reducing prednisolone once you get down to 5mg

Looking for some input. Went from 15mg to 10 pred. Then down 1mg per 3 weeks to 5mg. I was ok at 5 went to 4 started with pain and now at 3 I just can’t take the mornings pain . The Rheumatologist thought a flare but the numbers haven’t moved and are low. Told me to split the 3 to 1.5 am then pm. 12 hrs. apart. No change. I asked to go up to 5mg. Today is the 3rd day on 5 and not feeling change. Should I go up on the dose? I hate to as I have osteoporosis. He thinks there could be something underlying and have more bloodwork scheduled.
May will be a year on pred and diagnosis. I’m frustrated to say the least and the morning pain is awful. Holding me back from my working out and exercise. I continue walking but want more and can’t right now. And help will be greatly appreciated.

@mezack25
I’m in the same boat. On pred since end of last March 2025, as I’ve dropped I got to 3 mgs a few months ago and pains increased. Rheumy bumped it back to 4 mg. I took a long walk a few days ago & everything felt fine. It was great & I felt so happy. Next day nope. All around hips & glutes lower back all angry. Now, each day has gotten better except for that lower right side back pain. I just gotta wonder if there’s some nerve pressure from that spine. I do have osteoporosis.
I don’t know how to strengthen my glutes hips when I always experience pain! I do stretches as recommended by a chiro & PT from last year’s discovery of PMR. And I try to walk a few miles everyday. Frustrated!!

I'm a 68 year old woman that was diagnosed with PMR. I have been on Prednisone for 1 year and 6 months. I was down to 4 mg of Prednisone daily and feeling great, then I experienced a PMR flare. Now I'm at 6 mg of P and was so upset that I was going in the wrong direction with my treatment.

I went from 5 mg to 4 mg and was at 4 mg for 9 days and then my muscles in my arms and hips started to hurt.