PMR, Prednisone, Tapering
Posted , 9 users are following.
i am 2+ years into PMR, taking 7-1/2m daily. I am "comfortable" pretty much with this dose as long as I do not over do it...or try to taper to 7m. A year ago I had tapered to 7m but had a rough go of it...ended up having a flare...back up to 10...tapered down to where I am now. Next month my rheumy will want to "try something else" even tho I told him I would not take the Methotrexate. So I don't really know what he will want to try in order to get me off the prednisone. Obviously I need the 7-1/2m to function. Do I hold my ground on that? I am now 11 weeks+ and stable at 7-1/2...don't want to mess with that! Any advice on what to tell my rheumy?
0 likes, 14 replies
Handbrake kathy67492
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FlipDover_Aust kathy67492
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I was having trouble reducing my dose too and I decided that I would try the methotrexate with the understanding that if it didn't work, or the side effects were too bad I could stop taking it. That was nearly 5 months ago and I feel fabulous, no side effects and my dose has dropped from 20mg to 6 1/2 and still reducing. I really can't encourage you enough to try - my PMR has almost completely 'disappeared' after really struggling and being disabled to the point I thought I'd have to give up work and have a walking frame.
I realise it's not for everyone, but you won't know how you feel unless you try it.
kathy67492 FlipDover_Aust
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MaggiGrace kathy67492
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A few weeks later she suggested I try Plaquenil. 400 mg daily, as it is also a steroid sparing agent. After about 2 weeks I felt improvement (even though rheumy says not so - it takes 6 months to be effective). Well feel better regardless.
I developed horrid ringing in my ears as a side effect. Rheumy downed my Plaquenil dose by 1/2 to 200mg daily and I'm hanging in there. I have reduced fairly easily from 5mg down to (fingers crossed) 3.5mg pred using the added Plaquenil. I still have good days/bad days, but the bad days are much lighter.
Hope me that info is helpful.
kathy67492 MaggiGrace
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MaggiGrace kathy67492
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iellen32 kathy67492
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I take Pred since the onset of my GCA and because following the advice of my rheumy and tapering the steroid too fast - 1MG /month I had a flare and now I take Pred 21MG to feel good - the same happens to you . From this point I intend to go slowly tapering and I know it will take suits sometime.
My doc never asked me to try a different medication- some people feel good some don't doing so.
I understand your concern and i would feel the same.
Wish you choose the right road for you.
I will follow this discussion,
Stay safe, dear Kathy🌺
kathy67492 iellen32
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Sheilamac_Fife kathy67492
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Sheilamac_Fife kathy67492
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iellen32 kathy67492
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If you are feeling that Pred is working for you I would not make any change just to avoid taking Pref- it is not our enemy...
Hope you will do the right thing for you. There will be for sure more replies and you will know to make up your mind.
Wish all will work in your favor🌺
Keep safe.
Daniel1143 kathy67492
Posted
Like you, my rheumatologist recommended methotrexate and I went on it four about four months. The public literature is unclear whether it works at any level for PMR, and I am pleased to note that we have one person on this thread for whom it did work. Did nothing for me,and as I read more and more about side effects, I realized I did not want to be on two challenging medications. So I stopped the methotrexate.
Lets remember that none of these drugs cure PMR. Our PMR has a mind of its own and hopefully will ease up and disappear in time. It decides. We do not. So I think you have to decide whether reducing prednisone as an objective is important enough to complicate your body with another medication. In the end, I decided no, but that was purely my choice.
FlipDover_Aust Daniel1143
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Given I couldn't get below 20mg and was feeling so awful the MXT has been a godsend. I feel well again and I'm just plain grateful!
tina-uk_cwall kathy67492
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i only ever reduce by .5 and once I have finished the reducing regime I stay on the new dose for a good 6 weeks.
But, don't let your rheumy bully you. If he does suggest another drug suggest that if after your next reduction attempt if things go wrong then you may consider it but things are working well currently and personally there's no,point to rock the boat. Regards, tina