fix if at all possible.
Good luck.
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Can you do a week or more of dosing at 7/6.5/7/6.5 to do a smaller reduction than dropping straight to 6.5mg? It really isn't hard cutting the 1mg pills in half. If that works okay you could drop to 6.5mg every day for a bit. The advice to reduce by no more than 10% dose at a time under 10mg works for many. Other people alternate days of 7/6/7/6 to get an overall reduction to 6.5mg.