Availability of 1mg pred

[Parami]

I've requested 1mg Prednisolone tablets from my GP a couple of times, as I'm tapering (currently 2.5mg/day from 5mg as per Prof. Dasgupta instructions). I have some aches and it would be easier to adjust dosage with the 1mg tablet, as splitting the 5mg into quarters is fiddly. I have a complaint pending with my GP, due to his rude and nasty behaviour, and I'm wondering if he is not prescribing these tablets because of this, or if there is a genuine reason. Apparently all prescription requests have to go to this doctor, unfortunately. Thank you.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Don’t think there’s any economic or supply issues with 1mg tablets at present.

You could check with normal pharmacy just in case there is an issue, if not then request again. If you still have issues, then speak to surgery manager (or equivalent).

[SheffieldJane]

Oh dear! That’s all you need. I wonder if Prof Dasgupta’s Secretary/ Nurse can help with the provision of 1 mg Pred tablets? I have no difficulty obtaining them.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Shouldn't be a problem getting 1mg plain pred - has been a bit different with enteric coated 1mg but doubt your delightful chap would offer that! Might be worth asking Dasgupta's team if they can help, explaining you are struggling and would like to try 3mg for example.

[Parami]

Thank you all for your replies. I'll check with the practice manager first, then try the rheumatology team.

[Maisiek]

If you’re with the Prof sounds like you might be local to me? I’m with the Pall Mall surgery in Leigh and they’ve been so helpful/ I explained I was tapering down and they prescribed them and Rowlands in Leigh Rd supplied no probs. Good Luck!

[Parami in reply to Maisiek]

Thank you. Have been considering a move to Pall Mall but am mid treatment for another illness so may have to wait until that is sorted. Good to know there's no local problem with supplies - just my GP being his usual self!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Parami]

That would be enough for m to ask the other place if they would have me!

[Parami in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, just not sure if it will cause complications in continuity of treatment, and especially in these times. I will change as soon as I can, as I have no confidence in him - he was okay until I got seriously ill, then I suppose I started to cost too much to treat.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Parami]

Anybody would think he was paying!!!

[Parami in reply to PMRpro]

He did the same with my daughter. She moved house and advised them. All OK until she was diagnosed with MS, then she was asked to find another surgery!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Parami]

Delightful person - had she moved out of his catchment area? But I would still have put in a complaint if it had been acceptable to him pre-MS

[Parami in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, she's now slightly outside of the catchment area, although this didn't worry them until she was diagnosed. I think she's glad she's not with him now, after the way he spoke to me. I put in my complaint in January, and still waiting.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Parami]

In my book it would be worth moving!!!!

[JanetRosslyn]

You should be able to get 2.5mg tablets. I have them - enteric coated.

[fmkkm in reply to JanetRosslyn]

Agree, I have some 2.5 mg and they are handy.

[Krezan]

It is available at least in Canada i have them

[Canarylady]

Morning

Yes I too have 1mg preds from my doctor without any problems here.

That really is a terrible situation you are in.

I hope you manage to some 1mg soon,it’s so much easier to use.

Take care and good luck

[Marijo1951]

I had a problem when I went from 10 mg to 9, 8 and so on. I would put in requests for 1 mg tablets and they consistently prescribed 5 mg. In the end in desperation (and, by the way, at the suggestion of the receptionist) I made an appointment with one of the GPs and pointed out to her that if I was on 8 mg I needed a lot more 1 mg tablets than 5 mg. She said she would ''take 5 mg tablets off my list of meds and replace them with 1 mg''. I didn't see why both couldn't be on my list, but didn't argue especially as by now I had a big stash of 5 mg tablets. I have now reduced to 5 mg and still have about 10 weeks' supply of 5 mg tablets, mainly because the rheumatologist gave me a generous prescription for both at my last appointment.

At some point soon I shall try going to 4.5 mg and I foresee further problems with my GP. If I find that I need to stick at 5 mg, I shall probably have to make another appointment to request that 5 mg tablets be added to my list. If I'm fine at lower doses, I shall have difficulties persuading them to prescribe a reasonable number of 1 mg tablets as they always ration me to two packs of 28. At 4.5 mg per day I shall have to be chasing prescriptions every week. I did once tell them I was going away for six weeks starting the following month, which got me a reasonable supply. However I don't really like using tricks and stratagems and anyway in the present circumstances I'm obviously going nowhere.

[Rugger in reply to Marijo1951]

On my list of medications, I have 1mg, 2.5mg and 5mg tablets and my GP leaves it to me to order just what I need for the dose that I'm on at any one time. How different they all are!

[Marijo1951 in reply to Rugger]

That sounds eminently sensible and much more convenient for both patient and doctor. When I first moved here one of the advantages seemed to be that the health centre was less than 5 minutes' walk away. However there are two GP practices in the building and I often wonder if I picked the wrong one.

[maria40 in reply to Rugger]

Same with me, and 'reducing course' is written on all the labels so he understands how it works.

[JudithWarrior]

Hi there, I have never had a problem getting 1 mg tablets from the doctor - I currently get issued 1 mg gastro resistant steroids and then some non coated 1 mg steroids which are easier to cut in half as I too am tapering right now from 3.5 to 3 mg. I'm trying to do it extrememly slowly, taking 6 weeks to taper half a mg in the hope that my body may cope better than in previous attempts - 3.5 yrs in. I'd love to keep in touch with you about your tapering and compare notes. Most people seem to be on higher doses. My rheumy says some can never get off a low dose - it's for life and it's the second best thing to getting free of steroids. But I don't want to accept defeat and continue to try other methods when previous attempts have failed to get me below 3 mg. I would love to hear more stories of people who have got completely free of their steroids. My latest dexa scan was so worrying and I try so hard with my diet to help my body with calcium and vitamin D and all the other stuff to do that is healthy. But back to your question - it's outrageous that the doctor should be making this difficult for you - how does he expect you to taper if you can't get the smaller doses? Stick your ground and request a phone appointment with an alternative doctor at the surgery if he proves difficult. Good luck.

[Rugger in reply to JudithWarrior]

2.5mg gastro-resistant tablets are available. I have them in 1, 2.5 and 5mg doses.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to JudithWarrior]

You won't find many on here who got off pred altogether - not because people don't, loads do, but they don't stay on the forums, they go away and get on with life. We do have a few GCA patients who got off pred - notably DorsetLady and jinasc. I am on another very small forum where most of the participants are no longer on pred post PMR, we just meet there for convenience!

How do you take the other1/2mg - it is absorbed far more quickly than e/c. But If you have 2.5mg and 1mg e/c you can reduce to 2mg in 1/2mg steps without cutting anything ...

[JudithWarrior in reply to PMRpro]

You've lost me there! I take 3 x 1mg e/c tablets plus 1x 0.5 dose of non e/c coated - simply because easier to cut the non e/c pills in half? Can you clarify what you mean about the tapering? Thx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to JudithWarrior]

Enteric coated comes in 5mg (red), 2.5 (brown) and 1mg (yellow I think)

4 x 1 = 4

2.5 +1 = 3.5

3 x 1 = 3

2.5 = 2.5

2 x 1 = 2

And not a cut tablet in the room ...

[Telian]

As already said there are no supply issues with 1mg pred.

I wouldn’t wait - ring Prof D’s secretary and explain - they will let you have some - or more likely will write to your GP instructing. Also ask for some 2.5mgs as part of your reducing regime.

Good luck.

[Beds3391]

Where abouts are you as I have lots left over from when I came off 9 months ago

[Parami in reply to Beds3391]

Thanks Beds3391 but I think I have it sorted now, after contacting the practice manager.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Beds3391]

Check their expiry dates!!!