Sweating

[Slosh]

Hi - so it's me again to ask a question of the more experienced on here:

I started on 20mg for 6 weeks, tapered to 17.5 and am doing 15 this week (Started Monday)

Yesterday I didn't feel great and felt as though some symptoms are coming back.

Over and above that though I have experience a lot of 'hot flushes' and they seem to be getting worse. Is this from the cortisone?

Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Difficult to say - if it was the pred you'd have thought it would have been worse at higher doses.

However - some people simply can't cope with that size of step-down. And how long were you at 17.5mg? It may be that the activity of the underlying autoimmune disorder is still high enough to need above 15mg. Maybe you have gone too far too soon.

[Slosh in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. I was at 17.5 for a week. My Rheumy wants to taper down by 2.5mg every week till I hit 10 then down by 1 a month.

Apart from the sweating / flushing - My legs (thighs felt a bit sore yesterday and I 'feel' swollen / engorged in my neck and shoulders. Week and a bit shaky.

[Mary63 in reply to Slosh]

I get hot flushes and night sweats more when I reduce too low. I see them as a sign of the disease for me, rather than a side effect of steroids.

[Slosh in reply to Mary63]

Oh right - thank you

[lesley2015 in reply to Mary63]

I agree, mine sweats and flushes were worse and bloods revealed I was having a flare .... I always have them to degree but definitely worse when the condition is flaring.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Slosh]

2.5mg A WEEK? I despair - if you still need more than 10mg you will have no idea where it went pear shaped. 2.5mg at a time is a fairly standard reduction down to 10mg - but every 3-4 weeks to let you body get used to ech new dose and be sure it is still enough. The activity of the autoimmune part tends to be greater in the early days.

[Slosh in reply to PMRpro]

Oh right ok - thanks you for your advice. So appreciate it or I'd pretty mych be in the dark. Maybe I should get hold of my Rheumatologist.

[Janll]

When ever I change my dose of steroids the hot flushes begin, even with 1/2 mg a week. Seems crazy! But my body really does NOT want any change. So little by little I would suggest. Or at the very least wait it out until your body adjust to the change before you make any changes. I am reducing now from 7mg to 6.5mg ....seems small but evidently not small enough. Patience is a virtue, so they say.

[Slosh in reply to Janll]

Oh wow - even at 1/2 mg! Thank you for your input.