COVID Shot/PMR Questions

[SARose]

All, Received my first dose of COVID vaccine yesterday. Yeah, on the to completing my goal to no longer be a prisoner in my house. Arm is a bit tender but so far, good! Questions on decrease of dosage, down to 4mg-will start 3mg tomorrow. For about 3 weeks now I have been getting little flickers in the left side of my brain. It only lasts a moment, like turning a light on and off and not all the time. Spoke to my Rheumatologist and was told to let her know if they increased. Any input /advice appreciated. SARose Texas.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Advice? Wait a few days before starting on the reduction ...

[SARose in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro, Forgot to include some of my other information. I'm having slight aches in both my arms, thumb joints in both hands hurt. I take this to be a sign that my body telling me that my PMR is starting to flaring.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SARose]

I'd take that as a sign too! Thumb joints are a failsafe sign for me I am not on enough pred!!!! Stay at 4mg for now - how long have you been there?

[SARose in reply to PMRpro]

Almost a month

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SARose]

Then you definitely need longer to be sure it is still enough - it may not be. Once you get to 5mg you need to slow down, it is not only possible you are getting close to the dose you are looking for: the lowest dose that gives the same result as the starting dose did, but you are also now needing adrenal function to return as you reduce the pred dose and that takes time, doesn't happen overnight, can take months.

[SARose in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. Sounds good to me.