Connect
← Return to Fast Prednisone taper?
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
The pain started in June of 2024, I was not diagnosed until November 2024 and my rheumatologist started me on prednisone. He prescribed 5 to 10mg, said start with the 5 and increase if needed. I started with 5 the pain went away. Never went to 10mg. He wanted to put me on an injection called Kevsara, but the protocol for that is 10mg for 8 weeks or more with minimal or no relief. So to answer your question I have been on 5 mg since November 14th 2024. I started tapering down from that the beginning of April 2025.
Replies to "The pain started in June of 2024, I was not diagnosed until November 2024 and my..."
That's a great result, and yes, really doesn't seem there was a need for kevzara at all. I am unfortunately in a relatively small group (I believe) that has some resistance to the effects of pred, so need much higher doses to keep the inflammation under control.
Connect
A biologic like Kevzara introduces another variable into the tapering process.
When I tried another biologic called Actemra, I tapered from 10 mg by 1 mg per month for the first 3 months. From 7 mg, I tapered by 1 mg per week down to 3 mg.
At 3 mg of prednisone, it was determined that my cortisol level was too low so I couldn't taper any lower than 3 mg for 6 months. After my cortisol level improved, my endocrinologist said 3 mg was such a low dose of prednisone there was no need for me to taper. I was told to simple stop taking Prednisone. As long as PMR was controlled AND my cortisol level stayed within an adequate range there was no need to taper from 3 mg of Prednisone to zero. I tapered anyway ... I decreased by 1 mg every couple of days to zero in less than a week.
Actemra did a fantastic job of controlling PMR so I don't need Prednisone anymore. My cortisol level improved the longer I was off Prednisone. My symptoms of adrenal insufficiency gradually disappeared.