Reducing Pred

[Harrywogan]

Hi to everyone hope its a good day where you all are, at the moment on 4 1/2 of pred and reducing 1/2mg a week is that slow enough as this is always the worst time for me. Take care all x

[SheffieldJane]

Is that reducing on one day the first week, then 2 days the second week, then 3 days the third and so on until you are on the new dose every day? This gives you the opportunity to monitor your symptoms. This is a tricky stage. I hope you are successful.Have you had a short Synacthen Test to see if your Adrenals have the potential to work on their own? I honestly think this should be routine, but I had to push.

[Harrywogan in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks S J I thought that was quite slow now iam counting my monthly drop. Don't know how slow to go lol x

[SheffieldJane in reply to Harrywogan]

At least your dose is relatively harmless and going slowly allows your Adrenal system to recover if it’s going to. Take your time. Use a taper programme outlined on here like DorsetLady’s. Even at zero you need to take it easy. Patience!

[Harrywogan in reply to Harrywogan]

HELP LOL

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Harrywogan]

As mentioned by SheffieldJane - tapering plan -healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Once below 5mg, I did 0.5mg per taper....so per month, not per week.

At low doses, you need really small steps, for your illness and to help the adrenals....

[Harrywogan in reply to DorsetLady]

Dorsetlady will now keep 0.5mg a month, I know its tricky been here twice so fingers 🤞 and thanks x

[Harrywogan in reply to DorsetLady]

Dorsetlady call me silly but do you mean to cut 0.5 every day for a month or just one DAY IN the month think iam getting mixed up.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Harrywogan]

Well, not going to call you that 🙄…but if you think logically - 0.5mg every DAY for a month would mean you reduce by 15mg over that period!!

So reduce by 0.5mg every month…whether it’s in one drop or using one of the slow tapers…..

[Harrywogan in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankq that wot my parter said lol x

[SnazzyD]

If you really mean you drop the dose by 0.5mg every week, then I’d say that’s way too fast. I was taking a minimum of 2 months and still got the low adrenal wobbles which was confirmed with a Synacthen test at 4mg.

[Harrywogan in reply to SnazzyD]

THANKS SD THATS 5MG IN THE MONTH AND THINK THATS TO FAST X

[SnazzyD in reply to Harrywogan]

Yes it may mean your adrenal function may struggle to keep with the fast loss of Pred and if your symptoms come back you may not know which dose would have done the trick because you’ve over shot. It can take time for the inflammation to build up to pain level.

[Harrywogan in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks everybody will now keep to 0.5 a month xx

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you are dropping 1/2mg each week - that really is pushing it. You need at least 3 weeks to be sure the new dose is still enough and your adrenal glands will thank you for going slower too. At this stage 1/2mg a month and taking all month to do it is the way to go. Maybe even slower

[piglette]

Have you been reducing at that rate all along? How do you feel?

[Harrywogan in reply to piglette]

Piglet. I was thinking that was slow now I know better and thanks for taking time to reply its so good to here other people view's take care x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Harrywogan]

You can reduce at any rate as long as it works! But you do need to stick at some point to be sure it really is still enough.

[Rugger]

I'm using the DSNS taper and taking 26 days to reduce by 0.5mg. It can be extended to twice the time.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[IslandRN]

I am approaching 2 years with PMR in September and started on 15 mg. I have reduced by 0.25 mg every month (or sometimes 60 days depending on how I feel or if additional stressors are happening in my life) since reaching 3.5 mg. I am currently on 2.5 mg and had to get creative with pill cutting and using 2.5 and 1 mg pills to accomplish this type reduction. I am following the wonderful advice of the pros in this group and going slow as hoping to avoid a flare....so far so good. If I get to 2 mg without difficulty, I plan on reducing 0.25 every 90 days ( provided my body cooperate). 😜