I was doing well every month with one less mg. Started 7mg January 1. Have alot of pain and stiffness again. Thought as the month wore on i could catch up and feel better. Didnt happen. Doctor didnt think I should increase prednisone. I'm in too much discomfort though. I take 5mg in morning and 2mg around 9 pm. Should I change times of dosage or go back up?
What can I do differently to feel better?
Paperroses
If it was me i would go back to at least the dose where i had no pain and stay there till the pain had gone and only when things are settled would i start tapering but ony by 0.5mg each time. If you went to 10mg for a few days you could then drop back to 8 or 9mg and then begin your taper from there. Good luck. YBB
Simple answer - probably take more Pred.
Why did doctor say don’t increase?
Have you split doses to help first thing in morning? If it does, then stay with that regime.
Would suggest you I increase total amount to at least 10mg for about 5 days - then back down to 8mg a day (however you split) but not as low as 7mg as that obviously wasn’t enough.
Might be worth reducing by 0.5mg monthly from now on rather than 1mg. But not until you’ve cleared this flare.
I would go back to the previous dose at least - you may need a few days at a higher dose to clear things out again.
You are never reducing relentlessly to zero - you are tapering to find the lowest dose that gives the same relief as your starting dose did. You should never feel worse at the end of the taper step than you did at the start. Below 10mg/day it probably helps to reduce just 1/2mg at a time and by the time you get to close to 5mg you should definitely only drop 1/2mg at a time. Using one of the slowed taper approaches may also help.
It doesn't mean you won't get lower - just not yet. Many people find marking time for a month or two helps when they have this experience. Others find it takes 3 or more attempts before your body thinks it's acceptable. Some get stuck at a dose for much longer. Everyone is different.
As it's been a month with no improvement that tells me you have gone below the amount of pred your body needs at the moment. You do need to increase your dose in order to dampen the inflammation down again, and then work again to find your lowest best dose. If it was 8 mg, then I agree with those who say you should stop there a while. And when you are once again feeling as well as before and have been stable at the dose for a few weeks only then attempt a slow taper (and only .5 mg from now on).
It takes time to lower prednisone, be patient,,,, I am trying for the third time ... we should go very very very slowly down my doctor said........and I know what you are going through.... Courage.... With you I am
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