pred withdrawl

[43086]

I have just reduced from 2 to 1and half and have arm and shoulder pain. should i go back to 2 or try to stay at 1and half and endure moderate pain ,in order to get off pred totally. Iam male 75 and been on pred for 10 months,started at 15 pred and have been on methotrexate which remu advised want to eliminate this also.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

At the top right you'll see a search box - type in "dead slow and nearly stop" and the first post you get in response is a description of a very slow reduction scheme which a lot of people have used successfully.

At these very low dose the reduction is very large as a % of your current dose, way above the recommended 10% which shouldn't be exceeded if possible. 1/2mg is 25% of 2mg - a big step for the body to adjust to. By spreading the drop over a few weeks the body doesn't notice as much and you have less discomfort.

Beware though - the mtx doesn't replace the pred, it merely makes a given dose more effective. You may find you need a small amount of pred still.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

112567, apart from the fact that you are experiencing arm and shoulder pain, as it is only 10 months since you were first diagnosed and started on steroids, If it was me, I would go back to 2mg for a while first to see if that improves the pain before doing the" dead slow and nearly stop" reduction plan recommended by PMRpro.

[Jenden]

Although I am not on methotrexate I am in a similar position. I have been slowly reducing from 2 to 1.5 mg since Christmas and find I have pain across the back of my shoulders. My GP suggested I could go back up to 2mgs for longer or stay at 1.5mgs and take up to 8 x paracetamol a day. I chose to try the latter - paracetamol does work - so I guess it is just withdrawal pain. This morning I don't need the paracetamol so I guess I made the right decision.

[jinasc]

email [e-mail] - subject heading reductions plans and we will send two plans for you to look at. Also put in where you found the information pleas.e

Also ask for a synathecen test to see if your adrenal glands have started to work.

[smiley67 in reply to jinasc]

synathecen test How is that done ? am on 1/2 mg now will be on 0 next Sunday the 15 so far very little problems . I take Aleve to take away any pain I might have. What are the side effects of getting off pred to look out for ?