Connect
When to start tapering
I've been doing ok on 25mg of prednisone for 2 weeks now. Started at 10mg, increased over time until I felt "good". I do sometimes have pain return about 1-2 hours before my next dose is due. Do I have to wait until I have no pain at all by next dose for my rheum to start tapering me off? I'm hoping we can start tapering sooner rather than later, but I don't want to undo any progress made.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.
Connect
Hi @mech, You might want to check out the following discussion as I think it's an open ended question and different for everyone.
-- How to Slowly and Safely Taper Off Prednisone but ... no set rules.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-to-slowly-and-safely-taper-off-prednisone-but-no-set-rules/
Also, try splitting your dose, I.e., try 15 in the morning, and 10 in the evening.
It was trial and error for me.
Thank you. I'll give it a read!
@johnbishop thank you. I'll give it a read!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionYou should avoid splitting the dose. They want you to mimic your bodies systems as much as possible, and naturally you do not release evenly throughout the day. You release I'm the morning before lunch. You should be tapering off multiple doses by increasing your morning dose slightly while cutting down on the other dose. You can also slowly reduce the time between doses as a type of "taper".
By today's standards 25 mg is slightly higher than what they suggest is at upper limit for PMR. 20 mg is considered the max dosage before they might consider something else. I would think for a short time 25 would work, but more than a 1-3 months I would suggest talking to my doctor. I was Dx in 2020 and they wanted to start me at 40mg to put it in perspective for you. They have learned a lot in the last 5 years.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThanks. I take my 25mg at night, after dinner. It's what my rheumatologist recommended. I see him Thursday, so I'll talk to him then. My question in this thread was actually is it normal to start feeling pain a little bit before you take your meds? Im ok all day, then pain/stiffness about and hour or so prior to meds, then for about 2 hours after. Am I supposed to have no pain at all before I start to taper?
@mech The only time I feel discomfort (and it very mild, easily tolerated) is in the morning when I get up. Always the same places (left shoulder joint, 2nd toe left foot, middle finger of right hand). I take my entire dose of Pred when I get up in the morning around 7:30 a.m. and all the discomfort is gone by noon.
"Am I supposed to have no pain at all before I start to taper?"
Good question that I'm also wondering about as I approach my first taper attempt in about a week.
Thank you! Hopefully we get the answers we need!