PMR, Prednisone, Fatigue
Posted , 6 users are following.
Habe had my bouts with severe fatigue over the last 2-1/2 years, but it had dissipated. I am now starting a taper from 8-1/2 to 8m...have only skipped 1/2m this week and already the fatigue is back!?! Eating right, cut back on activity level, good nights sleep...is this to be expected? Thank you for any comments.
0 likes, 7 replies
cheryl74384 kathy67492
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EileenH cheryl74384
Posted
Everyone wants to get off as soon as possible. Unfortunately it isn't what we want or what doctors want: PMR came when it wanted and it will go when it wants. Until then - you will need some pred. What you can do is get as low as possible in the meantime - but doing it fast just ends up in tears. When you go fast you miss our holy grail: the lowest dose that manages the symptoms as well as the starting dose.
Of course - if it is PMR then 40mg was far too high a dose to start on and 30mg would have been more than enough even based on the latest recommendations from the world's top experts. So a speedy reduction at present isn't too bad - except you will feel rubbish. But I hope he slows down a bit after 20mg.
cheryl74384 EileenH
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EileenH cheryl74384
Posted
As long as you go slowly you needn't have side effects from withdrawal - and they are nothing to be scared about, they are just uncomfortable really.
Don't worry!
tpaggs kathy67492
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EileenH kathy67492
Posted
You are at the stage where your body has to start making its own natural corticosteroid (cortisol) again. The so-called "physiological dose" of pred is round about 8mg but some people will be higher, some lower. One of the signs of this is excessive fatigue - and is the reason why fatigue may reappear as you reduce. You expect to feel better as you get to a lower dose of pred but because of this it doesn't happen. Just slow down a bit and don't keep reducing too soon.
Have you seen this:
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/reducing-pred-dead-slow-and-nearly-stop-method-531439
It slows the reduction right down so your body has plenty of time to get used to the new dose without having to deal with it day after day. It has worked for a lot of patients on the forums.
kathy67492 EileenH
Posted