Stop taking steroids

We were discussing a very low dose ( 1-2 mg.) of prednisone. With such a low dose, his patients have been able to take prednisone for 20-30 years.
From his experience, the prednisone was safer than OTC medications.

Since you have been on prednisone for months there are serious side effects if you just stop taking prednisone. Read about it. And before you would try something like that. Contact your doctor.

Are you taking extra calcium? Exercising?taking hair vitamins? I took the hair vitamins of Hair La Vie and they really helped.

Yes, I take calcium, biotin, vitamin C, and Vitamin D3 with K2. I also do weights three times a week at the Y and tai chi, which I have done for years.

This is a very individual disease and what works for one does not work for all. However, I struggled for 4 months on Meloxicam (mega NSAIDs) and only found relief with prednisone. I am willing to suffer the side effects of prednisone for the function I have gained from it. But I hope to be done with it in January, minus the PMR. We will see how that goes! But staying on on prednisone is not something I want to do unless I am forced by my symptoms (not numbers on a page or some doctor's guessing). Good luck to all!

Wow good to know. Doctors didn’t mention this and I WAS taking Ibuprofen everyday for joint pain. But it isn't effective against PMG so took Tylenol with it. Now after watching Youtube videos about PMR I found out it affects the joints AND connective tissue. i am Anemic. Iron levels keep going down, but doctors aren’t concerned. Said keep taking iron. But WHY do my levels continue to decrease. What a complicated condition. But as someone else said it won’t kill you.

I became a little anemic. PCP said to take Ir0n Gluconate or Ferros Gluconate. I am eating deied prunes and raisins every day. I am not anemic any more. My blood work improved.

@mark2471 Hi , I have been taking Prednesone for 3 weeks 15mg per day , I spoke to my dr today and he said it is safe to just stop when course is finished , but I’m very concerned . I have been taking these for rheumatoid arthritis, can anyone put my mind at rest ?

@djsmith
Hello djsmith,
Sorry to hear that you are needing prednisone treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. I do not have any direct experience or knowledge regarding how to treat RA so I am unable to help you with this. I am aware that there are multiple non-prednisone treatment options for RA. Probably the best approach is to talk with your doctor about this. Good luck and get well soon.

@djsmith

What concerns you?

Three weeks is considered to be short term use. You could do a fast taper if you are worried but I would be comfortable doing what your doctor says. My comfort level with prednisone might be different than your comfort level.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12378006/
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You could also tell your doctor about what your concerns are. I wouldn't do anything that you read on the internet without discussing it with your doctor to make sure it is appropriate for you to do.

@djsmith No, it is not safe to just stop. Every doctor I know says you must taper down. I started on 20 mg for a month, then down to 10 mg, then 9mg and then 8mg, which I am presently on. Next month, I will need to taper down to 7, and so on. I would talk with another doctor.