Should I up my Pred while I am fighting Covid?

[JEMOK]

I have tested positive for Covid & am really poorly. I am on 5 mg and slowly tapering down to 4.5 mg at the moment. Should I increase my Pred while fighting Covid & if so by how much & for how long? Any suggestions please would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Jem

[SheffieldJane]

At your level with Covid, I went up by 5 mgs for just over a week then returned without tapering to my normal dose. Poor you, it is a rotten bug. Rest rest rest and keep hydrated. X

[JEMOK in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you so much x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

This link -special rules section 7 refers-

However you may not need as high a dose as suggested - but does say speak to doctor -

medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/...

[JEMOK in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you for the link which was so helpful 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yes you should probably increase your pred a fair bit if you are feeling poorly.

The usual instructions for general illness is to double the dose up to a maximum of 20mg so it will be less if you are on under 10mg as you are. However, for Covid the instructions in the SIck Day Rules are to take 10mg morning and evening.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

But do ask your doctors before doing so - though it is likely they won't know anything about it!

[JEMOK in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much I am speaking to a GP this afternoon but will take your advice & double my dose to 10 mg 😊

[Boss302Fan]

I didn’t and had no flares.

[pmac22]

I tested positive for covid on 1/10 and feeling pretty sick, came on so quickly, cough and headache were bad, was on 6mg prednisone and Actemra. My endo had me double my prednisone during covid symptoms. I also had 3 infusions of remdesivir as I could not take the paxlovid.