Apr 17, 2016 (Started Feb 03, 2015)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome)
  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for polymyalgia rheumatica)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (flushing, feeling feverish, wired, tachycardia (fast heart rate), elevated blood pressure, stretch marks, moon face, weight gain, blurry vision, bruising, rash on face)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 1.25 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Down to 1,25 mg since five days. The day after I woke with face rash that worsened during the day and the day after. Try to treat with lavender oil and coconut oil. A little better. Have always had perfect skin. Read somewhere that it might well be effect of tapering, happened to others too. More pain, especially in the thighs (that's why the GP thought it was PMR), weaker, stiffer, feel like I might fall when walking the rest of the day if I take a short walk (300 m) earlier in the day. On the plus side: moon face and double chin visibly reduced. Can't wait to get off completely next week.

Apr 8, 2016 (Started Feb 03, 2015)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for polymyalgia rheumatica)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (flushing, feeling feverish, wired, tachycardia (fast heart rate), elevated blood pressure, stretch marks, moon face, weight gain, blurry vision, bruising)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 2.5 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Turns out I never had PMR. Very difficult to come off. Suddenly easier when came down to 5 mg than earlier (from 40, started being difficult at 27,5 already). Positive: very strong nails, but that is the only one. The side effects are difficult. Especially sad for all the big and ugly stretch marks everywhere that will remain. Looking forward to getting rid of the moon face and the pred belly.

Mar 5, 2015 (Started Feb 03, 2015)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for polymyalgia rheumatica)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (flushing, feeling feverish, wired, tachycardia (fast heart rate), moon face)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 40 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: At 40 mg I am far from well (still weak, unable to stand for long and can't walk too far), but I have started to wake up rested in the mornings the last week or so, not in too much pain, less flu symptoms, and am able to think properly (calmly and methodically) for the first time in 19 years. The side effects seem to come a few days into new or elevated dose, stay for a week or two and then lessen as the body adjusts.
Cost: < $25 monthly
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