1 mg tqblets

[Anniegal]

Please check with your other local pharmacies. in California, 1 mg tablets are readily available at national pharmacy chains and independent pharmacies. You need a pharmacy that is willing to order this as your dr prescribed it.

[SnazzyD]

If you mean enteric coated, do you know which manufacturer?

[Anniegal in reply to SnazzyD]

I am not aware of enteric coated prednisone tablets in USA. Others may know about their availability.

[SnazzyD in reply to Anniegal]

I was interested because here in the U.K. while 1mg ordinary Pred is readily available, enteric coated isn’t and hasn’t been for months. Pharmacies all seem to get them from one manufacturer so I was wondering if that is global or whether there are other sources.

[Anniegal in reply to SnazzyD]

I just did a Google search on enteric coated Prednisone and several UK medical journal articles came up recommending that enteric prednisone not be prescribed because of absorption issues caused by the coating. This may be the reason it is no longer available.

[Anniegal in reply to Anniegal]

pad.res360.net/Content/Docu...

[Anniegal in reply to Anniegal]

And more precisely

endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Anniegal]

The NHS link is from 2010 - and the figures are totally out-of-date. The difference in price now is much smaller as the manufacturers of plain pred increased their prices in response, thinking they could now get away with it! When the PPI costs are included it is marginal.

The endocrinology analysis also doesn't apply for us, we are on pred for so long at sufficient doses for the circadian rhythm aspect to be pretty immaterial. It probably is a factor for patients on short-term courses of pred.

[SnazzyD in reply to Anniegal]

Many of us have to take it because of intractable stomach problems, even with meds. Through trial and error I found that taking it on an empty stomach at least 2 hours away from a meal, especially a fatty one, it is absolutely fine. Sadly they don’t tell you this so it may look less effective especially if people obey the law of Pred always with food. The time to peak blood levels is slower, 4-6 as opposed to 2, but one takes account of that. Once taking it properly I found no difference in efficacy. I also found that uncoated Pred ran out in my system and in the early days symptoms came back by the end of the day.

Anyway, the small pharmacies that I have been to have said that it is due to Brexit stockpiling with larger companies finding procurement easier than small outfits who are last in line. This has been going on since early this year.

I know you don’t need to know any of this, but I thought it might be interesting for those coming across this post.

[Anniegal in reply to SnazzyD]

Snazzy, I am sorry to hear this. PMRGCA patients need access to both. Here in the USA, most doctors prescribe Omeprazole which protects the stomach but has its own subset of side effects. I had been wanting to look into enteric prednisone as I would like off the Omeprazole.

[SnazzyD in reply to Anniegal]

They do here too but again, it can make things worse or just not work for some like me and others are not happy about the side effects. There are other options such as the older antihistamine types like Ranitidine but I didn’t get on with that either, though the side effects were fewer.

[Anniegal in reply to SnazzyD]

Rannitadine (Zantac) has just been recalled by Novartis distributed through several large USA pharmacy chains due to contamination with a cancer causing agent.

amp.usatoday.com/amp/377302...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Anniegal]

Or possibly degradation of the drug itself - that doesn't appear to be clear yet.

[Anniegal in reply to PMRpro]

Given that so many manufacturers are involved in recalls of this drug , that certainly seems possible.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Anniegal]

Storage conditions? Wonder where the basic drug substance is made?

[Anniegal in reply to PMRpro]

Here is more.

nytimes.com/2019/09/19/heal...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Anniegal]

economictimes.indiatimes.co...

GSK are recalling specifically India-manufactured substance. It's wait and see time. But it probably isn't more than a well grilled steak ...

[piglette in reply to Anniegal]

There is another product just been recalled as well for the same reason as Zantac, it was on the news yesterday. I think it is for indigestion. Also with suspected NDMA contaminant.

[piglette in reply to SnazzyD]

My pharmacist says that the glitch at the manufacturer for 1mg coated in U.K. seems to be sorted out and she is now able to supply them again.