Do I slow down now?

[HamishPMR]

I have been reducing by 0.5mg every 4 weeks and am now on 3mg daily. Should I now aim for 0.5mg every 5 weeks or continue on a 4 week cycle? I am not suffering fatigue or other symptoms.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Really up to you, if you feel okay on current regime then carry on…but just be aware [which I’m sure you are as you asked the question] it sometimes can get more difficult the lower you get.. and there really is no rush.

Good luck whatever you decide….

[HamishPMR in reply to DorsetLady]

As always Lady, you are so helpful. Thank you. Hamish

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to HamishPMR]

Well it wasn’t really an answer, but perhaps an affirmation of your thoughts….sometime that’s all you need. 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you are OK, why change a pattern that has worked for you? But do be aware and mark time if anything feels wrong - fatigue or PMR, pause and rethink.

[agingfeminist]

I am just edging from 3.5 to 3 and keep wondering ...do I feel OK? is that a twinge of PMR pain? should I go even slower? (if all goes well I am giving 3 months for the drop...it got interrupted by a septic mosquito bite). Only when I work do I abandon all the self-analysis of my pain status. It's so tricky.

I suppose we just try and see what happens. I just hope my adrenals kick in...adrenal insufficiency is trying to destroy the remnants of my life. Hope you are doing better..GOOD LUCK

[PMRnewbie2017]

The only thing I would add is beware the similarity between pmr symptoms and steroid withdrawal symptoms now you are getting onto very low doses. In retrospect I think I mistook aches of steroid withdrawal with the beginnings of a flare. Now at 2/1.5mg my goto test is Paracetamol or Ibuprofen if I begin to feel sore or stiff.

[gingerraspiller]

I was on a similar taper. Starting at 5 mg - decrease was 0.5 mg. When I tapered from 5 to 4.5 mg - boy did I start to feel my stuttering adrenal glands! I had to extend my time at each dose to 5 or 6 weeks. Currently at 3.5 mg for 5 weeks - waiting another week before I go to 3 mg. Good luck!

[Bcol]

Hi Hamish, sounds like things are going well with your present regime. I've always worked on five weeks from 10mg downwards, even that has been flexible, but if four is working for you then probably no change needed.