how quickly did you feel relief by taking prednisolone?

[Hephzi]

posted before about potential PMR. Painful bilateral shoulders, upper and lower back pain, neck pain, sacroiliac, thigh pain etc. raised. Inflammation markers so prescribed 15mg prednisolone with repeat bloods after 2 weeks. Just wondering if this is PMR, how soon can I possibly find some relief?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Some get almost immediate relief -but not everybody.

But if you don’t see a significant difference (at least 70% improvement) within a couple of weeks then either it’s not PMR or you aren’t on a high enough dose.

[Hephzi in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks. The pharmacist told me to take the dose with breakfast so I’ll wait til tomorrow even though I am itching to start 😂

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hephzi]

You could have taken it with some food when you got it from pharmacy- but usual advice is as early in the morning as you can.

Nothing to stop you taking first dose now with a small snack -doesn’t need to be much.. just something to aid digestion.

[Hephzi in reply to DorsetLady]

They said it can cause insomnia. I don’t want to risk insomnia with the pain I feel in bed. At least I sleep now because I’m so exhausted

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hephzi]

Yes it can -but probably not the first dose… but it’s up to you..,

[Lollybygolly in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes food with pred always. I take Omeprazole when I know the meal will cause indigestion but seldom otherwise

[HeronNS in reply to Hephzi]

I had same instruction. But I took my first dose the moment I got home from the pharmacy (where I'd gone directly from the doctor) mid-afternoon! I did then cycle back through the day over the next few days to get to morning but later learned I could have quite safely (and probably to my benefit) taken my second dose the following morning.

[YogaJM in reply to DorsetLady]

Absolutely Dorset Lady. Both applied to me. I was slow to respond both symptomatically and my CRP marker took months to come down. Eventually an excellent Rheumatologist diagnosed Eosinophilic Fasciitis, and he has managed it very well. Slowly does it. Just to say that there are a range of similar rheumatological conditions to PMR. If the response is atypical, think atypical diagnosis.

[SnazzyD]

It varies from hours, to days to a few weeks. here is a link to one of the relevant posts that have appeared to the right of your message. There are 35 replies to this one so you should get some idea.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Hephzi in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks this is helpful

[HeronNS]

I started at 15 mg after over a year undiagnosed suffering. About six hours later I thought to myself, surely it's not helping already?! On the third morning I got up and was puttering around when I suddenly realized getting out of bed had not been a painful four step process. It was like a miracle!

[Debs2023 in reply to HeronNS]

I had the same experience as this. I took my first 15mg of tablets at 2pm, by 8pm i was pain free and euphoric. I had lost hope after 2 months in pain and 3 visits to the doctors until i eventually dropped on one who did know about PMR. I didnt believe him when he said how quickly the predisone would work .

[Hephzi]

wow. I am dreaming of being able to move/turn in bed, let alone getting up without all the rigmarole. I know pred has potential issues of its own but I need respite. I’m exhausted.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

How long is a piece of string? Six hours after taking 15mg I could move normally. The usual they look for is 70% improvement in a week - some take longer. But it is only fast if the dose is high enough - 15mg is at the bottom end of the range for starting dose. Some need 20, some 25mg.

[Trulyscrumpious]

l went to bed feeling fine. When l woke l could hardly get out of bed for the pain. GP started me on pred and by teatime the pain had gone- l would say about 7 hours. What a relief.

[Hephzi]

that’s amazing

[diana1998 in reply to Hephzi]

And I was started on 30mg. Don't think 15 would have done a thing for me. 70% improvement. At 2mg now and pain free.

[Debs2023 in reply to diana1998]

How long did it take you to get to 2mg ?

[diana1998 in reply to Debs2023]

It took 7 years! and many months of slow reductions and weeks on lower doses. Started pred just before Christmas 2015 so nearly 8 years now. Although no pain at all, the pmr has affected my glutes and I'm stiff and don't have the energy to walk like I used to. Very active generally though and can't complain under the circs.

[Merryfield]

I was put on 40 mgs right away and relief in less than 24 hrs.

[random901 in reply to Merryfield]

Exactly the same for me!

[pata63]

I was untreated for 9 months. When I was diagnosed and put on Pred I was started at 20mg and I was 95% pain free within 8 hours. Blessed relief, I could move again. 😀 I'm now down to 1.75mg having started in April 2019. I've learned lots from the good people here which has been a great help. 🙏

[krillemy]

From a few hours to 3 days I would say. You should fell much better, any joints issues may take longer - let ys know

[Sungolfer]

good morning! You will find so much information and help here.

My journey with Prednisolone started on 6th October - for about 2 weeks had been struggling to lift my legs out of bed or turn over in bed. Had been very stiff and achy in shoulders, neck, hips and thighs for weeks with no “clinical evidence of PMR”. But suddenly there was with CRP at 63. So typical symptoms seemingly present for ages but without the back up proof of inflammatory markers. Anyway to answer your specific question - I did take my first dose of 15mg straight after picking them up mid-morning - after that first thing in the morning. I felt much relief that very first morning getting out of bed and was over the moon! Still very stiff until I’d walked it off - just got better and better but the dose never lasted me 24 hours so residual but totally manageable early morning stiffness which passed with just getting on with my day.

About to post an update - waiting for blood results from yesterday and think my 10mg might have to be increased as more than a little uncomfortable in the mornings. Good luck on your journey!

[Ridge]

I was undiagnosed by GP for 4 months. Eventually saw Rheumatologist who started me on 5mg!! I remember it well as she told me NOT to take the two hourly ibuprofen/paracetamol. I was concerned as we were going out to a Sunday lunch and I did not want to be the focus of attention by creeping everywhere (not that the two hourly dose did much if anything). Within half an hour all the pain fizzled away. Fizzled is exactly what it felt like! I was on cloud 9! Sadly 5mg proved not to be enough but she said it confirmed her diagnoses.

[Thiago1396]

started on 15mg, substantially reduced my pain within 2 to 3 days. After 7 days I requested to go onto 20mg and my residual pain disappeared after another 2 to 3 days. Tapered down slowly since beginning of May 23, now at 10mg, no pain throughout.

[Janet57]

For me it took about 24 hours to feel relief. From not being able to walk upstairs or do my shoelaces up to being able to walk almost pain free. But remember the pred isn’t curing you, it’s just dealing with the inflammation. However, I remember that amazing feeling and it was like a miracle.

[Daffodilia]

Within hours - like a miracle - good luck

[TheMoaningViolet]

In my case, a few hours. Good luck. Vx

[Tanner145]

Got my pred at 5.15 pm on a Friday and took it straight away. By 7pm the pains had gone! A few pains reappeared on the following Monday but then disappeared and little pain over the last 19 months until this week! Started on 15 mg now on 2mg.Good luck

[ColinPmr]

My doctor was unsure of the PMR diagnosis so started my on 5mg. Within 5 hours I was symptom free, but the muscle problems returned within 2 weeks leading to 7.5mg daily for 2 weeks, and then 10mg daily, which did the trick for me.

[RachelJDH]

I felt like a gazelle in about 2 weeks - albeit a stout gazelle. Sadly the euphoria of pain relief did not last.

[Polygolfer]

my rheumatologist had told me some relief within 24 hours and pain free in 48 to 72 hours. He was right, but it very much depends on getting the dose right to your needs, and that is always a guess!

[Gimme]

My response can only be described as miraculous. 15mg gave me almost instant relief. Within an hour, I was starting to feel the effects and almost pain free within 3 or 4 hours. I woke up the next morning free of symptoms. Before taking pred, I struggled to get out of a chair and couldn't bend down to pick up a sock off the floor.

The insomnia didn't start for a few days and by the end of the 2nd week, I was almost completely bonkers, so I reduced quickly to 10 mg and then another week later to 7.5mg and that dose still gave me good relief. 9 months in, I get the same total relief that I had initially at 15 mg. At 5mg, I'm starting to be a bit moanie and groanie again and make old people noises when I get up out of the chair.

It seems that I am extremely responsive to pred, but I am also extremely sensitive to the psych effects too, so it has been a delicate balance between managing the PMR symptoms and not getting myself sectioned. The stuff really does send me bonkers. We all react differently to meds, but the rheumatologist told me that the immediate response is a clincher for PMR.

[Gimme]

That reminds me, don't be fooled if you do get an instant miraculous response. The pred only manages the pain and stiffness. You still have PMR. That means that you still need to take care of yourself. Pred makes some people feel like a superhero, which can lead to overdoing it. You still need to pace yourself and if the PMR has made you immobile over a period of time, you need to build up your strength gradually.

[cranberryt]

I had some relief in about 4 hours and 80% the second day. It took me about 2 months for full relief meaning I would wake up with a small manageable amount of pain and stiffness that would go away completely after my morning dose. Hope you find quick relief!

[CaraDee]

I took pred mid afternoon, after it was prescribed by an urgent care centre.

All pain gone within 2 hours.

My piece of advice is not to rush to taper down (that probably seems like a way off at present). If you go too fast, you may have a flare and end up having to go back to a higher dose.

Best wishes

[Meggsy]

I started on 15mg which was not enough and three weeks later needed to go to 25mg. It worked but took 2-3 weeks to do so. Have used extremely slow tapers with no major setbacks, just a few minor ones. Presently on 0.5mg after over five and a half years. I wish you well. 🌻

[AtopicGuy]

Last time I started a course of prednisolone, I took 20mg with lunch, immediately after some medical tests. Fourteen hours later I woke up for a pee and found I was pain-free! My wife did not appreciate being disturbed so I could demonstrate raising my upper arms past the horizontal! Over the next few months, I steadily caught up on many of the jobs and activities I had had to put off.

I've never had an ESR, but my CRP is almost zero, and all other blood tests are persistently normal. Therefore, the three rheumatologists I've seen (two NHS, one private) and my NHS GP remain adamant I can't possibly have PMR. When I ask, "then why do I respond so well to prednisolone?" the reply is, "everyone feels better on steroids".

[Avadip12]

5 days and I was like new

[WeAreAllMutants]

Doc told me to take initial 20mg dose before leaving pharmacy. A few hours later I was running around the house strewing items on the floor just so I could pick them up! Laughing loudly at the miracle!

2.5 years later and down to 8 - 7.5. It is a tough lesson to learn but titrating slowly is the way.

To the slow titrater goes the race.

[ImC_ in reply to WeAreAllMutants]

so funny! I too had lost the ability to pick things up from the floor.

[Orange_2022 in reply to ImC_]

Me too... I remember looking at the shower tiles and floor and thinking there was no way I could get down there (and get up again!) to clean them...😢

[ImC_]

I took mine as soon as I got home from the pharmacy! I could tell there was some improvement after about 5 hours. After 3 days I was me again.

[Carnivoreyogi]

Hello Hephzi, I found it took a couple of days to feel some relief, and then about a week to feel really really much better. I am very grateful for this medication, and of course keen to taper off when I can. I'm glad you got the diagnosis (which sounds right) and the prednisolone for it.

[KingWilf]

Hi Hephzi, I felt better within a few hours of taking pred, it was like a miracle! I was euphoric for a few days as I could suddenly move so freely after being seized up. I crashed a few days later, when it hit me that I had a nasty disease that would be with me for a long time, but this forum helped me get my head round it and although I’m not completely pain free now I pace myself and manage ok most of the time.

How has your first dose gone? Hope you feel much better soon.

[Potter100]

I saw a difference after the very first dose of 15mg tablets & by day 3 all my pain was gone & no more night sweats. Now weaning off tablets.

[mostyn]

I felt relief within a few hours