@pb50 Hi Pam

For uveitis, I used to start at 60 mg per the instructions from my ophthalmologist. I was given permission to increase my dose as needed upwards to 100 mg if the uveitis didn't respond. I would quickly taper back down after the uveitis "responded" which was when there was an improvement in the inflammation inside my eye.

Uveitis offers a unique visualization of inflammation so my ophthalmologist and I could tell how the inflammation responded. This "real-time" observation of inflammation is valuable because both my ophthalmologist and I knew when there was a reduction or elimination of inflammatory cells. Knowing precisely how much inflammation was present confirmed the dose of prednisone that I needed and how quickly I could taper off prednisone.

For uveitis, I could usually taper off within a month and uveitis would stay in remission for a year or so. I lost count at over 30 flares of uveitis in 20 years. I got a lot of practice taking prednisone and tapering off again.
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After PMR was diagnosed, I started out with 30-40 mg but I could not reduce my dose very much for about 10 years. I had many reasons for taking prednisone and my doctors understood why I needed so much prednisone. My doctors never questioned my judgement. I didn't have too many qualms about taking 100 mg when needed. I could handle 60 mg of Prednisone reasonably well but that was my "self imposed limit" without guidance from my doctors. I would tell my doctors if I ever needed more than 60 mg. My "absolute limit" was 100 mg. If my doctors ever wanted me to take more than 100 mg -- I refused because I can't tolerate that much.
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I'm concerned that you now need significantly more prednisone than you did. Doubling your usual dose suggests something that isn't good is happening. However, I'm not overly concerned about 30 mg as long as you can still reduce that dose back down to your usual dose and eventually taper off again. Getting "stuck on prednisone" isn't a good situation.