Sickness

[Flosy]

Hi.when you are reducing down on pred,from 4mg til 3mg,does it include sickness and not feeling hungry,because that's how I been feeling last week.an advice please.thanks.

[123-go]

Hello Flosys. I see you were having aches and pains a week ago and were asking about reducing your Pred from 4mg to 3mg. It may be that you needed to stay at 4mg for a while as suggested or increase to 5mg. Have those pains gone?I believe that adrenal insufficiency can cause vomiting and severe weakness but maybe your symptoms are due to a tummy upset or anxiety. I would advise you to ring your GP.

[Flosy in reply to 123-go]

Hi.thank you,I will ring drs tomorrow.no my have not gone.

[123-go in reply to Flosy]

Make sure you do, Flosys. 🙂

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As 123-go says you need to check with GP, but as you have had issues for the last month, would suggest that you take the opportunity look at your tapering regime. Reducing by 0.5mg rather than 1mg a time might be easier for you.

[Flosy in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you.dont want to be in a hurry.do I have to cut a leg in half.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Those are typical symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. I think you should speak to your doctor. ANd don't be in such a hurry to reduce as DL says.

[Pixix]

Yes! I had this trouble & it went on too long. Please phone your doctor! I did! I’ve accepted an increase for now as inflammation showing in my blood test results, PMR not under control at 3mg!

[Cally55]

Sounds familiar! First check with GP. I had nausea and dizziness and loss of appetite tapering from about 7 mg. I was never actually sick, but from breakfast time till about mid afternoon I felt extremely rough. Although instructed to taper in 1 mg steps I went down by 1/2 until about 5mg and then in 1/4 steps. I waste quite a lot of pills in the cutting process in spite of having a razor sharp pill cutter. Now on 1.5 mg and the nausea is infrequent, if I get it I just slow the taper. Not sure how to get denominations of less than 1mg, the pills are really small to cut into 4. Alternate days may be the solution. Dead slow nearly stop didn't work for me on higher doses, but does for many.

After nearly 6 years I am going extremely carefully, but I am still taking 150mg azathioprine which I would like to be rid of.

My next rheumatologist appointment is January 2022 so I don't feel the need to hurry.

[Flosy in reply to Cally55]

Hi.thank you.

[Rajuguide]

My wife Suffering from GCA also felt uncomfortable when reducing from prednisone 15 to 12.5 mg, and she again back to 15mg . Still I am confused , dose 1 mg or 2mg make so much impact on body ? As also in your case 4 mg to 3 mg .Is this a psychological effect or real . Only expert in this field can clarifying.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rajuguide]

Really - half a mg can be the difference between being enough to keep the inflammation in control and not! And some people are very sensitive to the changes in dose so 1mg less may make them feel rotten until the body gets used to the change. Everyone is different

[Rajuguide in reply to PMRpro]

Really you have got deep knowledge in GCA AND PMR related subject . Your advice and guidance , really help lot and clear many doubts about disease and treatment. Thanks 🙏