Cbd

[Emerlad_70]

I’m going to get some cbd today and give it a try

I am reducing my preds but not going great, I don’t want to be on them all the time so thought I would try cbd as well, I have read some people have had success with it .

[SnazzyD]

Do let us know how it goes; it is becoming a more popular approach. Can I ask how your reductions have gone? Previous posts seemed to hint at it going a bit fast. Even if the PMR is helped by CBD, you still need to be very careful so as not to go faster than your adrenal function can cope with.

[Emerlad_70 in reply to SnazzyD]

Not too good I started on 20mg GP said reduce by 2.5 per month which was ok till I got to 15 mg went back up to 17.5mg tried again got to 12.5mg back up to 15 mg went back to GP asked if I could reduce by 1mg a month now I am on 13 mg getting some pain back and weakness exhaustion so thought I would try cbd as well

Finally got referred to rheumatologist but no appointment available at the moment

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Emerlad_70]

I think the main problem is the tapering regime you’ve been on (I realise at GP’s behest) - but if the CBD helps you relax you may feel better.

But at the end of the day the most relief will be from the Pred and your approach to the illness itself.

It cannot and will not be rushed.

[Emerlad_70 in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes I agree

[SnazzyD in reply to Emerlad_70]

Just for comparison I dropped 1mg per month and did that by doing 0.5mg every 2 weeks. It smoothed out the withdrawal much better.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Unless the CBD is able to combat the inflammation it is unlikely to shorten the time for which you need pred. There are no studies - maybe it would help at the right dose. But what is the right dose? Like pred, too little doesn't work there either.

Where have you heard it has worked for PMR? Most people I have heard about feel it helps them sleep better or improves how they feel in some way but it isn't necessarily the PMR that is improved.

[Emerlad_70 in reply to PMRpro]

Really I am hoping to feel better in myself and help the pain a bit I realise prednisone is for the inflammation

[Hidden]

CBD has proved to be the only way I can reduce my Pred dosage. (I am loathe to try methotrexate.)

My PMR will flare if I drop only 1/2 mg!

Increasing my CBD dose controls the flare & reduces its duration.

For me high dose CBD deals with the pain & inflammation of PMR in a similar way to Pred, but without all the horrible side effects.

Good luck Emerlad

[Emerlad_70]

Great what dosage are you taking ?

[Blearyeyed]

Adding it into your individual pain management with all the other lifestyle , diet , relaxation and activity techniques may help you.

If you want to try it and it doesn't affect your other medications then it may be worth it.

Like with any medication or supplement start at a lower dose and give it up to 4 weeks to have any recognisable effect on your symptoms before increasing or giving it up.

Keep an eye on your symptoms , not just PMR but any new symptoms , if you find any negative issues that indicate intolerance like breathing issues , allergy like skin reactions , migraine or chest pain , it is better to stop immediately and seek more advice on its use.

You can have other side effects with any meds like an upset stomach , increase in tiredness , some mild increase in your symptoms but in these cases it is often just a temporary reaction of your already sensitive body to a new drug introduced into your system and as long as it reduces after a short time benefits can begin .

You should tell your GP or Doctor that you are trying it , even if they disapprove on non drug contradiction terms , just in case there is a problem .

If you don't tell them straight away , but get a benefit from it and choose to continue you should definitely tell them then with full details of how it has helped you.

It's this sort of patient led experience that helps them to consider recommending the use of alternative therapies for specific conditions in the future rather than just dismissing it.

The CBD philosophy is an interesting one .

There aren't that many tests to its efficacy with inflammation for many types of diseases , and the research in relation to joint inflammation and arthritis showed no clinically significant benefit to make it a drug of choice.

It's important to remember that although having some mild inflammation relief for some , the main way that CBD has been proved as helpful is not in reducing inflammation but as a very specific nerve and muscle relaxant by they way it causes a barrier for certain nerve transmitters.

This is why there is still certain levels of disagreement about its use even in areas of medicine that it has had proven benefits , like in Neuro Medicine and Epilepsy and Seizure control.

I guess the point that I'm making to anyone that reads this is just know what the CBD actually has a chance of improving , and , moderate your expectations of it with that knowledge.

It isn't a substitute for standard PMR medication , nor will it efficiently deal with the inflammatory joint pain of PMR.

It may , however , reduce the non PMR pain that comes with the way PMR effects the nerve and muscle health by relaxing the muscles and nerves.

If alot of the pain each person suffers is to do with neuro issues it could make a significant impact for them and make it worth taking.

If , however , the majority of the pain is PMR inflammation , it won't feel like it makes much difference.

It could , in theory therefore , be something that is more useful to some as they get on lower doses below 10 mg or less when the steroid is no longer masking other non inflammatory PMR pain making the process of tapering a bit more bearable.

But , if you are not suffering from the sorts of pain and anxiety issues it may work on with significance , a bit like taking supplements you don't need , it could just end up being a very expensive waste of cash.

It could also just relax some people with anxiety or increased stress from coping with their PMR through a Placebo effect.

Placebos , if they work and don't have side effects , are worth using if they make your life more comfortable and help you relax personally in your mind and body.

The relaxation you feel you are getting , and psychological belief that it comes from CBD, can reduce PMR pain only in the fact that you have reduced your stress level , and therefore reduced the increase in pain created by Stress.

Let us know how you get on , and obviously if it doesn't work remember unless you have an extreme reaction if you choose to stop don't go cold turkey , as this will start a flare in itself.

[Emerlad_70 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Well I hav Been taking the cbd 1000 mg Per day and I must admit I am

feeling better both mentally and physically, I will Be taking it every day from now on

[Blearyeyed in reply to Emerlad_70]

Glad you are finding it beneficial , always good to hear a real experience .

Perhaps keep us up to date in a month , then you will be able to recommend with details to others whom are interested in trying it.

Take care x

[BoaterAnnie]

Hi Emerald, I am considering trying CBD as a steriod sparer and came across your post. I am wondering if you are still taking the CBD and if you still feel it is helping? Thanks!

[Emerlad_70]

Hi yes I am it I seems to be working still