PREDNISOLONE? : In sorting out my pills for the... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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PREDNISOLONE?

54 Replies

In sorting out my pills for the week, I found some larger, round, white pills in with my 5 mgs Prednisolone tablets. I believe them to be left over 10 mg tablets (which my pharmacist says they cant get anymore, which is why they give me 5mg now) but obviously I can't be 100% sure, because I have no memory to speak of!!!

They are white, slightly larger than the 5mg, round and have an A and 272 on one side and a crescent looking symbol on the other. I have 10 of them which I believe = 100 mg of Prednisolone (that I do not want to throw away!!)

I called Pharmacy and she said she cant identify them by the markings, numbers or description, as that means nothing. (?) She said throw them away! : (

Does anyone have 10 or 20 mg of Pred that have these identifying markings?

PS Cant find them on Google. : (

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54 Replies

As it’s so few just give them to the Pharmacist next time you’re there, never take anything you’re unsure of, it’s not worth the risk!

Hope you’re OK~ haven’t had chance to read Blogs or Group this week, House & Baby!....

Mrs N x

in reply to

*sigh* Yes, you are right... they should go out! : )

I feel like a teenager "hoarding" my "stash" for a later date... Hahahaha!

Hope you are well and enjoying that beautiful grand-daughter!!!!!

in reply to

Still struggling with these hot flashes, in fact they can floor me! Charlotte’s Good, just posted a photo of her at one week old 💕

in reply to

Sorry about HF.... That stinks, especially in this heat! : (

Rimmy profile image
Rimmy

Wish I could help Melissa but in OZ there are no 10 mgs -now (if there 'ever' were any) - but someone will surely know and better to be safe than sorry.

XX

in reply toRimmy

Thank Rimmy, So you cant get 10mg either! Hmmmm? Isn't that odd. So many people are on 20, 30, 40 50... I wonder why they are not manufacturing them?

Oh well I shall have them disposed of... such a waste and I know I was saving them for a "rainy day! I am 99% sure I left them in bottle thinking they'd come in handy, if I ever felt out of sorts and needed a temporary increase. ; )

Gaijin profile image
Gaijin in reply to

I guess just like in Spain, they have none smaller than 2.5 milligrams...not at all PMR/GCA friendly! Like PMRpro says, it's not cost effective for them to have multiple denominations.

Daisychain12 profile image
Daisychain12 in reply toRimmy

Rimmy are you in Aus? I am in Melbourne. xx

Soraya_PMR profile image
Soraya_PMR

Have you ever been prescribed Valium 2mg?

mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/spc... (2nd page, right column, near the end, ‘What Diazepam look like’)

If any doubt, BIN THEM!

in reply toSoraya_PMR

If ONLY they were Diazepam!!!!! Hahahahahahahaha! It would be my LUCKY day, wouldn't it!

I do have Diazepam, but always get 5mg....

Thank you so much!

Soraya_PMR profile image
Soraya_PMR in reply to

Crescent Pharma Diazepam 2mg have the exact markings you describe. Recognise this box? crescentpharma.com/product/...

Telian profile image
Telian

Can't recall any 10mgs either - don't take anything you're unsure of so dispose, they won't be much good out of original packaging anyway - if that's what you meant?

drugs.com/pill_identificati...

in reply to

Cool, thanks!

There are lots of pill identification sites this is just one ...

in reply to

Yeah, what's weird is I cannot find my pill on any of them. I'll have them disposed of.... better to be safe than sorry. Thank you

Angiejnz profile image
Angiejnz

I know what you mean about hoarding and it's so tempting to take them to see what happens. How on earth I got to the ripe old age of 53 with an attitude like this but I am just so curious.... yeah I know curiosity killed the cat but I can't be a cat as I have had many more than 9 lives. I reckon God won't let me in heaven because I'll teach the angels rude jokes and bad habits. Not the nun kind of habit either, hmmmmm another show stirs a memory,the hills are alive and all that as Sr Bertha who kept losing Maria, the flibbertigibbet that she was.

Daisychain12 profile image
Daisychain12 in reply toAngiejnz

Love you . Hope to be in touch when I feel better. You are my kind of gal hahahaa

Hahahahahahahaha! The thing is I know they are Prednisolone.... but with my brain I can't be 100% sure!!!! I wish they were Diazepam, but I have only ever had 5mg of those... Yeah, I reckon if God does let me in... he'll keep me away from the Angels too!

ConventCassie profile image
ConventCassie

Maybe they should replace the whole lot. Was this a pharmacy mistake? Or did you put them there? It seems like the pharmacy should take more responsibility.

Canygirl61 profile image
Canygirl61

My search also came up with diazepam 2mg.

medschat.com/topics/pill-a-...

Berylholley profile image
Berylholley in reply toCanygirl61

The box is very similar to 5mg pred and I nearly took 7 x 2mg in mistake

in reply toBerylholley

Bummer!

in reply toCanygirl61

I'm still wishing they were Diazepam!!! ; )

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

There is a good reason for the rule to always keep tablets in the original packinging in which they were dispensed!

So how does your pharmacist think experts identify odd tablets in a crime? Of course the imprint means something!

However - I am inclined to feel that maybe something not entirely pukka must have been going on somewhere...

And 10x 10mg pred costs not a lot, and you don't know how old these are whatever they are - return to the pharmacy!!

in reply toPMRpro

I thought it did to... but she said "no." I am 99% sure they are 10 mg Prednisolone.

I put all my pred in an empty bottle ( so I don't have 20 small boxes of Pred in the cabinet) and about 3 months ago my Pharmacy stoped being able to get 10 mg pills and switched me to 5 mg pills... I remember thinking "Cool," I'll have a stash, in case I need them! ...but I can't be 100% sure. I'd feel much better if I found them on Google or one of those Pill Recognition sites... but I'll just have them destroyed.

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply to

Can you imagine the liability if she told you something and she was wrong? Plus she would have no idea whether they'd been somewhere where they could get contaminated. Easier just to tell you no can do!

in reply toHeronNS

Yes. Yes absolutely!!! I just was under impression that ALL pills has distinguishing marking!

I’d still like to find out though 😀

karools16 profile image
karools16

You do realise that when you have disposed of them, it will come to mind what they were!

in reply tokarools16

Hehehehehe!! YES! Actually, I know what they are! They are 10mg Pred that are about 3-4 months old.... But because I don't trust my mind... I am only 995 sure and not 100% sure!

in reply to

Bin them Melissa!

Does your Pred come in push out strips in boxes or lose in bottles?

All my Meds are in push out type strips & the only ones l ever remove before taking is the current weeks Pred.

Don’t stress over it xxx

in reply to

Push out strips, which I hate... I get home from Pharmacy and immediately push them ALL out into an empty bottle! Which is why I know these are Pred, but don't 100% know they are Pred! I go today to pick up new prescription, and will bring these in for disposal! Cheers

Rimmy profile image
Rimmy

My 'problem' is 'halves'. After 18 months of various combinations and although I have already disposed of some of the'older' ones I still have some little containers (always in loose form) of various denoms of Pred 'halves' - you know half 5mg 1mg 25mgs. This would be all well and good given the date stamps are generally fine EXCEPT I have never had a pill cutter or maybe cutting technique that ever split any of them perfectly or even near well enough. My remedy was generally to take half of whatever one day and the other the next to get a 'correct' total over a couple of days. BUT I have still ended up with lots of wee bits due to tapering and my inefficiencies at this 'clever' plan. So instead of chucking them i have kept them - in their correct mg containers but they all look SO imperfect - so now (feeling very 'fed up' with PRED anyway) I think will CEREMONIOUSLY ditch them all and just get new scripts. But I'm sure if my GP ever added everything up he would think I had been taking MUCH more Pred than I actually have been. i dislike 'waste' but like many of us sometimes 'dream' of tipping the WHOLE LOT down the drain !!!

Rimmy

XX

ClarkB profile image
ClarkB in reply toRimmy

I inherited my brother in law’s pill cutter which was far more efficient, though basic, than the one I got at Boots. The pill is pushed into a tiny space and the blade comes down!

I would find it hard to get new prescription, as each one has the renewal date printed on . This means I have to make several trips to the pharmacy as they have different due dates.

I also take blood pressure tablets which are similar to prednisone- my magnifying glass comes in handy!

in reply toClarkB

It is a pain in the neck... my pharmacy continually messes up the prescription and I too go back and forth several times before it's sorted!

in reply toClarkB

If you get your GP on a ‘good’ day you can mention your Meds are out of step & it’s be better for the Surgery & Chemist as well as you if they were all in line.

My GP was a difficult man & l must have just got him on the right day! We also have a Pharmastist in the Surgery & she now sorts that kind of issue out.

One request, one issue & one dispense, makes sense all round.

Good Luck

Mrs N 💅🏼

ClarkB profile image
ClarkB in reply to

It does make sense, and I managed to arrange for my two blood pressure prescriptions to be dispensed together. However, the prednisone is issued separately due to the varying quantities. Am hoping for the Lansoprazole to be added to this one, as it was issued at a later date. I will try and order the whole lot together, and see what happens! It’s not as if I’m stockpiling them!

I don’t always manage to see the same doctor. There’s a two week slot, and if no appointments are available, it’s a case of booking another doctor or go to the ‘Sit and wait’. It’s then, ‘What can I do for you today?’ and fitting everything in to the 10 minutes.

Thankyou for your comments Mrs Nails!

in reply toClarkB

I have all my regular Meds in 56’s as I can have two months worth at a time, the 5’s & 2.5mgs are 56’s but my 1mgs are 112 so l order whichever l require.

I just have to get my Methotrexate monthly as that depends on blood results.

Good Luck with getting them all in sync!

Mrs N x

ClarkB profile image
ClarkB in reply to

I will order online, and see if it goes through! Do you also take Lansoprazole? I wasn’t prescribed it by the Rheumatologist, but one of the doctors put me on it. Am still avoiding Alendronic acid, ☠️ although I have a packet hiding behind the others. I have osteoporosis, diagnosed before PMR. Hadn’t heard of Methotrexate. It all sounds so complicated and to think that 6 months ago hadn’t heard of PMR! I suppose it’s a question of getting used to it, although I don’t think I’ll ever be as knowledgeable to offer advice! Thankyou!x

in reply toClarkB

Yes, Lansoprazole is on the list! You’ll soon become a bit of a reluctant ‘expert’ you’ll be able to answer Newbies Questions sooner than you think.

Take Care Clark

Mrs N 💅🏼

ClarkB profile image
ClarkB in reply to

😊 I think I’ll always be a newbie! Feels like it Mrs Nails!

in reply toRimmy

I hear ya Rimmy.... I love the line, "...but they all look SO imperfect." Hahahahahaha! I would totally HATE that!!! Time to start anew.... so yes, "CEREMONIOUSLY ditch," them!

Daisychain12 profile image
Daisychain12 in reply toRimmy

I got told off at the hospital when I took in my little container of bits. I had used the scientific method of biting in half hahahaaa

Rimmy profile image
Rimmy in reply toDaisychain12

Me too !! - it works if you take the other 'bit' the next day ....

in reply toDaisychain12

Hahahahahaha

Omanain profile image
Omanain

I understand the need to keep them as potential back-up. May not be sensible but I do it all the time.

Have you tried google images?

in reply toOmanain

Yes... thanks. It's like they don't exist! Weird!

Valnvaughan profile image
Valnvaughan

Of course a qualified pharmacist can I identify tablets from markings! That is what they are for! She can't be bothered or is unwilling to identify over phone from your description for fear of "health and Safety" rules.

Pred is cheap..........no need to save.

in reply toValnvaughan

Yup... thanks that's the general consensus! Cheers!

GCA1947 profile image
GCA1947

Dear mamici1

I have a box 25 mg tablets of Prednisolone left over from when I was at 60 mg at the start of my journey. I have the box as well I they are made by Zentiva, 1 Onslow Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4YS, UK. My G.P. understood when I said that taking 60 mg using 5 mg tablets was wearing and he authorized the 25 mg ones and 10 mg ones as well.

Now I'm at 8.5 mg a day I get by with a 5 mg, a 2.5 mg and a 1 mg.

The 25 mg are round white tablets blank on one side and have a cutting dent on the other side. There is a stock number on the foil 'R603740' . They died in July 2016. I'm not sure why I'm keeping them I suppose to answer posts like your one. At least they're in their box so I know a lot about them. I wouldn't dream of taking them now as I don't know the effect of taking such a large dose.

Best wishes

Colin

in reply toGCA1947

Hi Colin

Return them to the Chemist for disposal next time you go, always best to have up to date Meds & dispose of anything out of date!

Best Wishes

Mrs N

Thanks Colin, I hope you are well!!! And, yes... do not take them ! : )

Primarose profile image
Primarose

I checked my stash after reading your post and found a whole box of 25mgs, the use by date on the box is Nov 2017, so to the pharmacy they must go.

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