Yet another reducing preds question?

[Griggser]

OK some help please. I have been on methotrexate now for a few weeks and have built up from 10mg a week to 15mg, I have to get to 20mg increasing by 2.5mg every two weeks. I am also still taking 20mg of Prednisolone and the Rheumy advised to reduce the preds when established on the methotrexate. So advise on when should I start to reduce and how quickly? Luckily I am feeling a lot better than I was but am concerned that if I get the steroid reduction wrong I will get worse again. I just hope that light at the end of the tunnel is not a train!

[misty14]

Hi Griggser

As your getting benefit from Methotrexate and still gradually increasing it , you could start the steroid reduction. I hope you've been advised to do it gradually like a mg a fortnight or even monthly?. See how you get on. Have you a dose you've got to get to?. I'm having to go from 20mg to 10mg daily and have reached 15 mg without the safety net of another drug and do the reduction fortnightly . Good luckX

[Griggser in reply to misty14]

Hi misty14 and thanks for your reply. I think the rheumy plans for me to come off the preds altogether. He put me on the methotrexate as I had been on 40mg of pred but hit the wall at 20mg. I was hoping that I could get off the preds relatively quickly now the methotrexate is established and the the chipmunk face and large belly might recede! The good thing is I feel better and have more energy . Hope all joes week with your reduction plan.

[misty14 in reply to Griggser]

Hi Griggser

It would be wonderful for you to come off pred altogether. Touch wood my reduction is going well as I find the slower I do it the better!. Good luck for when you start yours and I'm glad Methotrexate is working.X