Pmr and how long to stay at 5 mg. prednisone
Posted , 12 users are following.
I got pmr in sept. 2016 and am currently finishing up my 30 days at 5 mg. prednisone, using the dsns method, my question is: how long do you think I should stay at 5 mg. before trying to go to dsns 4 1/2 mg? I have read the information about one doctor who keeps his patients at 5 mg, for 9 months and never has a relapse. And my gp who is wonderful has said that once you get to 5 mg,, there is no hurry to get off--you can stay at 5 mg for "as long as it takes." (Yep, yes wonderful, even though he says he is not a pmr/prednisone expert). And he has given me a year's prescription for 5 mg. pred (in 1 mg. tablets because I'm using the split dose method).
Here is the reason for my question: I'm not one of the lucky ones. I feel like I've been hit by a freight train most of the time. Never exactly pain free. Low energy. Can't sleep. Anxious. Brain fog. Constipated. Occasional fatigue. The list which you all know too well, goes on and on,
part of me says, like most of the posters on this forum, get off the stuff as soon as possible, the other part says maybe if I stay at 5 mg. longer, some of the pmr inflammation will die out as time goes on, the traditional dilemma, right?
so please let me know what you think...I'm debating because I'm not really any worse than I've been but I'm sure not one bit better. 50% of me says it's the pmr; 50% of me says it's the prednisone (I've read posts that said once patients get off the pred, they feel like their old selves again.). I'm debating which is which. Thank you very much!
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EileenH Twopies
Posted
At 5mg part of the hit by a freight train aspect COULD be low adrenal function - and all that you describe can apply there too.
Basically though - the aim should be not to feel WORSE at the end of the taper than you did at the start of it. So there is no reason not to try to continue your taper - just make sure you feel OK-ish before starting each next step. But you say you are struggling - so maybe a wait would help.
How do you know you need a bit higher dose? Try one for a few days and see if you feel better - if you don't then you can go back to where you were immediately without problems. That is always the test - where do I feel better. Or less worse...