Safe to drop from 60mg pred to 50 after 2 days?

[Jontie]

For all those who kindly responded to my question a couple of days ago about what to expect on 60mg pred, I have an update and a further question.

I took two doses of 60mg and today I've had tests at the hospital and I've seen a rheumatology registrar. An ultrasound of my temporal arteries was normal,and the ophthalmologist who peered into the back of my eyes said he saw nothing to suggest GCA (although he did find a cataract that needs to be sorted apparently). The registrar saw me before I saw the ophthalmologist and was waiting for his report before phoning me back. She's not phoned so I guess she's not received his report.

However, when she spoke to me she said that if ophthalmologist report was ok she would probably advise a "fast taper" from 60mg to 15mg over a couple of weeks.

Pre-empting the registrar's decision (without, I hope, tempting fate), I'd like to start this taper tonight. I was thinking of dropping to 50mg. Do you think that's appropriate?

Incidentally, the headache which I've had for 3 weeks, and which set all this in motion, disappeared after the first 60mg dose.

Hope all the above makes sense!

Thanks.

[Jontie]

Please ignore this post. She called me back at 6.45pm and said to drop straight to 15mg! Fair play to the NHS. A very efficient service for me this last few days. Thanks all!

[piglette in reply to Jontie]

Sounds sensible. I am glad it was not GCA.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Jontie]

Good news, but as PMRpro says do keep a note of events.... hopefully you won’t need to do anything with them, but just for reference.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I was going to say - after just 2 days there is no need to go slowly. Good for the lady to be on the ball.

However, make a note of the symptoms and timing of the headache going away. It might not be coincidence - just in case it comes back.

[Jontie in reply to PMRpro]

Will do PNRpro. Thank you.