Why am I so tired?

[christi48]

I'm in good shape and a regular exerciser. I've been doing a slow taper from 5mg. to 4 1/2 mg. of Pred for about a month now and am nearing the new daily dose of 4 1/2. I have noticed in the past week or two that I tire easily, more than normal. Is this a symptom of withdrawal? Otherwise, I'm feeling good - pain has subsided dramatially. Thank you for your input.

[SheffieldJane]

It is a symptom of withdrawal. I am in exactly the same spot. I had my adrenal function checked, that was fine ( with good potentiality.) All I am doing to manage it is a 90 minute sleep ( body’s choice), after lunch. Even if I don’t sleep, I lie down, eyes closed with an audio book. This enables me to manage for the rest of the day.

[Charlie1boy in reply to SheffieldJane]

I do exactly the same as you do Jane! A daily siesta for up to an hour and a half. It’s the only way I’ve been able to keep going. I still do it even though I’ve been off pred for over six months now.

Perhaps it’s also because I’m into my eighties!

Paddy

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Might be withdrawal symptoms [but using a slower taper should avoid those, that’s the aim] -and if you’ve never had them before, would say as likely to be adrenals stuttering.

Slow taper, small steps, time and patience will get you through -and rest when you need to.

Have a look at this -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[christi48 in reply to DorsetLady]

Very helpful - thank you.

[PMRnewbie2017]

I would agree too. I managed to get down to 1,5mg via 1.75mg. I was in Rome for 6 days at 1.5mg and when I got home I was wrecked. I'm now back to 2mg but by 3pm I'm all done in again and my legs feel like lead with no power or flexibility. Like SJ, I have to take an afternoon nap which is reviving. I cannot predict from one day to the next how I will feel when I wake up in the morning but I have noticed, that if I overdo things, I will suffer. Not the next day but two to three days later. I'm very good at preaching Patience but terrible at following my own advice. When I feel good I want to be active. IMHO these last stages of the Pred reduction are more tricky to navigate than having full blown PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is "withdrawal" in the sense it is due to a lower dose of pred but it is also a normal effect in that as you lower the pred dose to this sort of level your body has to start producing its own natural corticosteroid, cortisol, again as it has been suppressed by higher doses to reduce the risks of over-dose of steroid. You are in a state of adrenal insufficiency and the primary symptom of that is fatigue.

The only way is to stick with it and taper in tiny steps and long intervals to give your body a chance to catch up and at the same time pare back the things that make you feel extra tired. Boring I fear but ...

[christi48 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much

[Broseley]

I also developed extreme tiredness, lack of energy and lassitude on 4.5mg, after being on it for 2 weeks. I stuck it out, and it's much better now. I guess the same thing will happen when I drop to 4mg in a week or two.

[ImC_]

Me too! I took a long, slow taper from 5mg to 4.5mg and I am so, so tired. I sleep for 9 hours, get showered and dressed, then feel like I need a little lie-down! After a couple of - by my now (low) standards - busy days, I'm wiped out.

But if this is adrenal insufficiency, and therefore what it takes to prompt the adrenals to start back into life, it'll be worth it as a milestone towards the end of PMR?

[piglette]

It sounds like the deathly fatigue might be affecting you and your adrenal glands are none to keen on leaping into action just yet. It is a good idea to hang on for a while.

[christi48 in reply to piglette]

Thank you.