How did you cope with the side effects tapering off prednisone?

See if you can get an RX for the 1 mg and 2.5 mg prednisone tablets. It's much easier to taper gradually with the smaller dosage pills.

Thanks John. Yes I will if the Neurologist who prescribes them will ever get back to me. I just had the 5 mg pills refilled but that's the last one. Hopefully the next one will be 1 mg or at the very least 2.5. Have you experienced or heard of anyone who's body is creating more saliva, either because of the PMR or Prednisone? Such weird things go on.

I haven't experienced creating more saliva while my PMR was active but others may have and hopefully can share more.

I did not have that symptom during PMR flare either.

Hello Abbeyc,
I started on 20 mg of Prednisone 4/21 (16mnths) down to 6mg now. Tapering started at 2.5mg every 1 to 2 mnths. until I hit 7. 5mg. Pain, stiffness & elevated CRP levels caused my Dr. to increase to 10mg again. This was last January 2022 so tapering under 10mg has been really difficult & slow. Dr. & I go on my symptoms & CPR levels. I do feel fatigue & increase in PMR symptoms with each decrease esp under the 10mg. PMR is suppose to go into remission. Best of luck to you.

Hi Deb,
My PMR started 1/24/21 36 hrs after my 2nd COVID Pfizer Vaccine. VAERS report was filled out. There is an apparent compensation for vaccine injury’s up to 2 yrs but I just found out 1 yr with the COVID Vaccine. I attempted to navigate the CICP which is the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Group for COVID vaccine injuries. It was too complicated & they recommend a lawyer. I called a local Lawyer from the CICP site. This gentleman told me the reward is so insignificant that we would pay the lawyer more than we would receive. With the other vaccine compensation program VICP the lawyers are paid by the courts if you win but not with CICP. I hope this saves any of you, with a confirmed COVID Vaccine cause, some time.
Best,
Mary

Thank you for your response. At least I'm not completely bonkers. Pretty sure mine started in June 2021 just a couple of weeks after the first jab and then hit the fan on August 14, 2021 just 10 days after the second jab. The Rheumie, who I've seen once, said to me, "did you ever think that maybe you were just meant to get PMR". That shocked me. I'm like was this my divine fate. None of this runs in my genetics. No autoimmune, no arthritis, nothing. I'm supposed to go back to her end of September. Don't think I will. I now have a new GP, who is pretty good, so unless next week's BDX shows anything nasty, I will stick with him.

I reported my PMR starting after 1st covid booster to VAERS. I read thru all the pages on compensation, but since I have good insurance I would probably not qualify.

Good idea to go every other day. Hope I can remember that. I had to do that with prednisone eye drops and other meds for an inflammatory eye disease called episcleritis.

At the risk of everyone thinking I'm a nutter, I have to share this with you all. I was diagnosed in November 21 and am now tapering down to 3 mg of prednisone. Apart from losing hair and general fatigue, the pain and morning stiffness have become more tolerable with each decrease of prednisone. Two months ago, my friend and I saw the ads for Keto gummies that have been promoted for weight loss. We said, "Okay, we're suckers, let's give it a go." We ordered them from Amazon, and they are "Simpli ACV+KETO Gummies", and cost around $24 for a month's supply to be taken twice a day. I looked at the ingredients which are primarily Apple Cider Vinegar and Beet Root Juice, B6 and B12, so with lots of skepticism I started them. I began to lose weight, but the real plus is, I felt so much better with more energy and less stiffness. I took them to my rheumatologist to check them out, and although he noted that they do contain glucose, he said there was nothing in them that could be harmful. He said that the medical profession has no idea why some things work for some patients but not others, especially when it came to homeopathic remedies. So, with his approval, I have ordered more, and honestly do feel better. I read no claims that these gummies would help PMR, so it wasn't as if I was expecting it. I just thought it would be nice to lose some weight. I make no claims, but for the cost of a vitamin and no harmful ingredients, why not? No, I haven't been paid for this endorsement, but having experienced the pain of PMR, I'm happy to pass this on!