I am new to this group discussion board and at age 74 was disagnosed in Nov. 2020 with PMR first by my PCP then confirmed with my Rheumatologist in Jan. 2021. My pain started in my neck, shoulders and then my feet eventually making my arms and hands and fingers unable to function. I started treatment on 20 mg prednisone daily and have been on some dosage of prednisone ever since. I was treated for latent TB in Feb./Mar/Apr and I suddenly had a serious flare of PCR pain after about 7 weeks on the TB drugs. I learned that they disable prednisone's ability to work as an anti-inflammatory. I was told when I started there would be "no problem" taking the two drugs together. I stopped the TB drugs after 9 weeks on them and had a serious episode of high blood pressure when the prednisone worked once more. Ended up in ER but luckily no stroke occurred. Blood pressure has normalized since.
Since I am diabetic and have high blood pressure those meds had to be increased to control them on prednisone.
After months of testing my liver and kidneys I started taking Methotrexate along with 12 mg prednisone. When I tried taking 11 mg I ended up with two infections, one in my eye lid and one in my throat. I was at the end of the antibiotic to cure my infections when I took my first dose of Methotrexate. On the third day after taking it I had an severe reaction of extreme dizziness, confusion, dizziness and hot flashes. I was afraid to walk for a couple of hours but all subsided and I never had that reaction again. I was not told ahead that antibiotic would magnify the effects of methotrexate even though I asked if it was safe. I have learned to look up drug interactions on my own.
I am now tapering prednisone very very slowly and have been on MTX for a month. I feel so wiped out, dizzy, fuzzy headed and fatigued the day I take it each week I wonder if I can take it at bedtime. Perhaps some of that misery would be over when I get up. I asked my rheumo that question but don't have an answer as yet. Has anyone tried taking it at bedtime? Does it help?