Down to 25

[Susanmod]

Hi

After a flare gp advised 10 days at 30 then down to 25. Due for telephone consultation in 4 days. Still getting headaches in the evenings on 25. Going on long haul flight in 11 days so panicking. What should I do keep on 25 or go up again? Help would be appreciated.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If it were me I'd want to go back to 30mg for the trip - and try reducing in smaller steps next time.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

If you were okay at 30mg then maybe you should go back up. Perhaps the drop to 25mg was just too big, or the 10days on 30mg was not long enough.

You can explain to GP that you tried to reduce and the headache came back, and maybe suggest you try a 2.5mg next time around.

No point in suffering if 25mg is not enough, the inflammation will just continue to build and you'll only end up with more problems.

Would also suggest you don't reduce before flight, travel can be very stressful in itself.

We discussed this in your last post, and I think your GP has under-estimated the severity of your flare. You need to get this under control, and if it were me I'd stay at 30mg until I was really sure things were okay.

[jinasc]

Both PMRpro and DL have said it all so back to where you were and when you drop the next time........NO MORE THAN 10% AT A TIME....................and that has been said many times by experts and on here and look on the right had side of this page and click on steroid taper application and choose.

There is no rush to get down, both of them come when they want and go when they want, all you are doing is trying to get down to the lowest dose possible to control the inflammation, to fast, you have missed the point you should be at at that stage. So slower the better.

[Joyful13]

I am personally recovering from a GCA flare and have had to go up to 40mg of Prednisone to alleviate the headaches and jaw pain. I am also under some huge stress factors as my mom just passed away. I have come to realize that each flare is different depending on the severity of inflammation and whatever else is going on in our lives at that time.

These higher doses of Prednisone are difficult to take, but the possibility of sight loss always prevails in my mind.

I hope that your flare up comes under control, so that you can slowly reduce your Prednisone in good time. I wish you the best in this endeavor.