9 weeks in to my Pred journey and following DorsetLady’s excellent tapering plan.
Got to 12.5: then started intermittent change to10. Result headache, fatigue. Now cutting 2.5 pill in half ( still following intermittent plan). Headache and fatigue gone, but still resting.
No monitoring from doctor, surgery, no follow up with Rheumatologist, would have been in real trouble without the wonderful help offered on here, but have just paid for a full blood count. Thank you all.
Maybe just tread water in the tapering - so repeating current stage until you are sure you are okay - and also get results of blood tests. Really is no rush… so make sure you are really alright… before attempt to go any lower.
Slowly, slowly.
I think you also need to get the GP practice to do their job. Providing forms for blood tests doesn't entail ongoing input from the GP themself - it is usually a nurse who takes bloods. You shouldn't need to pay for the tests. If no-one else, speak to the Practice Manager.
Many thanks. Actually had pre paid bi annual medical booked so added on the full count which I paid for. Will push the practice a bit harder. So grateful to you all.
Fair enough - though surprised it wasn't part of an annual medical!
just picking up on your plan to cut 2.5 Pmg Pred in half: Is that coated Pred? Cutting coated pills is , I think, not recommended as they often shatter and then one can’t be certain of dose actually received.
Don’t rush! As my old Dad used to say: ‘softly, softly catches the monkey’. 10% rule is a good one.
It is more that by cutting them you are losing their USP: the coating protects the stomach from the pred which is thought to irritate the stomach lining. When you cut them that exposes the pred to the stomach - or vice versa however you want to look at it!
I think the issue of cutting coated pred is that it renders the gastro resistant bit null and void. Ie no protection
Tapering from 10 to 5 mg 
TENDONITIS THREAT from fluorometholone eye drops?
Update to symptoms dropping from 30 to 25 and weird visual symptom
Dropping the amount of prednisone
Reduced Pred from 10 to 8 mg
