Tapering

[rocketman42]

Hi All,

I have been slowing tapering my prednisone and, after 4 years, I'm finally down to 9mg.

Is it advisable to stay on a reduced dose for a period of time or, if feeling OK, is it OK to jump into the next taper right away ?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Looking at past posts you do seem to have had a bit of a chequered journey - so don’t be in any rush.

Depending on how you feel on 9mg, it might be wise to really make sure and stay for2-3weeks before embarking on next taper.

See you are using DSNS format, but from now on it might be worth considering reducing by 0.5mg a time rather than 1mg.

[rocketman42 in reply to DorsetLady]

Quite a roll a coaster journey and thrilled to be below 10mg. I have been reducing by .5mg all along.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to rocketman42]

Ok, well stick with it then.....even more important below 10mg - each taper becomes a bigger in percentage terms.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I agree with DL - really is how you get on with any step of the taper. The DSNS was designed so you could stop and rest at any point - and that is the poijt, if you are struggling stop. If you are OK, just keep on slowly and steadily. But don't ever try to kid yourself!

[rocketman42 in reply to PMRpro]

Learned a long time ago not to be too brazen. Doing well so far so will stick with 9 mg for 2 weeks and then try 8.5....fingers crossed !!

[Kneeknit]

What is your diagnosis. The amount of pred varies according to the diagnosis.

[Boss302Fan]

I’m being a chicken, once I hit week 5 of DL’s 5 wk simple taper I’m doing an extra 1-2 weeks at the new dose before I start wk1 at a new dose. Just started wk 1 day 1 at 4mg.

[Liby57]

Rapid withdrawal of steroids may cause a syndrome that could include fatigue, joint pain, muscle stiffness, muscle tenderness, or fever. These symptoms could be hard to separate from those of your underlying disease so go slowly.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Liby57]

Which is why we bang on all the time about reducing SLOWLY!

[Liby57 in reply to PMRpro]

I dropped from 2.25mg to 2 mg and am feeling some of these symptoms, but as suggested on here I’ll see if it eases after a few days. I think someone suggested 5 to 7 days so 🤞

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Liby57]

Just keep an eye out - if it gets worse not better, cut and run back to your last dose!

[Liby57]

Seems to ease with a couple of paracetamol but yes will definitely be cautious.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Liby57]

When paracetamol works - probably NOT the PMR! Which is good news ...

[rocketman42]

Update: so after being on my new reduced dose of 9mg for about 2 weeks I progressively started to feel weaker, stiffer, dizzy, queasy, and generally unwell. I just took an additional PM dose of .5mg and within 2 hours I started to feel improved. Unfortunately it looks like I will be going back to 9.5mg for a few weeks and then I guess I'll attempt it again.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to rocketman42]

Yup - just what happens to me! However I try to arrange things. But that is at 15/14mg - 10mg is just a dream these days,