Lowering the Dose of Methylprednisolone

Over the course of the last week, I have managed to decrease the dose of steroids (Methylprednisolone) significantly. Since the completion of the second Medrol dose pack-a 6 day regimen of Methylprednisolone that starts off at a very high dose of 6 tabs the first day then gradually decreases to 1 tab on the final day-my infectious disease specialist has kept me on Methylprednisolone at varying doses to control the severe Hyperparesthesia (skin pain and sensitivity) and swelling. At first 2 tabs a day was enough to keep the inflammation at bay. My doctor told me that it was ok to take extra tabs for a little while if the inflammation comes back or isn't managed by 2 tabs. For about a week, it took 4 tabs a day to manage it. During that week I was being treated for that kidney infection so it's possible that my body was just overwhelmed and needed some extra support. On one day during that week, I tried to take only 3 tabs one day. The next day I woke up to severe Hyperparesthesia again. This time, it mostly affected my back, neck and shoulders making it difficult to rest because the pressure of the pillows against my skin when I tried to lie down was too painful. So, I went back to 4 tabs for the rest for the rest of that week because it was clear that I was not able to get by on less at the time. 

However, since then I have been able to bring the dose from 4 tabs down to 2! I did it gradually, decreasing it by 1 tab at a time and giving it a few days to see if the new dose was enough to keep the inflammation down. Then I would decrease it by 1 more tab until I got down to 2 tabs. It's been 5 days on 2 tabs each day and the inflammation has been controlled pretty well. There were moments or even whole days here and there where I felt the inflammation but it was mild and didn't call for an increase in the dose. I feel more at ease mentally on a lower dose as well. Methylprednisolone is a powerful steroid; it's even stronger than Prednisone and the idea of being on it at all makes me uneasy. I was in a bit of a hurry to reduce the dose because 4 tabs a day just seemed excessive. Like I said, I feel more at ease about the whole thing now that I only need 2 tabs a day. I also like that my doctor gave me instructions and the the freedom to adjust the dose as needed.

Now here's the exciting part. Since the kidney infection has been treated and I've been stable on 2 tabs of Methylprednisolone a day for 5 days now, I'm thinking of trying only 1 tab today! Of course, this is just a trial run to see if it's possible to get by on a lower dose. If the inflammation returns, I may need to go back up to 2 tabs. Or, if I encounter some other major physical stress, 1 tab may not be enough and I may need to increase the dose temporarily again. No matter what, the fact that the inflammation is controlled well enough for me to try 1 tab is a good sign, I think. I hope that this dose is enough to manage it! So this morning, I only took 1 tab. I will see what happens and report back.