Are There Guidelines for Prednisone Tapers

Posted by annstl @annstl, Aug 7 7:35am

I am new to PMR: Diagnosed 1 month ago. I really want to learn more about reasoning, professional opinions, and guidelines to prednisone tapers schedules. I am taking a high level, tapering down every 2 weeks it seems excessive. How can you evaluate this? My sed rate is now down to a normal level

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@jcapra51
I'm doing 15mg/14mg/15mg/14mg etc alternate day dosing for 3 weeks.
Then 14/13/14/13 etc alternative day dosing for next 3 weeks.
And so on until down to around 5 or 6.
Will continue with alternative day dosing but cutting down by a factor of 1/2.
In other words 5mg/4.5mg/5mg/4.5mg/5mg alternative day dosing for 3 weeks.
Dropping 1 mg as you get lower represents a higher percentage drop in relative terms compared to going from 15 mg to 14mg which is a small percentage drop. A drop from 5 to 4 represents a 20% drop. From 4 to 3 is a 25% drop. 3 to 2 is a 33% drop etc. It is thought this increased percentage drop in steroid can possibly be the cause of flares.
But who knows? There's no doubt from all of the research I read that more research is certainly needed on tapering steroids.
My GP says "we're all individuals and have to find what works personally for us." She is hugely supportive in helping me do what I think might work for me. Lots of prescriptions for 1mg tablets and a tablet cutter required :-))
What about you @jcapra51? What's your tapering plan?

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@bettebaldwin I am at 12.5 right now for Two weeks then go down to 10. That is where I had the relapse. I am taking hydoxichloriqyine this time. I really like that alternate day dosing! I may use that after going do from 10mg
Thanks for sharing

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