ESR and Prednisolone

[KCRoyals]

Hi, tried to wheen myself off Pred after 16 years of taking them. Got down to 2mg but have recently found all the old symptoms returning, ie shoulder, hip, knee pains. My ESR yesterday was 18mm at age 72. GP has given me 2 packs of 5mg and has told me in the past ( on my recommendation ) that the best help I can get is on here. Question. What dosage should I take and best taper method.

Thx

Tony

[piglette]

At least your doctor is being sympathetic.

[KCRoyals in reply to piglette]

Problem was when I first had symptoms, no one at my surgery had an idea what it was. I was sent for p/therapy and that didn't help. Suddenly someone had the bright idea it was PMR having taken an ESR test. My GP's are really good and when I told them about this site I was told the level of expertise on here would maybe better than they have.

[piglette in reply to KCRoyals]

The fact this site can offer first hand experience is really useful. It annoys me when some doctors poo poo patients making comments and do not listen.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As you’ve only been off a few weeks, I’d treat as a flare -so take 5mg for 10-14 days -and then drop back down to 2.5 or 2mg as you were okay at that before your trip away without Pred…

Hopefully if you catch it quick enough you won’t need to start any higher.. but you won’t know until you try..

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Treat it as a flare - add 5mg for up to a couple of weeks (so 7mg) and then drop straight back to the last good dose. Had you been tapering very slowly - like a 1/2mg reduction every 2 or 3 months? If you were going faster than that, you might find you need 4mg but hopefully 3mg will do the job.

Prof Dasgupta told us in a seminar during Covid he often kept patients on 2-3mg longterm as it reduced the risk of relapses.

[KCRoyals in reply to PMRpro]

Thx for that PMR. I'm on the 7mg as suggested. So does that mean I go directly back to the 3mg after a couple of weeks?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to KCRoyals]

Yup - see if 3mg is enough, if not, 4mg.

[KCRoyals]

Thx for that, I'll go with what yourself and DL have suggested. On another point. Read a reply to the guy querying Adrenal Glands. Only had one syncathen test in 16 years and that over a dozen ago. Would you think it's something I should try and get repeated?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to KCRoyals]

Possibly worth asking the GP if they can do a quick basal cortisol NOW while you have been at such a low dose. That will tell you a fair bit. If he doesn't know how to interpret it - I do!!! And I;'l send him the link if he likes.

[Lafontainepam1]

I too have been on Prednisone for that long. I have decided to stay at 5mg., I am 75 now. My Rumy said he’s fine with it. Even though I have Prednisone induced Diabetes, I’d rather stay stable! I tried the up and down without any success!