Down to last mg

[Flateric1]

At last I am almost off my prednisolne ( excuse spelling ) ..... I was diagnosed with PMR over two years ago and put on prednisolone ..... only to find out I was wrongly diagnosed .... so for the last year I've been slowly tapering down from 15mg ... and now I'm on 1mg ..... what is best way to 'come off ' this last mg ....

[SnazzyD]

Hello, I guess it depends on how your adrenals are functioning. Are you on non coated (which can be cut) or coated Pred? So have you been on Pred for 2 years after an incorrect diagnosis of PMR?? What concerns me is why on Earth your doctor did not take you off more quickly instead of exposing you to the side effects of long term steroids? What is the diagnosis instead?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What is your new diagnosis? And I agree with Snazzy - if it was the wrong dx, then there was no need to taper as slowly as that. Much of the slow taper is to reduce the dose without the PMR resurfacing - if it isn't PMR, that doesn't apply. You could have dropped straight to about 8mg. However, what is done is done. How to stop that last 1mg? The same as the rest If you are well at 1mg and it isn't PMR anyway - just stopping is perfectly OK.

[Flateric1 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you xx

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Depends on how quickly or slowly you want to do it.

As others have said, you probably could just stop it, but if you’re concerned either follow the same routine you have been using and reduce by 0.5mg dose, then zero, provided as SnazzyD says tablets are uncoated.

And/Or use the DSNS taper or this, or something similar -

1st week - Sun & Thurs new dose -Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat old dose

2nd week - Sun, Tues & Thurs new dose -Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat old dose

3rd week - Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs new dose -Mon, Fri, Sat old dose

4th week - Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs & Sat new dose -Mon, Fri old dose

5th week - every day new dose

[Flateric1 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you xx

[Flateric1]

Thank you for your advice .... I need to get off it so that I can start new medication .... just needed some support to finally say 'goodbye to the wretched things xxx

[SheffieldJane]

Well done Flateric1! What is your diagnosis? Did you agree?

[Flateric1 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I just felt nervous about coming off the final 1mg ..... I am still in a lot of pain .... hence New meds .... they are doing other tests to find out cause ....

Thank you all for your help xx

[SheffieldJane]

Did Pred help initially? You must be gutted. I’ve become a pain as a patient - always questioning.

[Flateric1 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Yes they did help .... the extra pain relief was great ..... so am back to square one .... thank you again xx

[Daisychain12]

Darling that is very odd. I’m concerned for you. Can you please give us some more information? Xxx