Enteric coated prednisone

[icu2]

enteric coated prednisone....i am in Ontario, Canada. asked pharmacist whether the enteric variety was available here. was told no. anyone out there know if this is accurate.

[HeronNS]

As far as I can tell from posts on here this form is available only in the UK. I do know a couple of years ago there was a little flurry of posts from people who had bought gel capsules you can insert your pill into and that is supposed to work in much the same way, carrying the med through your stomach and then it being released once it is in the intestine. I don't know if this works.

I'd like to know if we could get prednisolone as I suppose it would be easier on the liver, not having to be processed there like prednisone is. I know prednisolone is given to animals, and in liquid form to children.

[icu2 in reply to HeronNS]

checking will update if i get any new info.

[alvertta in reply to HeronNS]

I do that. I developed an ulcer this year. Year 2 of prednisone. Using Capsuline.

[prospecter7 in reply to HeronNS]

I am in 🇨🇦, as you know, and I am using drops called Prednisolone Acetate 1% in my eye following Cataract surgery.

[HeronNS in reply to prospecter7]

My husband has used that also - had a corneal transplant last year. But it's not quite the same as being able to get appropriate dosage for PMR is it? Maybe I should go to a vet?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

This link would appear it is- onlinepharmaciescanada.com/...

I think Rayos is what PMRpro uses and is slow release.

[icu2 in reply to DorsetLady]

checking it out....thank you.

[HeronNS in reply to icu2]

If you click on it you will find you cannot get anything from them if you live in Canada! Probably one of those sites which Americans use because the prices are cheaper than where they live???

[alvertta in reply to HeronNS]

Ha ha.

[alvertta in reply to DorsetLady]

Says no service for Canada.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to alvertta]

Ok, see HeronNS reply above...must admit didn’t go into site!

[HeronNS in reply to DorsetLady]

Well as you aren't in Canada you would not have got the big type message on a blank page which says:

Thank you for visiting our website. We are not able to offer our products and services to consumers residing in Canada.

[alvertta in reply to HeronNS]

Lol. Marketing? What the heck.

[HeronNS in reply to alvertta]

I think it is illegal to sell prescription meds this way in Canada?

[alvertta in reply to HeronNS]

Yes. They might be holding this address until Canada changes laws. Not soon.

[HeronNS in reply to alvertta]

As we can't enter the site there's no way to tell. I do know that UStatesians do buy meds online and view sites claiming to be in Canada as safe and unlikely to be selling counterfeit drugs.

[alvertta in reply to HeronNS]

We Canadians are useful for something. Lol.

[HeronNS in reply to alvertta]

I just wish something would happen with the long promised pharmacare. We have insurance through hubby's retirement plan but so many people don't have any drug insurance. When it's a choice between rent or food or your medication?

[alvertta in reply to HeronNS]

Yes. And universal day care. Hoping they both happen before I bite the dust. In Ontario over 65 we pay $4 per prescription plus $75 per year. For me ...a deal

[HeronNS in reply to alvertta]

There's some sort of elder pharmacare in NS but we opted out as hubby's plan, including other health care like physio, better. Provincial plan quite expensive for the year.

[alvertta in reply to HeronNS]

I have never had insurance as I ran my own business. 65 was a good year.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to HeronNS]

Okay, well I didn't bother as I wasn’t interested...fooled by the title Including “Canada”.....trades description!

[HeronNS in reply to DorsetLady]

We can't see anything of the website, including what you've just described.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to HeronNS]

Wish I’d ignored the question now! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Serves me right for trying to be helpful...caused a lot more hassle 🙄

[HeronNS in reply to DorsetLady]

Not at all. We Canucks have thoroughly enjoyed this little detour - at least I have!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to HeronNS]

😉I aim to please!

[alvertta in reply to HeronNS]

Something to keep us laughing. Bring it on.

[alvertta in reply to DorsetLady]

Nope. We love help.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to alvertta]

Well yes! But it wasn’t a lot of help was it? 😳

[alvertta]

There are empty Gel Capsules you can order on Amazon. Capsuline. I got the idea from a friend in Mississauga. Put the prednisone inside. Helps them stay inside as they move lower into your digestive tract. Works for me. I am in Ontario too.

[HeronNS in reply to alvertta]

I know it's not the same as delayed release (different from enteric coated), but I wonder whether it would work as well if taken at the right time?

[icu2 in reply to alvertta]

a big thank u for all the inputs. think i shall try the gel caps. currently split my dose, but take evening one very early...9 pm. can’t manage 2 a.m. will see how long it takes meds to pass into intestine...may buy me a few hours.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Enteric coated pred is only available in the UK - not even anywhere else in Europe.

Rayos/Lodotra is not SLOW release, it is DELAYED or modified release. Slow release is when the active ingredient is released slowly over time. Lodotra has a coating that breaks down suddenly after 4 hours in the right stomach conditions (with food present) releasing the entire dose all at once, just like taking plain oral pred but 4 hours later.

[phebamom]

I just asked my rheumatologist the same thing, Same answer, not available. My stomach has been bleeding from gastritis caused by prednisone since last June. I started Actemra for GCA last month. Down to 7mg. prednisone, increased Pepcid to 80mg. per day. The goal is to get off prednisone. I have been on pred for 10 years. Asked gastroenterologist about enteric coated prednisone. Problem is the stomach issues caused by prednisone are systemic, not just local. Also, if the prednisone breaks down in intestines instead of stomach that could lead to intestinal issues. There is just no free lunch with prednisone.

[icu2 in reply to phebamom]

it is such a blessing and such a curse. rightly or wrongly i believe the prednisone has activated all my other minor viral /skin/ bacterial/ fungal issues. ( plantar’s warts, rosacea, skin fungus etc.). not going to kill me but sure makes life less pleasurable. maybe i am over reaching here but don’t think so.

[phebamom]

The only thing that has made it tolerable has been a low sugar, low sodium diet. Boring, but doable. I did not do all at once. I just kept making small changes. Now if I eat something super sweet I nearly gag. And I only like a little salt, not a lot. Changes take time but are worth pursuing. I no longer have the above mentioned problems.

[GratefulBailey]

Another Ontario Canadian advocating for the use of the empty gelatin capsules ...they have been a life saver for me after nearly 2 years of stomach upset/pain! Unfortunately these were not a "known entity" for my rheumatologist, GP or pharmacist; had I known about them, I would have been spared pain and a multitude of digestive issues.