Back to pred

[Visby]

Have now started back on 15mg pred today after coming off methotrexate so hopefully will get some relief 15mg for 1week then drop to 10mg for 1week then to 5mg for one week does anyone think this is dropping too quickly

[Visby]

Sorry should say then stay on 5mg indefinitely

[Laurapc]

I think you will be getting responses saying that is way too quick. I'll leave it to the experts on here to provide the explanation. Snail's pace is the recommended taper.

[Visby in reply to Laurapc]

I did think that but gp said better try what rheumy sugggested first.

[yogabonnie]

whoa. I think way too quickly. I was on 15 15 months ago.. and am a 6 now.

[peace_lover]

Wow, just the thought of that quick taper made me hurt! Was it your GP suggested it? Those are huge drops

, especially at the lower range. Have you used a DSNS (deal slow, near stop) taper before or heard of it?

[Visby in reply to peace_lover]

Been on pred for 4yrs tapering then going up again down again then saw rheumy and he said must come off pred and put me on methotrexate but didn’t work so after telling me how bad pred is for you put me back on the 15mg for 1week etc , it’s hard to know what to do for the best as it’s only pred that works

[Soraya_PMR]

It’s too fast for a new diagnosis...

But where were you when on metho? As in what dose of pred?

[Visby in reply to Soraya_PMR]

It’s not a new diagnosis was 4years on pred then saw a rheumy who told me to come off pred and went on methotrexate last may but did not have any effect so saw him last week and back on pred off methotrexate he has now passed me back to my GP as he can oversee pred

[Soraya_PMR in reply to Visby]

What dose pred were you on when you last felt good? That’d be my goal I think, in your situation. If it were say 8mg, then possibly the 10mg dose would be ok, but not the 5mg. But who can say after metho and a flare.

[Visby in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Probably between 10mg& 5mg but was a fair while ago now it seems forever at least I know I will have a good week on the 15 mg so good to be able function even for a week

[Soraya_PMR in reply to Visby]

Well maybe ‘enjoy’ your week at 15, then consider your options? The GP must be able to see the difference when you take a decent dose compared to a low insufficient dose! Maybe when you feel a little better on 15, you’ll feel up to negotiating a slower reduction via 12.5?

[Visby in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Will see how it goes And get in touch with gp if not working

[Soraya_PMR in reply to Visby]

Good luck Visby. Sounds as though you are due a change in fortune.

[Visby in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Thank you Soraya

[PMRpro Ambassador]

How bad are you at present? I'd certainly hope you'd get to 10mg OK - far less sure about the 5mg though. BUT - having made you have a real going flare by his mtx experiment I would be doubtful that sort of approach will be entirely successful.

[Visby in reply to PMRpro]

It has been a very challenging few months I am glad to be back to my Gp at least he is more understanding than the rheumatologist I had to visit my gp a few weeks ago and he gave me15mg for a week just to get some respite from the pain as I didn’t have an app for rheumy until April and that was with the nurse I did phone rheumatologist nurse to tell her about myp visit to go and she informed me I had an app with rheumy the following week which I had no knowledge of she said it’s in our system so off I went on the 7th of this month to see him his first words were I don’t know why I’m seeing you !

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Visby]

Oh joy!!!! Funny - I had a similar greeting from a rheumy (who had missed my PMR, said it was OA). She wasn't nice about it either - so I pointed out I too had better things to do and her department had sent me the appointment,

[Visby in reply to PMRpro]

Wish I’d thought to say that 😊 he also told me on a previous app that the raised inflammation was me doing it to myself by being a larger lady the fat gets inflamed , I think I reaalized then he wasn’t going to help me

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Visby]

I'd have reported him. I have been a "larger lady" too - never had a raised ESR though!

[Linny3]

Hi Visby

Having been on methotrexate, I know it takes a few weeks for its effects to wane after you go off of it. You may get away with the drop in prednisone at first, but after the effects of Methotrexate have worn off you will probably start feeling the effects of such a drop in pred. Of course just my opinion and knowing what happened to me.

Good Luck

Hope things turn out differently for you.

[Visby in reply to Linny3]

Thank you good luck to you as well