After recent ups and downs I was taking 15mg per day but I have not been feeling at all well for the past few days. My head has felt peculiar and I have been feeling disorientated. This morning when I was about to take my medication I noticed that I did not have any more 5mg tablets left and I'm pretty sure I have only been taking 3mg per day instead of 15 mg per day over the past few days as I only have 1mg tablets and 2 and half mg tablets. I have mistakenly been taking 1mg instead of 5mg. The packets are so similar, likewise the size of the tablets. So I have now taken 15mg this morning made up of six 2 and a half mg tablets. Is this ok or should I have taken more? Advice urgently needed please.
mistake with steroids: After recent ups and downs I... - PMRGCAuk
mistake with steroids
The surprising thing is that you don’t feel worse, with PMR pains returning. It sounds more like Adrenal insufficiency. You will be fine on 15 mgs and I would be tempted to start a gentle taper of maybe half a 1 mg tablet ( cut with a tablet cutter) every 4 weeks, when things feel settled.
Another thought:
Perhaps ask again about a Rheumatologist referral, you do seem to be having a struggle. Stubborn PMR and difficulty with tapering usually indicates that a Rheumatologist input would be beneficial. My Rheumatologist discovered large vessel Vasculitis when my PMR was not responding to low dose Pred as expected.
Thank you for your prompt reply. I'm not sure how many days I was just taking 3mg, possible only one or two and my head has felt a bit odd for several days now. I do have a brain scan coming up next weekend as I have had two nasty bouts of vertigo over the past couple of years which landed me in hospital. I am also amazed that I didn't feel a whole lot worse dropping down suddenly to 3mg a day instead of 15mg. I am feeling a bit better now so hopefully things will improve. I will mention about seeing a Rheumy to my GP although last tiime I did that, a few months ago, she muttered something about a long waiting list .....
15mg should be ample...but as SheffieldJane says wonder you didn't feel really wiped out!
Suggestion - write dose on the packet in marker pen in large writing ---so you don't get confused again, and [if you don't already] use a dosette box - sort out your weekly tablets during a quite time...and shouldn't have a similar thing happen again... Not always guaranteed though!
But as also stated you seem to be having a difficult ride with your PMR, so perhaps you do need a second opinion...
I could imagine you did not feel too good on taking such a small dose of steroids. Now you are back to the normal dose you should feel a lot better.