Reducing Pred symptoms Also taking hydroxychloroquine

[RNRN]

Reducing predisone. I just reduced from 4 to 3 mg of pred. I have am experiencing bouts of high frustration. I will be doing something an I just get frustrated (doing genealogy) but it gets to a point where I know I have to stop and chill. This isn't something I am used to. Can the pred withdrawal do this?

I also take hydroxychloroquine sulfate as reducing pred alone was causing my PMR to reappear. Used to be I could not go to 4 mg without symptoms of PMR coming back. However hydroxychloroquine sulfate takes some getting used to. (I haven't found any advice on that med here)

[SheffieldJane]

I get quite ratty when I am tapering, it seems to come with a gnawing headache. I got very impatient in a curtain shop the other day, with an assistant who was being overbearing. That’s not me at all. I think recognising that is half the battle. At least you just get mad with your computer research.

[Patience47 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Yes, I too get headaches when tapering. Nausea and fluey during the dreaded flare. 😦

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Yep, early days I always felt almost premenstrual for 2 or 3 days after reduction - thought “blooming heck I thought I’d left that behind!”

Using a slow taper seemed to get rid of the feeling - for me anyway.

[PMR2011]

Hi RNRN

I was diagnosed 2011 with PMR. After 3 yrs my rheumie prescribed hydrochloroquine (Plaquinil) as a steroid sparing. It is usually used in the treatment of malaria but in higher doses. It takes ages to show an effect (6-10 weeks if I recall). I took it for a 3 years, could not tell if it was doing anything as I would still have flares (tho in hindsight I was able to taper the Pred). In fall of 2016 with rheumie’s blessing I stopped it because I couldn’t tell if it was doing anything and it was just “one more Med”. In March 2017 I started having symptoms and in April diagnosed with GCA. I always wonder if stopping the plaquinil contributed.

I never had any side effects from it at all. Did need to have my eyes checked regularly.

Funny, it doesn’t seem used much. Not sure there’s any definitive studies on it with PMR.

As for the “weaning willies” be kind to yourself. This illness can make us irritable at the best of times, it’s definitely exaggerated when tapering!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PMR2011]

There is one poor study looking at plaquenil in PMR and it had no conclusive result.

[marigoldb]

I am on the downwards with prednisolone, recently changed to the gastro resistant tabs, and going from 4 to 3, but take one 2 and 1/2 mg and 1 mg ,

And will carry on with that for a few weeks, till slowly getting to 3 mg. so far so good, no reactions.

[Telian]

I'm afraid it does, anxiety, aggression, sadness etc., it messes with your psychology big time. As SJ says feeling short tempered with shop assistants when normally you wouldn't have reacted. No matter what dose you're on you'll get this but I think when you are on lower doses and reducing you are in effect more well/alert, making you more aware of your feelings... on high doses you don't know what day it is anyway....

[RNRN]

Thanks all.