So interesting 🤔

Questions, carlene, we're you PMR pain free when you tapered. How long were you on 30 mg? Hope your journey is smooth. 🙂

Did you have a headache on 30mg too? One of the side effects of pred is headache!

But what SORT of headache and do you have any other signs or symptoms of GCA? Anyone with a PMR diagnosis needs to be aware that it can progress in some cases and turn into GCA.

Not so much on 30. Basically started after.dropping to 25. Usually at the base of my skull almost to the back of my neck. No tender spots, just throbbing

Was on 30 since middle of November dropped to 25 last week. Pretty much pain free at 25 except for the headaches

Keep an eye on it (if you see what I mean). Headache there can be part of GCA (occipital headache). 30mg may have been enough to manage it, see what happens when you reduce again and if it gets worse go to the doctor.

Do you know the typical GCA symptoms? Jaw pain when chewing, tender scalp, new type of headache, flu-feeling, PMR of course. But a lot of those would probably be covered on 25-30mg. So any sign of worsening headache as reducing and visual symptoms of any sort are key for you.

carlene, unfortunately Prednisone can cause headaches, the devil's tic tacs, we can not live without them and do not want to live with them. I had some minor ones while on higher doses, but not now on lower doses. Keeping active was always a big help for me. Plus tapering slowly using the DSNS method. My Rheumy would like me to taper quicker, but no chance I am taking it nice and easy. Good luck on the rest of your journey. Try to smile and think positive. 🙂

Thanks for the info. Hopefully this will get better with time. Trying to keep a positive attitude and like you said....gotta keep smiling!

GOOD! 🙂

GOOD! 🙂

Hi Margot34956

From 4mg I was put up to 6mg. I had blood test and was told marker was second highest since being diagnosed so that's when my Dr put me up to 10mg. On Friday I get my latest blood results so will be interesting as 10mg has not done any good.

Instead of saying Zero pred I should have said Dead slow method . I found this for Very slow method...

Reduce by 1 mg for this.....as I am on 10mg my new dose would be 9mg and my old dose 10mg

1 day new dose, 6 days old dose

1day new dose, 5 days old dose

1 ................do.......4 ..........do.........

1................do..........3..........do.......

1 ................do...........2........do........

1..................do............1.........do.......

1 day old dose, 2 days new dose

1........,do...............3.............do..........

1.............do.............4............do...........

1..............do.............5.............do.........

1...............do..............6.............do........

I think you now go to every day new dose,

If you feel ok you then start on the next reduction.

Looks like it will take some time but that's what others are saying is best so I will be trying this when the time comes.

Stay strong and good luck 🙄

If 10 mgs Pred doesn't help, you may have to go higher.  At 10 mgs and below, your reduction should be 1/2 mg.  But only reduce if there is no pain.  Stay where there is no pain.

Thank you so much Janice, so appreciate you taking the time to explain.

That is what I will do now I know. Thanks again.

All the best to you!

If you start the dead slow reduction at 1 day new 4 days old it actually only takes a month to go down the 1mg. Often too you are ready to go all new sooner - it is really only once your body has got used to the idea of a slightly lower dose.

That reduction approach is always to be found on the front page of the forum, together with an explanation of why it works so well:

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/browse/polymyalgia-rheumatica-and-gca-1708