Change of plan

[Exhiker]

Following on from my post 3 days ago about cutting tablets because of being forced to reduce to 2mgs, i have decided to increase to 3.5mgs using 2.5 +1. I really didn't feel ready to reduce as i did have discomfort and stiffness being on the 3mgs, so i sat down this morning with my calculator and worked it out i can stay on 3.5mgs for a while, taking into account the 5s ive got left and the 1s they are supplying me with. I started on this course May 2021 after a GP had virtually taken me off. I think being on 3.5mgs 17 months in from last May is ok and reasonable, what do you think? I'm sorry to go on about this but i just wanted to go over it/share it with the good people on this forum as you are my only source of support.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Sounds reasonable, but most importantly hope it works...

[Exhiker in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks DL. Sorry this all sounds so trivial, but I felt I was doing so well but now because of limited prescriptions, seemed like I was taking steps backward.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Exhiker]

Of course it's not trivial.... and limited prescriptions really are a no, no....

Hope your plan is successful...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Being on 3.5mg after however long it is is good if you get symptoms if you go lower. That is a low dose and the sort of dose you are aiming for in PMR. If it works - NO GP should complain.

The median time to get to 5mg from a starting dose of 15mg is 18 months. And Prof Dasgupta (a leading light in the field) told us a couple of years ago that he often keeps patients on 2-3mg pred longer term as it reduces the likelihood of relapses.

[Exhiker in reply to PMRpro]

Thankyou PMRpro, that's reassuring, I definitely feel now it's the right thing to do. Thanks for your info.