Starting treatment for PMR

[Booklover21]

My doctor has agreed to a trial of pred to confirm my PMR diagnosis, any advice on taking it for the first time to get the maximum benefit. He is starting me on 15mg.

[cmToddy]

I started on 15mg and was a different person after about a week even less. Had a wobble when I dropped to 12.5mg a bit similar to a panic attack but then settled down well. Good luck

[Booklover21 in reply to cmToddy]

Thanks

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As directed by doctor or in the instructions…first thing with after breakfast…..how quickly it works depends on individual.

Sometimes it’s within hours, sometimes it a few days, but if it takes longer than a week then either it may not be enough, or it may not be PMR.

But if it works quickly, please don’t think you are cured and do all the things you haven’t been able to through the pain and stiffness….it’s only working on the inflammation that’s produced as part of your illness, not on the illness itself.

Just keep a few notes on how you feel, so you can report back to doctor, and hope it works for you.

You might like to have a look at this - it’s not a scary as it’s looks on first read - and remember there’s always someone here to help -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Booklover21 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you for your advice and the article

[SnazzyD]

Good luck on this journey. If you do get a rapid relief from the pain, don’t be tempted to use that boost to get things done or over do it because you’re feeling much better. This is false energy and you need to rest to cope with the autoimmune activity it is masking. It isn’t a cure, it is doing a great job of preventing the inflammation caused, which can wreak havoc if left.

[Booklover21 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you

[piglette]

That is fantastic news. In my case I leapt back from the dead in fifteen hours twenty six minutes. I normally take my steroids at 2am in the morning with a piece of cheese, but normally take it early morning when is convenient for you with say yogurt or something.

[Booklover21 in reply to piglette]

Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Initially, take all the dose in the morning with breakfast. Don't experiment with times or splits or anything else - and keep notes. They may be useful - and absolutely don't try to do the cleaning that's been left while you have been dealing with the symptoms without any help.

If it hasn't worked to give 70% improvement in symptoms overall , you MAY need a bit more, the 2015 recommendations say the lowest effective dose in the range 12.5-25 - it has been realised that 15mg is not enough for some people, for all sorts of reasons,

[Booklover21 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you