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@johnbishop

@njtodctode - Another consideration that you might want to discuss with your doctor/rheumatologist before switching to dexamethasone (long-acting) is the dose equivalence to prednisone. The dexamethasone tablets are much smaller from what I've read and much stronger so tapering might be more difficult when you can't split the small pills.

The 1.5 dexamethasone tablets are equivalent in strength to 10 mg prednisone tablets.
-- Corticosteroid Dose Equivalents:
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2172042-overview

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Replies to "@njtodctode - Another consideration that you might want to discuss with your doctor/rheumatologist before switching to..."

I heard that yesterday. He's starting me out on a fairly high dose then. I think.he wrote it for 4....so 40? Hmmm. I don't have to take it....or maybe I could take it for awhile to see if it moves me to a better place then use.pred. I know they make doses as low as .5 but that's still high I guess if it works the same as pted time wise. Lordy......my brain cells continue to hurt.

Hi John...so I picked up the dex. 4 mg pills it says to take 2 a day...but he did tell me to start lower cutting the pill. He was being flexible just wanting to help me. It does say it can be used for swelling and.I think that's why he thought of it...to help my blocks for ankles and Mickey Mouse hands. Anyway I have a q for you. So I went from 16 to 17.5. I have been on the 17.5 for a week. It's not doing a lot. I get about 3 hours per day after noon where my back does not.spasm and my other PMR spots settle down. The fatigue is still there. My back was really bad this am. Anyway...my hands are twingeing a bit which.kind of scares me. My hands were in unbelievable pain when this started. Couldn't use them and could not control the pain. SO my q is should I go to 20 now n which was my starting dose or maybe try an equivalent of the dex and see what happens. I would think a week will give you an idea if the dose will help...right? Or am I misunderstanding that. If you have feedback pls. share even if you.just.want to tell me I am crazy. I accept that. Ok take good care.