Connect
Tapering off of Prednisone
I am currently on 20 mg prednisone after tapering down from 40 mg which I was on for 2 weeks. I have been directed to taper down again next week to 10 mg. I am experiencing terrible headaches lasting days at a time as well as neck pain and insomnia. Has anyone found any relief or remedies for headache/neck pain? Thank you.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.
Connect
Now that I'm at a lower dose (11.25mg), the side effects of the Pred have lessened. I was getting such periods of a fast heartbeat at times and seeing the pulsations visually. I'd lay down and try to slow my breathing, I was and still am drinking more water than usual. It will get better, I promise. Just be patient and do go slowly.
I called this morning and found my doctor had filled 1mg Pred hahaha. With the directions to take 2 per day. oi.
I'll get it filled and round it off to 11mg daily (I'm sure he meant 12). Hang in there.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactionsi too am being tapered off prednisone i took 10 mgs a day and now 7 1nd 1/2 i am suree when i go i will be down to 5 i have had some side effects so i just want to get off it for good. it did the job now i want to be rid of it hopefully sooner than later
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI am being judged as over PMR right now, and am off prednisone entirely. What I found is that although PRM pain has diminished to almost nothing, there are many other pains associated with having been somewhat inactive for the past 4 years. Also the signs of old age, 79, that have been hidden behind PMR pain. I am finding that, hard though it is, exercise and physiotherapy are helping a lot. I am having less stiffness and pain and I think by the time gardening season comes around I should be close to being normal again. It takes time and concentration but the end could well be in sight for you.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 ReactionsHello- I’m wondering if anyone had had a workup for adrenal insufficiency or been treated for it while tapering prednisone? I made a separate post last week to ask, but didn’t get any replies so thought I’d try here.
My father has tapered down to 5.5 mg but getting below that has proved difficult. He’s had two incidences of low-grade fever of 99 degrees lasting for 2 days and extreme fatigue that’s lasted 3-5 days. He has other serious disabilities from a stroke and is high risk for infection and pneumonia so “muddling through” the fever and malaise for much longer than that is very disruptive and even dangerous, though we do what we can.
Since this has happened multiple times, his rheumatologist requested a cortisol blood test with his regular labs. A quick Google search revealed there seems to be a different test for adrenal insufficiency, and I couldn’t really find much clear information. It’s all mixed up with the healthism scare of “adrenal fatigue.”
Has anyone been diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency while recovering from PMR, and if so what were your symptoms and how did your doctor diagnose it? Thanks for any help you can offer.