Prednisone for Polymyalgia Rheumatica User Reviews

• Moc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 29, 2023

"I was diagnosed with PMR a year ago and was prescribed 30 mg of Prednisone to start. After ruling out GCA, my doc began a tapering protocol which reduced my dosage by 2.5 every three weeks. I got down to taking 5 mg a day and believed that I could just stop and go the natural route. Well, joint and muscle pain came back with a vengeance. I had a setback big time. I’m back up to 10 mg and back to 5 mg after 10 days. So, I’m a believer that prednisone works for this condition, but I hate that other meds must be taken to manage other side effects like a PPI to protect the stomach lining. For those who are not seeing a difference, unfortunately, may need to start at a higher dose than taper slowly. Hope this helps someone."

• bob...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 19, 2020

"I developed PMR about three years ago. Pain so severe in my hips and shoulders that I couldn't lie down, so I slept (fitfully) in a chair for six months, while undergoing tests (RA? Fibromyalgia? Leukemia? ...). Finally, the doctors agreed that I had PMR and referred me to a rheumatologist, who put me on an initial daily dose of 15 mg prednisone. The pain vanished within 48 hours, and I haven't had a recurrence. I was on a tapered dosage of prednisone for about 6 months, followed by methotrexate for a year. No side effects, other than waking up earlier than usual, which is a small price to pay for continuing pain relief."

• Pam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2019

"Initial visit to the ER with pain from neck to hips. Prescribed a dose of Prednisone at 20 mg for two days, then the dose was decreased to 10 mg from then on. No relief for two weeks. Doctor said to double it. Went back to 20 mg. No relief for another week. Today I was increased to 30 mg. No relief this evening. Everything I read says within a few hours! What am I doing wrong? I can't walk, sleep, bend over, or tie my own shoes. And I've gone from weight lifting and aerobic exercise five days a week for the past six years to sitting in my recliner every day. I'm a 62-year-old active woman."

• chi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 26, 2020

"I was diagnosed in January 2020 and prescribed prednisone 10 mg daily by my specialist. It took a week for me to feel 100% relief. I felt like an energetic bunny. By February, I began tapering. By April, I had a setback and became ill because I was tapering too quickly. The doctor adjusted my dose, and the symptoms went away. Yet, I developed elevated blood pressure and BPM, a tingling sensation in my left arm, constipation with bloating and gas, causing gastritis. I was prescribed Metoprolol beta blocker and Prilosec. I finally finished my prednisone regimen at the beginning of August 2020. I stopped the beta blocker a month later. I felt my adrenals take over. My old arthritis in my lower back and knee returned. Now I am recovering from pain in my mid-back area. My mood is not good. I'm feeling anxiety and depression because of these new symptoms. I do not want to ever take prednisone again."

• Pol...
• October 20, 2020

"I am sorry to hear about your PMR and the medication not working. I developed PMR at age 55 and went from pretty fit to decrepit in a few months, I felt dreadful. I think the menopause and low iron levels compounded a predisposing condition. I stubbornly refused oral and even injectable steroid treatment as I was so wary of the side effects. It was a struggle to keep as active as possible, and I am grateful for sympathetic working conditions. I have never been able to go back to full-time hours, I still have fatigue and aches six years later, but (thank goodness) none of the excruciating pain of the active process. How any older, less fit person copes with this, I do not know. I feel that if this illness affected a younger population, there would be more investigation into treatment other than steroids (but that is just my opinion). May your recovery be swift and the same for everyone with this or any other chronic life-changing illness."

• Tim...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 28, 2024

"I was a 58-year-old fit male, very active when I was diagnosed. I woke up in the middle of the night with pain from head to toe. I went to the emergency room, and within a few hours, I was told I had PMR. The doctor gave me a prescription of (50 mg x 2) of prednisone and told me I would feel 100% in a few hours. He was right, I went from dragging myself into the emergency room to roller skating that evening. I went to my family doctor, who wrote me a prescription for prednisone. I went from 50 to 40 to 30 to 20 mg in approximately 6 months. From there, I went to 15 and then 10 mg, but pain came back at 10 mg, so I went back to 15 mg. It's been a roller coaster as far as dosage, back and forth from 10 to 15 mg. I tapered down to 1 mg from 10 mg over about a year. I am now off the meds after 6 years, but I do wake up with joint pain. It takes an hour of moving around, and I feel pretty good. Not 100%, but I can function actively. FYI, my inflammation markers were 5 times what a healthy person's are."

• Don...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2020

"I was recently diagnosed with PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica). My rheumatologist started me on prednisone, 15 mg a day. It did nothing for the pain. From what I've read, prednisone is the best medication for PMR, and I should see relief within a few days. I didn't see any relief. My doctor has changed meds to Lyrica. Lyrica is doing nothing for the pain either. Does anyone have any comments about what has helped you? I don't understand why nothing is helping."

• Ray...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2024

"I was diagnosed with PMR about 2 months ago. The doctor started me on 15 mg of Prednisone, and within 3 to 4 hours, I noticed a difference. The pains in my shoulders and hips came back, though a few hours prior to the next dose, so he upped it to 20 mg, and that is where I am sitting. Zero issues, and as a bonus, my knees that are in bad shape have not felt this good in a long while!! :)"

• Rob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 27, 2024

"Rapid onset PMR left me nearly paralyzed. 40 mg prednisone per day had me feeling almost normal in 24 hours. Like many here, I tapered too rapidly and relapsed. After 7 months, I am at 11 mg per day and will taper 1 mg per month going forward. Many other side effects are appearing: blood pressure, heart rate, weight gain, hot flashes, hand stiffness, general fatigue. The marker 'C-reactive protein' has been kept within normal range during tapering, so prednisone is working."

• Dan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 22, 2021

"I was in bad pain in my shoulders and knees for 4 or 5 months until I crawled into the doctor's office. I was 61 and worked out religiously and ate well and ate the bad stuff too. I lifted heavy weights and was in good shape. When the doctor saw me, he made a spot diagnosis and gave me a steroid injection he thought would last for a couple of weeks. It lasted really well for a couple of days. He put me on 20 mg prednisone for a week, then 10 mg for a week, and then stopped the medication. I had a bad relapse. I went back on the same regimen, but this time I went to 5 mg and was doing okay, not great but okay. The rheumatologist has tried to get me off the meds, but it does not work right now. So I take 2.5 mg a day, and it gets me through with turmeric, fish oil, and a daily ibuprofen, as well as massage, hot and cold showers, workouts, and vitamins. Some days are pretty good, and some days are worse. If I get three bad days in a row, I take 3.75 one night, and that helps. So far, no bad symptoms."

• May...
• October 5, 2024

"Age 65, I was diagnosed with PMR in October 2023. I’ve chosen more conservative treatment with non-steroidal meds used as required (Panadol, Celebrex, Nurofen - not all together) and in minimal doses. I am well aware of the seriousness of prednisone side effects and will stay off a prednisone regimen as long as I can live a reasonable lifestyle without it. I’m doing well without prednisone and an anti-inflammatory diet and supplements. I walk a lot for exercise. I am traveling now and can manage long-haul flights. My symptoms are minimal, but still there. I’m glad, however, I have the option of prednisone treatment should I end up requiring it, and for the worst-case scenario should I develop Giant Cell Arteritis."

• Jos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2021

"Works well for me. However, while tapering off, it does not provide as much relief and prevents me from using my hands/fingers for simple tasks."