What mg of prednisone to take when a person gets a flare up?

Call office and ask for better instructions

Hello
I am in the UK and this is what is
recommended here.
Sometimes a return to previous dose is enough, but if it’s got too bad then it’s recommended to add 5mg to the dose you last felt alright - stay there for 7-14 days and then drop back down to just above the dose you flared [not to the dose you flared as that is obviously too low].

As long as you don’t stay on the increased dose for longer than 14 days, it’s quite safe to drop back down. If you stay on it longer, you may need to follow a much slower taper.

Stay there for 3-4 weeks to make sure all okay before you try and taper again.

If inflammation has been allowed to build up significantly a staged reduction may be required.

Thank you so much for your helpful information. I appreciate it.

I am on dexamethsone now and stopped regular prednisone and will try to taper down Need more input of anyone who has gone this route

Hello @jmwm. Mayo Clinic Connect is a great resource for meeting other members with similar experiences and questions. You may be interested in this related discussion:
- PMR Dosages and Managing Symptoms: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-dosages/

While members can share their experiences with one-another to help guide more informed medical decisions, it is still best practice to consult your primary care provider who prescribed your medication when you are inquiring about specific dosages. We are all so different and respond to medications differently that dosing can vary wildly.

Have you had a chance to ask your provider what your protocol should be during a flare up?

Need doctor starting dosage schedule. Then can change to manage.

If a doctor is willing to leave you in full body pain for 90 days then I would have two choices. Find a new doctor or confront your current doctor with the fact that the pain level is disabling and unacceptable on the current dosage. I would not wait 90 days to act. If you have a portal, send your doctor a note, or make a sooner appointment, or call and leave a message. You need to let them know what is happening, they assume that everything if fine if you do not tell them otherwise.

My Rheumy does not like to go above 5mg, but does not have a one size fits all approach. She will adjust based on patient experience. Also she has a nurse practitioner. The NP is much easier to get to see, has more time to spend with me, etc. I see my Rheumy 2-4 times a year and see the NP as often as needed while being treated.

Finding a Rheumy accepting new patients is like looking for hens' teeth - so please before deciding to take that path, do your homework. Finding a new PCP is almost as difficult.