Tapering

[Southmead]

Hello All,

I'm curious on tapering Pred dosages. My pills are 5 Mill, I can break them in half which gets me down to 2.5 daily. How do you all know what is 1 mill, etc. How do you get that precise amount?

Incidentally, on 5 mills a day, and I'm fine, just normal. Once I go down to 2.5 I start getting the stiffness symptoms returning. Should I stay on the lower dosage to see if my body adjusts. After 6 years of PMR I would love to get off the pred, but I suppose that goes for all us. This site has proved invaluable to me.

Thanks

Peter

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

As you don’t say what country you are in not sure if you can get 1mg tablets. (Helps us to answer if you put that in your profile).

But as you refer to Prednisone rather than Prednisolone I guess you’re not in UK.

If you use a pill cutter you may be able to cut your 5mg tablets into 4 sections rather than in half - as only 2.5mg seems to be too low for you.

Check with your doctor/pharmacy if you can get smaller tablets.

[Southmead in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you, I'm in the USA

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Southmead]

Could you fill in your profile details please as this does help us help you more specifically like dorsetlady has mentioned. YBB

[Southmead in reply to Yellowbluebell]

I just did

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Southmead]

Thank you. It does make it easier for us to help especially as we have international members even though the forum is UK based. X YBB

[alvertta in reply to Southmead]

I Canada we are given 1 and 5.

[SusyTe]

I am in the UK and have 5 mg and 2.5 mg enteric coated and 1 mg non-coated. Hope your doctor can give you these - it makes life easier. Then you could try a drop to 4.5 mg - a drop from 5 to 2.5 is a big one - the recommended reduction is no more than 10% at any one time. Good luck! 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I believe it is possible to get 1mg tablets even in the USA and you really do need 1mg tablets to be able to taper below 5mg.

Otherwise this

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

can and has been used successfully to reduce 2.5mg at a time. If you can cut them again - and there are pill cutters that will quarter even a small tablet - it is easier.

[Hidden]

I’m in U.S. and have 1 mg. Tabs. I’d check with pharmacist if doctor says otherwise. My best. 🙂

[misspops]

Hi Southmead,

I'm in the US, (Vermont), and I get the 1 mg. tablets. I'm trying to taper from 3 and a half, and if I break a 1 mg tab, in half, and the piece isn't quite the same size as the day before, the PMR aches return. Even a crumb of a 1 mg tab, makes a difference. You can't taper without them.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to misspops]

You don't need to cut a 1mg yet - cut a 5 in half and use 2.5 +1

[misspops in reply to PMRpro]

Great idea, I'll do it tonight. How would you recommend cutting them down from there, if I want to go down a quarter of a mil? I swear, the tiniest crumb, in the wrong direction, makes a big difference.

[Hidden in reply to misspops]

Carefully. You need a good pill cutter that you can slot the pill in a good position for maximum control. You would need a very sensitive scale to get it right evrrytime. I will leave maths to others.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to misspops]

If you are that close to the borderline now - I don't think you should be even thinking of reducing further yet!

[misspops in reply to PMRpro]

I agree with you, that I am barely able to get away with 3.5 mils, and will stay here for quite a while. But, hopefully, I'll be back with the same question, someday in the future.

BTW, swallowing two pills, after I wake up at 2 am, is way better, than 4, (less water to drink, fewer trips to the toilet).

[Southmead in reply to misspops]

That's good to know, I didn't realize it made such a difference

Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Southmead]

It doesn't for everyone so don't worry about it.