Well, I have decided to get off pred and take my chances with the possible complications of PMR. The possible complications of long term pred scare me more.
I am wishing you a lot of luck in your quest to get off the pred. I may have to follow your lead depending on a bone density test I am having next Wed.
A fellow by the name of Swede, who I now notice is posting in this forum, had a method of reducing his pred. I mentioned it to my GP and she thought it was a good idea because I had so much trouble cutting back. In the first week he would go... new dose for 2 days and old dose for 5 days. Second week would be new dose for 3 days and old dose for 4. Third week would be the new dose. I hope I have this right and if not maybe Swede will read this and help us out.
Hope things go well for you.I wish you all the luck in the world, I so want to do what you are doing, but I am having a very hard time Chico and SMartie, Good wishes on your plans be free of prednisone. MayI just found this...
Abrupt Stop of Prednisone
Question: I have been prescribed prednisone (60 mg a day for 12 days and then to stop with out tapering), but every thing I read says abrupt stopping of prednisone can have serious side effects, including death. I would like to know if the 12 days at 60 mg is short term enough so as not to be concerned about all the emphatic warnings about abrupt stopping the prednisone.
Answer: Anything less than 3 months or so can tolerate abrupt stoppage without problems. Over three months would depend on your age and the steroid dosage, but most would have some sort of taper at that point. I wouldn’t be concerned with short bursts and abrupt stoppage.
Question: My wife has recently been prescribed the drug Prednisone for Ulcerative Colitis. I know it's a steroid, but what does it do and what are the side effects? Is it hard to get off of it afterwards?
Answer: Prednisone is a steroid and this steroid (and most of them) are strong anti-inflammatories. Since her disease is a disease of inflammation/immune system, this medication will reduce the inflammation, thickening and pain of the disease. Hopefully, inducing a remission which will last for a while-depending on the severity of her UC. However, there is a price- steroids speed up the aging process. That is, cause cataracts, hardening of the arteries, thinning of the bones, muscle weakness, etc. Unfortunately, there is no drug alternative that reduces the inflammation without these side effects. We try to use the least steroid to achieve the needed result. She should be taking Fosamax or something equivalent while she is on the steroid to reduce the bone loss. They are not addicting, but will suppress her own ability to produce steroids by her adrenal glands. This necessitates a taper if they have been used a long time (over 3 months for young people, 1-2 months for those over 65).
here is the link - lots of info..
Good luck Chico on your journey without the dreaded Pred. I would so like to get off this drug but I am doing so slowly.Hi SueMac
I can't believe how fast you have come down with the pred. I started on 20mg in July and I'm still at 20. I have a big problem as I cannot take anything but ibuprofen. Aspirin, acetametaphine in anything and tylenol...tylenol 3's are off limits. I have no idea why I have such a bad reaction....been this way for years.
Since golf is over I have been having the devil of a time getting moving again. Every day I say this is it but nothing happens. I am a lot more mobile since the last attack which is nice but it is not the same as a good walk.
I am just a few hours away from you in Trail. Do you have a rheumy there in Cranbrook?
Hey Teedoff
I am really sorry everyone....I made a goof. I went back to some earlier postings I had not read in this forum and happened on one writen by RDSwede under "I feel I know you" on Nov. 4. He explained how he decreased his dosage and I was way off base. It was one day new dose, 2 days old dose, then repeat 1 day new dose, 2 days old dose. Take new dose every 2 days for 1 week then completely go to lower dose. Hope no one followed my original advice.
Sorry Ragnar!!!!!!
Good luck in your path to get off Prednisone. I was on it for about five months and started decreasing it after one week. The rheumy didn't tell me to,but I went from10 to 15 with no problem. My eye pressure had risen by the time I saw her again and she wrote down what to do and it was 2.5 a week from the 10 I was on. I didn't notice anything hurting until I got to three, then I started feeling twinges. When off for a month, I started to hurt again, although not as bad as before Prednisone. I probably should not have taken Prednisone for as long as I did. Thank goodness I started the weaning process myself. MaryI have been weening very slowly as a result of a thread earlier that saidHello Chico - I am here. Great news for you. Was wondering how long total you have been on pred?
I have been upset with myself. I got tests back and seems no need to worry about lupus or any other disease for the moment. But I saw my doctor (drove for two hours to see him) and just did not assert myself about getting off the pred. I let him talk me into staying on the 5 mg and my next appointment is in february. I am so mad I let this happen. I am worried sick about being on the pred. I am usually in a brain fog but I cant believe I am here still on pred. I am so distracted i ate cereal and forgot to take my fosomax. I guess I have to change to fridays now.
All in all though my pain is better. But the 5 mg does not keep me pain free and I take a dicletan?? with a stomach protector about three times a week. I try to hang in there with the pain..It usually gets better late afternoon. I have bone spurs in my neck i know and i wonder if they are also in my back causing pain in my spine. If I could get my spine to quit hurting that would be tremendous.
I heard on the news that New Zealand just had an earthquake - are you ok?
Smartie, I'm down to 5 mg pred also and wasn't doing well at all with stiffness and pain so decided to take an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drug) left over from what was prescribed for me by the first doctor I had seen. I didn't want to use aspirin. The NSAID is trade-named Voltaren, generic diclofenac, and I take one 50mg in the morning with my 5 mg pred and one alone in the evening. Boy, did it make a difference!
I need to check it out on the drug interaction website that Swede reminded us of recently, but I don't think there will be a problem.
My point is that pred is not the only way to reduce inflamation. I'm not familiar with dicletan, but it sure sounds related to diclofenac. But there's no warning about needing a stomach protector with my stuff.
I wouldn't worry too much about such a low level of pred as 5mg. One of the websites on this forum indicates that you can stay on that level for a long time without bad effects. I'm still going to work hard to get off it, but being able to function is also a factor that takes precedence over just stopping cold. I hope Chico will keep us informed how she's doing going cold turkey.
Bob - I am taking the same drug as you - just did not want to get up to check the spelling. I am also taking 50mg. I only need one every 24 hours though for pain relief. I am too scared to take one every day so I give myself a treat three times a week. My mornings are rough but usually by late afternoon I feel as good as if I took a diclofenac. One late afternoon without pain med - I pulled some weeds outside and repotted a plant. That is pretty wow.
My GP gave me the prescription before I was diagnosed with PMR. My rhumy added the stomach protector to the product and now it is called arthrotec - that is a combination of the two drugs). It does do the trick. I tried to ask doc why i have to take the pred if it does not help with pain and just take the diclofenac.....i dont know how i got out of there not understanding. Like i said I just have a brain fog thing going all the time.
One thing you may want to check on is that you may need to have a liver enzyne blood test every three or six or how many months when you take this drug regularly....I think that is true for my combo but you may want to check about your drug. Let me know what you find out....I may want to go back to my old diclofenac that has no stomach protectors....more drugs more drugs more drugs.....dont like it.
Hubby just got back from his 3 month check up at Mayo. He is down to 9 mg and is instructed to continue dropping .5 mg until he gets down as low as possible. The rheumy said that because he had been on prednisone for so long he might always have to take some but it would be a minimal amount, generally just what your body would normally produce. She also said to stay at each drop for at least 2 weeks before you go lower. If he gets to a point with a drop where he has a lot of pain he can increase the doseage up just 2 mg's--no more. They did xrays of his spine to make sure that the prednisone had not damaged the spine. He had had a back ache but they decided it was a pulled muscle and suggested that he try acupuncture or a chiropractor. It is surprising that Mayo is so receptive to alternative meds.
He has lost a lot of inches around his middle and the character lines have returned to his face. He says it is again hazardous to shave! He does not have to return for his next check up for 6 months at which time they will run some tests to check the aorta to make sure there has been no damage from the pred and no signs of an aneurysm.
He has experimented with his supplements by taking some of them every other day instead of every day to see if any of them affected how he felt. The only ones he had problems with cutting the dosages on were his CoQ10 and
carnitine which is something that is needed because of the damage from the use of the statin drugs (Lipitor, etc.) When he tried to cut those dosages he immediately started using the cane and had lots of pain.This has been a year for us where the road we traveled had some real large bumps in it. Hopefully next year the road we travel will be smoother. Here is our wish to all of you that your road next year flattens out also and everyone regains there health. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
cap - what dosage did he start at and how long has he been on pred? They are really doing a good job checking him out. Although I think I have good insurance I am always worried that the doctor will not run some tests because he will not get reimbursed so good. I checked my claims and my new rhumy did almost 1,000 dollars worth of blood tests and he barely got anything back.
I did not know that pred could damage the spine...do you know how? My upper back was hurting before the pred and i have always had a tricky lower back. I was thinking about trying one of those chiropractors that have the decompression machine.
They started him on 60 mg's of pred when he was diagnosed with temporal arteritis in Dec. of 2005. Because of bad judgement by a doctor he was overdosed and developed an ulcer and almost bled to death. That was when we requested an appointment at Mayo. I think the rheumy said that pred can cause a deterioration of the bones in the spine. She called with the results from the xray and his spine is still in good shape. They also did a bone density test last trip which was still in the okay range but low. They put him on Citracel with Vit.D which they said does the same thing as the expensive prescriptions (fosomax)that they could give him but is certainly cheaper. We have an acquaintance who had been on pred for years and they had to put a steel rod in his back because of deterioration of the spine.
Going to Mayo was the smartest thing we have ever done. We called the insurance companies to make sure that they would pay for the treatments which they ok'd. Mayo checked everything on the first trip. We were there for 4 days-he had eyes checked, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, etc. I can't think of anything they didn't check. They tell you before a test is run if it is covered by insurance. Most of them that are not covered are not expensive. His colonoscopy which was covered by insurance was a little over 0, mine done locally was over 00.
As for the decompression machine we know nothing about it but like the rheumy says "Go for it" It never hurts to try and we would be very interested in the results.
Oh gosh - of course I knew about the bone damage...that is why I am taking the Fosomax. I am in a brain fog all the time. How much Citricel is he taking?
Sorry I miss typed--it was Citracal with Vitamin D. A bottle of 180 caplets costs about .00 and he takes 2 of them a day. Each cap has 630 mg of calcium (as calcium citrate) and 400 IU's of Vitamin D3.
Smartie, Saw my rheumy today and told him I had taken up on Voltaren 50mg twice a day and it was working well with the 5mg of pred. He said to stay on the Voltaren and gave me a 3 months prescription for it, and said to drop to 4 pred in a month. I asked him if I needed blood work and he said no. I expect he'll check me in 3 months. Anyway, I'm on much more than double the Voltaren you're on and he didn't seem concerned. Of course, he may be the unflappable type.
Hang in!
Smartie, Also, Costco sells a big bottle of calcium citrate with a bunch of other stuff in it. You might want to check them out pricewise and content-wise. Their stuff is pretty good.Bob - thanks for the info....how long were you on the 5mg?Smartie, Only about a week. I didn't want to go back up so figured I'd try something to help, and the Voltaren really did.Just thought I would let you know how my reduction of Pred is going. I started out on 10mg in September and reduced to 5mg after three weeks. I've been on 5mg for three months and have begun reducing three weeks ago....two weeks at 4mg and then one month at 3mg. I've decided to do it 3.5mg (which I'm on now) for two weeks and then reduce to 3mg for the balance of the month. If all works I will be at 2mg when I see my doctor on February 28.
I feel pretty good....some aches and pains, but not anything I can't deal with. Most of my problems come at night ......night sweats
I have dogs that I walk daily, due the tread most days for 30 minutes and have a weight lifting program that I follow three days a week. I also bought myself a sauna and I'm in that every other day...sometimes daily when my muscles are screeming at me. I've also started juicing fruits and vegetables and look forward to my drink every morning.
I first noticed this illness last year, probably in March. I thought I needed new walking shoes, then I thought I needed inserts, needed to stretch my calves more, stretch my Piriformis muscle, and on and on until I got to my shoulders and thought I had a tear. I finally saw a doctor that told me I had Fibro and nothing could be done for me. My girl friend recommended a Holistic doctor. I went to him for three months and I thought I was going to die. He told me I had fungus on my brain, parasites....all the while feeding me bottles and bottles of herbs and potions. In the end the only thing he helped was himself to my money.
In September, when I could hardly walk, I finally saw a Rheumy and was diagnosed with PMR. He wanted to put me on 20mg of Pred, but I ask that we try something else first, so he put me on 75mg of Diclofenac twice daily and said he would see me in three weeks. I felt 50% better just taking the anti-inflammatory. I realized after three weeks that I needed something more and started the Pred. It was heaven.....the first night after taking it I had this dream. I dreamt that I was packing a suitcase and putting all of the clothes into it that hurt me. Funny, eh?
Anyway, this has been my journey so far and I will let you know how my slow withdrawal continues.
wow - we almost did the same thing. I also got the shoe inserts, thought i had fibro, saw the naturopaths that gave me bottles and bottles - a GP gave me diclofenac also - 50 mg...then i saw my first rhumy and took 10 mg of pred for about 2 weeks then he put me on 7 mg. Felt good enough with the diclofenac but went with the pred. I felt ok on 10 a bit worse on 7 then got fed up and saw my gp again and went to 5 for a month or so. Went to new rhumy and he said about the same thing. I quit the 5 mg on my own. Been off for almost 3 weeks. Have not had a pain med in a week. But I do have a lot of discomfort but i am dealing with it. Would love a sauna but i do get massages. I also get night sweats and have had two sores in my mouth. One shoulder is way worse than the other- pretty much frozen. I use my left arm to wash hair and reach for stuff. My hips are way better. My knees are the worst - if my knees would just get better i could really function. I would like to walk more but my knees are just so stiff. My back spasms are gone and my back pain has really eased. The pain i used to have in my collarbone or sternum and the general ache is gone. I am just so darn stiff. I take 7 to 8 grams of high grade fish oil a day and many other supplements. I am hanging in there. I am glad to be off the pred - could not stand the brain fog and I was scared of the after effects. I have osteopena and a tough of osteoporus in a part of my spine so pred was not good for that also. The hardest thing for me is getting up and down from the sofa or chairs. But the last few days have been much better....I just hope I keep getting better.
I'm sorry to hear the problems you are having. I never suffered from chronic pain and therefore didn't understand those that did. Just didn't get it until I came down with this disease. Between April and September my muscles in my upper body simply atrophied. I could barely left the sheet on my bed, practiced on how to get out of bed using my elbows as leverage and if I ended up on the floor, well there I would stay until I figured on how to get up. I had no strength in my lower body and would just fall unto the toliet. Like I said earlier, the holistic idiot almost killed me....feeding me bottles and bottles of liquid herbs and potions. It wasn't until the end of September and a visit to the Rhuemy that I began to feel somewhat normal. Taking Prednisone wasn't what I wanted, but it turned my life around.
I forced myself back into the gym, starting exercises with the lowest weight possible. I can see my body getting stronger and stronger. I am able to walk my dogs and do the tread. Believe me, I hate the gym, but I make myself do it. This is two hours out of my day and I'm feeling wonderful. I too have a frozen right shoulder....I suffer from bursitis (PMR?) in both and have found a wonderful method that really helps......it is called an OPTP ROLLER and can be purchased at www.optp.com or you can call them at (800)367-7393. It probably runs around or you might be able to pick one up from a rehab place. I really believe that the longer we sit in a chair or sofa the longer it will take us to lift our bodies from that position. We've got to get up and move.
My knees hurt also, but it mostly in the back of them. I can't kneel or squat well, but I know this is PMR and I do leg work, trying to strengthen them. I do a lot of streaches...nothing fancy, but it helps with the stiffness.
I don't think I have suffered from brain fog.....or maybe I have it and don't know it. I have a dog that has it....he just pooped on the Welcome mat. Good grief!
I hope this message finds you feeling better.
temporal arteritis ...just diagnosed yesterday....4 days in hospital
what a hard disease...
took 1 prednisone and THE FIRE WENT OUT
Now was given prednisone 10 mg, 2 tabs, 3x per day = 60mg prilosec (omeprazole) 20 mg 1 time per day (protect stomach lining) and vicodin (pain) and ambien(sleep) reading here...just beginning....thank you patrick wow. Did you have PMR before? Or do you have it now? There is really a place for pred I must say. How are you feeling now? Keep posting about your progress. Do you have any abnormal lab reports? Good luck to you in your recovery. Hello, Re: temporal arteritis Smartie101, No, This is a first for me. I went to the ER 2 weeks ago in the middle of searing fire in the back of my head which had gone on for a week and they said probably a virus...see your GP. Ok a week later I went back and was admitted. They did innumerable tests, MRI(1.5 hours!) Cat Scan, Ultrasound, lots of blood tests. Nothing. Then a Rheumi came in and sat down and said I know what you have. They did a temporal biopsy on each side of my temple and the lab said GCA temporal arteritis 100%. Rheumi gave me a Pred and in four hours the pain was gone. Now I have some headaches which I take the vicodin for, but I feel no searing charcoal fire pain. However I am a high school teacher and hope I can perform when I go back to work this week. It isnt going to be easy. It scares me as I read about Pred and phasing down etc. You guys have a great forum here. Thanks for your response.
Re: temporal arteritis I forgot, sed rate and white cell count triggered my GP with consultation with staff while I was in the hospital to call in Rheumi. That's how I was led to Pred. So as far as abnormal lab reports, the blood was taken 3x per day for five days and whites kept going up and sed rate up and up but they couldn't find an infection anywhere and were stumped. Along came Rheumi. Hi. this is JoAnn I was on predisone for less than 3 months. My Dr.told me after 30 days to stop taking it he didn't tell me to taper off of it. not knowing I did what he said. it through me into crisis. I almost died. my whole body froze up.I have learned a few things since than. thanks to this forum. I am on Humira and 7.5 mg.of predisone MTX. I woke up in Sept 2006 and could not walk I have been in crisis twice my Dr. went on vacation and didn't leave me refills. That's a long story. I am back on track now I hope, I have been on Humira 3 months mtx since Feb.2007. Predisone up to 60mg. for about 2 days and I started to cut myself down with in two weeks I was down to 10mg I got down to 5mg. and I can't walk well I can walk ,but it hurts like H__. the Dr. put me back on 7.5 I still can't walk the thing is when I was taking 40 mg I could walk with out pain. But the Dr didn't want me on that large of a dose. because of my osteoprosis How i am doing off pred. OK - i guess. I actually feel better I think. I don't feel as bad as I used to be on pred in the mornings but I dont feel as good in the evenings....so i have middled out. My shoulders and hips are way better. My big big problem is my knees. They are so painful and stiff. I could really function and walk better if it werent for my dang knees. I go as long as i can then when i cant takes no more - I take one of the NSAIDs. Or I will take one if I have company visit or want to do something special. My brain fog seems to be gone. Maybe it was just worry that was driving me crazy. My back is better but all the pain comes and goes and varies in intensity. All in all - I am glad to be monitoring this thing as it really is - if that makes sense. My biggest concern is that I am developing RA because of the knees. My hands and feet are ok though. The worst thing i have to go thru every day is getting up and sitting down. But it is sure not as bad as it used to be. And no more back spasms. Have not heard from CHico in a long while - how are you doing Chico?? Oh - G....so sorry to hear about your back fracture. I have such pain when I cough or sneeze - I sound so funny when I try to squelch those but it does feel like something could just break. Smartie, I know what you mean about your knees. That is what hurt was behind my knees. I took Prednisone for six months and when I quit, that pain in back of my knees was gone and luckily has stayed away, but they are still stiff. The pain in my lower back is better too. The pain I have now is in my left arm above the elbow. I take Napersan (sp) a NSAID. I take 3 within 24 hours. I alternate with aspirin. It keeps the pain down in my lower body and knees. I think I can start tapering back. I had an ear ache on Jan 1st, and my GP didn't want to gamble that it wasn't GSA so she put me on 30/20/10 Prednisone for 10 days. I was feeling really pretty good before I went on it. When I was done in 10 days, I really had pain in my knees and arms, but not anywhere near what I had when I first started in August 2006. Right after Christmas I thought PMR had left completely. I felt so good for about four days....then the ear ache and antibiotics and Pred again. I am a bit suspicious though that while I was on Prednisone for 10 days I didn't follow my diet too well and lapsed into some bad eating habits. I attribute part of my pain the first few days to too much sugar. And, I had spaghetti and meatballs one night. I think too many carbs causes my pain. Because the day after the spaghetti meal, I was stiff all over. I've been watching what I eat, and I really do think it helps relieve the pain/stiffness. I hope you and everyone is feeling a bit better. Mary Stomach Ulcers: Diclofenac may cause stomach problems such as ulcers or bleeding. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience stomach pain or vomiting blood or notice any black tarry stools. The use of aspirin, corticosteroids, or blood thinners at the same time as diclofenac will increase the risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding and thus not recommended. The risk of stomach ulcer increases with taking higher total daily doses and longer treatment periods. Anna, I'm sorry you broke your arm. How awful. The leg weakness has been a constant with me. I, too, have fallen or taken a clumsy step or two. I used to love walking, but do not wander too far because of the fear of falling. A few months back I had a tumble off the back steps and sprained both ankles. The only other warm blooded creature who knew I was laying in the back of my house was my dog. From reading all of your "reducting or quitting pred stories", I realize how powerful this little pill is. I have been on pred for 4 years and am down to 1mg. Having said that, I know I should be on more--difficulty getting up from sitting, constant pain in my sholders, calves, etc. SO, have any of you quit and then had to go back on pred? For some reason, I think this is the main reason I am afraid to take none--it just sound so self-defeating to have to go back. I have wondered if the pain I have is not just pain but damaging to my body. So maybe my idea of living with some pain on a lower dose is not wise. Susan, that is really amazing how much .5mg can make a difference! I am glad for you that you have discovered what works for you. I agree about the supplements. I am going to try chromium to help my sweet cravings--they're out of control! Keep
Hi Chico,
wondering how you are doing off the pred.
i twisted my back the wrong way and have a compressed fracture,very painful, i am in a brace to keep me straight, there is also a procedure they can do to fill in the fracture, with a form of medical concrete. i opted to wait and see.
i am down to 8 mg of pred and i am so happy about that, not feeling too much effects of the withdrawal, but i am on some heavy duty pain med.for the back
dr gave me a nasal spray for bone loss caused by osteoporosis, any one ever heard of it? and what do you think of it, once a day in alternating nostrils.
love to all &nb sp; georgiana
Also, I really think that 2000 mgs of Vitamin A help. I started Vitamin A at Thanksgiving and at Christmas I was feeling well. So with my Vitamin A, Selenium and fish oil along with no sweets and watching the carbs, I hope I get back to where I was at Christmas. I have been feeling better each day, so I hope I get there in a couple/three weeks again.
I am having trouble getting below 8 mg. I have gone slowly - since 9 I have decreased by only 1/2 mg at a time. (because I got achy going down from 10 - 9 and didn't want to take a chance.
8 to 7.5 has been lousy! I added in an nsaid, but still am having hard mornings - all the old pmr symptoms: achy hip girdle, hard to get going cause no energy, a little depressed and weepy.
By around noon, I feel great! Then by round early evening I am exhausted and my shoulders ache.
Last week I had a busy work schedule and by yesterday wanted to just collapse!
I am also achy at night and waking VERY early achy in bed.
So here is my thought: I use to divide my pred when I was on higher doses, 1/2 night 1/2 morning.
I am thinking now about taking 5 mg morning and the last 2.5 mg at lunch - has anyone ever done this?? What do you think? I am not miserable enough to go back up yet, but don't want to get to that place!!!
Hope the ship has been running without me! Ho has everyone been?
pgrI guess everyone is different. I got off pred at 5 mg. Just got off. I was a little stiffer but that was all. I am coping with arthrotec - nsaid. I take a bunch of supplements. I also got off fosamax cause i was concerned about the side effects - especially muscle pain. I am going to get back on it after i have some blood tests run. If i get worse i guess i will know the fosamax is causing it. I have good days and nights and horrid days and nights but i just dont think i could ever get back on the pred. I cannot believe this is my reality. I think that you will be worse for awhile after getting off the pred but then you adjust. That was my experience. Everyone is different though. What i did was to "accidently" skip a dose.....then again and again and then just stopped. I never feel 100 % - even with the nsaids. I was on 7.5 mg and wanted off - my gp told me to go to 5 for a couple of weeks and then i could stop anytime. I was too nervous to do it and waited for about a month. What is the mg of your nsaid? if it is 50 mg - try taking one in the morning and one at night. This is a living nightmare. My last tests my sed went up and my crp went down....go figure. I am having the tests redone...if you tilt the vial it can mess up the results and lots of other ways it could be wrong. I actually feel better than I did at the first of this thing. But not good enough to be normal or go without some meds. I have always read it is not good to split the dosage. But the medicals all have different opinions.....I scour the internet almost every day. I take the nsaids more frequently and am getting spoiled to feeling better. Hate to take any meds but i cant take the pain.Yes smartie, everyone is different. I had been splitting my dose morning and night per the doc from 20 down to 10 mg. Then I stopped for numerous reasons including wanting to give my adrenal glands a chance to restart.
My question here is whether anyone ever split morning to noon rather than morning to night. Esp., at such a low dose. I did it toda and I guess will see how it goes. My pred side effects are much less than the issues of the pmr itself.
Thanks for your response.
pgrhi everyone
pgrJust a warning - I believe Smarty was not on prednisone for very long when she stopped at 5 mg. "cold turkey" - if you have been on prednisone for longer than a few months, stopping like that can be life threatening. I believe someone on this list lost a friend who did just that. Please consult with your doctor before quitting prednisone quickly, unless you've been on it for less than a few months.you are right, Ruth. Stopping suddenly can be extremely dangerous when you have ben on it for any length of time. I remember someone talking about it causing a death. Slowly does it!
Margaret Yes - do talk to your doctor about stopping the pred. I had instructions from my GP. I started at 10 mg for about two weeks then rhumy put me down to 7.5. After about a month and after some research i wanted to stop. My GP told me to go to 5 mg and stay on for about two weeks then i could quit anytime. I quit the 5 after a month. So i was on pred from nov to early jan. My sed went up after i quit the pred and my rhumy told me i could get back on the 5 mg for a month if i was in too much pain. I decided not to do that. I had the test repeated and am waiting for results. I depend on arthrotec (nsaid) when i have too much pain. But everyone is different and should always talk to a doctor. Attention non predders - I read in the current Arthritis Today magazine that even if you are not taking pred - the inflammation weakens your bones so you should take care. There is a great article on bone health in this issue. It is on newstands and I have seen it at Walgreens. We non-predders are an odd bunch I guess - how are the rest of the rebels doing?hi, i'm a newbie and am glad to have found this site. If you are feeling better, then I would recommend you start reducing the PRED but slowly, or otherwise you will affect your adrenal glands and you may end up with other complications. Take it slow, but do it! I wish you much luck at this time and pray that you too will be well soon. I was diagnosed 3 years ago with RA and have just recently been told that I am in remission so I am thrilled. My prayers have been answered.
I have had it since November 06, and am just in process of going from 1.5mg to 1mg. I started with 40mg at the beginning, as anything less left me in a lot of pain. I'm not in any pain, although I do get very occasional stiffness. I'm expecting a bit of muscle pain while I'm changing doses, and I know from past experience I will be bad tempered and emotional for the next 10 days or so. However, if the taper goes as previous ones I expect to be back to normal in about 10 days and on to the new dose.
Margaret
I was getting so that I wasn't as tired and was waking earlier in a morning, but that's slipped back a bit since I had a minor operation about 10 days ago. I had an epidural rather thn a general anaesthetic, but I think even that has had a bit of an effect.Hi Margaret,
I go for eliminating symptoms! If they come back I'l up the dose! I know this disagrees with what some of the people on the forum think, but I aim to carry on with my life as pain free as possible. My Dr is also of the opinion (and I know not everyone agrees) that keeping symptom free is important. Pain means there is inflammation, and inflammation can lead to anaemia which makes the symptoms worse. However, I have been very fortunate in terms of side effects of pred, and I know that doesn't apply to everyone.
Thanks for the info about the epidural - I was expecting it wouldn't have had after effects, and was wondering if it was my imagination.
MargaretI haven't tried alternating doses, but will the next time I reduce again. I read on a web page that when trying to get off pred, you should take adrenal extracts daily and that reducing below 2-5 is really difficult. Reading this doctors page made a lot of sense until I researched on a quackery page to STAY AWAY from taking any type of glandulars. I ask a very informative nutritionist what one could take while reducing pred and eliminate some of the side effects and he suggested taking high potency B plus 1000mg C twice a day.