PMR Dosage

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I am still surprised at the amount of people that try to reduce pred by 1mg and more. I really think there is no other way than the dsns(is that right) i tried a 1mg a month it didnt work. Im down to 3 1/2, a few niggles but i pray i go down further, yes i know its not a race but i still want to get to nought.

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • Posted

     I think one's rate of tapering is unique to the individual. For me the drop from 20-15 was reasonably accomplished in 2 1/2 mg decrements. From there I dropped at a rate of about 1/2 mg every two weeks or the equivalent of 1mg a month  with discernible pauses at 7 1/2 mg and 5 mg. Slower from there down to 1 mg and slower again down to zero. My rate of descent was not precisely as would be prescribed by the dns method,  but I tried to listen to my body and make the next move when a little birdie told me so. I think the bottom line really is to go slow and slower at times, and probably always slower than the book of rheumatology tells you to

    • Posted

      Totally agree Daniel.  I'm listening to the same little birdie. :-)

    • Posted

      I'm just dropping by .5 to from 11 mg to 10.5.  It will take me ages to get to 4 mg! Oh well, I'll be ecstatic to get that low when I do.

    • Posted

      I didn't think I'd reach this stage but it's been 2 years and only one flare when I dropped from 12.5 to 10. I went back up to 12.5 and then dropped to 11as the 2.5 drop was too much. It's not a race but a meeting of the relief of symptoms and the correct dose of medication. Best wishes on the journey.

    • Posted

      I was down to 7 mg from 8 when I had my flare up, but had to go all the way up to 30 to 30 to stop the flare up. I will come down slowly.
    • Posted

      I don't know how that must feel but I'm sorry to hear that and hope you manage to reduce again without flares. It's such a fine balance.

  • Posted

    I did get down to 7gm from 20 mg took about 10 months, then I got a head cold. Woke up one morning and the PMR was back, Dr put back up to 10, then 15, then 20, then 30 mg, finally relief. Due to see Dr end of week, she wanted me on 25mg, but I am still on 30 till we talk. I will come down much slower this time.
  • Posted

    I think Daniel hit the nail right on the head. I think our taper schedules are as individual as our personalities. I struggled to get below 11 mg and tried it four different ways finally found a method to get there. I'm now tapering at .5 mg every two weeks. But I will extend that to three weeks if I feel that I need to. I have also started to split my dose so that I take most of it in the morning and the rest of it in the evening. I have found this to help me as well.

    • Posted

      Thank you for your information I will come down slowly and I am now splitting my 30, 20 in Am, 10 in PM, that seems to be working. With one minor flare up. Next step 25, doc wanted me there already, but with the flare up I stayed at 30. Test and appointment this week.
    • Posted

      Interested to hear that you struggled to get lower than 11mg as that seems to be a sticking point for me.

      Can I ask what was the method you finally found to get you there?

      Also - reducing 0.5mg at a time - do you acheive this by cutting tablets? Or do you ake the required dose on alternate days?

  • Posted

    I think overall rule is "step should be no more then 10% of the dose".... From there, everyone has to find their own pace... I came relatively quickly from 15 to 10 in 2.5mg steps... then I switched to 1mg...Below 8mg my steps were 0.5mg.  I never have more then one reduction in a month and always have at least 1-2 weeks between reductions. But the most important think is to listen to your body and keep notes. I am at 5 to 4.5 taper currently, second attempt. First attempt was in December. Half way thru, I noticed that symptoms, which usually go away after second week of taper are still there and starting to increase. I stopped taper, did two days of old dose + 1mg ( 6mg) to flush the system and then went back to 5mg.  Never had a flair , (knock on wood).

    • Posted

      Yes, everyone is different, I was at 7 coming down 1 mg/ mo from 15 had started 20mg. At 7 flare up. Back 10 no help, then 15, 20, 30 finally relief. Still on 30 and had one minor flare up on 30. Today for the first time in awhile I took a little walk without my cane. My I am a active guy ski instructor all last winter, now waiting to get on my bicycle, this sitting around is driving me crazy.
  • Posted

    HI  i did the dsns method by .5mg, then as the Rheumy thought i did not have pmr he said reduce by 1mg, but i said iwould but followed Eileen's method, and he was ok with it.

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