Decreasing Preds

[Bcol]

Hi all. Question. I am doing okish at the moment, not sleeping well but I can cope with that. Still some aches and pains in shoulders/arms and neck, particularly in the evening but manageable. I have gone from 13mg 1st July until Tuesday 7th July, new doc then upped me to 30mg from Weds. 8th July until Friday 10th then 25mg from Sat 10th until Sunday 19th July ( as asked by doc ). I have now moved myself to 20mg and thinking staying on that until 1st Aug. Then going to 15mg for two, three weeks. If things go well, and doc agrees ( will need new prescription). Then contemplating 1mg reductions every three, four however many weeks depending on what happens. I appreciate that I might /will have to be very flexible about all of this but does that sound anything like a good/sensible idea?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Sounds in the realms of possibility - but honestly, your last sentence says it all! See how it goes - and work from there!!!

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

Advice please. Got new prescription from Docs today, being a group practice I have no idea which one, but the label on the preds is saying take 2/day I.e.10mg. I feel that is a huge reduction on my present situation, I'm on 20mg at the moment. It would mean I've gone from 30mg to 10mg in about 3 weeks which feels horribly quick to me. I guess I need to give them a ring.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bcol]

You do, ASAP. Someone doesn't know that isn't how to manage PMR or they didn't look at the diagnosis. It is how you would use steroids in other acute situations. Nothing acute about PMR.

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you.

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

Telephone consultation Monday AM.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bcol]

Hope it is with someone with a bit more brain than Pooh ...

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

Think chat with Doc went OK, after a bit of discussion, he is happy!! with my suggested 5 week taper plan from 20mg -18mg, then hopefully another 5 week of 18mg -16mg. All depending on whether/if/when there are any upsets on the way.

[RiverKings]

As usual, PMR Pro is right: don’t predetermine your tapering schedule. the disease determines how quickly or slowly you taper. The goal is to take as little as controls your pain, but it is impossible to determine what that is in advance. Take it slow and see how you respond. We are all a bit different.

[Bcol in reply to RiverKings]

Hi Riverkings. Thanks for the the reply. I have to say that this site and the depth of knowledge and experience here is fantastic. It should be compulsory reading for all doctors and Rhuemys. There is no way that I will be disregarding anything that PMR Pro and the rest of you amazing people say. Yes I realise that, but I need to put some sort of plan together for the Doc, so that I can get my next prescription sorted. So far he has been OK, but this is the first time I have needed to get a new prescription and I have not had the time to build a bit of a reserve, so its fingers crossed.