I have PMR. Was feeling absolutely fine yesterday. Reduced steroids yesterday from 8mg to 7mg (after 4 weeks as per GP) and today I am not so good. Thinking flare up but I am also thinking I should persevere a couple of days. Do others feel this way and if so what do you do?
Can't see how I'll ever get off them if I go straight back on them if this is the case. Thanks in advance x
Can you describe what you mean by not so good exactly? It helps to work out what’s going on. Amongst other things it could just be your body adjusting as it has kicked in so quickly. Or, adrenal glands not managing to make up the difference with natural Cortisol. This is why it tends to be better to drop by 0.5mg in this dose range.
Now you have posted you will see at least 10 past posts on the same thing in the Related Posts! There is also a LOT on Tapering to be found in the FAQs which you will find answers pretty much any question about it - and then you can still ask here if something isn;t clear.
There are 3 potential reasons for feeling less good next day:
1) Coincidence, we don't feel the same every day. did you do more yesterday for example?
2) The new dose isn't enough to manage the inflammation but that is very unusual after only a a day with a 1mg drop, though now 1/2mg would be better. If it is, it will be worse as the week goes on and that is a failsafe sign you aren't ready for this step yet, Go back to the last dose, wait a up to a month and regroup, Try again then - it may work, it may not, RInse and repeat.
3) Your body is protesting about the change in dose because it noticed something is different, missing that 1mg. This is the most likely reason here. It will improve as the week goes on. Next time, do less of a drop, use a slowed taper approach and spread out the time between drops. Ideal is 10% or less of the current dose - by now, 1mg is above that and as you go down it gets relatively more and more.
This give an idea of whether it’s a flare or normal steroid withdrawal- but as suggested it could be adrenals stuttering - and would suggest you only reduce by o.5mg a time and start using as slower tapering plan
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
-as PMRpro has said lots of info in FAQs on tapering and adrenals - I won’t link them all, better you look and then you’ll know where they are for future reference..
Hi there
I was the same - felt good at 8 then dropped to 7.5 and was a bit “wobbly” for about a week - ie more fatigue soreness in legs and arms - but I may have done more exercise from feeling more confidence as is our problem!
I stuck w 7.5 for 4 weeks - all good - then went to 7 - my soreness came back in hammies and arms (it was Xmas lots of activity for weeks etc) I alternated between 7.5 and 7 for a couple of weeks haphazardly no real plan on which days etc and now have been on 7 for 2 weeks and things have settled down re fatigue and soreness - I am also testing more even though I have just started a new part time job. I found only dropping .5 the solution for me.
All the best.
As the experts have said, you should consider a slow tapering plan. Dropping from 8 to 7 is 12.5%. Imagine how you would feel if you cut your daily food consumption by 12.5%, with another cut coming shortly afterwards. I have been tapering by ¼ mg and stay there for a month. The main effect I notice is being unable to keep my eyes open (as a passenger) in the car. The minor day to day aches and pain are also there but hey! every day we get a bit older and achier anyway. Keep going, you'll get there in the end.
Good morning Glynawel🤗Your tapering wouldn't work for me....too much in one go.
I've been tapering by 1/4 mg and it has gone well.
I hope you feel much better soon.
🌼x
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