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← Return to reducing prednisolone once you get down to 5mg
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reducing prednisolone once you get down to 5mg
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Feb 16 8:31pm | Replies (16)Comment receiving replies
Looking for some input. Went from 15mg to 10 pred. Then down 1mg per 3 weeks to 5mg. I was ok at 5 went to 4 started with pain and now at 3 I just can’t take the mornings pain . The Rheumatologist thought a flare but the numbers haven’t moved and are low. Told me to split the 3 to 1.5 am then pm. 12 hrs. apart. No change. I asked to go up to 5mg. Today is the 3rd day on 5 and not feeling change. Should I go up on the dose? I hate to as I have osteoporosis. He thinks there could be something underlying and have more bloodwork scheduled.
May will be a year on pred and diagnosis. I’m frustrated to say the least and the morning pain is awful. Holding me back from my working out and exercise. I continue walking but want more and can’t right now. And help will be greatly appreciated.
Replies to "Looking for some input. Went from 15mg to 10 pred. Then down 1mg per 3 weeks..."
@mezack25
I’m in the same boat. On pred since end of last March 2025, as I’ve dropped I got to 3 mgs a few months ago and pains increased. Rheumy bumped it back to 4 mg. I took a long walk a few days ago & everything felt fine. It was great & I felt so happy. Next day nope. All around hips & glutes lower back all angry. Now, each day has gotten better except for that lower right side back pain. I just gotta wonder if there’s some nerve pressure from that spine. I do have osteoporosis.
I don’t know how to strengthen my glutes hips when I always experience pain! I do stretches as recommended by a chiro & PT from last year’s discovery of PMR. And I try to walk a few miles everyday. Frustrated!!
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@mezack25 You could try going up to 8 or 10 mg for a couple of weeks and then drop back to 5. If you only up the dose for a couple of weeks, you don't have to taper when you drop back down. Hopefully the extra mgs will help. If they do, then you should probably just stay at 5 for the foreseeable future. Most people with PMR need at least 1 to 2 years of medication before the PMR burns out. Some people need to take prednisone more than 2 years, unless they take some other drug like Kevzara.
If you stay on a lower dose of prednisone and you're not able to work out, that isn't good for your osteoporosis either, plus you feel bad much of the time.