Confused: Tapering vs cold turkey stopping prednisone

Hey Becky, I hope you find good primary care and rheumatology doctors. As you navigate this disease, it will help to hear other people’s experiences, so I’m sharing key parts of mine.
My symptoms began overnight (9/21), full on, with such debilitating pain that I couldn’t get out of bed without help, couldn’t lift a cup of coffee to my mouth, couldn’t dress…. Initially I did lots of physical therapy just to move in the mornings so that I could continue through the day. When I did see the rheumatologist I began with 20 mg of prednisone (12/21). Over the course of a year, I tapered to 1 1/4 mg every other day, which lasted about three weeks before I stopped altogether (12/22).
I tell you all of this to give you a sense of what the tapering process was for one person. However, I think the biggest tool for me was exercise—not sprints or anything crazy (I’m almost 70) but walking, doing yoga, or getting into my kayak in the mornings. Most of the worst stories I’ve heard happened to those people for whom pain or depression ruled out mobility. I am not saying it was easy, but it was crucial!
One other thing was getting the Reclast procedure, which insurance covered, to prevent bone density loss from taking prednisone.
I feel so fortunate to be in that 70 or something percent that waves goodbye to PMR within two years. My fingers are crossed it doesn’t return. I wish you well!

Hi Mary4,
I'm obviously not a doctor but starting someone with PMR on 60 mg of Prednisone seems a bit high. I was started on 15 mg by my primary care doc before I could get a rheumatologist appointment. The 15 didn't control the pain and stiffness enough, I had to increase until I was at 30. No doctor should ever tell a patient to go cold turkey with this drug unless you've been on a
Z Pack, which is a designed 5 day treatment intended to end taking any Prednisone after it's finished. Good luck on finding a reputable rheumatologist.

I reacted to my booster shot for Covid end of Nov. 2021. Was diagnosed with PMR March 2022. I started 10mg prednisone and had total relief within hours. I have decreased dosage by 1 mg every 30 days since then and today is my last dosage of 1 mg. So far perfect results. Am so grateful. I haven't had any immunization since and haven't decided if I should or not. Novavax has been suggested as an option.

What is Z pack? Can you elaborate? Thanks

You should never stop cold Turkey. Is you doctor telling you that?

Apparently there are Z Paks with antibiotics for certain conditions and then there's the one I've had, with Prednisone. The one I've had has a six day supply of Prednisone. You start with 60 milligrams the first day and reduce by 10 milligrams each day. Here's a link to a picture of a Z Pak:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3453/3311299261_c7f45b97d7_z.jpg
They are prescribed for a variety of conditions as an initial method to alleviate a lot of different symptoms.

Thank you.

Hello!
A Z Pak is short for Zithromax antibiotic. It is a strong antibiotic given for 6 days.
What you are speaking of, and showed a photo of, is the Medrol Pak (Prednisone). This an anti-inflammatory.
Please be careful not to confuse the two.
There are folks allergic to one or the other and it's not good.
Thank you!

Get a new Doctor.Im also 2 years in,and have not yet heard of a patient on 60 mgs.good luck.

Thank you for the clarification. I thought my physician referred to it as a Z Pack but I am probably mistaken. This is very helpful to learn.