Awake at 3.30am again ...... aching in shoulder blades which have felt for the past couple of days. I am wondering if it’s the size of hydrocortisone tablet I am taking for 4 weeks. Can anyone advise? My first 2 weeks of 10mg tablets where a decent size & my afternoon dose of 5mg was easily cut with my pull cutter.
However I got my 2nd prescription from a different pharmacy & though they say they are 10mg they are half the size of the 1st lot! The 5mg dose is a sliver! Could there be a problem with the actual strength despite the packaging saying 10mg, is it the quality? I am off pred for 4 weeks & on hydrocortisone for an adrenal function test.
I having been lying awake wondering if I should take the pills back & query them or take them to the doctor! Maybe it’s just readjusting to different medication ......
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Pollyanna16
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I have 10 mgs from two different companies: one 10mg is about the size of a 5mg. I always look the pill numbers up to make sure I'm getting the correct MG. Oh, the smaller 10mg is as strong as the larger 10mg.
Thank you Soraya I read that with interest. Have googled the firm & it says there is no problem in splitting the pill however your article questions that. Am going to speak to the pharmacist
Pills are sometimes produced with a score so they are easy to split, with or without a pill cutter. They are obviously intended for cutting. The dispute tends to be for pills without a score line. Manufacturers have said that it is an old wives tale that such pills shouldn't be split: the same procedure is used to produce the mix of drug and fillers before being pressed to produce the pills and what the press does has no influence on the make-up of the mix.
Well that’s good. But if a different manufacturer, maybe the fillers are the problem? (As PMRpro outlines further down the thread.
(Oh I’m so sorry doctor, I seem to have dropped my pills down the loo, could I have another ‘script? >>>>off to first pharmacy) No! No! I’d never advocate nor condone such wicked behaviour 😉
I think you should explore the theory in your last paragraph and see if they will restore you to your original prescription and type of tablet.
For my own information, I would be interested in why you are on Hydrocortisone rather than Prednisalone? This change has been offered to me in order to support my Adrenal glands. I wasn’t expecting it to be much good with PMR pain. I am on 5.5 mgs of Prednisalone. The equivalent 25 mgs of Hydrocortisone taken in 3 daily doses. Thanks!
Hi. Well I am supposed to be on hydrocortisone temporarily before having a blood test to test my adrenal function, and it may be helpful to see if the Rheumatologist is correct in thinking I have Psoriatic Arthritis. I didn’t realise it was supposed to support the Adrenal function, I don’t think it’s helping me at present!! I was down to 2.5mg pred. I have just played an extremely uncomfortable game of golf, no fun whatsoever except I was with good friends 😬😬
My Adrenal function is steroid suppressed. The Hydrocortisone is supposed to encourage my Adrenal glands to work more efficiently, as it mimics the natural function more closely. I am currently on 5.5 mgs of Prednisalone. The idea is to substitute that for 25 mgs of Hydrocortisone. Coincidentally, I have had Psoriasis on my feet and my Rheumatologist suggested at this last visit, that I might have Psoriatic Arthritis. It would perhaps explain the continuing pain. I was diagnosed with PMR 3 years ago. The Psoriasis pre-dates this by some years. Has your Psoriasis improved with Hydrocortisone at all?
Sorry for the interrogation but I am worried about all this and have received conflicting advice. 🌼 thanks.
Not at all it’s what this site is all about isn’t it? The Rheumy was keen to put me on Methotrexate a year ago & as I wasn’t keen I made a big effort to come down from 5mg pred to 2.5, a bit bumpy on the way. Anyway, I was diagnosed 8 years ago. Have managed the PMR more or less on my own apart from initial diagnosis with a now retired Rheumy. I have inherited the Psoriasis, 3 rd generation since I was 15. However pred kept it at bay until last summer though I have always had pitted nails & more recently overtight achilles which are signs of psa. Hopefully this upcoming blood test & possibly a synacethen test will help the diagnosis. I do feel with the symptoms I have had the last few days that the PMR is still around! Oh did I say I am expecting to be on Hydrocortisone for a limited period whilst these tests are being done. Regards
It doesn't SUPPORT adrenal function, it replaces the cortisol in a closer to natural way as it provides short lived surges of steroid 2 or 3 times a day (depending on how you take it) whereas pred is a single spike of corticosteroid (for most people at least). Because of that the body experiences more frequent periods with no steroid in the body and so the adrenals are poked more often to start to produce cortisol.
Jane when the lovely Dr Lim sent me to the Endocrinologist, remember that episode? Anyway, Dr Lim said l may be put on a Combination of Prednisolone & Hydrocortisone because it would possibly help with the Adrenal Function but also Cover the PMR ~ the words Dexamethasone also passed her lips ~ the Happy Steroid from Chemo Days! But of course he didn’t think l had an issue anyway, something for me to pursue after this Kidney Issue gets sorted.
We’ve arrived in France & l’ve brought a course of super, super sounding Antibiotics to take, starting tomorrow, they sound a joy, take on a full stomach, take them standing up with a full glass of water as they can cause ulcers in the oesophagus, they sound like AA with Bells On, but if they work Happy Days 😃
Oh Well, Beautiful Daughter in Law has arrived Home so it’s time for an Aperitif 🍸🍸
I have a magnifying glass and whenever I get a new prescription I check the number on the pill and go on line to verify. Better to verify because people do make mistakes. One day I went to check a new bottle of ones and a bigger pill was mixed in, sure enough a 5 mg tablet🤭
Might not be the size and small slivers - it is obviously a different manufacturer and almost certainly different fillers in the tablet. And whatever any doctor tells you that "it's the same drug" the fillers in various brands of tablet make a difference for some patients.
Can the GP not give you a ‘script for each dose? Or give you 5mg & then you could take 2tablets when you need 10mg & 1tablet when you need 5mg rather than messing with cutting the 10’s?
• in reply to
I asked for some 2.5mg Pred so when l reduce by 0.5mg l make the dose up with 1mgs &/or 5mgs
I hate messing about cutting them, then l lose them so until l want to go to 1.5mg 😂 if ever, then l’ll have a rethink but somehow l can’t see that anytime soon as l’m back on 10mg 🤯
Ah OK - My Mum used to be on Hydrocortisone & never had to mess around cutting tablets, she was on a higher dose in the morning than she was Lunch & Tea Time. It was just a thought!...
Goodness so it’s possible to get 5mg! I have now spoken to the pharmacist who supplied the original larger tablet which I had no problem with cutting & she agreed the smaller ones are far too small to be sure you are getting the right dose & different manufacturers don’t suit everyone. So, I am now getting a new prescription & will make sure I get the larger pills. In these conversations no-one suggested supplying a 5mg tablet🙄. Thank you everyone for your support & helpful links. After 7/8 years on pred I was worried a new drug would present new problems & aches 😢
Glad you’re feeling better! I’ve stopped mixing the two types & asked my GP for a ‘script for 2.5mg Uncoated so l could keep to the same ‘type’ more by way of the physiology of them all being the same & as an accurate dose, ‘Mrs I Notice a 0.5mg Drop’
Uncoated Pred are absorbed within an hour so work quicker than the coated ones that take up to 4hours that’s why the timing of taking your Pred can really matter.
Ask GP to amend your ‘script to uncoated & ask for 2.5mgs too as they help save cutting until you get below 2mg but by then Happy Days 😀
Double check with your Pharmacist before you ask your Doctor, it’d make life so much easier.
I’m pretty sure Ma Mar took 5mg at lunch & tea time with a bigger dose in the morning. She had a form of Addisons after being on very high doses of Pred for years for Asthma.
Also, she was always given Pred if she had a Chest Infection/Bad Asthma so as not to get confused with the Hydrocortisone dose.
Let us know if you have any luck.
MrsN
Pollyanna
My Top Tip is always try to use the same Pharmacy if you can & build up a good relationship with them, ask advice etc if you are prescribed any additional Meds at anytime re Contraindications & when’s the best time to take them.
I had to have a course of Antivirals & they are not easy & have to be taken away from some of my other Meds but he worked out a Plan of Action with me, they do know more about the Meds than the Doctors sometimes.....
Also, l’m pretty sure Hydrocortisone does not work as well as Prednisolone on Inflammation but PMRPro would enlighten you further on that point. Don’t Quote Me until you check......
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