reducing problems.

[Valentina1]

Good morning

Thankyou. I am reducing as instructed by GP 4tabs one day 3 tabs next of 5mgs each per tab. idea is to get down to 15 mgs ie 3 tabs of 5mgs. I found it very difficult to cut these very small tabs up into pieces now I learn from yourselves I could have tabs of different sizes. Doc didn't seem to want to help on that. 5 minutes isn't much when I see him. I had to wait 10 days for an appointment. I feel I will try from today to see how 3tabs making 15mgs in all a day instead of this alternating regime for at least a couple of weeks. My skin is now getting terribly thin on my legs and even my socks leave red brown marks. My nails break all the time as well.

I know I cannot go on like this apologising and saying to people when I bump into them accidentaly that I am not drunk. Some days I am only safe sitting down.

Sorry I am fed up with myself

Its going to ne another lovely day here I shouldn't complain.

Valentina

[Soraya_PMR]

Valentina, do you have a pill cutter? Or are you trying to cut the pills with a knife?

[Hidden]

Good Morning Valentina

It’s always best to talk in mgs ie 5mg etc

Ask your Doctor for 1mg tablets to help with your reduction, also l note in your other post you are cutting Warfarin again you should have different strengths to ensure accurate doses, my understanding is different strength Warfarin are different colours.

You could write a note to your GP to ask for the different strengths so you can work to a more accurate reducing regime. Pop the note into the Surgery with your Repeat Prescription & hopefully that will sort it for you.

Kind Regards

MrsN

[Valentina1 in reply to Hidden]

I have rung the doc. He has replied. I am to stay on 3tabs of 5mgs a day instead of the yo yo regime. Make an appointment for next week for bloods and then another appointment to see him I have asked for smaller dose tabs so I can use them more easily. Yes I do have a pill cutter but its not so accurate I find. With the warfarin I have been doing it for 20 years so am not bad at it . I am self testing also.

one of the first in the county . Bought my machine no.1 in Switzerland. I still have to pay for my own. Its worth it.

Still have sun shine but its chilly in the wind.

Many thanks

[Hidden in reply to Valentina1]

Oh you must feel better having sorted the Pred & your dose out, Well Done 🌟

Any questions don’t hesitate to ask.

It’s another lovely day ☀️

Kind Regards

MrsN

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Valentina1]

Accuracy doesn't really matter - as long as the "half" is smaller than the whole you are taking less - and that is all that is important.

[Valentina1 in reply to Hidden]

I rang GP he responded very well. I stopped the yo yo situation immediately and am on 15mgs of pred. I also made an appointment. As you no doubt already knew the yo yo regime comes from NICE Prior to that my Doctor thought it was Consultants. There is no feedback that he knew of. I find that this regime can be advised to people and that there is no return of information as to the affects on people a sad reflection on the NHS. Its akin to the drug testing situation which is mainly on men.

I received other advise which I am grateful for ie Double Base Gel Its helping hugely I requested it from the GP as well as preds in a different size. I asked why I had not been told about the skin problems I was told that the Doctors feel I might not take the preds. if I knew. How daft is that? Surely to know is to give me an opportunity to protect myself.

I told my Doc. I want to know.

I know I have repeated some of this information already.

[Hidden in reply to Valentina1]

Well Done Valentina 🌸

It’s good to take responsibility when we have a long term condition, we eventually become an ‘Expert Patient’ because we understand how it really is.

I used to drop PMRGCAUK Articles off with my previous GP as he was just so sceptical about PMR

You will find lots of Tried & Tested advice here, not just about tapering Meds but as you know Tips re your skin etc

Have a Lovely Easter 🐣

MrsN 🌼

[scats]

Hi Valentina. looks like it's going to be nice here too. It does make a difference when the sun shines! I can't really advise you about pred dosage but to swing between 15 and 12.5 does seem unusual. Have you only got 5mg tabs? They are also available in 2.5 and 1mg. If your tabs are coloured they are gastric coated and you will not be able to cut them. White ones can be cut but I find they tend to shatter.

Wobbling, however, I am an expert on. I find a stick helps, especially on cornering, when I tend to veer in the opposite direction from the one I am aiming at. I also avoid crowded places as I find these make me worse.

Hope this helps, enjoy the sun it will hel; your mood.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to scats]

Pills should cut okay - so long as you have a decent pill cutter and use a firm but smooth action plus making sure pills are held steady.

Takes a bit of practice, but does work!

[scats in reply to DorsetLady]

I checked the other day and my blade is bent. It was dad's and goodness knows whar he used it for. Must get a new one. Didn't have my maths brain on either it's 15 and 20 mg still I'm awake now!

[Valentina1 in reply to DorsetLady]

Good morning

Arthritis doesn't help fingers rarely do what you would like them to. However rang GP he rang me back very quickly I am to stop the yo yo situation and stay on 3tabs a day making 15mgs of preds until I see him at the end of next week. I do find the small white tabs crumble they are not as firm as my warfarin which I also have to cut. Gp will be asked yet again next week by me for a variety of tabs. I suppose its cost.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Valentina1]

For your info prices - fairly recent -

This is quoted drug tariff price. All 28 tablets-

Dose. Plain. Enteric

1mg £0.50 £1.92

2.5mg. £1.30. £0.96

5mg. £0.70. £0.97

So cheap as chips really!

[Soraya_PMR in reply to DorsetLady]

2.5mg enteric cheaper than plain???

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Soraya_PMR]

That’s what it says on NICE’s site!

Doesn’t make sense to me either.

[Soraya_PMR in reply to DorsetLady]

Sudden dash for 2.5mg enteric pills!

Weird!

But as you say, “cheap as chips” whichever way round.

(Post Brexit?????? 😮)

[Valentina1 in reply to scats]

Hello

Thank you. I have been cutting warfarin tabs for in excess of 20years but the preds as you say shatter and arthritis in the fingers doesn't help. I rang GP He rang back very quickly I am to stay on 3tabs of 5mgs making 15 mgs instead of the you yo affect. Make appointments for next week and see how it goes.

Yes I now have to use a stick and I am staying home more and more . Crowds noise my memory difficult to know whether its age or meds. Sorry I think its the latter. But I would wouldn't I.

We still have sun but its a cold wind.

[scats in reply to Valentina1]

Same here. I got a steamer chair for my birthday and I'm keen to use it, but it's a bit cold today.

I think the confusion can be PMR as well. I know several of us get wobbly and confused in supermarkets. Probably everything working in unison, but I found it gets easier as I reduce the pred so you could be right.

Take care, and be kind to yourself.

[Soraya_PMR]

Valentina, if your memory was ok before pred, and you’ve noted a decline since starting pred....be reassured that there is a medical/scientific explanation. Pred blocks a part of the brain that is important in creating new memories. It should become less of a problem as your dose reduces. Just hang on in there Gal!

Pleased to hear your GP concurred with us that 20/15/20/15 is no way to taper sensibly! My body shudders at the thought of it. When you see him next week, ‘tell him’ that from a stable 15 (3-4 weeks) you’re going to drop by 1mg a month. No more 5mg drops, it’s simply too much at a time.

[Valentina1]

Good morning all

I feel so much better after taking the advice and ringing Doctor to tell him I cannot continue on his regime I seem to be better on 15mgs of preds. However its early days I have bloods scheduled for today have to ring doc next Tuesday 8am for an appointment and I will ask for 1mg tabs of Preds. That way I can reduce much more easily and very slowly.

This last week has been dreadful. NICE have a lot to answer for.

I am so glad I found this site. I do feel the support is there from all of you. I thank you for that.

The sun has not as yet put its hats on. Have a good day all and thankyou