Prednisilone size

[Openchamp]

I suggested to my Surgery that I wanted to come down from 2.5 mg/day .Aa prescription came back for 1 month of 1 mg tablets. I had told them my own trials seemed to indicate an alternate dose of 2.5 mg followed next day by 1 mg might work.

I’ve just had to go to the surgery and get typed out the message by the receptionist what I think my requirements are.Ive not been put on a regular consultation of say 3 months to manage this.

Can anyone tell me are 1mg and 2.5 mg tablets the only low range tablet size available for Prednisilone?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yes. Plain pred comes in 5, 2.5 and 1mg. Enteric coated (UK only) comes in 5, 2,5 and 1mg also and the 1mg tablet has only been available for the last 3 years.

However, down to 2mg you can reduce in 0.5mg steps by mixing the tablets. Then you use 1mg tablets and a pill cutter available online or from the pharmacy. Your idea of alternating 2.5 and 1mg doses may backfire in the long term - your body may object the large relative changes in dose, not everyone but a lot do find that. But if it does work for you - fair enough. Remember though that you may be fine at 2.5 but find 1mg too low. It is a big jump.

Have you considered this sort of approach:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

which allows you to get to that alternate day stage slowly and seems to let your body get used to the new lower dose more easily.

[Openchamp]

Thanks for your advice .I never even knew you could get a pill cutter.!!!

I ve tried 2.5 mg then 1mg,the 2.5 then 1mg for 6 consecutive days with no discernible bad effects..I ran out of 2.5 and then tried to manage with 1mg ,followed by 2x1mg ,1 mg etc etc . It didn’t work.

When I get the new prescription and cutter I think I can micro manage it a bit better.

Many thanks

[Hidden in reply to Openchamp]

Hi you might be better now to go from 2.5mg to 2mg per day or alternate days, then 2mg to 1.5mg using a pill cutter, then 1.5mg to 1mg then hopefully to 0.5mg

It is a much bigger drop percentage wise the lower you go.

Good Luck 🍀

MrsN

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Openchamp]

A difference of 2.5mg one day and then 1mg then next is a very big jump percentage wise as MrsNails said. - way over the 10% recommended. I surprised your body didn't object!

The smaller steps you take at this level the better - for you and your body. Most people can manage 0.5mg a time okay, but you must remember the lower you get the less surplus Pred you have in your body, and there's a very fine line between being enough to manage your illness - and not!

[jinasc]

Now you are down to well below 5mg, ask for A synacthen test........this will tell you how well your adrenal glands are working. Remember it can take up to 1 year before they are fully functional.

Don't even think about dropping more than1mg at time.

[piglette]

Do you think they expected you to take 2 x 1mg tablets per day. My surgery seems to be cutting back on the size of doses nowadays for some reason.

[TooSore]

My prednisone pills have a line down the middle and they actually break better then trying to line up the line with the blade. I put them on a clean counter and push down on each side - works like a charm

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to TooSore]

That actually also works with any rounded pill even if they don't have a score line.

[TooSore in reply to PMRpro]

Good to know! 🌺