DSNS

[PMRZ]

Could someone please explain what is meant by DSNS method for tapering meds? My partner was finally diagnosed a couple of weeks ago (although he’s suspected it for years). It came to a head after the AZ jab, when he couldn’t walk and I had to call an ambulance! After a private appt with a PMR specialist he was prescribed 20mg of preds for the 1st week, then 15 for the 2nd week and is now on 10mg. The change in him has been dramatic! Thanks for all the useful advice I’ve found on this site.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Where did you find a PMR specialist! That would be a handy thing to know if they really are. That is a VERY fast descent from 15mg and bears no relationship to any recommended approach to PMR that I have ever seen so I'll reserve judgement on that!!! On the other hand - I suppose if it is done really quickly after the symptoms get bad it might work better. I was started on a 6 week course of pred, 2 weeks each of 15, 10, 5 and stop (the rheumy didn;t think it was PMR but offered the pred to get me through a business trip to the USA). I was fine right up to the last day of 5mg - within 6 hours of missing the first 5mg dose I was in a worse state than I had been beforehand. One criterion used is a return of pain in a similar time frame to what was seen with pain relief when starting pred. Unfortunately for me, a massive flare ensued and it was years before I got below 10mg again.

[PMRZ in reply to PMRpro]

That may have been a naive statement! We Googled the UK West Midlands regional Rheumatology Society and found Dr Roshan Amarasena, who was doing a lecture on PMR., so made an appt to see him privately. That was a year ago when my partner was taking statins so he advised him to stop them for a year and see whether it improved. The GP also thought it might be statins. It didn’t improve and the AZ jab seems to have made a massive flareup. When my partner when to see him the 2nd time (after the jab), the doctor was shocked at how much he had declined in muscle bulk (he’s a 6’ 4” active horticulturalist but obviously has had to reduce his activity due to the pain). The 20 mg dose made a difference literally overnight. He has been fine last week with 15 mg and will be on 10 mg for the next couple of weeks until he has another appointment. Reading everything on this site, and the Kate Gilbert book which people have recommended here, I think it’s pretty clear that he will subsequently have to reduce much more slowly. But at least he has some quality of life now and hope for the future. Many thanks to everyone for your help and advice.

[jinasc]

Dead Slow Nearly Stop.

At the right hand side of the page are Pinned Posts. under Topics are Tapering Plans.

Under Pinned Posts Some Useful Abbreviations Often Used on This Forum.

The Pinned Posts are really useful.

I echo PMRpro, where did you find that PMR Specialist. Over the years I have been compiling a list of useful Rheumatologists etc.

I would add that normally a drop of no more than 10% of the current dose is recommended.

[PMRZ in reply to jinasc]

Thank you.