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Tapering prednisone and stress
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Dec 21, 2023 | Replies (25)Comment receiving replies
@teddyz I also am on a very slow taper -- now at 6.5 mg of Prednisone daily. I am a big fan of listening to your body and going as slowly as your body tells you it wants to go. My practice is to decrease .5 mg at a time and wait until I have virtually no symptoms of PMR before decreasing again. (I have had a return of old orthopedic pain since I've been below 7 mg., but it is different from PMR pain.) Also, I start by alternating my old dose and my new dose for a week before going to the lower dose. My rheumatologist would like me to taper faster, but I have not had a flare since starting a very slow taper, so I'm staying with this plan. I really don't want to introduce a new medication like the biologics or Methotrexate if I can help it.
Replies to "@teddyz I also am on a very slow taper -- now at 6.5 mg of Prednisone..."
I love the idea of alternating the old dose and the new dose for a week. I'm going to try that. Thank you so much!
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We're following a similar path. I reduce by .5mg at a time too and alternate the old dose with the new for the first week to soften the reduction. Second week sometimes there is some slight tenderness in hand or wrist joints, but no pain. Third week is to stabilise and get ready for the next reduction. That's the week I hit the hard yard work while I have the best pain protection.
The total reduction is 1mg every 6 weeks which is mid range in the reduction schedule I was given of 1mg every 4-8wks. So it's not a slow reduction, just a more gradual one to give the body the best chance to adapt to the reduction.
Currently on 6.5mg, taking 5mg morning and 1.5mg early evening for no morning pain. Let's stick to our own plans and not push to satisfy someone who doesn't have to wear the consequences. So far, so good.