Pred reduction

[Rosbud]

Hi all , I was told by my GP to reduce my pred from 15-12.5 , 10 days in and I've woken up felling right back to square one , aching , shaking and so tired , could this be withdrawal ? Or A flare starting ? Advice please x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi Rosebud,

as you are ten days in I would think it's more likely to be a flare - unfortunately. Withdrawal symptoms usually start within a day or two.

Only thing to do really is go back to 15mg, get yourself stable and then reduce by only 1mg (if you have 1mg tablets) or if you only have 2.5mg tablets so long as they are the plain uncoated ones you can halve them. You will need 1mg tablets in future so might just as well ask for them now.

Although the drop from 15mg to 12.5mg is a recognised taper many can't do it, so don't feel its your fault - it's not!

If your GP is insistent on you dropping 12.5mg you could try a slower taper - see Pinned post Steroid Taper Web Application for various plans or try following ****

1st week - Sun & Thurs new dose (Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat old dose)

2nd week - Sun, Tues & Thurs new dose (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat old dose)

3rd week - Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs new dose (Mon, Fri, Sat old dose)

4th week - Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs & Sat new dose (Mon, Fri old dose)

5th week - every day new dose

[Rosbud in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you so much DorsetLady for your sound advice , will go back to 15 and try again x

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Go back to 15mg, get things settled - and then try just 1mg, possibly with a slow reduction already. Whichever it is it is because that drop was simply too big.

And probably, if you started on 15mg 10 days ago it is FAR too soon! Most sensible doctors would keep you at 15mg for 4 to 6 weeks before starting the reduction. You have to clear out all the residual inflammation before trying to reduce.

[Maryis80]

I have the same problemm as Rosebud. Having been on 15mg for several weeks the GP said to drop to 12mg. Two weeks on, I am now getting pain in shoulders and hands again, which sometimes doesnt wear off until mid afternoon. So I have upped the dose to 14 today, to see if that helps.

[Alsdouble]

25 days since seeing the first doctor, 2 blood tests negative. Ibuprofen, paracetamol, WHISKY, ten days in 15mg Prednisolone, had no effect After 25 days with a call back from my doc, and looking and feeling like death warmed up, with the pains in legs now in the arms I get 40mg Prednisolone. Bingo, 80% reduction in pain. overnight. Going for an MRI scan Thursday as the doc is also talking about spinal fluid, narrowing in that area. Only a four day prescription mind you. I have also been looking on line to BUY prednisolone, now that's bad aint it.