Just started slow tapering

[Rosina1871]

Going from 10mg to 9 as from tomorrow for a month and then have to phone my doc with progress. Fingers crossed. Wish me luck

[HeronNS]

Good luck. Are you dropping overnight, or using a slow taper method (which will still get you to 9 in a month)?

[Rosina1871 in reply to HeronNS]

Suggested to doc to start at 9.5 but she said try 9. Think I may do 9.5 to start with. Collecting 1mg tablets tomorrow so probably start Thursday

[HeronNS in reply to Rosina1871]

This is what I used once I got to 10, and there is another slow taper on here, DorsetLady's simple taper, don't have the link handy.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

If you use the 4 day start, not the 6 day, for the DSNS method you are down by your mg in one month with very little likelihood of any significant pred withdrawal pain. I used the four day version for a while and as doses got smaller and smaller started using six day, and then even longer. But I was down to 3 mg from 15 in one year.

[Rosina1871 in reply to HeronNS]

That sounds good. Will give it a try. I guess the crucial time is around 7.5 when my adrenals will have to start waking up

[HeronNS in reply to Rosina1871]

Yes indeed. Just see how you do with the .5 drop and keep the DSNS method in your back pocket in case it seems like a good idea.

[Louisepenygraig in reply to Rosina1871]

I use the DSNS taper too because, as HeronNS says you can speed it up or slow it down as necessary

[SnazzyD]

Good luck for your drop! If it’s any help, I smoothed mine out by doing two weeks of 9.5mg and then two weeks of 9mg. Once you get into single figures, depending how much you absorb, you may or may not start to feel the need for your adrenals to work a bit. Let us know how you get on.

[Rosina1871 in reply to SnazzyD]

That’s what I will do too. Thanks

[Yellowbluebell]

Good luck. Hope it all goes well. I am about to drop from 10 to 9 and have been stalling till our youngests wedding and a house move were done. I was going to just taper the 1mg but have now decided to just go to 9.5.

[Meggsy]

Good luck Rosina. I had two failed attempts to get from 10mg to 9, but managed 9.5 on the third. I stayed a month on 9.5 and then 9. Have just taken 8.5 this 4am and will do the slow taper from now on. Diagnosed Feb 2018, began on 15mg but not quite enough so GP upped dose to 25. Since then he has been happy for me to run my own race and other than the couple of hiccups at 10mg and some niggly pains here and there, it has been ok. All the best, Marea 🌻

[Emerlad_70]

Hope it goes well for you good luck

[Iloveholidays]

I have just tapered from 10mg to 9 using DSNS and it has been ok, I had a few twinges at the beginning, but no stiffness or pain, I stayed on 9 for another 2 weeks and this week I have started to go from 9 to 8.5. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Rosina1871]

Thanks all for your replies

[Jackoh]

Good luck. Hope all goes well. Let us know how you get on.

[Oumaof2]

I started 6.5 from 7 last Friday.... Ok until Tuesday and fatigue descended, but sleep quality elusive... Yesterday was worst day, today slightly better🤞Is this taper possibly testing adrenals?...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Oumaof2]

Very possibly,

[Oumaof2 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, it's a wait and see... Patience takes on a whole new meaning on this journey! 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Oumaof2]

It does - if you don't learn anything else, it will be that.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

In case you need it -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Oumaof2 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you DL... Much appreciated... 😊

[Hidden]

Im new on here. I'm tapering also. Why are doctors apt to go a little faster than suggested...does anyone know?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

There's is the glib answer...they haven't had PMR/GCA...yet.

I honestly don't think they know enough about the condition. They don't read new guidelines or look at the most recent research. They are scared of pred despite recent research saying it's not as bad as previously thought. Fundamentally they think it's a straightforward 15 to 0 reduction and then you are ok. But these conditions last much longer before they burn out into remission. Perm any one of these reasons and many more.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

They are terrified of pred - nasty evil drug that kills people they think. Which is rubbish.

And they haven't had PMR.

But it is the other way round really - we go slower than they want to. Because we walk the walk.

[PMRCanada]

I wish all the best as you enter single digits. I ran into problems going from 9 to 8.5, symptoms returned after two weeks at that level. Now I’m back up to 9.5 for awhile, then plan to taper even slower this time around.

I’ve read that things can go wrong at the level we are at, so a .5mg drop with one of the suggested tapers may be best. Good luck, and do not cave in to you Dr.’s pressure to drop any quicker, or by a larger increment.

[SheffieldJane]

Good luck Rosina1871. Remember it is not a race or an endurance test, listen to your body.