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Suggest Treatment For Polymyalgia Rheumatica
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.
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
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
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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