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Prednisone Taper Stories

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Mar 5 11:55pm | Replies (101)

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@jeff97

I have never been diagnosed with GCA ... only uveitis. I don't know precisely how many uveitis flares have happened because I lost count at 30. Many times the flares were panuveitis.

"Corticosteroids are the primary treatment for panuveitis. They’ll help bring the inflammation down to protect your vision and also treat your discomfort. This is the first priority when treating panuveitis.

Your provider may prescribe steroid pills, steroid eye drops or a steroid injection into your eye — or all of the above, depending on your condition. Some people may need to take them on a long-term basis."
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/panuveitis
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Part of the reason I'm still on Actemra is because uveitis will likely flare up again with no treatment. My ophthalmologist doesn't think Actemra is the best biologic to prevent flares of uveitis and says, "it is just a matter of time until it does." I know 60-100 mg of Prednisone will be prescribed whenever uveitis flares up again. Until it flares again, I would rather stay on Actemra.

Fortunately when I report uveitis symptoms -- I am usually seen within an hour. My ophthalmologist reassures me it isn't GCA.

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Replies to "@jeff97 I have never been diagnosed with GCA ... only uveitis. I don't know precisely how..."

@dadcue I spent 6 weeks at 60 mg, and then 6 more weeks tapering 5 mg every 2 weeks to get down to 40. Those 12 weeks were really unpleasant. I felt like a zombie the whole time from the lack of sleep plus recovering from the GCA and PMR.

40 for me was a big threshold where prednisone became more tolerable.