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← Return to Decreasing Prednisone
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I have a question for anyone to answer with their opinion.
I started on prednisone last Sept. 20mg, tapering 2.5 every 30 days. I was responding very well. until I dropped to 7.5.
I found through the forum, that after 10 I should be dropping 1mg per 30 days. My rheumatologist at that time flatly refused to give me a presciption other then 5mg.
I went back to my general MD and was able to get 1mg's. I have been good dropping by 1mg until I got to 6. Symptoms came back immetiatly and very strong. I went back to 7. Symptoms didn't reduce by much. Went to 8 for the last 4 days. The symptoms have been better, but are still quite strong. Shoulder, upper arms, wrists, and a new stiffness in the fingers. I take acetaminophen to keep it at bay during the day.
Ok: my question. Should I maintain at 8mg, and see if the symptoms go away, or go on to 9mg or 10mg if needed. Once the symptoms are gone, should I go back to 1mg reducing at 30 days, or can I speed the reductions up?
I have no Doctors to confir with, as my general doesn't know to much about PMR, and I can't get into a new rheumatologist until end of August.
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I would recommend you go to 10 and stay there for a couple of weeks to see if that handles your pain. That level was working for you before, so that's a good place to start. After that you can do like you suggested and drop 1 mg per month until you get down to 5. Once people get to 5, they usually drop .5 mg a month from then on, unless they're also taking a biologic drug like Kevzara or Actemra. But if you're seeing a rheumatologist in a couple of months, he or she can make a recommendation then.
Fyi, all of the different doses of prednisone pills (20, 10, 5, 2.5, and 1) that are not time released are scored on one side so that you can split the pills with a pill splitter.