Suggest Treatment For Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Posted on Mon, 9 Feb 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 9 Feb 2015 Answered on

Thu, 12 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I was diagnosed with PMR Early December 2014 and was on 20 mg predisone for 1 month- then 10 mg for two weeks now take 5mg every other day, How soon can I completely come off Prednisone assuming symptons do not recur. I do not take any other prescription medication.

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Tapering plan

Detailed Answer:
Good day,

Noted your concern. Poly myalgia rheumatica is a diagnosis of exclusion . I hope your Vitamin D levels, Thyroid blood works are normal.
The minimum trial period of steroid in PMR is 3 months. However, since you have used 20 mg for a month, we can taper the steroids only gradually.

How do you feel in yourself after starting steroids ? Any diference after ringing down the dose to 5 mg alternate days?

If you are better, then by end of this month, you could further reduce it to 2.5 mg alternate day and then over a period of 15 days can stop. This should be done in consultation with your doctor.

Please take atleast 1000 mg calcium and 1000 units Vitamin D a day to protect your bones as well whilst on steroids.
Regards
Binu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar