Hello! I am at a loss. I am trying to taper off a daily dose of 5mg prednisone.
Unfortunately, I live in a country that has only 5mg tablets available - nothing smaller. I can cut them in half (2.5mg), but when I try to cut them down any further, they crumble. How in the world can I taper by the recommended .5mg? I apologise if I appear a bit dense. 🙄
😔 I’m sorry to hear that. I can’t tell you what to do. I would only imagine dropping down very very very slowly. Awful that 1mg isn’t available to you.
Thank you. Yes, I am so surprised that 1mg is unavailable. We have looked everywhere.
Can’t you buy a tablet cutter probably off amazon
Yes, I have one I bought at the pharmacy. I don't know if it is just not a good one or not (it was the only one available) - it cuts the tiny 5mg pill in half just fine, but when I try to cut one of them in half, it crumbles. I need to go down by .5 - so this won't work. Smarter minds out there? Please? 🙂
It’s probably not your cutter, I tried to split the 1mg tablets and couldn’t get it to work well. I’m sorry I have no answers but have you asked your doctors who advised tapering .5 mg at a time how others have done it? I hope you find a solution
Thank you! Yes, I asked, but he was not helpful - when I called to tell him I couldn't find smaller dosages, he just suggested to look outside the country. He seemed not to realise it was a problem. Oh, yes - he said to find the liquid form. I asked pharmacists about it, and they looked at me like I'd grown two heads.
I have a tablet cutter that manages to cut small pills into quarters without them falling apart.... look at tapering schedules online too as some suggest alternating doses that could help you.
But bizarre that no 1mg. Have you asked your hospital how yiu are expected to taper?
Yes...I have asked. The doctor tells me to try to find smaller dosages elsewhere - other countries, in other words. It's impossible, especially now. Perhaps I can try to find a better cutter. The one I have was the only one we found after going to several pharmacies - but maybe there is one hiding somewhere. I wish this were the only problem we've had obtaining medical supplies, etc. here - but it's not. I will look online for alternate ways of tapering. Thank you!
Could you maybe cut it with a sharp scalpel? Taking care of your fingers of course.
Or could you get hold of a scientific scale that would let you weigh a quantity a small as that - that way even if it doesn’t cut well you could get enough ‘crumbs’ to make the correct dose.
Another good idea. Thank you!
What country are you in?
KSA
For heaven’s sake..one of the richest countries in the world and no 1mg pred!! Have you tried pharmacies that deal with American ex-pats?
Yes...I go to clinics and hospitals where Western expats go. 🤷🏻♀️
Good idea! I will check. Thanks!
Good idea!
What a good idea
They are definitely available in the UK and I have some in the cupboard. Just no idea what .5 and I'd suggest take every other day so 2.5 then becomes 1.25.
For example.....4mg a day for 5 days is 20mg. So if you take 4 of your 5mg tablets over 5 days then that will average 4 mg. Then 3mg a day for 5 days is 15mg, so 3 of your 5mg tablets over 5 days will average 3mg.
Maybe you could work out a schedule that gets you where you need to be?
Definitely recommend making a chart that tells you exactly what you should be taking and when. I did that as soon as I started.
I found my blue card yesterday - thought I’d thrown it out! I had worked it all out for the whole three months I was taking it, I started with 15mcg then dropped 2.5 every week I think it was over three months.
That’s my first thought: take your 5mgs every 36 hours
Thanks so much, everyone, for all your great ideas! It's a big, big help. 🌷🌸
I had a similar problem and the only solution for me was to take the half every second day then every third and fourth. Hope you get a resolution
I had a programme whereby I left off 1 5mg tablet per week for a couple of weeks or so then 2 per week then 3 and so on. I wrote out a plan, as advised by specialist nurse, and it worked. Took a long time but I managed it well and finally came off prednisolone. Hope it helps. Good luck.
Interesting! Thank you so much. 🌷 I am sitting here trying to figure it out. 😊
Sorry if my reply sounds confusing, I was too initially!
So as an example:
For 4 weeks miss one 5mg tablet weekly (eg every Wednesday)
For next 4 weeks miss two 5mg tablets weekly (eg Wednesday & Saturday)
For next 4 weeks miss three 5mg tablets weekly ( eg Wednesday , Saturday, Monday)
And so on....... hope that makes sense.
You saved me from banging my head against the wall. 😂
Thank you. 🌷You made perfect sense. I'm the one with the loopy brain. 🤪
I had exactly the same problem! When my OH suggested using nail clippers I laughed - but it worked! Yes we did have a few that crumbled but once I got to a quarter a day (1.25g) I went to every other day and I found that one crumb bigger or smaller didn't make any difference. Good luck!
Whoa! A fingernail clipper! Great idea! Thank you! Why didn't I think of that? I will try it tonight. 🤞🏼
Fortunately I am able to get 1mg prednisolone but I had to change steroid to do this as my previous one, deflazacort was similar in that it wasn’t available in the UK at less that 6mg tablets. I can only think that you purchase the pred 1mg online, not sure you'll find a tablet cutter that will give you an accurate enough dose, difficult with a 5mg tablet.
Are these gastric coated 5mg steroids (red ones) or the white ones with the line down the middle???
I do manage to quarter the 5mg white ones by halving first, then halving again using a thin bladed knife without a problem. Good luck! 🤗X
Need tapering off steroid support 
Tapering off steroids
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