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DiscussionTapering prednisone and stress
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Dec 21, 2023 | Replies (25)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "I am looking for advice - I contracted PMR in mid-September and started 10mg of prednisone..."
Hi @jixster, PMR can be the pits to manage the symptoms when tapering the prednisone dose. Each of us are different but both times my PMR was active I was started at 20 mg dose and it relieved my pain within an hour or so of the first dose and I felt OK until the next morning. I think the key is finding the correct starting dose which I think can depend on body weight as well as how bad the symptoms are when you are diagnosed.
Since you were diagnosed in September my first thoughts are you are tapering too fast. If it were me I would go back to the smallest dose you felt good at and then taper slowly with a smaller drop in the dose when you decide to taper down. My rheumatologist gave me scripts for 1 mg, 2.5 mg and 5 mg tablets which made it easier to go down to a lower dose. Otherwise you can buy an inexpensive pill splitter but they can be a pain to use. You might want to try the following tapering plan or something similar. Also, others have mentioned splitting their dose morning and late afternoon/evening has helped.
--- Dead slow and nearly stop reduction plan (Tapering)
https://healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk/posts/131189593/dead-slow-and-nearly-stop-reduction-plan