Tapperin Down of Prednisolone.

[Rocketronzy]

What's a good program?

I have gone from 15 to 10mg to day.

I suppose I could do with some ones and 2.5 mg.

I bet my Doc will want me off in weeks rather than months 😬

[SnazzyD]

Hello! There will be replies from those more in the know than me on this hot topic. I'm four and a half months in from 60mg Pred for GCA. I was handed the BSR guidelines for tapering and told to follow it. There is a bit in it that says it needs to be tailored to the individual. No doctor can say what is right for you because everyone is different. Sometimes people have other medical conditions or a subsequent alternative diagnosis that means Pred needs to be withdrawn more rapidly, but generally slower is better.

In the event, I have had to do smaller drops than it suggested as I got withdrawal problems and some symptoms after a few days. Better that than having to go back up to a higher dose again and ending up taking more overall. Anyway, stand by for some more replies.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is recommended by experts in tapering that no reduction be more than 10% of the current dose - so really at this level, 1mg at a time is best, 2.5mg if you must. Your 15 to 10 was 33% - over 3 times the recommended! If you manage it OK, fair enough and I did reduce from 15 to 10 the first time I did it but had only been on pred for 2 weeks, it was only a 6 week course. Lots of people wouldn't manage it.

A lot of people can't manage to go from every day one dose to every day the new lower dose - sometimes spreading it out over a few weeks helps a lot - there are a few of that sort of scheme around.

But you aren't reducing to zero, come what may. You are reducing to the lowest dose that manages your symptoms as well as the starting dose did. Which is why 1mg at a time and staying on the new dose for a month is a good idea - you find a dose that doesn't work and you go straight back to the previous dose that did work. Too big steps or too fast and you overshoot and have no idea where you went wrong.

[Rocketronzy in reply to PMRpro]

Wow interesting to see what my doc thinks. The original doc that diagnosed me about 5 or 6 years ago used to stress never be without pred. He is retired now.

I feel I may be like I am pred junky 😱 By now.

Always think of my sister. Got hooked on Valium do to the doc.

She used to go bananas if she thought they wasn't going to give her some

She would say I'll get a new doctor. 😱

For me pred as never been a problem.

No bad side effects. Just made me feel

Better. But I am now thinking a lot of they strange pains an cramps may be down to Pred.

So must get off it now.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rocketronzy]

But you MUST go slowly to allow your adrenal glands to take over their job and they can't do that quickly, they need a staged return to work.

And what will you do if you find the pains don't go away? Or even are worse?

[Rocketronzy in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for that.

I'm going to go back to 15 gm and see what doc comes up with 🤔😱

And going to leave it until next week to see doc

Let the dust settle eh.

Thanks

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi ronzy

Looking back at previous posts you seem to have been on Pred for long time, so as PMRpro says you will need to be ultra careful to ensure that your adrenal glands have the best chance to kick back in.

I understand that Rheumy wants you off Pred, but it has to be managed in a sensible manner. Dropping from 15mg to 10mg overnight I wouldn't consider sensible. Plus ask for 1mg tablets. I wouldn't bother with 2.5mg - if needs be you can always cut 5mg - provided they are uncoated of course.

Good luck.

[Hidden]

I find 1mg drops too much for me and sets painful thighs off. 0.5mg drops cause achy shoulder but think that's withdrawal because goes after a few days. I am actually using the app from this group to do dsns method. very useful once I got through putting details in.

[SheffieldJane]

I worry about you Ronzy. Nobody has explained what is wrong with you to cause all the stiffness and aches that make you think it is PMR. Or has that resolved?

I go down 1 mg a week. Say I start on Monday and I am on 10 mgs. I take 9 mgs on the Monday then my old dose every other day of the week. The following week I will take 9 mgs for 2 days and 10 mgs for 5 days. Then 9 mgs for 3 days and 10 mgs for 4 days until I am completely on 9 mgs every day of the week. Then, if I am ok I would do the same with 8 mgs. Does that make sense ? I get easily confused so I keep a little notebook that tells me where I am up to in table form. If my ride feels too bumpy I would go down by half a tablet. So you need 1 mg tablets, maybe 2.5 mgs, and 5 mgs and a pill cutter in case you are a bit of a wimp like me. Good luck ( clear as mud I know).

[Rocketronzy in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks for your concern.

I am at a total loss now.

But time will tell.mabee I am just a big worrier.

I am now going to try not to worry too much 😤

Please don't be too concerned. I am basically very fit with lots of nigles that I latch on to yes I am a drama queen 😤

I must keep things in prospective.

Hugs & all the best to you all

[SheffieldJane]

Bless you!

[Rocketronzy in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks 😊

[Lucky88]

I reduced from 15 to 10, stayed there for a month, then down to 7.5mg for a month and now on 6mg for the last four days. All seems to be ok, though a degree of wrist and hand twinges, tired now and then. However, I am on holiday in Crete, on a beautiful beach, having fun in the pool with my family and taking two beers at lunch, three at night, whatever! After reading about it here, I have shifted my Calcium / vitamin D to early afternoon as opposed to one gulp down with pried and Lisinopril / Amlodopine (these last two later as well). Hopefully all will sustain. Will see my GP next week and see.

[Rocketronzy]

Thank for that.

How long was you on pred

Enjoy your jollies 😊

All the best.

Ron.

Ps is it still baking out there. 😱