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How to Slowly and Safely Taper Off Prednisone but ... no set rules.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (70)Comment receiving replies
"It's like sometimes the body just needs a hug with some extra prednisone and then it's OK. Lol."
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I used to say that I needed a "prednisone fix" whenever I increased my prednisone dose. It is good to retain a sense of humor.
After I realized that prednisone replaces the cortisol that our body normally produces, I started saying that I needed a "cortisol fix" when I took more prednisone. That was more accurate according to my endocrinolgist who diagnosed adrenal insufficiency. She said my body would need to fix my cortisol level and more prednisone wasn't the best solution.
Since I took prednisone for 12 years to treat PMR and other things, my endocrinologist said taking less than 5 mg of prednisone was going to be a tough thing for me to do. I told her less than 7 mg was impossible for me to do.
My endocrinolgist referred me back to my rheumatologist to see if there was something else that would treat PMR.
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Thank you to everyone in advance for your insightful comments and support. Much appreciated.
My question is this -- I have been tapering off of prednisone for the last month. It seems that I have pain in the morning, not totally disabling, but significant. I take the prednisone and the pain gradually diminishes, so that by late afternoon or evening, I have better range of motion and am almost pain free. I also take a tylenol if the pain persists.
I'[m wondering if other have had this experience as well. It seems that, regardless of the dose, this has been the pattern.