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This is my second attempt at reduction...HELP

Posted , 9 users are following.

steve_1
steve_1

Hi all, I'm on my second attempt at reducing, the first try ended in disaster.

I got down to 5mg of Pred and was fine but when I reduced in 1/2 mg stages to 3 it all kicked off again,so my doctor put me back on ten with the idea of gradual reduction to 5 and staying there.

I've got to 6mg and had been there for 2 weeks and  it all starting again, I've been suffering now for a week and no sign of a let up.

My question is......should I go back to 10mg or should I try say 7 where I was last OK?

I know I should return to my doctor but I;m there so often that I;m thinking of moving in, and I feel a right prat

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Anhaga
    Anhaga steve_1

    Posted

    How long did you stay at 10 to get the inflammation under control again?  
    • steve_1
      steve_1 Anhaga

      Posted

      3 weeks at 10 then 91/2 one day 10 the next for a week then 91/2 for 2 weeks then 9 one day and 91/2 next day and so on down to 6 and then trouble
  • Sheilamac_Fife
    Sheilamac_Fife steve_1

    Posted

    So disappointing Steve! I think the usual advice here is to go back to the dose where you were last comfortable and stay there a good bit longer to try to clear out the inflammation. 

    I wonder if if you aren't staying long enough at your reduced dose. I see you are doing 1/2 mg reductions which is good. Are you using Eileen's Dead Slow and Nearly Stop method? That seems to work for most people.

  • Sheilamac_Fife
    Sheilamac_Fife steve_1

    Posted

    Sorry, just seen your answer to Anhaga. I think this is the problem. You can reduce much slower and stay longer when you get down.

    one day new dose, 6 days old dose

    one day new dose 5 days old dose

    one day new dose 4 days old dose etc

  • artfingers
    artfingers steve_1

    Posted

    I defer to the experts here on going back to 7 or 10 mg.  But I learned from Eileen that there is an additional step to the dead slow reduction - Here is what I am following that I got from EileenH (but maybe you already have this Steve if so sorry:

    1 day new dose, 6 days old dose,

    1 day new dose, 5 days old dose,

    1 day new dose, 4 days old dose

    1 day new dose, 3 days old dose

    1 day new dose, 2 days old dose

    1 day new dose, 1 day old dose

    then you build up in the reverse way

    1 day old dose, 2 days new dose, 

    1 day old dose, 3 days new dose,

    1 day old dose, 4 days new dose

    Personally, I too am having trouble reducing past 8mg so I am sticking there for awhile since work is soooo stressful right now, it is sooo cold and I want to wait till I stablize again.  Ugh. Hate pred. Now it seems I'm growing fuzzy facial hair. Can it get any worse, sheesh!

  • maureen63465
    maureen63465 steve_1

    Posted

    Hi Steve. 

    There is a lot of good advice on this Forum but we are not experts. Don't try and rush to wean yourself. You are on pred for a reason. Ask your GP for a second opinion if you are not sure, he is the expert and no way are you a prat. Good Luck 

  • snapperblue
    snapperblue steve_1

    Posted

    How long have you had PMR?  As Eileen always says, it will last as long as it lasts, often about 2 years. When the autoinflamatory disorder dies down, you can reduce the pred- until then you will probably still need it, no matter how slowly you reduce.  If you were OK at 7 mg, I'd try to stabilize there and see what happens.  Good luck! 
  • Oregonjohn-UK
    Oregonjohn-UK steve_1

    Posted

    Two question:

    How long ago were your first started on Mr Fred and what dose?

    • Oregonjohn-UK
      Oregonjohn-UK steve_1

      Posted

      Right - sounds as if you have reduced quite slowly.  I can only speak from my own experiences - I came down quite quickly from 30 to 20 and then reduced by 1 mg every month +/-,  from 15 mg I went even slower, and at 10 stopped for a few months and then only reduced by 0.5 roughly in the same time scale.  I have stopped at a dose to check that all was OK before starting reduction again.  I'm presently at 3.25 after 20 months and reducing by 0.25.  I stick to the max.10% rule and DSNS method. 
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