Tapering Help

[craighead72]

As per my previous posts was prescribed Pred in April 22. All symptoms pointed to PMR apart from bloods being on borderline. Reduced gradually to 12 three months ago then using alternate day reductions (12/11/12/11….) for 2 or 3 weeks at a time am now at 10 every day for 2 weeks but starting to wake feeling aching arms etc lasting to afternoons. Wary of further tapering. Should I increase by 5mg for a few days and see what happens then go back down to 10 or stick it out at 10 ? Also have lumbar spinal stenosis and never sure if pain due to that but doubt it as usually only affects legs and walking.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Sounds like one, so treat as a flare -see this - if you stick at 10mg it’s likely to worsen -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

.. and as we’ve said before you need to be at each dose for longer than 2 weeks, 4 weeks is much more sensible… and although you may think ‘that’s going to take much longer to get to zero’.. it’s better than flaring and having to increase dose…

You might be able to drop back down to 10mg - but 11mg would be better - as 10mg is obviously not quite enough…

[craighead72 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankyou for good advice, confirmed by PMPro. I will slow down the tapering regime and start back to 11mg per day for 4 weeks.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to craighead72]

We usually sing from the same song sheet…🎶🎶🎼 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If it is affecting your arms and you haven't been lugging something about - sounds very flarish. If you try 11mg quickly it might be enough without the "add 5mg" stage, But it sounds as if you need to slow down - alternating 2 doses for 2 weeks isn't slow by our standards! And it isn't slow when it works and you don't flare up.

[craighead72 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. You will see my reply to DorsetLady.