Lodotra/Rayos ..are they the same as enteric coated? + OUT OF STOCK warning

[Jan_Noack]

I a bit confused here. I read about Lodotra and Rayos which are the same thing with different name for marketing in different areas of the world. ALL online stores are currently out of stock, which may be warning to people who can get them, to stock up!! (1mg,2mg and 5mg!)...and let me know if I can order them from there too

From reading it has a coating and as far as I can tell it is a triple-layer patented enteric coating. Enteric coating releases all at once in the intestines. Rayos/Lodotra coating is designed to release after 4 hours. I THINK this is if taken in the middle of a meal?

"The formulation technology of RAYOS/LODOTRA enables a delayed-release of prednisone approximately four hours after administration.

The RAYOS/LODOTRA delivery system synchronizes the prednisone delivery time with the patient's elevated cytokine levels, thereby taking effect at a physiologically optimal point to inhibit cytokine production, and thus reduces the signs and symptoms of RA and PMR.

" and detail of coating and time delay and a huge reduction in morning "stiffness" here

sec.gov/Archives/edgar/vprr...

These non-patent copies are not enteric-coated and seem to try to get around the patent by making a time-release which is not the same thing at all ..and will not protect your stomach. researchgate.net/publicatio...

I have no idea how long food and tablets take to pass thru your stomach. 6 hrs rings a bell?? Is 4 hrs long enough to reach the small intestines in older people?

I assume so?

What I've started to do (the result of methotrexate I took for the past two weeks helping me think things thru) and it seems to be helping is putting my prednisone dose in a gelatine capsule and coating it with confectioner's varnish (Alcohol -904 which used for flower decorating on cakes). Only taken 3 doses so far but not the usual burning and acid reflux. I also eat in the middle of a large meal and just hobble around til lunch or the ..basically not able to move much at all in morning. I just couldn't cope with the acid reflux anymore. Eating okras, and taking Gaviscon liquid after the meal.. but okras are difficult to get hold of and only last a week or so. For me, okras work better than Gaviscon and Gaviscon liquid works better than 40mg pantoprazole per day! I take ranitidine very occasionally too. but still suffering from acid reflux, though it's reducing and the horrible raw sore throat is abating... and sleep is improving

[PMRpro Ambassador]

They are not the same. The Lodotra coating takes 4 hours to break down under the right conditions, releasing the entire dose 4 hours later but still in the stomach and absorbed there. It is to be taken within 3 hours of a main meal (dinner at 7pm) or at the same time as a substantial snack including protein and fat (bread, ham and cheese is suggested). It is absorbed just like ordinary plain pred, achieving a peak in the blood within the next hour or two, taken at 10pm it is released at 2am and peaks by 4am, just before the cytokines are released. That is its purpose.

The enteric/gastro resistant coating in e/c pred does not break down in the stomach at all, it passes through the stomach and only in the different pH conditions in the duodenum does the coating start to break down so that it is absorbed in the lower part of the GI tract. It can take up to 5 or 6 hours or even more to reach its peak in the blood.

The last link you give is about someone trying to imitate the Lodotra patented coating to make a cheaper biosimilar that isn't affected by the patent law. Doesn't exist on the market.

Since you are putting your tablets in a capsule you could take it like Lodotra - the same applies with enteric coated pred too - it will be absorbed early morning and work sooner. At present you are delaying the morning effect by hours.