dosage reduction

[kathyrob]

I have recently reduced from m4g to 3.5 and find after 2weeks getting lots of pain in shoulders neck and hips .Just wondering if I should go back to 4 done this on my own as been on pred for 5years. Still had some pain on 4but not as much as now. Had help before from the knowledge on here. Thank you.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

See this on how to deal with a flare - and I would suggest that it was just beginning whilst you were at 4mg -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

So maybe when you come down again, you stop at 4mg for a few weeks just to make sure all okay -and then use a slower taper regime if not already -variations here -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[kathyrob in reply to DorsetLady]

I have been on 4mg for a year or more. Rheumy referred me back to Dr, since then don't get much help was told last inflammation was 24 but don't know what that means. Since only getting phone consultations I am 81yrs old and have arthritis so don't know if it's that causing pain.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to kathyrob]

The figure for (I assume) the ESR only really means something in the context of previous levels allied with your symptoms. If my ESR was running at 24 I'd probably be in trouble - my personal normal level is low single figures. But if your usual ESR level when you are really well runs about 20 - or even more - then 24 is fine. At over 80, if you need 5mg to feel really good - then that is where I would be, Life at any age is too short to spend it in pain if you don't need to be.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to kathyrob]

Agree with PMRpro if you need slightly more, then I would taking it…..

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Once you start to feel pain at any dose it is time to tread carefully. As DL says, sounds like 4mg was barely holding the inflammation at bay. You may find a few weeks more at 4mg and things will improve - but it is never worth forcing a drop to a lower dose, it only ends in tears.

[piglette]

Your body is saying you have gone that one step too far. I would go back to 4mg.

[cranberryt]

If you had pain at 4mg, then you may need to go back to 4.5 or 5. Reducing when already in pain is rarely a good idea. It leads to having to take higher doses for longer than just stopping when you hit that lowest level that doesn’t cause pain.