Pred dose advice

[Leepeelee]

Hi all,

It’s me again!

I recently had a flare up after reducing from 10mg down to 9 mg which I then got under control by going up by 5mg for a week and then dropping back down to 10mg (which is where I was comfortable prior to flare at 9mg)

After going back to 10mg, pains have gradually returned but not as bad as the previous flare.

I had a video consultation with my Rheumatologist which was booked for Monday 22nd, so I was going to ask his advice if n what to do next but this consultation has now been cancelled due to the Rheumatologist becoming unwell. So I have to wait for another appointment.

Should I go back up on the preds again for a week and then drop back to 11mg? It does seem a bit odd as I was pretty stable on 10mg a few weeks ago.

Not sure what to do

[PMRpro Ambassador]

How long had you been at 11mg and 10mg on the way down?

The pattern I see over the years fits with my theory that the activity of the underlying autoimmune disorder seems to wax and wane, peaking and then falling away to a minimum and then increasing again - like (sine) waves - and with the peaks always getting lower. If you happen to reduce while it is on the way down you may well find as it goes back up it can be felt again,

[Leepeelee in reply to PMRpro]

On the way down , after the withdrawals had settled down I stayed on 11mg for a month and then did the same from 11 down to 10 and from 10 down to 9.

It was the drop from 10 - 9 that caused the flare up, then I went up to 15 for a week and dropped back to 10 but the 10 I was comfortable on previously isn’t the case now.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Leepeelee]

Either you need a tiny bit over 10mg or it is as I explained. Maybe try 11mg and see if that works

[Leepeelee]

Do you think it would make much difference if I tried a full dose each day instead of splitting it?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Leepeelee]

No idea - only you can find that out by trying.

[Meggsy]

Hello Leepeelee. It took me three attempts to reduce from 10 mg. I was attempting 10 to 9 a then on the third try I was successful decreasing to 9.5. I have reduced by 0.5mg a month since, with the exception of 5mg at Christmas. I stayed at 5 mg for two and a half months due to a lot of family happenings and a month long coughing virus. Presently on 3.5mg. Hang in there you will make it eventually.