New and unsure of PMR journey 🤔: Good morning... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

21,227 members40,248 posts

New and unsure of PMR journey 🤔

Pangolin43 profile image
5 Replies

Good morning everyone,

Quick question. I’ve tapered from 15mg (1 month) to 12.5 (in 2nd week). When I wake up I feel my symptoms are resurfacing but after a couple of hours I feel better having taken Pred. Is this the usual pattern? Do people generally have symptoms first thing on waking and is this something we just have to live with. Or should I feel less achy? My rheumatologist has asked me to reduce to 10mg and I’m wondering if I should go back to 15mg for a while.

I would appreciate the experts view on this brilliant forum.

Thank you in advance 😀

Written by
Pangolin43 profile image
Pangolin43
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
5 Replies
PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

It is normal to feel any symptoms early mornings: the inflammatory substances that cause the inflammation are shed in the body at about 4-4,30am. They start creating inflammation again so the sooner after that you take the pred, the less it has to do and the sooner you will feel less uncomfortable. The ideal time to take pred to avoid morning problems is 2am - it reaches its peak in the blood by 4am so the inflammation never gets a hold and mornings are much better - but the symptoms MAY reappear in the evening instead.

For many people the effect of pred lasts the full 24 hours or more but it can range from 12-36 hours and if you are at the lower end, the effect wears off before the next dose is due. If it is really a lot less than 24 hours, splitting the dose may deal with that. You would take about 2/3 of the dose in the morning and the rest later enough in the day to extend the effect to the next morning's dose., just at lunchtime may be enough, it doesn't have to be before bed.

When does he want you to drop the dose again? He seems in an awful hurry ...

Pangolin43 profile image
Pangolin43 in reply toPMRpro

Thank you for your reply. I have my second COVID-19 jab tomorrow and she asked me to drop my dose immediately to 10mg this is t gain greater efficacy from vaccination. However I’ve only been on 12.5mg for 2 weeks and find this thought a bit scary!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toPangolin43

"this is t gain greater efficacy from vaccination"

Which may well be counteracted by the less well controlled inflammation returning! Fine in theory - I couldn't have done it.

Pangolin43 profile image
Pangolin43 in reply toPMRpro

Yes. Me neither. Have spoken to her and I will stay o 12.5mg for the next two weeks and then reduce to 10mg. I have cancelled vaccination tomorrow and will rebook in 4 weeks approx. Hopefully be vaccinated on 10mg which I will stay on for two months. Fingers crossed!!!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toPangolin43

Indeed - hope you get there OK! I've had both mine at 15mg - no other option ...

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Beginning the Journey or managing my PMR

Female -71 years plus. I need to learn fast about PMR in order to know how to speak to my GP. How...
Doris-Hart profile image

New to PMR and a little ignorant!

Hello everybody and thank you for this forum and the wonderful advice given. I was diagnosed 5...

PMR and diabetes

Diagnosed in April, I also started on 15mg, 2 weeks later reduced to 10mg, had a flare up! Went...

Thyroid and PMR

Asking for a bit of advice. Have been on levothyroxine for 40yrs for under active thyroid. Have...
Lily-fly profile image

Update on my PMR journey

Hi Everyone, I am still feeling much better due to changing the time of taking my Pred to approx...
PatB1948 profile image

Moderation team

SophieMB profile image
SophieMBPartner

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.