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Skin infections while on Prednisone
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Sep 22, 2017 | Replies (71)Comment receiving replies
Well I have been on 1mg of prednisone for 1 week. So much pain! I want to go back up to 3mg but at this rate I am never going to get off of the prednisone. Plus the negative comment of my Dr, saying you will probably have to take prednisone the rest of your life! I would like to prove her wrong.
What a thing to say to a PMR pt.
I wonder if for some, the PMR never goes into remission and you will always have it?
Even on a low dose (never been above 5mg), I have developed fatty fluid pockets at the base of my neck. I have read that this is a side effect and won't go away until the prednisone has stopped.
Any feedback?
Barbararene
Replies to "Well I have been on 1mg of prednisone for 1 week. So much pain! I want..."
Thank you for this very useful link on vasculitis which I will keep as no doubt will be on prednisone for a while yet. My most bothersome side effect of prednisone, apart from slow healing/infections, is sleeplessness - doctor recommended Melatonin but even the smallest dose makes me groggy on a morning. She prescribed Teva Trazodone at bedtime so am hoping this will help me sleep without the grogginess but first doze was not much better than Melatonin.
Good news is that I saw my rheumatologist/internist this week and based on recent bloodwork has reduced prednisone dosage to 9 mg per day for a month, then monthly decreasage by 1 mg thereafter.
I really appreciate all the updates on PMR - thanks to all.
Sandra
That's great news Sandra! I'm lucky that sleeping has never been an issue for me...can almost sleep standing up. That can also be a bad thing. 🙂 Mayo Clinic has a couple of links that offer some suggestions. Not sure if they will work but it they help, it's better than having to take medication to help.
Sleep tips: 6 steps to better sleep
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/sleep/art-20048379
Foods and Sleep
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/expert-answers/foods-that-help-you-sleep/faq-20057763
John
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Hello Barbararene, sorry you are in so much pain. I've got no medical training or background but I'm pretty sure PMR is different with each patient. My first time with PMR lasted 3 years before going into remission. Was gone for 6 years and just came back again last year and I'm back on prednisone and going through the tapering off fun. I've tried several different approaches to tapering off of the prednisone (one from the rheumatologist and one from my primary care doctor). The last 6 months or so I was going back and forth between 1 mg and 1/2 mg dose until I could finally stop taking it. I have one friend who was diagnosed with PMR the same time as I was the first time and his PMR is still in remission so there is hope.
I wasn't aware of that particular side effect but see that John Hopkins Vasculitis Center lists this as a side effect and says it usually goes away after you taper below 10 mg prednisone dosage.
https://www.hopkinsvasculitis.org/vasculitis-treatments/prednisone/
Don't give up! Keep working on tapering off and when you are really hurting go back to the previous dosage.
John