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Tapering

Posted , 11 users are following.

paula21528
paula21528

Hi I was just wondering as to continue with the tapering I started off with 15mg of prednisolone tried to taper to 121/2 ended up stiff and aches then for the past week I've been trying to come down to 10 mg Marco feel like I gone back to square one I can hardly move for the pain in lower back my hips are heuristics as are my shoulders and neck should I keep on trying with the 10 mg or should I go up to 15 as that's the last time I was comfortable thank you in advance

0 likes, 34 replies

34 Replies

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  • walter98524
    walter98524 paula21528

    Posted

    I WAS ON 10MG FOR 2 YRS WENT DOWN 1MG PER MO. SLOW. IM DOWN TO (0) NOW AND FEEL FINE. I TRIED TO DOWN FROM 10 TO 5 THEN 3 THEN 1MG THAT DIDNT WORK FOR ME.
  • Babazaga
    Babazaga paula21528

    Posted

    It feels like you've been trying to taper off too quickly.  If you started out at 15, (dont know how long you were on 15) going to 12 1/2---you should be on that for at least 2 weeks before going to 10 for another two weeks, or even one month.  When you get below 10, the recommended tapering is l mg/month---ergo 9 mg for one month; 8 mg for one month and so on.  Much has to do with the dose with which you began and how long you've been on it and for what.  I think you should consult your physician.  Prednisone can be a dangerous do-it-yourself drug!!

     

    • donna25417
      donna25417 Babazaga

      Posted

      Not sure how you you can go down by 1mg at a time my tiny pill is 5mg and I could cut it in half so now from 10 to 7,5 and that was even tricky so small to  
    • donna25417
      donna25417 Anhaga

      Posted

      Oh ok I wondered maybe should check with doctor see if i can get the 1mg. Thanks for the info
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga donna25417

      Posted

      I think 1 mg is available everywhere although not all doctors know that.  Eileen will know for sure.
    • Babazaga
      Babazaga donna25417

      Posted

      I have Prednisone in 1 mg. tablets---that size is readily available.  Not worth messing with cutting tablets especially as you say, when they're so small already.  You run the rusk of getting the dose uneven as well.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga donna25417

      Posted

      I can cut the 1 mg and taper by as little as .5mg at a time!  A slight variation in size doesn't matter from day to day.  I found cutting a 5mg very useful for higher doses: 5 + 2.5 = 7.5 for example.  Or 2.5 + 1 = 3.5.  And I was on 2.5 for a long time before the breakthrough to 2 mg.

    • donna25417
      donna25417 Anhaga

      Posted

      I am at 7.5 now will need 1mg soon once under 5.00 for sure 
    • linda17563
      linda17563 paula21528

      Posted

      I am doing what the rheumie has asked me to do....dropping very fast (had PMR 5years) "lets start at beginning and see what happens" is what he said 15mg in Feb, then12mg, now 11 mg (see him in 3 weeks) I feel really ill, lots of pain, stiffness all over, really strugglng, balance problems/blurred vision, completely drained....I could go on....

      ?I will NOT be dropping any more for him (he wanted me at 9mg whan I see him....like hell I will)

      ?I should go back to dosage which eases things, but have to do what he wants,  (never have I been so subservient to a man!wink wink to resolve things......or that`s my hope anyway!...Listen to your body.....

      ?Good luck.....

    • paula21528
      paula21528 linda17563

      Posted

      Thank you Linda like you say we follow the advice of the so called expert's that want you off the pred it's all right for them they haven't the pain that we have when following their advice but like you I gone back to 15 and following advice from Eileen on the go slow method good luck hope you will be ok soon

  • Silver49
    Silver49 paula21528

    Posted

    I had my only flare to date dropping from 12.5 to 10. It was too big a drop. Like you I went back up and then lowered to 11. It worked for me and that was my only flare and I am at 4.5 now. I followed the DSNS method after 10. I'm not sure how I'm dropping from present dose but I'm going to try a half drop again as I stopped the DSNS method more recently. It's a fine balance and not an exact science.

    • paula21528
      paula21528 Silver49

      Posted

      Thank you silver I am going to try Eileens.advice on the go slow method as the doctors way is to fast for my body to cope
    • Silver49
      Silver49 paula21528

      Posted

      The DSNS method certainly worked for me and I had no flares when I followed it. I wish you success with it and hope it works for you. 
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