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Reducing predisone side effects

Posted by dga76 @dga76, 6 days ago

I have reduced my predisone from. 5 to 4 and am experiencing nausea, dizziness and slight headache. I reduced a week ago and am still experiencing these side effects. Is this normal?

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dvorahberlin | @dvorahberlin | 9 hours ago
In reply to @eltje "@dvorahberlin I started at 15 mg in December, 2025 and this week am at 4.5 mg...." + (show)
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@dvorahberlin
I started at 15 mg in December, 2025 and this week am at 4.5 mg. I am noticing some discomfort at this stage and may stay at this dosage for a while. I had been tapering 1 mg per month before mostly and reduced to tapering 1 mg every 2 weeks. I hate the weight gain (15 lbs) .

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@eltje I would really take it slow now as not to have a relapse. In the beginning I also tapered quicker

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pmrsuzie | @pmrsuzie | 2 hours ago
In reply to @gilbert56 "@pmrsuzie I would follow your PCP’s advice. One problem I’ve had, is second-guessing the dosage. Heat..." + (show)
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@pmrsuzie I would follow your PCP’s advice. One problem I’ve had, is second-guessing the dosage. Heat and humidity makes me feel so much worse. I told my rheumatologist a month ago that I wanted to taper-off my prednisone completely. I’ve gone from 5 mg. in a month to 0. Hip pain came back, better today. Knuckles are hurting some. A lot of stffness going walking, and going up and down stairs. I think muscle atrophy is a lot of my problem, so trying to keep-up my protein intake, and walking 1 mile a day. All that being said, if 2mg. makes you feel better right now, follow PCP’s advice. Try doing things you enjoy this summer. That will make you feel better mentally, too. Don’t get discouraged. Prayers!

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@gilbert56
Thanks for your reply. I was having a lot of hip discomfort during the taper from 3 to 2mg and made an appointment with an ortho Dr who specializes in hip problems. I wanted to know if my problems were arthritis related. Seems like I have some arthritis but it's "not too bad" so he said. Once I settled in at 2mg the hip pain has subsided. Still having some trouble with stairs but it's better. He gave me a script for PT which I'm starting in two weeks. Staying at 2mg to build up strength til I see the rheumatologist in Aug.
I'm trying to avoid taking any pain meds even Tylenol.

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