Sadly ... we are told to take prednisone for more than a year for PMR. Then the following happens ... I like to say we hit a brick wall over and over again when we attempt to taper prednisone too quickly.

"Recovery of the pituitary-adrenal response after use of a suppressive dose for more than one month will take about one month. Generally, this one for one recovery time is typical up to about 9 to 12 months, when recovery will often take up to a year or may not occur at all. "

We are told to taper off prednisone as fast as possible by the medical community. Forums like this and others promote an ultra slow taper. We receive conflicting advice because we can't do both. The dead slow nearly stop (DSNS) tapering method sends the wrong message and needs a new name in my opinion. Sometimes that slow of a taper is all we can do.

I discovered the biologic I take allowed me to taper my prednisone quickly and didn't suppress my adrenal function. My endocrinologist said if I could maintain a 3 mg dose of prednisone, it was low enough for my body to sense a low cortisol level. When I reached 3 mg of prednisone it was a "full stop" in my taper because my cortisol level was low. The hope was my adrenals would eventually recover and produce cortisol again.

My adrenals recovered but it took a long time. As long as my cortisol level was adequate and remained adequate, my endocrinologist said I could simply stop taking Prednisone if PMR was under control. She said I didn't need to taper Prednisone from 3 mg to zero when I had an adequate cortisol level. My biologic was controlling PMR so a flare didn't occur.
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You can't expect your adrenals to work again at higher doses of Prednisone because of the following:

"... low levels of cortisol are the only trigger to the pituitary to stimulate the return of ACTH production and the restoration of normal pituitary-adrenal responsiveness."
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The above was my personal experience and how I managed to get off Prednisone after trying for more than 12 years of PMR.