Recent blood test

[camshall]

Took the advice on here and increased my pred by 5mg to combat pmr flare. On day 9 I had a blood test and the esr was 6. I have now dropped to 8mg and will see how it goes for a month, if all goes well I will follow the 5 week reduction plan. Should I go to 7 or 7.5?Thanks for all your help and advice.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As you have flared once, you are more susceptible to it happening again... so I'd plump for the 0.5mg reductions from now on - a smaller drop also helps adrenals when they need to start working again...

[SnazzyD]

I guess it’s worth thinking about what might have caused the flare and asking, has anything changed? It might not be the case that all you do is deal with the inflammation and go back to where you were as if nothing has happened, reset. If it were me, I’d be reducing more cautiously unless you know there was a limited cause that has now gone. If it is that you were on the limit of effective dose before, you still need to be quite wary.

[camshall in reply to SnazzyD]

I did ignore the onset of muscle tightness in the quest to taper off pred. Now know so much more since joining this forum, and will be taking it slow and steady and react quickly if the reduction causes a flare.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I would say 7.5 - it isn't slow when it works and 1/2mg is more likely to work than 1mg.