tapering using dead slow method

[arvine]

well,over 2 yrs ago, diagnosed pmr, started at 40 mg, had gotten down to 8 mg, in july, saw rheumy in august, because of all the stress I had been under, son,s illness, and more, she wanted me to stay at 8, until Dec, but i contacted her, had bloodwork done, and she agreed i could try tapering to 7mg, i started 2 weeks ago, on the dsm, and got down to 7mg for 3 days last friday, sat, and sunday, so far, don,t know if coincidence, as i had my other son daughter in law and,great grandaughter stay over last wkend, they are still struggling in many ways, health, finances etc, but at the first of this aweek , my left shoulder started to hurt, on and off, and has been doing that since, im due to take 7mg, and would be taking for 4 days, then back on 8 for remaining 3 days next week, so im not sure if it is a withdrawal sympton, or bit of a flare, I do want to reduce my dose, been over 2 years now, and really was doing ok physically from aug until now, the hurting is not debilitating, so im not sure if it is because i am trying to reduce now, or just some arthritis, or build up of calcification in the joint, which I apparently did have long ago, appreciate anyone,s input, thank you

[SheffieldJane]

You know yourself best. With me I think I’d pause in my taper for a couple of days to acknowledge the primal stress our kids provoke in us.

[Joydeck]

I've been on 7 mg since July and even 0.5 mg less immediately brings on what I think are pred withdrawal symptoms that are more or less bilateral. Persevering at 6.5 mg just makes these symptoms slowly worse. I will soon try the dead slow method.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think withdrawal would have started straight away the first time you tried the lower dose - and it shouldn't get worse over time as the days of new dose increase. That is more typical of the dose being too low.

However slowly you try to reduce, if the dose is too low then the symptoms will return sooner or later. And you have been stressed too.

[gifford7]

re:" i started 2 weeks ago, on the dsm, and got down to 7mg for 3 days last friday, sat, and sunday................. im due to take 7mg, and would be taking for 4 days, then back on 8 for remaining 3 days next week"

Your taper method doesn't sound right. I think the taper starts with 1 day new dose[7mg] and 6 days old dose[8mg]; then 1 day new dose[7mg] and 5days old dose[8mg]; etc. see this link for PMRpro's dead slow taper method

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[arvine in reply to gifford7]

hello gifford7, i must have not explained correctly, that is exactly what i have been doing, i started couple weeks ago, with one day 7, then 6 day 8, then 2 days 7 then 5 days 8 , then 3 days 7 then 4 days 8 and so on, that is the dead slow method my rheumy has advised, days i am now at 4 days 7mg, which will be until monday, then back on 8, but i have to say, my left shoulder, hasnt really worsened, just on and off few niggles, as ive heard referred as, but hasnt gotten any worse so far

[gifford7 in reply to arvine]

Thanks for the explanation of your rheumy's dsm taper but find it strange it quickly puts you at multiple days of the new lower dose so soon. The link I provided from PMRpro [Dead slow and nearly stop reduction plan] is a much slower taper which keeps you at a single day on the new lower dose for a long time. Excerpt from link:

"My reductions are VERY slow. I use the following pattern to reduce each 1mg:

1 day new dose, 6 days old dose

1 day new dose, 5 days old dose

1 day new dose, 4 days old dose

1 day new dose, 3 days old dose

1 day new dose, 2 days old dose

1 day new dose, 1 day old dose

1 day old dose, 2 days new dose

1 day old dose, 3 days new dose

1 day old dose, 4 days new dose

1 day old dose, 5 days new dose

1 day old dose, 6 days new dose"