Very helpful feedback. I am down to 6mg started in June 5months ago at 15. I have started taking a Tylenol just one a day which seems to help a lot. Has anyone tried Tylenol Arthritis? Is it ok with Prednisone? Just started back in at the gym gently. Physical activity helps a lot and I push gently through the pain to maintain good range of motion. Male age 65.
I'm a retired RPh with pmr x 3 years. Tylenol fine with Prednisone. 1000 mg 4 times a day is maximum. Don't do this long term because it can damage your liver. Not to be taken with methotrexate for the same reason.
Thank you @susan63 that helps. I have a pill cutter as well but perhaps I need to look at getting a different one. Mine is super finicky and cutting a 5mg pill in half is already a challenge. I read that liquid prednisone is an option. I wonder if that would be easier dosage wise.
Does anyone have any experience with liquid prednisone?
My favorite shape of a pill splitter is one that holds the pill in a V shape so no adjustment is needed based on pill size. Simply slide the pill to the bottom of the V and it is lined up with the splitting edge. Also, I've learned to gently split the pill using just enough pressure that the pill splits. I have had to split my morning Synthroid for years. I have learned a few tricks. Many pills are not really flat so pushing the splitting edge down too fast will cause the pill to move up the V and the split is more of a two thirds- one third split.
I have a pill cutter that I used. It takes some practice and takes time but you can cut down the 1 mg pills. Once I hit 10 mg I tapered by 1. Once I hit 7 I tapered by .5 and then once I hit 5 I tapered by .25 . I did it this way because I got really close at the two year mark to getting off and had a big flare and then it took awhile before I was ready to try and start retapering. So I decided to go super slow and hope that tiny reductions would work.
Were you tapering every 4 or 6weeks. I definitely will taper by 0.5 once I am on 5mg every 4 weeks but will go to 6 weeks if needed. Love my pill cutter. Can I ask what you learnt over the 4 years? So happy for you.
Were you tapering every 4 or 6weeks. I definitely will taper by 0.5 once I am on 5mg every 4 weeks but will go to 6 weeks if needed. Love my pill cutter. Can I ask what you learnt over the 4 years? So happy for you.
For this last year I was tapering every 4 weeks. In hindsight I think that there were times in the past that I stayed at a certain "resting" place too long. Example, I sat at 5 mgs for 6 months because my doctor told me to. I also think there were times that I was too quick to call episodes "flares" when they most likely weren't. I did really well with slow tapering. It has now been a week since my last pill and I have some aches but as I said I have other issues as well and if I can get the other issues resolved I will be happy with general aches and pains lol. Good luck with your tapering!
Most pills fine if you point the grove away from you and press the outsides toward you. Always do one at a time. If your off a little it will average out when you take the other half the next day. This is not an exact science but better this than 2 small half's the 2 big ones.
I'm a retired RPh with pmr x 3 years. Tylenol fine with Prednisone. 1000 mg 4 times a day is maximum. Don't do this long term because it can damage your liver. Not to be taken with methotrexate for the same reason.
@ill, can you comment on what amount of acetaminophen is safe with methotrexate use? I take Tylenol arthritis every night to help with sleep, and only rarely take another 650 mg to help with daytime pain. I drink alcohol very sparingly, and never close to my methotrexate day. I have been told never to take NSAIDs due to my (in remission) Crohn’s. Thanks for your input!
For this last year I was tapering every 4 weeks. In hindsight I think that there were times in the past that I stayed at a certain "resting" place too long. Example, I sat at 5 mgs for 6 months because my doctor told me to. I also think there were times that I was too quick to call episodes "flares" when they most likely weren't. I did really well with slow tapering. It has now been a week since my last pill and I have some aches but as I said I have other issues as well and if I can get the other issues resolved I will be happy with general aches and pains lol. Good luck with your tapering!
Congratulations! Many of us are still on the tapper journey. I too sat for too long at 10mg (1year) and are determined to slowly taper off, listen to my body and understand there will be days I feel a bit of withdrawal…and weigh that discomfort against just increasing predisone to relive. Caveat - I have been on Kevzara for over a year so my symptoms should be predisone withdrawal and not PMR. Good luck!
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I'm a retired RPh with pmr x 3 years. Tylenol fine with Prednisone. 1000 mg 4 times a day is maximum. Don't do this long term because it can damage your liver. Not to be taken with methotrexate for the same reason.
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1 ReactionMy favorite shape of a pill splitter is one that holds the pill in a V shape so no adjustment is needed based on pill size. Simply slide the pill to the bottom of the V and it is lined up with the splitting edge. Also, I've learned to gently split the pill using just enough pressure that the pill splits. I have had to split my morning Synthroid for years. I have learned a few tricks. Many pills are not really flat so pushing the splitting edge down too fast will cause the pill to move up the V and the split is more of a two thirds- one third split.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsWere you tapering every 4 or 6weeks. I definitely will taper by 0.5 once I am on 5mg every 4 weeks but will go to 6 weeks if needed. Love my pill cutter. Can I ask what you learnt over the 4 years? So happy for you.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionFor this last year I was tapering every 4 weeks. In hindsight I think that there were times in the past that I stayed at a certain "resting" place too long. Example, I sat at 5 mgs for 6 months because my doctor told me to. I also think there were times that I was too quick to call episodes "flares" when they most likely weren't. I did really well with slow tapering. It has now been a week since my last pill and I have some aches but as I said I have other issues as well and if I can get the other issues resolved I will be happy with general aches and pains lol. Good luck with your tapering!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsMost pills fine if you point the grove away from you and press the outsides toward you. Always do one at a time. If your off a little it will average out when you take the other half the next day. This is not an exact science but better this than 2 small half's the 2 big ones.
@ill, can you comment on what amount of acetaminophen is safe with methotrexate use? I take Tylenol arthritis every night to help with sleep, and only rarely take another 650 mg to help with daytime pain. I drink alcohol very sparingly, and never close to my methotrexate day. I have been told never to take NSAIDs due to my (in remission) Crohn’s. Thanks for your input!
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI cut my pills in half with a sharp kitchen knife. Pretty simple.
Congratulations! Many of us are still on the tapper journey. I too sat for too long at 10mg (1year) and are determined to slowly taper off, listen to my body and understand there will be days I feel a bit of withdrawal…and weigh that discomfort against just increasing predisone to relive. Caveat - I have been on Kevzara for over a year so my symptoms should be predisone withdrawal and not PMR. Good luck!
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
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