Diagnosed in April with ESR at 18 in March then 37 in April I've tapered down easily from 20 to now 5mg. ESR now at 2! My CRP reading was 46.8 in April now 0.9.
I have been able to take on PMR very aggressively with the massive help of reading up on the subject on this wonderful site.
Should I risk a flare by tapering down a little more quickly from this point?
Hi,
Your lower ESR and CRP levels only show the Pred us doing what it’s designed to do - dampen down the inflammation caused by illness - doesn’t mean the PMR is dormant.
I wouldn’t suggest you taper any quicker , you need to give your adrenal glands chance to start working again...and reducing at lower doses is usually more difficult than higher doses - and than you think.
You have reduced quickly, so you may be one of the lucky ones that gets through PMR relatively easily - and hope you are.....
....but remember the mantra - reduction should be no more than 10% of existing dose .....at 20mg that’s 2mg, at 10mg it’s 1mg, at 5mg it’s 0.5mg!
Thanks DL! It's great to have your guidance.
NO!!!!!!!! The lower, the slower! 
There have been a lot of patients who tapered to 2mg and below - even 1/2mg a day was sometimes enough to keep things ticking along nicely but when they tried zero they found the symptoms crept up on them after a month or two and they were back to as much as 10mg and had to taper again. Prof Dasgupta told us a few months ago that he often keeps patients at 2-3mg indefinitely as it seems to reduce the risk of a relapse. It is a very low dose - it is safe longterm. You might get lower, even off it altogether, but don't be tempted to rush things at this stage - 2mg is doing the job nicely. That is all the markers are telling you - not that the PMR has gone.
Enviable dilemma though. ☹️
My father had PMR/GCA for last 8years of his life and spent last 4years of it on just ½mg of pred. On the couple occasions he attempted to come off that final ½mg his symptoms returned so he very happily stayed on that very low dose to guarantee he was pain free, able to function and could still enjoy his final few years. RIP dad.
You three are Angels.
Hi I am 12 months into the journey and reduced relatively easily to 4mg before getting an infection that bumped me up to 40mg in August 2020. I am back to 4mg in the last week and found the drop from 5 to 4 both times harder. As others pointed out listen to you body and take your time on the lower dosages- good luck - by the way this is my first post and find the forum a brilliant resource - Kia ora from NZ
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