Dosage

[sampete]

Although instructions say to take pred in one dose I have just reduced to 12 1/2 mg I find it works better for me if I take 2 tablets of the dose in the morning and the other 1 at night like a top up, then I do seem to have a better night and not as much stiffness in the morning. Does anyone else do this? Oh and I did clear it with my doctor

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Splitting the dosage is often discussed on the forum. The antiinflammatory action of pred lasts from 12 to 36 hours depending on the person so for some the symptoms reappear before the next dose is due - so splitting it, taking about 2/3 in the morning and the rest later enough to carry the effect over to the next morning, often helps and may even let them get to a lower total dose of pred. Everyone is different so a bit of experimentation may be required.

[Mack100]

I have been doing this for some months and have found it to be very beneficial in reducing morning pain and stiffness.

[nickm001]

I think there is another factor at play. By splitting dose part of it is taken in the evening and second dose in the morning. My experience is that pred taken late at night is more efficient way to combat inflammation. Even now that I am at very low dose of 1.5mg, I prefer to take that at 1AM rather then morning.

When I was at higher dose, I used to split it and when tapering, I would always taper morning dose first . My second phase of taper was to to reduce evening dose and increase morning dose the same amount ( keep overall dose the same). I could always feel the change. Next taper I would reduce morning dose.. etc.

[diana1998]

I did this very sucessfully for ages till I got to 7mg. Now take whole lot after eating supper and fine.

[Harwen]

It works for me too and has done for 15 months. I am one of the lucky ones with PMR: pain-free, lots of energy, sleep well, virtually normal life. For the last week I have tried taking my 9.5 dose in the early morning, between 2 and 4am. It was okay for a couple of days but disastrous in the end - yesterday morning I thought I was having my first flare and the pain didn't ease till mid afternoon. Took 5mg as part of a spit dose last night and woke up virtually pain free.

I think we are all different and whatever works for you is best. Moral of my 'experiment' is "If it aint broke, don't fix it".