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Any Tips For Tapering Off Prednisone?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jul 24 11:10am | Replies (111)Comment receiving replies
This worked for me with minimal issues:
From 10 to 5…1 per month.
Below 5…0.5 per month.
You can expect some pains when you decrease a step, and at random. Tylenol is typically recommended.
Avoid NSAID’s unless your doc prescribes. They interact unfavorably with prednisone.
All pain is not PMR pain as you decrease. Conditions such as osteoarthritis that were formerly controlled by your cortisol production can develop, and can be an issue until it is restored.
Avoid increasing the prednisone as a quick fix if at all possible.
Good luck.
Replies to "This worked for me with minimal issues: From 10 to 5…1 per month. Below 5…0.5 per..."
Wow! I did not realize nsaids interfere with prednisone. Thanks for that.
I have also been wondering how to taper.
Recently had a relapse after 3 yrs from initial onset.
I started on 10, then 7.5 for one week, then 7 for a little over two weeks, now just started 6.
I am going to follow the taper you mentioned now.
Stay on 6 for a month, then 5 for a month, then go down by .5 mg for each remaining month.
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"Avoid increasing the prednisone as a quick fix if at all possible."
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This is the hard part. Many things happened when I tried to taper off prednisone. It was very easy to blame PMR for everything and increase my dose of prednisone.
It is said that prednisone never fixes or cures anything and I now believe that is true. Until something better is found ... we are stuck with prednisone. However, my being stuck on prednisone was more of a side effect of prednisone itself after adrenal insufficiency happened.
I never found that taking more Prednisone was a good solution but it did spare me a lot of pain. It was always curious how my rheumatology visits progressed to how to get me off Prednisone rather than treating PMR.