lcrquestions @lcrquestions, Also sorry to hear you have joined the club. I found that my anxiety settled down as the initial dose of prednisone began to work. When inflammation is under control I think we not only feel better physically but also are in a better situation psychologically. I was, for sure. As for the pain and what constitutes a flare once you start to taper was my biggest question. Just how much pain is acceptable in the morning and thru the day after a taper (a drop in daily dose)? That is, of course, subjective but I was given some guidance by people on this site that said if the pain in the morning was a 1 or less, I should give this a chance to work out on its own. In other words so long as I was not going backwards to the pain I had pre-prednisone, I was dong fine. Now that was a recommendation for the tapers I was about to start. I know your question is about the initial dose (not tapers, yet).....My initial dose of 15 mg took away about 99.9% of my pain which I think is the point of the initial dose. I believe the idea is to hit PMR pain hard with between 12 to 20 mg of prednisone to totally get the pain under control. Google "PMR 2015 guidelines" for dosage and tapering protocol (although this is different for everyone but a great starting concept). For me, a starting dose of 15 mg was ideal. It is the best I had ever felt (physically) in my whole life. I noticed within hours my PMR pain dissipating and by week three on the 15 mg I was in a rather blissful state. None of my usual pre-PMR pains (knee, back, neck, hand, etc). Nothing bothered me, I was emotionally quite mellow and physically could do just about any amount of work and not feel pain during or after. I was not amped up with boundless energy like on an upper but just had strength and no pain. For example, I was back to my old self of "overdoing" and split three cords of wood, loaded that in my truck, and then stacked it in my garage in a 1/2 day without any pain during or the following day. Astonishing, but a typical 1/2 day of work for me pre-PMR. However, doing this pre-PMR would have led to body pains of all kinds afterwards even being in great shape. Getting to a pain-free level on the first and primary dose of prednisone seems essential to me. That is your baseline as you start to taper. As I said, some pain/stiffness in the classic PMR spots (neck, shoulders, arms, hips and thighs) is acceptable but not a debilitating level when into the first days of tapering but I think should not be in any pain on the initial dose (my opinion--check with your Dr). I am on my second drop (taper) at the 10 mg per day mark. As with my drop from 15 mg to 12. 5 mg, I felt some pain/stiffness the first week in the mornings that would mellow as the day went. Nothing that I would have taken ibuprofen for nor tylenol for in pre-PMR life. Just knowing it is there. Exercise helps "loosen" me a up a bit and not think about it. Take a tylenol if you think it might help. Relax. Good luck in finding that correct initial dose and following a taper schedule. Share your good fortune and the downs. Cheers.