Best time to take Prednisolone?

[SurreyFlower]

So the honeymoon period with the steroids giving their initial amazing relief is over.

I’m taking the Pred (15mg) after breakfast and now experiencing pain in the shoulders and arms from about 3 the next morning . I’m already on Omeprazole( hiatus hernia) also have hypothyroidism and diverticular disease.

The pains in various parts in my body continue on and off during the day. I have another blood test in 10 days.

When do people find the best time to take the steroids and any other thoughts please?

[SnazzyD]

Hello, sorry you’re not feeling as good again. So, since taking the Pred, what have you been doing physically compared to you ‘normal’ life? At this point my guess would be that you’ve over done it, which can also mean merely going back to normal. PMR and GCA both need plenty of rest and TLC because whatever your immune system is doing it will still be trying to attack itself while the Pred goes round putting out the inflammation caused. Or the Pred dose isn’t quite high enough. Or, if it is, discussing splitting the dose with your doc might be needed if you are one of those for whom Pred doesn’t last a full 24 hours.

[SurreyFlower in reply to SnazzyD]

I suspect you’re correct I might have over done things. As an active person who loves gardening, walking and looking after grandchildren I’m finding it very hard to cut down . I’ll try to be good and rest more. I’m very fortunate in having a very supportive partner who is doing his best to help out.

I’ll see what the next blood test shows and discuss with my GP

[SurreyFlower in reply to SurreyFlower]

Thanks for replying BTW

[SnazzyD in reply to SurreyFlower]

Tell me about it! I was 54 with a job, teenagers, an avid hiker and general action woman, very fit, looked after father-in-law, ran the household, a 3/4 acre garden, blah blah blah. Sooo, frustrating. 3 years in March and I’m still trying to learn to live life in a Zen like fashion, lowering all my standards and finding a new identity. Ha ha.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

But you have a new place in life xxxxxxxx

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I would say exactly the same as Snazzy did!

Splitting the dose is certainly something I'd try - say 10mg in the morning and the other 5mg a few hours later. How much later is difficult to say - just so that the antiinflammatory effect is extended to a full 24 hours until the next morning dose is due, Probably with lunch or possibly early afternoon judging by what you say about timings.

[SurreyFlower in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. I’ll give it a try

[holty]

Hi I take 20per day and am experimenting with timing my dose. I currently take 15mg during the night when I get up for a bathroom stop then another 5mg at lunchtime to help me get through the evening. It seems to be working so far.

[Mack100]

Splitting the dose seems to have worked for me, my previous attempt to taper from 17.5mg to 15mg was not a success, great pain and stiffness in the morning. So I split the dose, 7.5mg at bedtime and 10mg in the morning for 10 days and then knocked off 1.25mg for the night dose for a week.

I've now been on 5mg at night and 10mg in the morning for 4 days without symptoms which is a great deal better than I managed before.

Good luck.

[SurreyFlower in reply to Mack100]

Thank you . That’s very helpful. I’m not convinced my initial dose (15mg) is high enough as the pain ,stiffness and weakness is back with a vengeance. Hoping to speak with GP today

[CSMM]

Hi I was on 15mg for first week although the difference was day night I still couldn’t manage pain in my thighs so doc put me up to twenty I was brand new . The journey down slow and steady at first you think oh that’s it scoff Pred everything is great unfortunately you live and learn . I’m currently on 12.5 which I take at 4am every morning the difference is incredible I get up without pain I’m sore late in evening but by that time I can tolerate it as it’s time to sit and watch tv . It’s made a difference to my tiredness to .

[IslandRN in reply to CSMM]

have you tried taking 2/3 dose at 4 am and the remainder of you dose later in afternoon? I have used this method for 6 months and it works very well for me as I wake up feeling great and early afternoon when I start to get some of the shoulder/arm ache I take my remainder dose which gets me through the evening.

[CSMM in reply to IslandRN]

Thank you I will give that a go .

[SurreyFlower]

Thank you that’s very helpful