Reducing preds

[ritter]

Hi all .can you tell me how to reduce from 10mg.down to 9mg over what length of time ...my doc suggest reducing 1mg every 2 months ....I think that is to slow? As I started on 35mg back in September please advise ..many thanks Ritter

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Why you think it’s too slow?

If your doctor thinks it’s sensible, I’d be inclined to agree with him…the guidelines do say below 10mg, reduce by 1mg every 4-8 weeks depending on patients wishes and disease activity.

Most patients complain that their doctors are trying to get them to reduce too quickly.

I’d go with the advice given …

[ritter]

Ok thank you so much I just could not remember how I did this way back in 2012. I started on 60mg.and it took till 2015.to finish. I have been fine for nearly 8yrs. It came as a bit of a shock to get it back again. Thank you so much. Regards ritter

[ritter in reply to ritter]

Thank you...And thank you for your advice..hope you are well.

[ritter]

Thank you Dorset lady.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to ritter]

Sorry you’ve got a return of illness.. good luck this time around.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'd say your doctor was right on the nail. It isn't slow when it works and you aren't having flares and having to go back up - and for that, the slower the better.

[piglette]

I am in agreement with your doctor and I feel 0.5mg per month under 10mg is a good taper. If you feel you can go faster it is really up to you. Some people can reduce more easily than others.

[ritter in reply to piglette]

Thank you piglet will see how it goes and reduce by 1mg per every 6weeks .thanks for your reply ...hope your well.ritter

[piglette in reply to ritter]

👍👍

[KKRb]

I am currently at 5 mg. I am only reducing, as your doctor suggests, but, I decrease by 1/2 mg. every mo.

[Scallyanna]

I am due to reduce to 10 mg soon from 15mg in December, then 12:5 now, and thereafter my gp has said reduce 1 mg every six weeks, not sure I would want to do it any faster than that . Will see how it goes.

[ritter]

Yes I think I will reduce by 1mg every 5 weeks ....I was on 35mg back in September and doc had me reducing by 5mg every 2 weeks had blood test in November and ESR was 7. So if I can reduce by 1 with not many side affect that will do me. Fingers crossed.

[Dydee]

I reduced 1mg between 10mg and 7mg and staggered the reduction by doing once a week, then twice a week, then 3x, etc. Still ran into a flare at 7 so went back up to 8 for a couple weeks then started reducing by 1/2mg but followed the same procedure. Now down to 2.5mg with no hiccups. I plan to continue doing it very slowly because it's so discouraging to have to go back up and start again. I'm lucky, my doc trusts me to do it at my own pace. Good luck on your journey!!

[Bcol]

Advice from doctor sounds good to me, I work on a DL taper and 0.5mg every five weeks. Always bear in mind though that it is a plan to aim for, if it doesn't feel right to start the next taper then give it another week or so.