Forgot to take my preds

[Charlie1boy]

Hi,

A common enough title I guess!!! I'm down to 5 to 4.5mg now, taking 2.5 in the morning and the balance when I go to bed. This morning, when I woke up, I thought the PMR had gone haywire; everything hurt, hands, wrists, back of thighs, shoulders , the lot. It wasn't until I got the pill box out for this morning's dose that I realised I had not taken last nights 2mg.

One thing I have learned is that, at this relatively small dose, the PMR is still well and truly with me - a very sharp reminder. Anyway, I'm back on track now, with no intent to think about tapering any further.

What a stupid idiot!!

Paddy

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Easy done....think we’ve all been there!

[Hollyseden]

Interesting read. In my ignorance, I thought that as you managed to taper it meant that the PMR was reducing too. Learn something new every day. Glad you are back on track now.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hollyseden]

It is a technique called titration (did you do chemistry at school?). You start on a dose that is above what most people will require - and then you taper to find the lowest dose that is enough to manage the symptoms. For some people that will be sooner than others and there is no way to know in advance what YOUR dose will be. There is also some evidence that the autoimmune disorder starts actively and then wanes slowly - again, everyone is different. By reducing in small steps you don't get into a yoyo situation with the pred dose - because that can lead to all sorts of problems.

[SheffieldJane]

What a relief Paddy! It removes the temptation to think you don't need it anymore. It is also a reminder that changing the way ( timings) we take Pred can mop up the symptoms rather than upping the dose. This is the expertise that doctors never develop unless they get the disease.

[Charlie1boy]

Absolutely SJ. This event will certainly keep me on the straight and narrow!

If I thought the PMR was receding a bit because of being on a lower dose, then I most certainly have had to change my mind. The pain was not so severe as when first diagnosed, but it was not that far from it.

Just hope I've learned the lesson, and don't do it again.

Thank you for your reply.

Cheers

Paddy

[Hidden]

It's actually relatively easy to both miss the occasional dose and, as I did, double the dose. In the grand scheme of things doubling the dose was much better physical experience until the palpitations started. I actually did some chores around the house....dint even do that when well 😉

I have been on steroid sparing agent since June. I am on 10mg pred hoping to drop to 9mg once I get through a chest infection.

I missed one dose of the SSA but like you did not realise I had missed it. I was feeling very pmr-ry and had to postpone family meal. Of course when I came to take some other drug I found previous evenings dose in the box. Took 3 to 4 days to get back on track. Don't want to do that again in a hurry.

[Lochy]

I did exactly the same a few weeks ago, forgetting my nighttime dose and my god I knew about by the morning. Very sobering experience. Back on track but it definitely scared me that day.

I’ve now increased my nighttime dose so am on 7mg at night 3mg in the morning and that has been much better for me so far!

[Charlie1boy]

Thanks Lochy for your reply. Think your experience very similar to mine, albeit I am on a lower dose of pred. But, yes, PMR most certainly came back to bite; I could scarcely believe the level of pain. Fortunately it was short lived.

Cheers

Paddy

[yogabonnie]

Good luck. Thanks for submitting all the good and bad... I'm learning!

[Hirwaen]

This is something most of us have done once and never, ever, do again!!!!!!!Have a glass or two and forget about it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hirwaen]

Oooh - you'd be surprised!!!!

[Charlie1boy in reply to Hirwaen]

Yes, I did last night! Today has been a much better day.

Paddy

[Hirwaen in reply to Charlie1boy]

Excellent, wine is a great comfort on dark days!!🍷

[Jackoh]

Never mind Paddy!! It's all a learning experience isn't it! Best wishes Jackie

[Charlie1boy in reply to Jackoh]

Sure is Jackie, except it is the second time I've done it!

See you tomorrow.

Paddy

[Hindags]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I'm sure I'll be doing that (again) some time. Probably sooner rather than later.

I have a question that is somewhat related. I take my delayed release Pred at night, 10pm. I'm at 8.5 now so I take 0.5 immediate release in the morning. Some days I've forgotten the 0.5 until almost noon. I take it as soon as I remember. However, since most of my weak/wobblies occur later in the afternoon or early evening, I wonder if I should wait to top off until 2 or 3 pm.

Any advice?

The other so very important message is that even though we may be able to reduce our necessary dose of Pred to low levels, below adrenal support levels, below levels that one would worry about side effects, the PMR can still be chugging along, And such a quick reaction!

Thank you again. Take home message for me, once again, is that PMR is in charge and that all the ways I try minimize its effects are just that. I will not win a war with PMR. It will have to decide to give it up it its own good time.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hindags]

Difficult to say - you can only try.

[Charlie1boy]

Hi Hindags

Not sure I am competent enough to give advice on your query, as I am non medical. Hopefully, someone will come along who can help you.

Good luck

Paddy