So I'm reading all these posts with some trepidation, because I've been put on 40mg prednisone for 4 weeks, to begin tapering after that. This was due to my initial flare only being alleviated by a quick but strong course of prednisone (60mg down), but when I got below 20mg, the PMR came roaring back. So we tried 25mg, then 30mg, with no relief. It only helped when I went back up to 40mg. My dr said that it's essential to stop the flare due to the possibility of developing GCA, and frankly I'd take 1000mg of the stuff if it stopped the pain. In 2 weeks I'll begin to taper to 30mg for a month, then down again, but I'm nervous about being on so much prednisone for so long. Right now I'm seeing my neurologist--who treats PMR in some patients as it's associated with GCA and vasculitis--and am waiting for my rheumatologist appointment at the end of October. (But I trust my neurologist.) Has anyone else had to start out on such a high dose for this long?