Trying to reduce Medrol

[kimsaunsc]

Diagnosed quickly in May in US. Pain control worked at 32 mg Medrol. Currently at 20 mg and feel pretty good! Shoulders are sore in the morning but mild compared to initial onset pain.

Due to reduce again in a few days and wondering if I should go to 18 mg or down to 16? I keep reading 10% reduction at a time, but is that at all levels of dosage or only when you get down to 10 and below?

Appreciate all the Support and advice and stories!!! So incredibly helpful to know I’m not alone in this battle!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Personally I think it should be at all levels once you get to about 25mg - at the very high doses for GCA 10mg is more than 10% but usually works. Some people manage bigger steps than others so one way is to try but take close notice and when it feels "wrong" in any way to go back and try less the next time. In the early days some people get stuck because of disease activity at doses above 10mg - and the smaller the steps the more exact you can be about the dose needed. You might be fine now at 20mg but 16mg not be enough - but since 1/2mg can be the difference between OK and not OK, is it 17mg you should stop at or 20mg because you need 19.5mg?

[kimsaunsc in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for prompt and helpful response. Understanding that this disease is so personal and everyone’s journey is unique-much as we are all unique in many ways!

Thinking I will drop to 18 instead of 16 and see how my body responds.