When to start next reduction?

[Annodomini]

I have reduced to 4.5mg of pred, using the very slow tapering method and have kept myself on 4.5 for two weeks now. I have it in mind to give it a month and then start a taper towards 4mg. Would that be a reasonable plan?

[piglette]

I think a month on 4.5mg and then try a .5mg reduction, if you feel OK. Someone I know who got over PMR several years ago said that if you reduce by a max of .5mg a month after you reach 10mg you should have no problems!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Sounds good to me! Once

I got to single figures I have been doing same - slow plan and 0.5mg a time. Usually I've stayed on new dose for a couple of weeks before reducing again - so long as I've felt ok.

No point in getting impatient when you're getting to low doses! After nearly 4 years I tell myself what difference does a few more weeks make! Just started 2

mg to 1.5mg and keeping everything crossed!

Good luck with your reductions.

[Lafontainepam1 in reply to DorsetLady]

Oh lady, you are so wise! I too have been trying to reduce for over 4 years. One time I was as low as 2mg. With flare ups, it's been up and down. Now on 6mg, will try oh so slowly to reduce again. Had my cadarac surgery this month, so next month trying again! Best of luck! 💕 💕 😎🌴🌴

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Lafontainepam1]

Hi Lafontainepam1,

In my reductions I've been quite lucky, I did have raised blood markers about a year in, but that was due to stress of my hubby being ill and finally being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. I never did have return of symptoms fortunately.

I think (maybe wishful thinking!) that because I had PMR and GCA for at least 18 months before I was diagnosed that it has now burnt itself out. So now I'm just in the process of weaning myself off the Pred and getting my adrenal glands to start working again, and not controlling the inflammation as well. Hope I'm not too confident, this illness seems to have a sting in its tail!

Good luck with your reductions when you feel well enough to carry on.

[Annodomini in reply to Lafontainepam1]

Lafontainepam1, you've had quite a time with all this and surgery too. Don't be in too much of a hurry. Your body needs time to adjust after surgery - be kind to yourself! xx

[PMRpro Ambassador]

As the others have said - sounds like a plan. The only real reason not to continue would be if you were noticing niggles or if you were feeling very fatigued which would be an indication that your adrenal function wasn't keeping up with the reduction.

[Annodomini]

Thanks to all of you. It's good to have my schedule endorsed by the experts!

Anno

[golflady17]

I'm having to reduce by .625mg as 2.5mg is the smallest tablet I can get here in Spain. My pill cutter cuts the tablet into quarters but that's the limit. Started on 0.685mg yesterday after 3 weeks on 7.5 mg so fingers crossed. Interestingly I started on 10mg after diagnosis last October and had relief within 2 days. I'm not sure if picking up the condition early makes a difference to the outcome. I'm a retired nurse and realised things weren't right so went to the GP within 2 weeks of the symptoms starting.

[daveD]

Well done Annodomini. you must be really pleased with your progress,no great rush on such a small dose. 0.5 over each month once down to 5mg is the road i took. I have been pred free since April 2015, touch wood. Many thanks to the girls for super advice. Best Wishes & Good Luck.

[Annodomini in reply to daveD]

Thanks DaveD. You've done well. This is the second time for me. I think I tapered too quickly the first time. Now I have it all marked out on my calendar and the next taper starts next week. I'm so glad I found this web site.

[Megams]

I'm inclined to support your thinking there Annodomini as being most sensible is erring on the side of caution.

I too was very slowly using absolute caution with tapering for PMR as advised by Rheumy, but had a slight flare from small leg vein procedure which has set me back so unlike you will remain on my Pred equivalent of 3mg and stay there at least another month to be on safe side.

Good luck once more to you

[Annodomini in reply to Megams]

Thanks Megams. I think I will be OK starting another reduction next week - on one day only then on two days the following week. At this rate I'll get to 3mg somewhere about June. It's so easy to get impatient and start taking short cuts.

[daveD]

Morning Annodomini. It is a lovely crisp morning here, just been for my daily exercise & a bit of shopping. As you say with out the 3 forums we would all have been up the creek. I kept and still have big log book that i kept a record of my tapering and any problems that cropped up. i still have a few health problems thyroid etc but at 75yrs i consider myself very lucky. Slowly does it, best wishes & stay strong. Dave

[Annodomini]

That sounds very well organised! My tapering is just on my calendar. I'm also 75 and have every intention of being 76 by the end of the year, and hope to be free of pred. Fingers crossed.

Anno