I am currently using the dead slow method of tapering, for I have had a great deal of difficulty tapering at this level before. If I experience any difficulty at this dead slow method, should I continue on and try and deal with the pain if I can or go up one mg and continue?
Thank you
If you cut your 1mg tablets in half it makes tapering at such low much easier.
If you have any issues, you can always repeat the step you are on (and do that as many times as you like) rather than carry on… that may save you have to go up again.
But don’t let the pain intensify or you will need to increase dose.
TY
Thank You! I have just finished 4 days of 2mg, and scheduled for a 1mg tablet today. then I will go to 3 days of 2mg and go to 1mg and so on---I am having no negative effects so far. Do you think it might be wise to increase my 1 mg days to 1 1/2 or should I wait until some pain appears. Thank you again!
Probably best to be proactive - once the pain appears you are then playing catch up... so change the 1mg to 1.5mg and fingers crossed - no pain 😊
Thank you again very much, I will do that.
If you get to a dose that is too low to manage the inflammation you will develop symptoms again - if that were to happen, DO NOT try to bluff it out, PMR always wins and the inflammation will build up over time like a dripping tap will fill a bucket and you will potentially end up where you were at the start.
When you experience problems at a similar dose a few times it is your body telling you that you have got to your destination: the lowest effective dose. You are not heading relentlessly to zero and 2mg is a very low dose. A top expert in the UK told us he often keeps patients at 2-3mg longer term as it reduces the risk of relapses. I think that is a bit much and it makes sense to try lower but not to force to get to a lower dose if it is difficult.
whatever you DON’T try and tough it out. The PMR will win.
What is the dead slow method?
Replied to post…with link to it.
At the same point you’re at I was tapering at 0.25mg every 5 weeks. Even so I had to stop, pause for 2 or 3 weeks before proceeding. And believe it or not I had adrenal wobbles at 0.5 mg during the hot spell 3 or 4 weeks ago. Taking an extra 1mg for 1 day helped me get through.
I was hospitalised due to adrenal insufficiency at 12.5mg caused by over exertion and I don’t want that twice.
Doctors would probably think I’m nuts if I told them I needed an extra 1mg on top of 0.5mg, but they’re relying on text books but I’m the one having PMR!
I’m on 1.25mg reducing to 1mg. It will take about a month. Then I will have a week at 1 before starting the same journey to 0.75mg. I’ve been diagnosed since 2016 and once before I got to 2mg and, using dead slow, jumped straight to 1mg and then to 0. Within a month I was stuck in a chair in pain again and took myself back up to 7mg where I was back to normal mobility, then started again
So I have learned to take it vvvvv slowly. If you think about it, reducing from 2 to 1 is a drop of 50%.
Each little step has revealed new twinges and other symptoms. My body has got older since 2016 and non-PMR aches and pains are revealing themselves. But this time I am going really dead slow. My goal is vanity driven - I want my fat to redistribute itself back to where it should be 🤣🤣🤣
Luckily my GPs mind their own business and just sign the repeat prescriptions so I can listen to my body.
Slow. Don’t worry if your quarters aren’t all the same - I’m sure your natural hormones fluctuate slightly day by day. Patience!
Your problem wasn't with the speed at which you tapered - your problem was that the underlying autoimmune disorder is still active, albeit at a very low level, and while 1mg was enough to manage the small daily amount of inflammation, zero was a step too far, Quite a few get to 1mg, even 1/2mg but can' manage on no pred. It is the last couple of mg that you need to go extra extra slowly with and maybe even compromise by staying at a miniscule dose longer term.
And getting rid of that fat savings account - cut the carbs, use the fat instead!
That was an excellent post. That is exactly what I have been going through for the past 2 plus years. Thank you and please keep me posted on your progression to zero. I am currently on that same path.
What is the slow taper method to reduce prednisolone? 
Dropping down from 2mg to. 1 1/2mg prednisolone. 
Major GCA Headache with 1/2mg taper
Dead Slow agreed with GP
