It worked!

[mo3go7]

I am 2.5 years in, starting at 20mg & decreasing slowly per rheumy advice over the years until I was at 5mg. I had tried a few times to go from 5mg to 4mg, but after a week the pain in my shoulders/arms came back. I started DSNS method (thank you!) in November & as of December 12th I have been at 4mg daily with no changes. I want to keep going down, but thought I would stay at 4mg for a month. Is this a good plan?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Oh yes - definitely take a rest to be sure it is still enough! And well done!

[Grants148]

Well done,l did manage to reach just 3 mg., but had to increase to 5 mg.,l do not seem able to lower the dose yet and feel really stuck on that 5 mg.lt is best to take it very slowly when you taper from 4 mg. but it can be done.Good Luck ,let us know how you get on xx.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Grants148]

"it can be done"

Only if the dose is still enough to manage the inflammation!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Yes!

At any dose below 5mg you are out of the realms of side effects, so the slower the better as far as I’m concerned giving Adrenals more time as well. Even though you are using the DSNS taper you can make it easier by only dropping 0.5mg at a time.

You still have a way to go, so make it as easy as you can.

[mo3go7 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for that suggestion. I only have 1mg tablets. I will ask rheumy for 0.5 at next check up to see if they are available.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to mo3go7]

No they’re not. As Paddy says get a pill cutter from any pharmacy. But you can only cut the uncoated plain white tablets.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

And if you have enteric coated tablets they come in 5, 2.5 and 1mg doses and you can combine them to drop by 1/2mg at a time down to 2mg.

[Charlie1boy]

Hi,

You need to get yourself a pill cutter and halve your 1mg pills. That's what I have had to do for two years plus, as I have only reduced by half mg since I was at 10mg.

A half mg makes a huge difference for me, and, I guess, for others too.

Good luck

Paddy

[Pym1 in reply to Charlie1boy]

Nail clippers do the job, too!

[SheffieldJane]

Yes! You can coast now. All relatively harmless.

[Kaaswinkel72]

Well done you,and it sounds a fantastic plan to stay on 4 mg for a month, then reassess. Succes, it will go🌞😉kaaswinkel

[patriciawhite]

Take it slow and easy and do what your body tells you ,no rush now all in good time and well done .

[Rugger]

Definitely agree with the idea of 0.5mg reductions. I'm at 4.5mg / 4mg using the DSNS taper. I have gastro-coated tablets which can't be cut, but I have 2.5s and 1s, so can mix and match.

It's always a good plan to go S L O W L Y, so stick at 4mg if you feel comfortable with that.

Good Luck!

[Husband1938 in reply to Rugger]

Hi what is the DSNS talper please?

[Rugger in reply to Husband1938]

It's the 'Dead Slow Nearly Stop' taper! You can take between one and 2 months to get from one dose to the next. Have a look at this link and you'll find 3 versions of DSNS in the list of tapers. Sandra, who devised the app, has PMR and was studying computer science when she did this work. It is approved by PMRGCAuk.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Best wishes.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Husband1938]

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Sandra devised the app - I devised the concept some 9 years ago. It has worked for many people and is being used in a clinical study in the north of England.

[stellafmdm]

You've done very well indeed!!! As for me if Rheumy knew I would be in the dog house, I've gone up from 8mg to 10mg!! (and am much better for it!) He doesn't see me again till April though so hopefully will be back on track by then!!