Prednisone reduction and blurred vision

[Renesch]

I have PMR started on 20mg of pred and am now on 2nd reduction so down to 15mg 4 days ago. Within 36 hours of reducing I get terrible fatigue not much pain but wierd vision, eye sight really blurry and hard to focus. Is this a common problem. Last time it lasted 5 days then I came right. Afraid it might be GCA but I don't have other symptoms.

[SheffieldJane]

No more than 10% reduction, might be gentler. Mention those visual symptoms to your doctor. It may well be GCA and I think it is unusual. The fatigue is common.

[Bcol]

Have to agree with SJ, a slower reduction might help and worth getting the symptoms checked out for peace of mind.

[Renesch]

I am so stupid. So bad today considered taking an extra pill, got the little pill planet box out and realised I miss calculated when going down from 17.5mg to 15mg and for the past 5 days I've only been taking 12.5mg. No wonder I feel like %@#. Just swallowed an extra 2.5 so hopefully obese and upward from now.

[Constance13 in reply to Renesch]

We've all done it!😂

[Renesch in reply to Constance13]

Thanks everyone for the replies. So I accidentally went from 17.5 to 12.5 instead of 15mg for 5 days. Had the massive withdrawal when I realised on Sunday so took an extra 2.5, so up to the 15mg I should have reduced to. Felt so much better within hours but still not right, pain and tiredness. Should I go back up to the 17.5 for a few days then try reducing again.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Renesch]

No not obese surely? 😉Predictive text has a sense of humour. Still tell your doctor about your eyes.

[Renesch in reply to SheffieldJane]

Haha it was supposed to say onward and upward.....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Renesch]

Think that much reduction might account for feeling rubbish!!!! And your eye muscles protesting ...

[Renesch in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I took 2.5mg (to make up to the amount I should have been taking) about 4 hours ago and already can see better. Whew. Thanks for replying.

[SnazzyD]

The timing and the fact that it resolves makes it sound like withdrawal. However, the one-sidedness is odd. If it was me, I’d avoid drops of 25% and the next one make it 1mg or less, just to see what happens. You may be very sensitive to reductions and it is good that it settles and that it has happened before in the same way, but it may be GCA just hovering there.

I was very sensitive to reducing and always felt achey and tired. Under 10mg was debatably harder so I dropped by 0.5mg.

[gaqke10]

Every time I go through a (slow) reduction, I get blurry vision. Then when I am stabilized on the new dose, it goes away.

[Renesch in reply to gaqke10]

Thanks. I'm sorry it hairband to you also but good to know it is probably just last of reducing.