Tapering

[Blodders2]

Good morning all.

I have been on a starter dose of prednisolone 15mg for three weeks which has made me feel absolutely amazing no aches or pains, reduced last Thursday to 12.5mg as instructed to by my GP started getting pains and stiffness in fingers also pain in my right hip this morning do I carry on taking 12.5mg or increase back up?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Give it another couple of days…it might be steroid withdrawal rather than too little a dose. See this to explain difference -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

If no better by Tues or Wed I’d go back to 15mg - and get back on track. Although 15-12.5-10mg is in the guidelines - not everyone can manage it.

If you do need to go back up, then next time around reduce by 1mg a time -or if you have uncoated 2.5mg tabs cut them in half to give 1.25 - much easier on body. And tbh, even if it does prove to be steroid withdrawal I’d go down in smaller steps anyway.

If you don’t have 1mg tablets, then request from GP [you’ll need them anyway once you get to 10mg] and they also should be aware if you are struggling with the tapering you have been given. If you don’t tell them, they assume everything is okay when it’s not… and it is only a plan … needs to be amended to suit YOU and your PMR.

[Blodders2 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you so much for your prompt response and advice, GP prescribed me 5mg and 1mg tablets so ok for cutting 1mg in half, will persevere as you suggested for a couple more days, I was told to reduce to 12mg after 3 weeks but I decided to do 12.5mg, fingers crossed 🤞

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Blodders2]

Okay… but just make sure it is SW… and whatever, go the 1mg route from now on…

The guidelines also say 3 week for reductions - but many of us ‘older’ hands think at least 4 weeks at each dose..

I fully understand why doctors want patients on Pred for the shortest time possible -don’t we all wish that]…and that’s fine when it works… but unfortunately it’s doesn’t always. So listen to your body- it will soon tell you if it’s not happy… 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Blodders2]

Probably easier to cut the 5s to get 2,5 and add fewer 1s.

And otherwise - I'd say the same as DL.

[Blodders2]

Thanks again I will make sure it is SW. Do you mean reduce by 1mg in 3-4 weeks to 11.5 mg not 10mg.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Blodders2]

If it doesn't settle - go back to 15mg and then 14, 13, 12 and so on. 2.5 is a big change in one step,

[Blodders2 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you very much for the clear instructions, my minds a bit foggy at the moment to take a lot in 🙂

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Blodders2]

Whatever it turns out to be - smaller steps and preferably every 3-4 weeks.

[Blodders2 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you again. You're a star.