Anyone find short duration upping prednisone seems to shock system into calming down?

[Jane424]

When I have a bad down dip, like very damp weather, I have found that upping my prednisone very slightly just once seems to make my symptoms much less following. Has anyone else found this? I need to explain to my doctor as she has very tightly limited my prednisone. Thanks, Jane

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

It may help in the moment, but it’s not really recommended procedure. It can occasionally be employed to get you through a one-off stressful time, but not on too regular a basis....

[Jane424 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks. I went up from 1 mg to 1 1/2 mg twice in the last month and then the next day felt good enough to stay on 1 mg.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Jane424]

Well that indicates to me that you are just on the borderline......normal days you’re okay on 1mg, but it doesn’t take much to tip you up to needing 1.5mg.

Just keep your eye on things, and if you find you’re needing that extra tiny bit on more days, then maybe go up to that amount for a couple of weeks.....

...and explain to your doctor that you need that flexibility, she might not think there’s much between 1mg and 1.5mg, but as we all know on here, it can make a huge difference... successfully keeping symptoms at bay v not!

It’s a 50% difference in dose - now that is a difference in anybody’s reasoning.

[Jane424 in reply to DorsetLady]

Bless you!

[madhouse1]

You and me both! I literally have the exact number of pred for a fortnight at a time, and the only adjustment with my GP is down!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to madhouse1]

Really don't understand their thinking...obviously another one scared of Pred!... and not upstanding the vagaries of PMR.

It's not as if they are expensive...cheap as chips!

[PMRnewbie2017]

Perhaps in your chat with the GP you can remind them that under normal circumstances your adrenals would produce a surge in cortisol in response to a stressful situation. Although you are now taking only 1mg, your adrenal function is not yet fully recovered and to be honest is probably unlikely to ever return to that of a 25 year old!

[Jane424 in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

Bless you. Very helpful indeed. Am not 80 so adrenals not functioning youthfully! Did have great stress in life - perhaps connected.