Pred unintended benefits

[Harbel]

My range of hay fever type allergies and cold knee etc that predated pmr are back. Everything was grand a month ago when on 2.5mg down from 25mg 28 months previously. But over the last month dropped to 2mg and Pmr ok but the predating irritants are back. I'm seriously tempted to go back to the good life at 2.5. Could never find an alternative before that didn't make me drowsy.

Any advice, I know, I know, talk to my doctor. I know he will want to reduce, reduce but it is my quality of life I want to pursue not his!

[fmkkm]

Hi,Can you get Flonase. It’s a nasal spray and the active ingredient is a corticosteroid. If it works you won’t need to increase the pred.

[Harbel in reply to fmkkm]

Thank you for that tip, the nasal sprays I had tried just coated the nostrils and after a while they get itchy. Bu the way I love your name

[fmkkm in reply to Harbel]

Thanks!My allergies came back with a vengeance in the fall so I hear you. I agree with others here, if I stay on low dose with a better quality of life and less chance of a relapse, I’m fine with that. I’m on 3.5 and heading to 3.

[SheffieldJane]

You know probably that Prof Dasgupta keeps his patients on 3 mgs - 2.5 mgs as a matter of policy, having found that this helps to prevent flares. He is a leader in the field of our diseases and therefore presents a powerful argument for what you want.

[Harbel in reply to SheffieldJane]

Oh thanks, for that. It is great to have options and good to be low at least for now. Keep well thanks again

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If it were me I'd be thinking exactly the same way. And to boot, last summer Prof Dasgupta told us that he keeps many patients on 2-3mg indefinitely as it reduces the risk of relapses.

[Harbel in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro, you are always so wise. I do know that I should be and I so grateful for being so low, and I suppose I like to think I could get some benefits out of this disease.That of course is in addition to the greater benefit of having the support and advice of this forum

[HeronNS in reply to Harbel]

I'm wishing I'd had the good sense to stay at 2 mg as I might have avoided some of my current problems. I was at or around 2 for several years and the only side effect I can point to was a tendency to get those red marks for no apparent reason, but even those were shortlived, helped on their way by my remembering to moisturize! If you get relief from other issues which predate PMR and are now returning as your dose gets lower, I would think that a dose of 2.5 would be very beneficial. It might take a slightly higher dose to get a handle on the problems again, and then a return to 2.5. Too many doctors seem to be blinkered by the issue of the serious side effects long term pred can bring, forgetting that at a very low dose these side effects are far outweighed by the benefits.

[Harbel in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks for your advice, yes I think I will be in no rush to get off what brought benefit. I do hope you will over those current problems soon.