Pred reduction

[steveives]

Well down to 3.5mg this morning ,been here before so I am a bit wary but this time around it is 0.5mg reduction every 4 weeks and it seems to be working (fingers x) I. Really do think it is a little reduction each time don't try to run before you can walk

[Polywotsit PMRGCAuk team member]

Well done Steve!

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Steve

Great advice! Good luck with the rest of your journey to remission.

[Hidden]

Hi Steve,

I really envy you. You are below what many believe is a real problem dose - 5mg. I have been wrestling with doses between 8 and 6.5mg for quite a while now. My last drop, 5 days ago, was from 7.5mg to 7mg in 3 weeks. I had bad side effects for about 4 days, but an improvement today.

I have managed without a dose of ibuprofen.

Perhaps I should extend the time between doses to 4 weeks instead of 3. I have been down to 6.5mg, but not for long. I had to go up again.

I guess the problem is that I am so keen to get off pred. The side effects are almost as bad as those caused by PMR.

Pats

[steveives in reply to Hidden]

Hi Pats Yeah its not been a walk in the park,so hard to get off the Pred as i said earlier i got down to 1.5m but with bad advice from my G.P and then had a massive flair up and went up to 6mg! .On my Rhuemy's advice from June started on a reduction of 0.5 every 4 weeks and the side effects usually kick in on the second week mine are stomach problems but that is another story. I do hope you and all the other sufferers continue a gradual reduction and say goodbye to this horrible PMR

[hannmorr in reply to steveives]

Hi Steve

I'm a new forum member but would like your advice as I'm having terrible trouble getting from, 3mg prednisolone to 2.5 and stomach irritation /discomfort is the major reason! I am taking omeprazole etc but would like to know how long you had the stomach problems and what you do to help them. many thanks

[Polywotsit PMRGCAuk team member in reply to hannmorr]

Hi. Is it because the pred you are on is uncoated?

[triker]

Steve,

That's great advice! I also came down on the Pred dose too quickly, 6 months ago.

This time it's much more slowly, and cutting up tablets to keep continuity. Not more than 10% reduction per month is keeping me with less pain and better mobility - especially getting out of bed, armchairs and into the car! That advice I picked up through this great website! Thanks

Triker

[steveives]

Triker, thanks for your comments why don't they make the Pred in 0.5mg tablets would be so much easier for us eh?

[Pipistrelle]

Agree Steve I wish there were 0.5 mgs, the 1mgs are hard to cut evenly even with a pill cutter.

Pats maybe one approach would be to do3-4 weeks at say 5 then a week or two of alternating with next drop level eg 4.5mg, then go to 4.5? I have done the intermediary week of alternating now very succesfully for all drops below 6mg.

[steveives]

Hi Pipistrelle, I have not used a pill cutter, I use a stanley blade on its own not in the knife you have to be a bit careful but it does a lovely clean cut.

[Hidden]

Hi all

Nice advice from you. Thanks. The alternate day dosing sounds good as does the stanley blade technique.

I guess we're lucky in that nowadays most of us know that slowly but surely is the way to do it. Some of the horror stories from years ago are enough to make one's hair curl. Folks being told to reduce far too quickly, then relapsing and spending years on steroids, often at the higher doses, which I'm sure must have wrecked their bodies.

Pats

[Hidden]

Morning

Reading the above accounts has made me realise what has been happening this weekend - so wrapped up in getting diagnosis and othe issues sorted that have kind of passed by the fact I have reduced pred to 50 mg and that is perhaps why I am having side effects. had thought things were getting worse again!! Maybe they are..

Had been on 60mg for 3 weeks - down to 55mg for last 2 weeks and as from Fri (last) down to 50mg for a further 2 weeks. Break through headache (major pain) again, and (sorry) - but horrid sweats (or should I say 'glowing'.. ++++). It is so embarrassing - just out having a coffee yesterday and feel that runing sensation down my back, face etc... not a good look eh??

Oh well - just have to put up with it I guess and hopefully it will settle until just get used to it and then all change again - want to reduce though cause then hopefully won't look quite so like a hamster with very full cheeks... but the headaches...

Have a good day everyone - no sunshine yet, although it will later today as 2 of my grandsons will be visiting...

Hazel x