After being diagnosed in December 2018 have reduced from 15mg down to 1/2mg
Been on 1/2mg for two months without any problems using very slow tapering method.
Took my first dose of 1/4mg on Sunday and since then unable to lift left arm without pain. Had 1/2mg yesterday as planned but took 5mg today but this has done nothing to relieve it. Do I stay on 1/2mg and forget any more tapering or keep with the 5mg? By coincidence had covid jab in that arm a week ago with no after effects.
Any suggestions?
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Molliedog3
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Ahh! This sounds like a general late onset reaction to your vaccine. A couple of people have had similar. Do painkillers help at all? It ought to wear off. Tell your doctor if you are worried. Pred won’t help unless a flare kicks off. People have also reported that. I hope you are better soon! You were nearly free.
I think SheffieldJane is probably right with a late onset reaction to the vaccine. I'm 4days into having had my vaccination and been fine for 3½ of them, then developed headache and fluey feeling with aching and some 'stiffness'. I was concerned about what it might be but after paracetamol have sorted it so unlikelyto be PMR/GCA. Fine this morning. I've read this can happen.
Please can I ask, how does one manage to take “ I/2 mg” Pred? Am told only 5mg tablets are available, which I cut in half to provide myself with current 12.5 dose... but I would rather decrease 1mg at a time as per advice, whereas can only reduce by cutting a 5mg tablet in half, obviously ... impossible to divide into anything smaller
Thanks DL ... this was my Rheumy. She didn’t say they weren’t manufactured, just implied not given available. Shall ask for them, would rather not taper in 2.5 jumps, from what i read x
WHO told you that? Because it is rubbish and they need to be told that. In the UK both plain white pred and the gastro resistant sort are available in 5, 2.5 and 1mg doses.
I was under the impression as the DorestLady said, that Prednisolone is only available in 1mg, 2.5mg, 5mg and higher dosage, they do not go down lower than 1mg.
Although I see that you say you are on 0.5mg (1/2mg) of Prednisone (not Prednisolone).
Does Prednisone go down to lower dosage. IE 0.5mg (1/2mg) and 0.25mg (1/4mg).
I was also under the impression that Prednisone is the American version of the UKs Prednisolone.
If Prednisone is available in smaller dosage and is available in the UK, then tapering, as recommended in steps of less than 10%, would be more achievable.
I am new to this forum, will someone please clarify my confusion.
They do not come in 0.5mg or smaller, but as stated they do come in a variety, of strengths so you can reduce by mixing and matching or cutting 1mg (provided they are non coated variety).
Prednisolone and Prednisone are slightly different (affect liver) ... so usually we just say Pred to avoid confusion, but you are correct, Prednisolone is normal for UK.
And it is perfectly OK to cut plain white pred to get half doses. 1mg is a bit fiddly but you don't need to cut it until you get to 1.5mg, 2.5 plus however many 1mg gives the 1/2 mg steps at higher levels. Gastro resistant shouldn't be cut so you do need to make sure you have 2.5mg plain pred or cut 5mg tablets
Under 5mg Pred. my Rheumatologist recommends coming down in 0.5mg stages - not to cut the 1mg tablets in half but changing doses on alternative days. Eg: for 4.5 mg doses, take 5mg one day and then 4mg next then 5mg then 4mg, which equates to 4.5mg daily. I usually stay on the new dose for a month and then reduce by 0.5mg the next month.
Sorry for confusion, I am on 1/2mg of prednisolone and have taken this for 2 months and been okay. I reduced to 1/4 mg this Sunday and had an aching arm on Monday, reverting to 1/2mg now and taking paracetamol and hoping the ache is due to delayed after effect of covid job. Thanks everyone for the advice 😀
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