ESR CRP Results

[Hankb]

I had a blood test four weeks ago and my CRP was 12.6; at that stage I was on 6.5mg a day prednisone, tapering (using DL's plan) from my original dose rate of 20mg daily which I started on in Nov 2020. I received the results of the tests this morning which were ESR 14 and CRP 1, my rheumy recommends I continue with the taper now and drop from 10mg at a rate 1mg a month, I was hoping I could drop back to say 7.5mg and continue tapering at my previous rate of 0.5mg a month. Any advice would be really appreciated.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As/if you’ve been on 10mg for about a month -reading from your previous post -it probably would be sensible to use a slower taper than you initially hoped you could to get to 6.5mg.

So maybe follow Rheumy’s advice -1mg (every 3/4 weeks) until say 7mg -then restart usual 0.5mg.

It’s only an extra 3 months -nothing in great scheme of things.

As a matter of interest -have you sorted out legs issue you mentioned in previous post?

[Hankb in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks DL, I will start by reducing 1mg a month as you recommend and then by 0.5mg once I've got to 7mg then taper at 0.5mg from there on. As you sey an extra 3 months is not a big deal st this stage,I still have the sunburn sensation in my legs, I'm going to talk to my GP about it again now that the inflammation markers have been sorted out and will let you know how I get on. Thanks again for your advice much appreciated.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Since you have been at 10mg for a full month I think it might be hard work dropping straight to 10mg - and since the 6.5mg was obviously too low at the time, I suspect dropping straight to 7,5mg now might be a bit risky. It isn't a race to get off pred - it is a journey to find the right dose and overshooting that dose can lead to all sorts of problems if you keep pushing too hard.

I think the 1mg per month is a reasonable idea.

[Hankb in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMR, you've convinced me, much appreciated.