Increase or not

[Carathedog]

Hi,

Reduced from 12.5 to 10, after blood tests showed no inflammation at all, was all going well, felt I had it in control.

After nine good days, I’ve had two painful ones.

What would be your advice on this

Thanks

[SnazzyD]

Hello, are the pains exactly the same as your previous PMR? Also, did you do any unusual, even if mundane, activity in the few days it started?

[Carathedog in reply to SnazzyD]

Yes, pains are the same as before. I suppose I did do a wee bit more than usual, but to be honest, I’m really not doing much

[SnazzyD in reply to Carathedog]

More questions I’m afraid. What did you get up to? Where are the pains? Is it there all day? Were you ok on 12.5mg? It may be a 2.5mg drop is just too much and you need to break it down into smaller chunks.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Agree with SnazzyD probably too big a reduction, not everyone can manage. Maybe back to 12,5mg, get stabilised, then try 1mg steps - if you have 2.5mg plain white tablets, cut in half…gives 1.25mg - near enough!

[Carathedog in reply to DorsetLady]

Pains, worse in morning, I only went to the dentist and did some shopping I’ll go back to 12.5

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Carathedog]

Hopefully will sort things out.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I agree with my friends above! Too much at once and overshot. I'd go back to 12.5mg and then do 1mg at a time and see how that goes. Especially if tomorrow is worse.

[Carathedog in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you

[piglette]

It happens to us all, too big a jump, do as DorsetLady suggests, go back to 12mg, stabilise, when you feel fine start to reduce again, but more slowly this time!

[Carathedog in reply to piglette]

Thank you, it’s a fine line isn’t it

[piglette in reply to Carathedog]

The trouble us our doctors think we can make huge jumps and our bodies say we can’t!

[jinasc in reply to Carathedog]

Use DSNS it is slow and takes time to make the drop. (Taper plan in FAQs.

[Carathedog in reply to jinasc]

What’s DSNS

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Carathedog]

One of the slowed approaches to tapering, to be found under tapering in the FAQs. I called it Dead Slow and Nearly Stop, DSNS ...

[Pondweed in reply to PMRpro]

After being diagnosed with PMR exactly a year ago I am down to 8mg for 3 days 8.5mg for 4 days for the next 4 weeks ..... the DSNS method, thanks to all you wise owls👍👍👍 So far this patient reduction is serving me well. The clinical nurse at my surgery is giving me full control of my pred reduction....I am one of the lucky ones. I still start my day with reading the new posts.... this forum has been instrumental in dealing positively with PMR over the last 12 months 💪💪💪🙏🙏🙏🙏

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Carathedog]

This slow tapering plan -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Jigsawlass]

I too, recently reduced from 12.5 to 10 following the plan my consultant suggested. Pains started to come back . I upped to 11mg as suggested by Dorset lady on here , within 24 hours the pains had virtually gone . I saw a consultant this week and she said I was absolutely right to go up to 11mg as, in her experience, the jump from 12.5 to 10 is often too big , so slow and steady is best . So good to hear that . She recommends I stay on 11mg for 4 weeks and then try 10mg. Maybe something to think about ?

[Carathedog in reply to Jigsawlass]

Thank you, have taken 11 today 🤞🤞

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jigsawlass]

" in her experience, the jump from 12.5 to 10 is often too big"

So I do have to ask: why does she persist with it? Not all patients are as sensible as you!

[Jigsawlass in reply to PMRpro]

It was the consultant I saw initially who said 12.5 to 10mg, I saw a different one this week . She seemed really good , wanted to know my story even though she had the letter from my initial consultation. Ordered full bloods for everything and will phone me in 2 months to catch up, unless anything is amiss with bloods .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jigsawlass]

Ah so - hope you see this week's one again! She gets Brownie points from me

[Jigsawlass in reply to PMRpro]

Me too! I was very reassured after seeing her 😁