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The lowest effective dose, how is it defined?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Oct 28, 2023 | Replies (56)Comment receiving replies
I think a person's weight should be considered. I'm not sure how often weight is considered.
My rheumatologist made some recommendations to me. Mostly she just wanted me to find a "stable dose" that worked for me. She then wanted me to stay at that dose for a month or two before trying to taper. Everything depended on my symptoms.
I'm a big guy so she said 35 mg wasn't that high of a dose for me. Plus, I took prednisone for years at higher doses for other autoimmune disorders before PMR was diagnosed. I had some tolerance for high doses of prednisone. Unfortunately my tolerance dwindled the longer I took prednisone for PMR.
Before PMR was diagnosed, I was always able to taper off quickly.
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I think height/weight should always be considered with any medication. I was average h/w and now skinny with the stress of being ill. I tend to lose rather than gain. I've probably lost a good 30-35 lbs or more since the start of this. It doesn't help with the fast heart rate either. Starting on 15mg on 6/23, I went from barely able to walk or turn over in bed to being pain free within hours. Now I'm on 11.25mg (split daily) with no pain from PMR. I'll give this doseage a month and try 10 then go down .5 monthly from there. That's the plan anyway.
Good news, my doctor is waiving my jury duty. So stupid a judge deemed me disabled in 2001 yet I get called for jury duty? Make it make sense.