Increasing Pred from 10 back up to 15mg

[Jgyles]

I've been very frustrated with my progress, going through the slow gradual taper to 10mg, over the last 4 months, and then trying to reach 9mg, feeling very symptomatic, with headaches, jaw pain, etc... My family doctor told me to go right back up to 15mg and will now order a bone density test. Seeing my RHem soon, still wondering if there is something other than PMR... 52 year old female - athlete, runner, biker swimmer. I would love to get to the lifestyle and fitness I had. Up 20Ibs after bein diagnosis and and on Pred. Since Sept 2017. (I guess 7 months only). How symptomatic should we be? I still work full time and try to do some type of exercise everyday all in moderation. Thanks for the chat everyone.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you are trying to continue working and exercising I'd say getting to 10mg in 6 months wasn't bad - and it does sound as if your "PMR" may be more in the direction of LVV (large vessel vasculitis) if not GCA:

academic.oup.com/rheumatolo...

The image in Fig 1 is easy enough to grasp!

At what point did the symptoms reappear? How symptomatic were you at 15mg? That is your guideline. If you weren't at least 80-90% better than without pred after 6 weeks or so then maybe you needed a bit more to start. But as you reduce that level of discomfort is what you aim for - at the end of a taper then you should be no worse than at the start. If you are but it is OK stick there for another month and reassess. If you get worse, go back to the previous dose, let things settle and then try again. This isn't a race, the tortoise won remember! And you have higher expectations than many - young age and working is a very different kettle of fish than being early 70s and retired.

[Jgyles in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro, I will review your article you shared. Much appreciated. I did iniatially start at 30mg back in September and worked down quickly to 15mg, but symptoms increased as I tried to drop below 15mg. I do need to think like a tortoise... I'm usually not that type of person.. maybe that why I got this in the first place... we never know.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jgyles]

Very very likely!!!!!

[1964-karina]

I know how you feel, I was 52 when diagnosed still work full time added weight and fat face makes you feel like you can’t see an end to it! But we will get there 👍🏻

[Janicep]

I had just retired whenPMR stuck and maybe a good reminder that I am nearly 79

[Janicep]

That should read 70 not 79😊

[Jackoh]

Thought you'd done well to retire at 79!!

[lalar]

Any updates to your post?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to lalar]

This member hasn't been on the forum to comment for over 3 years