PMR and Stomach Issues

[LThomas]

I've had PMR for four years. I've 'seesawed' with my doses of prednisone. Finally over a year ago I started the Royal College of Physicians plan to taper. I'm currently on 7mg with the plan to reduce 1mg per month after being on 10mg for a full year. I was fine with 8mg last month after adjusting for a few days. It's not happening with 7mg, it's been a month and still having various issues. I'll probably go back up to 8. My question is lately my stomach has been upset, probably for 2 or 3 weeks. Do you think my PMR might be causing that? Anyone else experience this? My typical discomfort is biceps, legs, shins (go figure) hips & hands. It does not debilitate me, just uncomfortable. Thanks for any responses to help me understand better PMR.

L Thomas

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You aren't heading relentlessly for zero - you are looking for the lowest dose that manages the symptoms as well as the starting dose did. However slowly you reduce you won't get below that daily dose - and it sounds as if yours is 8mg at the moment. It doesn't mean you won't get lower - just not yet.

You also are entering the realms of adrenal function having to kick in again - and if that is low then you may have gut problems as it adjusts.

I'd say just be patient for a bit before trying again, a couple of months at least. And try 1/2mg at a time and/or a slowed taper:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

The slower you go, the more likely any step is to succeed - from both considerations.

[SheffieldJane]

I found 7 mgs hard to taper from and ended up there for a year. When I eventually got down it was by half a mg at a time, using a pill cutter.

PMRPro has told you why this stage is hard. So I will leave it to her.

[Telian]

I suffered exactly the same and PMRpro explains the reasons behind it well.

I had to take it more slowly and have been stuck on 4mg for nearly two years. I only follow a .5mg reduction. The adrenal function symptoms did eventually improve.

There are different reasons for not finding it easy to reduce, the lower you get, and in my case stress was a factor.

Best wishes.