I am presently on 3 for 3 days and 2 for 1 day, I dont have very bad symtoms compared to some., My query is that I dont feel too bad when getiing up in mornings a little stiff around shoulders but after taking pred I feel as tho it brings symptoms on, go very tired and stiff around shoulders and hands, after a few hours it goes again,and energy levels rise. I am wondering if the pred is not required now or to stay on 2, afraid of a flare up. Evening energy levels are great, weird really thats when I should feel tired, I am 75yrs of age , considered quite fit and agile, go for minimal walks and play Crown green Bowls Winter and Summer to County standard, and against men. My last ESR two months ago was 13 and stays around that, forgot to mention have had diagnosed PMR for 20months and consider myself quite lucky really compared to some other sufferers.
Q: wondering if you have asked your rheumatologist or general doctor about this? They should be able to advise-- Barbara
That really is a new one on me!
Not usually recommended, but one lady had problems in the few hours after taking the pred and her GP suggested trying taking the dose BEFORE going to bed. She tried it and it worked brilliantly - the unpleasant side effects happened overnight while she was asleep. At one time I was on a form of pred that took ages to work so the entire morning I was immobile when I took it in the morning. By taking it late evening it had started to work in the morning and I had more of the day when I felt good.
Hello Beatrice, I'm afraid I don think I can help you here, but whatever you do don't stop taking your medication. You've come along way and as you say it would be awful to get a flare up now. The problem re the fatigue and stiffness after taking the preds? How odd, I've no answer to that but could it be because you are on such a low level if preds and I suppose your own adrenal glands have or are attempting to kick in again. Could it be that? All the best, christina
And forgot to say - it is always worth trying a reduction, just never force it. But still reduce as slowly as before - don't just stop taking the pred "overnight".
I was very interested to hear that people find it is better to take Pred BEFORE going to bed, as I (like Eileen) was finding it hard to get going in the morning when I took my medication at breakfast time. Now, I have it before bed, and I feel much better first thing - and if I find I am not so good in the afternoon and evening, well, I just take things easy!
It isn't very common - and the received wisdom is that taking your pred at night will keep you awake. However, when I did it I obviously got to sleep long before the pred hit the system and it made no difference at all. It really does pay sometimes to experiment a bit - and a good doctor won't object too much. There are even some people who take their dose in the early afternoon - how that works I have no idea but if it suits them why not!
The idea of the morning dose is that it most closely resembles what your body does anyway in making cortisol. However, for that it really needs to be taken about 4am - not half way through the morning after breakfast. The optimum time to avoid morning stiffness is 2am (established in studies) - so taking it before bed isn't so very different really.
Thanks Eileen. Well evening certainly seems best for me - at the moment anyway!
And the bottom line is that that is what really matters! Theory is all very well - but the practice is what matters!
Thanks to for all replies will take on board
I am one of those to benefit from taking my Pred. at night but with me the problem was that,taking it in the morning made me feel panicky and hyper. Amazingly it didn't seem to have the same effect when asleep. I also have had problems with raised BP and a 24 hour monitor showed that when asleep my BP was fine. Weird.
Hi, I have found over the last 7 years that if I split the dose and take it twice a day things work better. I am on 7 mg, 5 in am and 2 in pm. Then depending on how I feel over time, at least up to now, I will cut a small amount either am or pm and eventually get back to once a day. I find with the small amount in pm I sleep much better. I went thru this once several years ago and was pred free for two years before it flared up again. Good luck!
Definitely!
Thanks again Eileen.
Today I took 2 pred and had no unpleasant feelings noticed that before so feel it possibly is time to reduce totally to two. I played four hours of outdoor bowls today also without effecthopefully
Sorry Eileen must have had some effect pressed reply before I had finished message thanks for all replies.