Connect← Return to Any Tips For Tapering Off Prednisone?
Discussion
Any Tips For Tapering Off Prednisone?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: May 27 9:17am | Replies (145)Comment receiving replies
@dadcue WOW, thank you for taking the time to write this, very helpful. I have to ask the community, is there anyone successfully tapered at very low doses. My last day on 10MG was April 26, 2026. 5MG 27 through May 4. 2.5MG May 5 to 13th. May 14 through today on 1.25MG. My shoulders are pretty sore when waking and it goes away. Should my adrenals not have been producing cortisol for the last month?? I 1.25MG not low enough that one can stop completely? Anyone with experience on this low a dose would you please share? Thank you
Replies to "@dadcue WOW, thank you for taking the time to write this, very helpful. I have to..."
@pmrnew At 7.5mg Prednisone level, I was forced to look for an alternative because I ended up with Macular Degeneration. My ophthalmologist suggested Hydroxychloroquine and my Rheumatologist agreed. I gradually switched over a months time and continued to improve. It took another year before the PMR went away, but I haven’t had any signs of a re-occurrence for three years.
Connect
@pmrnew
You seem to be cutting your dose in half every 7 days. I don't know if that will work or not because it is a fast taper. After you reach 10 mg it is usually recommended to taper by 1 mg per month. As far as 1.25 mg being a low enough dose for your adrenal glands to begin to produce cortisol again... my endocrinologist said 3 mg was a low enough dose if I could maintain that dose for long time. I needed to be on a low dose and allow for time for my adrenals to produce an "adequate" amount of cortisol for my daily needs. Whether or not my adrenals could produce enough cortisol in an emrgency situation was unknown.
The time it takes for the adrenals to "fully recover" depends on many factors. For me, it took 6 months on 3 mg for my cortisol level to improve. It took another year of being off prednisone until I felt like my adrenals were fully recovered. This was my experience after being on prednisone for 12 byears.
There was the issue of PMR pain coming. back when I stayed on a low dose of prednisone. I was taking a biologic while I stayed on 3 mg of prednisone so PMR was well controlled.