Shakes

[Gioielli5]

I can’t stop the shakes. First diagnosed with severe pain at beginning of March. Then dropped to 15mg 2 weeks later. Now on 9mg. By this groups calculations of no more than 10% every 2 months, I should still be on 18.5 mg. I feel as if I’m suffering withdrawal symptoms. Have eventually managed to get an appointment with a different GP next week. Really finding it hard to function at all normally. Any advice, please.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

In your previous post we commented on the fact you had reduced very quickly… so yes I think you do need to be on a higher dose, certainly 15mg… please discuss returning to and starting again that next week.

The guidelines do say you may be able reduce by 2.5mg from 20 mg down to 10mg - but as we know that is not achievable for many people. It does also say tapers should be adjusted according to disease activity and patients wishes - unfortunately a lot of doctors seem to skim over that!

Now you have asked the question, you can see related posts on shakes/shaking. That may also be related to too fast taper …

Your comment re 2 months is more for adrenals as well as PMR when you get to single figures, but I would suggest 3-4 weeks in each dose when higher and - as near to 10% reduction as possible.

[Gioielli5 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankyou. You are a font of knowledge x

[SnazzyD]

The word ‘shakes’ covers a wide area. What kind of shakes is it? For example, is it like a full body tremor or shaking in specific muscles when you try to do something with them? Is it there all the time?

[Gioielli5]

More or less constant. Just internal jitters.