Connect
← Return to Prednisone tapering is challenging. What does remission feel like?
Discussion
Prednisone tapering is challenging. What does remission feel like?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Sep 3, 2023 | Replies (209)Comment receiving replies
I was diagnosed with PMR in April and began taking 20MG of Prednisone daily (in morning) for one month, then instructed to reduce by 2.5mg each week. I am trying to reduce my daily dose, yet unable to get below 15mg without discomfort in the back of my legs, buttocks e.g. sitting is uncomfortable. Prednisone makes me anxious and jittery and somewhat difficultly with sleeping. My doctor has suggested splitting my dose to twice daily i.e. morning 7.5mg and late afternoon 7.5mg for one week, then each week reduce by 2.5mg daily. I am hesitant to proceed as I feel taking prednisone late in the day will affect my ability to sleep as well as I have concerns with managing potential stomach issues using prednisone and the need to take food with dosage (difficult to do when other commitments during the day prohibit interruptions). I also take Pantoprazole in morning to help with stomach issues. I would like to get my dosage lower and more manageable, but wondering if others have had good or bad experiences with splitting daily doses; as well as p.o.v. on best way accomplish a reduction plan that works. Thank you!
Replies to "I was diagnosed with PMR in April and began taking 20MG of Prednisone daily (in morning)..."
@mikeshell Please follow up with your doctor on Colleen's suggestion to take your doses 6 hours apart or so rather than 8 to 12 hours. I have had PMR for several years and finally started steroids. I had refused them for a long time due to how I knew my body would reach. I am very chemically sensitive. I immediately started having heart rate issues as well as BP. So I dropped the dosage and split it into two doses. I can tolerate it. The pain is still measurable (1-3) but I can cope with the steroid side effects at a lower dose.
I spent a few weeks reducing the time from 10-12 hours to 4-5 hours. Every few days I would move the time between doses a little closer. No one enjoys being controlled by the clock and pills but for me it worked. I used my cell phone and set alarms to remind me. After a while I integrated the schedule into my daily routine.
Hi Mike,
I had similar issues with splitting the dose. First tried to split it when I was taking 20 mg; one does early morning then the second around 3pm. That did disrupt my sleep (which I already have issues with). Then I went to taking the second does with lunch and that made a big difference. Started at 20mg last October, am now very gradually taper down by 1 mg every 3-4 weeks. If I have a bad day, I take an extra mg with lunch. Also was on methotrexate, which helped get my inflammation markers to normal for the first time in years. However, it made me very lightheaded/dizzy. Am no longer taking it and the lightheadedness is slowly getting better. Hope this helps...it takes time to work thru this. Wishing you the best!
Connect
Hi Mike,
Tapering off prednisone is challenging. You are certainly not alone. In fact, I moved your post to this existing discussion:
- Prednisone tapering is challenging. What does remission feel like? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/prednisone-tapering-and-remission/
I did this so you can connect with others, like @milld835 @tsc @anniekirby @minijohn @kmeikle1 and more, and read their experiences, including experiences with splitting dose over the course of the day.
You may also be interested in these related discussions:
- Prednisone tapering is hard: Do complementary therapies help?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/prednisone-tapering/
- Tapering off of Prednisone: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/prednisone/
You're asking a good question about taking a split dose late in the day and your concern about it affecting your sleep. How early in the morning do you take your medication?