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← Return to Trouble going below 3mg
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From 3 mg down, on the attached protocol, is the same as the Ded Slow Drop ("DSD") protocol. However the DSD differs once you drop to the lower dose for 7 days. Then you remain at the new lower dose for at least 3 weeks. As so many of us have reported, it's unsurprising to go 3 weeks at a new lower dose and then have some symptoms, if not a strong resurgence of symptoms, at around the 3 week mark.
I was unable to get below 5 without being miserable from symptoms. So I tried the DSD and am now symptom free at 3 mg. My rheumatologist's plan is to stay at 3 for min 3 or 4 weeks, then *if I choose* to drop very slowly - DSD using 1/2 mg increments. But he really doesn't mind if I remain at 3 mg for an extended period.
I may elect to just stay at 3.
Replies to "From 3 mg down, on the attached protocol, is the same as the Ded Slow Drop..."
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Yes, I've been following similar to what's called the "dead slow" taper since 7mg, the point just above where I had my one and only flare last year. If it's done consistently it's not really slow at all. The original taper schedule I was given said to drop 1mg (under 10mg) every 4 - 8 weeks and the incremental taper I'm doing achieves it in 7-8 weeks, within the recommended reduction schedule range (Australia). The taper schedule given in the link on the original post is almost identical.
I begin the .5mg reduction to 3mg in a few days. My worry about staying at 3mg for too long is that it doesn't challenge the adrenal glands to go back into production, as 3mg is the amount people who have non-functioning adrenals take indefinitely. I'll take the reductions under 3mg carefully, but I do want to encourage my adrenals to function again.