Cutting Gastro coated Pred.

[Omanain]

I am on 12.5mg and have been told to reduce to 10mg. I think this is too much so I want to reduce by 1.5mg. I have 1mg enteric coated pred. My question - I realise that if I cut enteric coated pred they will no longer be gastro-resistant, but is there any other reason I shouldn't cut them? Is half a coated pred the same as half an uncoated pred?

Thanks

[scats]

They are designed to be absorbed in the gut not the stomach. They must not be cut.

Try to get some 1mg uncoated. I have been taking a combination of the two for a while with no ill effects. The 1mg uncoated are also useful in that the effects are felt much quicker, for me it's 2 hours rather than 6, for when you need a quick result.

[Omanain in reply to scats]

Thanks Scats

[Hidden]

Hi,

They probably won’t cut just smash & be useless as Scats says get some one 1mg uncoated.

Alternatively, if you wish to stay on Coated, order some 1mg; 2.5mg along with your 5mg & you can arrange your doses that way, making up the combination you require.

I suggest having a Daily Pill Box & filling it once a week, mid morning when you are not taking other tablets & then you are done for the week.

This is what l do but with uncoated as l find cutting fiddly & then l lose them!

Until l get to 1mg (if ever) then it’ll be time to cut them!

Kind Regards

MrsN 🌷

[Baileyw06 in reply to Hidden]

I do my pill boxes for 5 weeks and than you go from one taper to another.It works and can always be adjudged if needed.You Never forget which week your in.

[Omanain in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I will get some 5mg uncoated to make up doses as necessary.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

You cannot cut enteric tablets, but you can mix and match to get the dose you need. They are available in 5; 2.5 & 1mg doses (despite what some GPs may tell you) plus as scats says you can also use 1mg uncoated -which can be cut.

[PMRCanada]

You mention you have 1mg coated pred, so I would go down from 12.5 to 12, or 11, which is a smaller drop.

[piglette]

Whatever you do DO NOT cut enteric pills. As you have 1mg enteric coated, you can always mix them with the 2.5mg and 5mg to drop by .5mg each time. It does need a little arithmetic though.

[Omanain in reply to piglette]

Thank you. I will get some 1mg uncoated.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Difficult to say - the hard coating will possibly make it harder to cut properly even with a pill cutter. But cutting the pills negates the gastric resistant point and makes them harder to swallow to boot.

You can get 2.5mg enteric coated - but why not go to 12mg first, then 11 if you don't want to tell the GP you need them too?

[Omanain in reply to PMRpro]

This is probably my best course of action. I am just concerned that if I ask my GP for plain pred he will change my prescription so that all the 1mg tablets are plain! But I will do a slow reduction from now anyway so 11.5 to 11 for a few weeks will be OK!

[GerriMc]

I used to cut them with a heavy sharp knife . I found no difference in how I reacted to them as opposed to fully coated tablets. It worth trying out to see if it works for you.

[Omanain in reply to GerriMc]

That is interesting, thanks GerriMc.