Rheumy visit

[SudsSuds]

I previously posted that I thought my PMR was coming back and I was arranging an appt. By way of update I saw a new rheumy yesterday, my own being on holiday. She consulted with the doctor, that ran the clinical study I had been on, who probably knows more about my PMR than any other professional. The upshot is I am back on 10mg of pred for 4 weeks with no tapering and then I have another appointment to review where I am, including the results of the blood test done today. The review will also consider the possible use of methotrexate. I suppose I am putting this out there to see what people think. Thank you.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I replied on other post -but replicated here for completeness-

Doctors have probably done the correct thing - although you might have got away with a slightly smaller initial dose

See how you are at the 4 weeks mark -and then decisions can be made.

Good luck.

PS - would hold back on MTX until you have tried tapering without it.

[SudsSuds in reply to DorsetLady]

I'll do all of that - thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

For completeness here is what I said on the other thread:

"They obviously think it is the PMR, as we do. As I said before, you were probably doing OK at 6mg and to be honest, if the 10mg gets you to a happy place and then you can taper slowly to 6mg I would say no to MTX. So at least postpone that decision.

Thinking is beginning to come around to what we have said for a while: if you can get to moderate single figures on your own, there is not much justification for adding another pretty powerful drug with unpleasant adverse effects. Low doses of pred probably have fewer long term adverse effects than a combo of pred and MTX - and there is no guarantee that the MTX will get you to a lower dose of pred. It MIGHT, but it might not. If you were stuck above 10mg I would say try it. if you are stuck well below 10mg - I'm far from sure it is worth it."

[SudsSuds in reply to PMRpro]

A few years ago I would probably have taken whatever a doctor suggested. I am more wary now as the drugs add up. I refused duloxetine recently. I hope to get down to 4-6mg of pred at least so no MTX for me.

[Suffererc]

Had you come off steroids 😊

[SudsSuds in reply to Suffererc]

I came off steroids in January 23 but it's a bit complicated because I was on ABBV-154 a trial drug until June/July. My symptoms started about six weeks ago (I have been doing my best to ignore) so about two months after finishing the trial drug which is not very long after the trial drug exited my system, it takes about a month for that to happen.