Advice Please for a Recently New Member

[Gunflash]

I have been on Pred for around 7 weeks. Since taking the first tablets I have never had a twinge and I feel great. I went from 15mg to 12.5 after 3 weeks and then 4 days ago, a further 3 weeks later I went to 10mg. I was woken up 3 nights ago at 5am in the morning with a cramp light feeling above the left ankle. It went after a little loosening after 10 mins. Same the next night, early awakening and all gone as soon as I moved about. This morning i was woken again this time in both legs just above ankles. A quick rub and walk around and all gone again.

My question is, is this a flare up and should I go back to 12.5? If so for how long? Or should l just leave it for a while to see if it settles?

Thanks in anticipation.

[SheffieldJane]

Try some Magnesium. I was getting a weak ankle sensation, like restless legs and I think Magnesium has helped. A lack of it produces cramp. Maybe slow your taper now you’ve reached 10 mgs. I started going down by 1 mg every 4 weeks. Obviously if your symptoms spread, go back to your last comfortable dose.

[Gunflash in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks, my taper programmer now tells me to reduce 1mg every 6 weeks.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Gunflash]

Better still. Slow is good.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'd try taking some magnesium supplements and see if that helps the crampy feeling. Pred makes you lose more magnesium and other things through the kidneys - a few of them can cause cramp. Most of us are given calcium supplements which takes care of that, foods rich in potassium are also good. I wouldn't take potassium supplements though.

[Gunflash in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro