Flare

[Dukeyears]

Hi everyone, I have been reducing and have reached three mg, Pred, recently I have started to have had pains in my upper back , at first I thought it may be that I have been overdoing things in the garden but after taking it easy for a couple of weeks it doesn't seem to be getting any better so I think it is probably a flare, I would like to go up with my dose but not sure by now much, could I please ask one of the pro ladies for advice ?, I was at 4mg for a month before the latest reduction and after the first week I felt ok, it always seems that it takes a week after the reduction for the body to settle with the new dose, but this time it's definitely not going away. Thank you in advance to all there for your help, you are a real inspiration to me and everyone else I am sure.

[SheffieldJane]

I wonder if you could go up by 5 mgs for a week or so to 8 mgs and then return to 4 mgs and rest there for a bit? I have done this before and it has dealt with the impending flare. You must have over- shot your ideal dose this time. No tapering needed within two weeks of an increase of 5 mgs.

[Dukeyears in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you so much for your rapid reply, I will try that starting today, will report back with results in a couple of weeks. Once again many thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yes - SJ's suggestion is the usual recommendation, add 5mg for long enough to get the pain reduced and then go back to 1mg above where the flare happened. Two weeks is the absolute outside for not needing any tapering though - up to 7 to 10 days is better.