How long to remain on increased preds

[Leepeelee]

Hi all

2 days ago I increased my dose of preds from 9mg up to 12.5mg to hopefully gain control of what seemed to be a flare.

Yesterday morning when I woke (1day into the dose increase) I still had some pains in my upper arms but there was an improvement , I felt a bit nauseous on and off throughout the day, yesterday evening the nausea went away but the pains were still there.

This morning when I woke, the pains in my upper arms have improved slightly but it still hurts when I try to lift my arms above my head.

I’m not sure what to do, should I remain at 12.5 and hope that the improvement may be gradual, or increase again?

I’m worried that if it takes me to long to get this under control at a higher dosage that it would go beyond the point where I am able to drop back down to the 10mg that was where I was when things seemed to be under control?

Any advise would be helpful?

I’ve got a video consultation on 22nd June with the Rheumatologist but until then I’m not sure what to do

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Try 5-7 days - that should be long enough - and then back down to 10mg - and stay at that level until your appointment.

[Leepeelee in reply to DorsetLady]

Do you think I should persist at the current increase at 12.5mg or go up a little?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Leepeelee]

Give it a couple more days - you say it has improved a little each day... and you don’t want to take more than necessary.

But if it doesn’t work - then try a few days at 15mg. So long as you’re not at the higher doses for more than 7-10 you should be able to drop back down to 10mg okay.

[Leepeelee in reply to DorsetLady]

Ok, thanks, and should the drop back down be done in one go or in increments?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Leepeelee]

You can drop back down in one go, but as PMRPRO says just above your last dose.

[Leepeelee in reply to DorsetLady]

Ok, if things settle down sooner than 7-10 days, should I drop back down sooner or stay there for between 7-10 days?

Sorry for all of the questions, I just want to get it right this time 😊

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Leepeelee]

I would stay for 7 at least.

[Coffeebeans]

Hey, sorry to hear you are having a flare up.

Good advice here, lifesavers at tge moment!

I'm back up to 17.5mg from 15mg So very much Hoping you can settle at 10mg.

Take care

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You can stay at the higher dose for up to 10-14 days before dropping back to just above the old dose.

The usual recommendation for controlling a flare is to add 5mg to the dose where it happens for up to 7-10 days - you are still a bit below that.