Dosage reduction

[Pinkpepper]

Two days ago I reduced from 2.5 to 2mg on doctors advice and have immediately had more shoulder pain. Could this just be the result of the reduction or a potential flare up. Thanks for any advice.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As it came on straight away probably steroid withdrawal - and should go within another couple of days - paracetamol may help.

However if longer than 5 days, proves it's not enough - so back to 2.5mg for another week before trying again...plus it might be worth trying a slow taper rather than an overnight one - one linked - there are others.

At such low doses you really have to go as slowly as you can and 0.5mg really can make a big difference -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Pinkpepper in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you so much for your advice, much appreciated. Take care

[SnazzyD]

At these levels I got a very quick onset achey feeling, especially my neck and shoulders around the fibromyalgia points. Paracetamol helped and it went in a few days, the adrenal insufficiency gave me a generalised all over faint ache that stayed for months.

[Pinkpepper in reply to SnazzyD]

Yes I’ve notice it more in my neck and shoulders, I’m hoping it’s just the reduction. Thank you so much for your advice, much appreciated . Best wishes

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you went from 2.5mg to 2mg "overnight" so to speak, then that was a 20% change in dose. The received wisdom is that no reduction should be more than 10% of the current dose. Obviously that requires some adaptation because cutting the pills is not easy. There are tapering plans we go on about a lot on the forum where the change in dose is spread over a few weeks which makes the effect on the body less severe:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

lists them all, including DL's version.