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Prednisone tapering is challenging. What does remission feel like?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Sep 3, 2023 | Replies (209)Comment receiving replies
Re: taking your prednisone in the evening, do you have trouble sleeping? My rheumatologist suggested I take it as early as possible in the day because I have had trouble sleeping.
For the past week I’m tapering at 4MG every other day but have pain in my shoulders at night. I’m wondering if I should try shifting my dose to the afternoon or evening. Anyone have thoughts on this?
Replies to "Re: taking your prednisone in the evening, do you have trouble sleeping? My rheumatologist suggested I..."
I'm now two years with PMR and down to 3-1/4 mgs. Prednisone which I take in the morning with breakfast.. During the day I am doing well and just a slight problem with my knees (I have osteopenia). However, at night I do have pain in my hip and shoulders causing me to keep turning from side to side. However, as soon as I get up the pain is gone. I'm going to taper to 3 mgs next week. I've learned that the more slowly you taper, the chance of having to up the dose is less. The first year I did it too quickly and had to keep upping the dose.
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I have the opposite problem. If the prednisone is “wearing off”, I get stiff in the shoulders and some pain so have trouble sleeping. Right now I am on 3 mg and take with my supper around 5:30 -6:00. When I was on the bigger doses, I split the dose, taking some in the morning and some at night. It is interesting to me that if I forgot to take even the small dose, I wake up about 2:30 AM with pain and stiffness and it takes me a minute to figure out the problem. I am a “morning person” and with this regime, I wake up feeling really good.