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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Can Polymyalgia Rheumatica Be Treated?

I have PMR. I was reducing my Prednisone to the point where i was taking 5mg every other day. My symptoms have returned. Should I go back to 10mg per day, which was my original dose when I was first diagnosed 20 months ago, or should I just increase to 5mg every day?
Fri, 7 Jun 2019
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,

Steroids are the mainstay of treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica. If your symptoms are not well controlled while you were in a very small dose, you may go back one step. For instance, if you were using 5 mg daily before going to 5 mg every other day, you can now use 5 mg prednisolone daily. If this is not helping enough you may go to 10 mg daily.

On the other hand, because long-term use of steroids can be associated with many possible side effects, it is important to let your doctor know and do any dose changes with his consent.

I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General & Family Physician
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How Can Polymyalgia Rheumatica Be Treated?

Hello, Steroids are the mainstay of treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica. If your symptoms are not well controlled while you were in a very small dose, you may go back one step. For instance, if you were using 5 mg daily before going to 5 mg every other day, you can now use 5 mg prednisolone daily. If this is not helping enough you may go to 10 mg daily. On the other hand, because long-term use of steroids can be associated with many possible side effects, it is important to let your doctor know and do any dose changes with his consent. I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General & Family Physician