reducing prednisone

[Joy713]

Is it harmful to your body to drop from 15mg of prednisone to 10mg?

[squashie]

Depends on how long you have been taking 15mg. For those of us on long term pred, the recommendation is no more than 10% drop at any one time, although it's not unusual to go down in slightly larger drops above 10 (eg 15 to12.5), If you've been on pred for only a week or so and have no symptoms, it may be OK.

I'm sure the real experts will be along (once Europe wakes up) to give you a more definitive answer. In the meantime it would be helpful to know how long you've been taking pred and at what doses..

[Joy713 in reply to squashie]

Thank you so much for your response!

I had tapered down to 12.75 for 3 weeks for PMR. I accidentally took 15 mg for about 4 days. I don’t know what I was thinking, but realized last night that I had done that. I was suppose to drop down to 10 mg this week when I realized what I had done!

I just wanted to be sure that I would not hurt myself in dropping down to 10 after I have been on 15 for a few days.

[SheffieldJane]

It depends. If you had increased your dose from 10 to 15 for a period less than 2 weeks to avoid a flare then your body would perhaps not notice. If you have PMR and you are hurrying a taper, 5 mgs is a steep drop and likely to precipitate a flare and would be better attempted in two 2.5 drops at least 2 weeks apart. If your diagnosis is GCA such a drop could cause a potentially dangerous increase in inflammation and again it would be far safer to taper in at least two stages. Rather than its being harmful to your body it risks a return of symptoms. Ideally drops should never be more than 10%.

[Joy713 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you so much for your response!

I had tapered down to 12.75 for 3 weeks for PMR. I accidentally took 15 mg for about 4 days. I don’t know what I was thinking, but realized last night that I had done that. I was suppose to drop down to 10 mg this week when I realized what I had done!

I just wanted to be sure that I would not hurt myself in dropping down to 10 after I have been on 15 for a few days.

[Hidden in reply to Joy713]

In that case go to 12.5mg and stay for 2 weeks minimum and see what happens. Dropping 5mg not a good plan. There"s no big rush yet and Dr will just have to understand you will drop to 10mg later - you do not want to start a flare otherwise you will be at 15mg again for a month. Thereafter no more that 10% drops.

[Joy713 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It won't do any harm - a normal reduction approach for short term use of pred would be 2 weeks 15, 2 weeks 10, 2 weeks 5mg and stop. Perfectly safe.

The reason we bang on about smaller steps is because you aren't really REDUCING in PMR, you are TAPERING. And yes, there is a difference. If the dose you need is 11mg and you drop from 15 to 10mg you will miss it and have a flare. If you drop in smaller steps you are more likley to identify the right dose faster.

[Joy713 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much for the great information! I really appreciate it!

[Tamtan2 in reply to PMRpro]

Been on 25 mg for 2 months before that

20 for a 3 months What should I be tapering to next not much pain Pmr just niggles with gca bloods seem ok.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tamtan2]

5mg at a time is too much - 2mg at a time max and maybe more often is less likely to lead to a flare.

[Tamtan2 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your help makes sense Just apprehensive as I was left on 60 mg when diagnosed with gca then forgotten about for months so scared it’s affected me Long term as I have never felt normal since. 🙏🏽

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tamtan2]

At that dose you shouldn't be feeling PMR - these are still normal starting doses for PMR. But remember, while you shouldn't have been left for months at 60mg without trying to taper, the actual underlying cause of the GCA is still active systemically. You are unlikely to feel "well" as long as it is active - but DL or Snazzy will explain that better than I can. they have the t-shirt!

Just had a look at your first post - you were only on 60mg for a few months and many patients are on higher doses that long because of visual symptoms with GCA. DL started with 80mg and some patients are put on infusions of up to 1000mg/day for 3 days.

[Tamtan2 in reply to PMRpro]

As I have said on Posts my Pmr is negligible with an ache or pain now and again my problems my Gca still lumps on my head the shakes every day dizziness I can cope with the Pmr I thought it had gone but don’t know because on 25 mg which is keeping it at bay and as I was only on 7 1/2 mg for 18 month till Gca kicked in. Don’t know wether these are common symptoms for Gca as We all know the diversity of symptoms. Thank you for your patience with me I am a bit manic and all over the place at moment. 🙏🏽

[Christophene]

I don't think it would hurt you, but you might flare up again. and/or not feel well. 5 mg. is a big drop to do in one jump.

[Joy713]

Thank you so much!