article reference for slow tapering

[Mstiles]

Thanks everyone for the links.

Have those of you with GCA plus PMR had flares while trying to get to 25-20mg because of reducing too quickly?

I know everyone is different, I'm struggling going from 30 to 25mg.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you tried a 2.5mg drop? By 30 the 10% rules has taken you down to 3mg - so 2.5 is more appropriate than 5mg.

[SnazzyD]

2.5mg worked for me st that level, not changing to next drop for at least two weeks.

[Marijo1951]

I was diagnosed with GCA and PMR on 31st July last year and started on 60 mg of pred per day. This was reduced to 40 mg and then 30 mg without much trouble but twice (in October and just after Christmas) I had serious GCA flares when trying to reduce to 25 mg, so I can certainly sympathise with your current situation. Each time I flared, I was bumped up to 40 mg and the second time I was given Methotrexate which I've been taking ever since. I reduced to 30 mg and then in late February was advised by my rheumy to reduce to 25 mg. I actually took this in two stages - 27.5 mg for a month, then 25 mg without trouble. I saw my rheumy again on Monday this week and she told me to go straight to 20 mg for 4 weeks, then to 17.5 mg for 4 weeks, then to 15 mg until I see her next. I've been on 20 mg for 3 days now and so far, although I feel pretty grotty, I haven't had any sign of a flare. I'm always dubious about taking extra meds but tend to think the Methotrexate has been helpful.

[Sho-Sho]

I have GCA, started on 60mg, then 40' told to drop to 30 but found that far too difficult, then went and saw a different Rheumatologist who put me back up to 37.5 and told me to drop only 2.5 a time trying to reduce every two weeks. Got stuck at 22.5 for a month and then dropped again - so would agree never more than 10 per cent at a time until you get to 10 after that it's a different story!

Good luck