Adverse effects of stopping Prednisolone

[Ggauge]

I have found Methotrexate effective but am experiencing very unpleasant effects of stopping use of Prednisolone, particularly pain in the larger muscle groups.Joints are fine. Any experience of overcoming such problems?

[KittyJ]

When you say stopping pred are you tapering or just stopping?

[Ggauge in reply to KittyJ]

From 5mg/day to zero over 3 months.

[KittyJ in reply to Ggauge]

I did 0.5mg a month and it was very slow but it worked. I’d tried many times before which I’d not been able to do at more than that. Good luck 🤞🏻

[catno1]

Hi,

I've been on Prednisolone for over fourteen years. Due to vertebral fractures recently it's been decided even the small dose of 5mg I've been on for nine of those years is now to be discontinued. I also take Methotrexate.

I'm being lowered very slowly by 1mg per month. Sounds a bit of a slow withdrawal but I have been having more joint pain, my dose is currently 3mg so halfway there! May be a coincidence but due to the fractures I'm keen to remove the prednisolone so soldiering on.

Hope above is of some help. My initial dose was only 12.5mg for Lupus and APS and basically for internal and joint swelling. I'm also on Hydroxychloroquine. Since starting Methotrexate some years ago my RF has dropped thankfully so only been on maintenance (5mg) prednisolone.

Best Wishes,x

[Ggauge in reply to catno1]

My with drawl was from 5mg/day to zero over 3 months. Quick by your standards, but seemed slow. I intend soldering on at present. My eye specialist has warned me I was putting my, already limited sight, at risk by continuing. Wish you well with your with drawl.

[Lyndy]

My advice would be to go even slower than that xx

[Ruth12345]

I have just started to taper from 5mg daily. My rheumy said it may take 6 months to a year. To alternate 5mg with 4mg daily for a month then 4mg for two days then 5mg for a day etc etc then 4mg for at least a couple of weeks depending on how i feel before going to 3mg and 4mg and so on. He said not to hurry as that can be counter productive. Im on the 4mg at the moment and so far so good. Im not hurrying as i want it to work. So slowly does it. I hope that helps.

[oldtimer]

Are you able to take NSAIDs? like naproxen etc? I have found that NSAIDs took the edge off the muscle pain that I get when coming down off steroids, but the thing that worked best was doing it very, very, slowly.