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← Return to Day 4 of prednisone and happy! Stay at 15 or go up to 20?
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Day 4 of prednisone and happy! Stay at 15 or go up to 20?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 21 hours ago | Replies (63)Comment receiving replies
Seems to me you're tapering off pretty fast. Not sure what your goal is here? Find the right dose? Continuing to taper when you know inflammation pain is returning doesn't make much sense to me, particularly if you don't have any alternatives to the prednisone for fighting inflammation. It just takes time.
Now off prednisone myself after 7 months, but only because I went on Kevzara to control inflammation. My experience (second round of PMR in 8 years, beginning when 55) is that it just takes time. You don't want to let the inflammation creep back in at this point -- keep it suppressed.
You're likely going to be on prednisone for at least a year and probably more, unless you transition to an alternative med. I hate the stuff, but once you're on it you've got to ride it out. The PMR is still in there and, I believe, always will be. You just have to learn how not to trigger it once it's suppressed.
Replies to "Seems to me you're tapering off pretty fast. Not sure what your goal is here? Find..."
@barjohnson62 I did not think that 6 wks on 15 mg, followed by a drop to 12.5 mg would be considered fast. It's the standard drop, isn't it? Or do you mean I not drop again another 1.25 if I have any pain at 12.5? If so, yes, that is on my radar. I've also considered going back up to 15. My situation seems complicated to me due to my other health issues and increased activity. Gonna see how I feel over the next seven days.
My goal is to find my lowest effective dose.
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@barjohnson62 this is the same experience as I. I was at 8 pred when Kevzara started. As we know Kevzara takes up to 3 months to kick in, Which it did and I had tapered off all pred. There is no “end time” for kevzara. I was 11 months on Kevzara. Stopped it for 2 months, and my numbers went up, restarted kevzara . Now 3 months later at 3 week intervals. If numbers hold, will stay here.
Don’t forget message above…..
“ You don't want to let the inflammation creep back in at this point -- keep it suppressed.”
“ The PMR is still in there and, I believe, always will be. You just have to learn how not to trigger it once it's suppressed.”