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What is your experience in reduving pred?

Posted , 3 users are following.

Elijo
Elijo

I phoned me MD a couple weeks ago becuase I was having too many uncomfortable side effects.  I was supposed to be on 30mg until March 30.  He had me  come into his office, lab tests were OK, and reduced it to 20mg. until March 15 when I'm supposed to go down to 15mg. and will see him on March 30. (more lab work prior to miy appt.) The last 2 days, however, I reduced it to 17.5 mg  (to make a slower reduction period) and will start 15mg on the 15th, only a few days from now.  Not rocket science, but what are your thoughts on this?  I have had no pain or stiffness since I was dx and started with 40mg on Nov. 1, 2015.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH Elijo

    Posted

    If you have PMR then a 40mg starting dose was far higher than is recommended and you should be OK reducing down to about 15mg at that sort of rate - but beyond that you may need to slow down a bit. If the dose that is going to manage the inflammation is lowish the reduction is much simpler until you get near to the dose you are looking for. Really though you need a couple of weeks at each new dose to be sure it is still enough - go too fast and you won't know at what dose it was no longer enough.

    On the other hand - if your diagnosis was GCA, which usually starts with a dose of 40mg, you need to be more careful with the reduction. A study showed that there is still evidence of the GCA inflammation after 6 months at a high dose (that is above 20mg). 

  • iellen32
    iellen32 Elijo

    Posted

    The tapering of the Pred has been a nightmare on the treatment of my GCA since the very beginning

    Starting on Pred 60 MG after 30 days my rheumy started tapering to 40mg for one month, than 20 MG and from that point on started my ordeal.

    Each patient must be cared for according to his own systems and Norma markers do not mean by far that the inflammation is keeps on tha back ground.

    My rheumy is completely indifferent to customize the treatment of every and each patien. His idea is -one size fits all has prouved to don' work,

    Havinh getting the level of Pred 9MG in Feb i had to increase it until I got to fell ok,

    I am today taking 18 MJ.

    Tha same way for a property is locstion location. , the adjustment of the Pred must be carefully slowly - less is more in the long run..

    • Elijo
      Elijo iellen32

      Posted

      Sorry your rheumy is so set in ways, hope you do feel better.  As for me, I am going to go slow and stayi on 17.5 for 2 wks before going to 15mg. I'm hoping some of the side effects will lessen or leave, but I already do feel better since taking 30mg.    Good luck to you.
    • iellen32
      iellen32 Elijo

      Posted

      Hi Elijo, I am sure you keep feeling better since your last post.

      Hopefully I am too, since I keep taking the same amount of Prednisone instead of following the quick pace on the tapering recommended by my Rheumy.

      Just to check on you, Elijo.

      🌸

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