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← Return to Tapering off of Prednisone
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I been on prednisone for PMR and GCA since January 2022. I started at 60mg. Once I got to 10 mg I am going down 1 mg a month. First couple weeks I alternate with a .5mg. I’m at 8mg now and getting ready to start weaning to 7mg. The past couple of days I feel like I’m having a flareup. Dull headache, neck and lower back aches. My left leg is week and my thighs hurt. I even had diarrhea. I don’t know if this is a flareup or not. Not sure if I should start weaning down or stay at 8 for a couple more days. What symptoms did you have when you had your flareup?
Replies to "I been on prednisone for PMR and GCA since January 2022. I started at 60mg. Once..."
Hi - you're one of the few people that have talked about starting at high doses, as I have (though not quite as high). I began at 40, then dropped 5 at a time every 4 weeks, but it still feels like WAY too much.
So after only 2 weeks at 30 I dropped to 25 (where I've been for a few days now with almost no issues). I know that final 10 can be a real grind, but I'm hoping to taper a bit faster than 5 per month. Can I ask you what rate you tapered from 60 and what issues if any you ran into on the way (before the struggles you're currently enduring - I'm wondering about the bulk from 60 to 10)?
Thanks so much.
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When I had the flare up, I had many of the same symptoms you described. It always starts with my shoulders and neck hurting. then the hips get a weak feeling, like my legs don't want to hold me up. Then I get headaches. If I was you, I would go back to 10 and see what happens. You don't want the flare up to get worse. Dr. Zaidi told me to stay a couple of months at each level when I know I'm good go down by 1/2 mg. and repeat the process.