when to stop taking AA

[Harrywogan]

Been taking AA for 4years and thought I'd just stop as ive heard its only to be taken for 5years any advice

[SheffieldJane]

One for your prescribing doctor I think. It will have done its job. Glad you tolerated it. It is a drug that alarms me from a number of angles. I am a wuss!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I stopped at around 4 year mark but did discuss with GP -he agreed probably long enough -and was on very low doses of Pred by then anyway

[Charlie1boy]

My GP allowed me to come off when I got down to seven mg. Think it very much depends on the person as we are all so different.Good luck

Paddy

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Talk to your doctor - preferably the one who put you on it in the first place.

[paintpots]

I took myself off it after 3 years and down to 3mg of pred. I actually found it a pain having to take it once a week early morning and sitting up or standing for 1/2 hour.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to paintpots]

Really? It’s only 1/2hr..I had a shower and then sat and read emails..not exactly onerous 😊

[Harrywogan in reply to paintpots]

Me to paint pots.

[Thelmarina]

I stopped after five years, had a dexa scan and now have osteoporosis so was put back on it. However when I get lower (7.5 at the moment) I shall discuss it once more with my rheumatologist.

[Thelmarina]

Ps I’m on Ibandronic acid which is taken monthly - couldn’t cope with weekly dosage 😀

[Exflex]

When I asked one of the two GPs at the surgery she asked a Rheumatologist (I’ve been discharged back into GP care over 12 months ago). At the time of asking I was probably on 4mg. I was told to stay on Risedronate until the bitter end, ie for as long as I take Pred.More recently I had consulted for another health issue and the second GP at the practice said to me anything below 5mg doesn’t cause long term damage. I forgot to ask him about bone depletion.

I hate taking it but I’m resigned to the fact and it’s an incentive to ween myself off Prednisolone. (I’m currently on 3mg Pred.)

[Harrywogan in reply to Exflex]

Thanks Exflex will speak to gp about the AA. you say currently on 3mg how slow you coming down .

[Exflex in reply to Harrywogan]

I’m reducing at the rate of 0.5mg every 5 weeks (nominally, that is, I paused whilst suffering from Covid, and actually went up but then straight down again). I’m using Dorset Lady’s simple tapering plan.