Connect
← Return to Is it safe to get the Corona Virus (COVID-19) vaccine with PMR?
Discussion
Is it safe to get the Corona Virus (COVID-19) vaccine with PMR?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Oct 29, 2022 | Replies (299)Comment receiving replies
I believe my flare up came because I do not have enough prednisone to help. I was on high dose not the low dose most of you take. I needed 20 mg to manage, so p I had to lower the mgs to 10 mg so the vaccine would work. I had only six weeks to do it and had to stay at 10 mg four weeks through both shots and the two-week wait. Now, as myDr recommended, I just increased the dose to 20 mg and hope it “wacks” the PMR back into control. Still, I am grateful to have the vaccine.
Replies to "I believe my flare up came because I do not have enough prednisone to help. I..."
Connect
I am 74 and developed pmr almost three years ago. Had to go to 25 mg of prednisone to get it under control. My first three taperings failed probably because I was going too fast so I had to go back up a bit and start again. My Dr was adding methotrexate to offset the prednisone reduction and I may have placed too much faith in that too. I was and am also on fosamax to offset the prednisone induced bone loss and folic acid to offset damage to my liver from the methotrexate. I am currently at 3.5 mg of prednisone and going down very slowly and 20 mg of the methotrexate which I am told I can’t begin to taper off from (again very slowly) until I have been off the prednisone for six months. Overall, it looks like a six year experience if all goes well from here. Had the first Pfizer shot a month ago ( no reaction other than a sore arm) and the second one earlier this week. The second one knocked me for a loop - felt like a major pmr jolt with pmr-like achy muscles and weakness and a headache to boot. The good news: it only lasted 24 hours. I think everyone’s pmr experience is unique to them and that’s probably true of the the vaccine interaction also.