Tapering flu like symptoms

[Amilee]

Hi all ,diagnosed PMR in August started o 15 mg pred tried to reduce got to 12.5 still ok then reduced to11 but symptoms came back so back to 15mg. Reduced to 12.5 on 2 nd December all went fine so decided to stay there till after new year.Felt quite good early January stiffness in right shoulder and slight pain in right thumb and wrists but probably best I have been started reducing on the 9 th Jan to 11 mg using alternate days 12.5-11 . On the 16th 11mg for 2 nd consecutive day ,went to bed and started feeling very unwell,bad sore head ,blocked nose,feeling sick,unable to sleep.I took paracetamol it took the edge of my headache. At 7 am took my pred I decided to take 12.5 by 930 I was feeling a bit better sickness and congestion was gone still bit of sore head.Should I carry on trying to reduce or go back to 12.5 for now? Is this withdrawal symptoms and I just have to push through.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What you describe sounds rather more like an infection than withdrawal symptoms - and if it is an infection then I would stop reducing for now until it is over. Your body is confused enough!

You may find using one of the slowed tapers makes it easier - personally I think 2.5mg at a time is too much for many and 1mg at a time ends up being quicker because you don't fail and have to go back to the previous dose again and again. Or you could use the slowed taper with 2.5 - it might work.

This is one and a link to others can be found amongst the Pinned Posts.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Amilee in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your advice,the doctor wanted me to reduce to 10mg this time from 12.5 mg and I said no as I thought it was to big a jump 2.5 mg!!Ithought reducing from 12.5 to 11mg I would have less problems as is 1.5 mg reduction also using new dose /old dose on alternative days for a week but maybe still to much .My wife was of work last week with a bad cold maybe I have got some of that making me feel unwell and it’s not withdrawal?!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Amilee]

Always possible - but just a week of alternating old and new dose is still a lot for the body to handle. The slowed tapers we bang on about are a lot more spread out. It takes most of a month to get down to all the new dose, but since it is more likely to succeed without having to go back up it often does end up quicker.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Ditto to PMRPros response.