Taking pred at the exact same time each day - PMRGCAuk

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Taking pred at the exact same time each day

Mstiles profile image
28 Replies

Does it matter if you are not that strict about taking your pred at the exact same time each day?

I’ve always been flexible about routines and since I’m not working I be been pretty loose with time. I’ve taken it at 9:00 am and then the next day at 11:00 or 11:30.

Does varying the time this much matters?

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Mstiles profile image
Mstiles
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28 Replies
MrsNails profile image
MrsNails

It depends on your dose, the lower it is you may be more aware, what dose are you on?

But as it’s important to take it everyday, a more casual routine may cause you to be more likely to forget....

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply to MrsNails

Currently on 12 after 8 months at 13,

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Better to be a bit more consistent- 30 min either way probably doesn't matter, but 2 or 2 & half hours not really sensible. No doubt the paperwork says “same time every day”!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

A lot of people would be very aware they were 2 hours "late". I suppose it depends on how long the antiinflammatory effects lasts for you.

Meggsy profile image
Meggsy

Would it help to set your phone alarm to the same time each day as a reminder?

Alebeau profile image
Alebeau in reply to Meggsy

I split 1/2 & 1/2 7am and 7 pm and feel way better all day and night. I now set my cell to alarm at 7 pm as I have missed taking it and paid the price each time - don't want that to happen again.

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply to Alebeau

Maybe I’ll try that. Might help with aches and pains at night. Thanks

Meggsy profile image
Meggsy in reply to Alebeau

I have just finished taking medication for shingles. The morning and evening ones were ok but I knew I would keep forgetting the 2pm one, so setting the alarm for then solved the problem.

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply to Meggsy

Yes probably!

daworm profile image
daworm

Is it working that way? Your body will tell you...I was the same, taking it “mostly” in the morning but also tried splitting dose, taking dose around 2am, I tried most methods and the easiest was when I woke up around 8...I never noticed any effects one way or the other..

Alebeau profile image
Alebeau in reply to daworm

It was like a rebirth for me as I always was sore by the end of the day and worse in the morning when taking the full dose at breakfast. As I reduce I always go by .5 mg a month or 2 at a time depending on my blood work.

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply to Alebeau

How did you make the change to split your dose?

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Mstiles

The easiest way is to take the normal morning dose and then the evening dose for the split dose the same day, Then the morning split dose the next morning. The bit extra the first day will just give you a short-lived boost but do no harm.

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply to PMRpro

Thank you Pro for the knowledge

Alebeau profile image
Alebeau in reply to Mstiles

I just cut it in half and use a pill splitter when needed. I did this overnight after I learned about it from this forum for which I am forever grateful.

daworm profile image
daworm in reply to Alebeau

That’s basically what I did too, but I also had 10’s, 5s, and 1’s so depending on what I was on, it was easy...sometimes I didn’t make it exactly even as long as the total was correct...2am or so works for morning soreness, there’s a rhuemy who put out a paper about how that makes sense, I got the link from on this site...I’m zeroed out now since Nov....3 years dropping down slooow especially the last year...and I’ll say that sometimes I feel maybe I should still be at a low dose but for the most part I feel good...OA troubles mixed in...Pred is a great drug in my eyes...never had many side effects...started at 20mg.

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply to daworm

Good for you! 👍 What a journey.

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply to Alebeau

What dose are you on now?

Alebeau profile image
Alebeau in reply to Mstiles

5 mg at 7 am and another 5 mg at 7 pmI am 2 years and 4 months on the PMR train - it's a long track

🙂

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply to Alebeau

It Sure is! I got stuck at 13 for 8 months....pandemic etc.. but now started reducing again. At 11 now.

herdysheep profile image
herdysheep

I find it works better with important things first in the day. I have pred as soon as I wake up and then do the eyes with heat bag as I have learnt I never quite get to that later in the day. Other meds are in a routine too but once I start going out it will be more difficult to remember. Each to their own. I doubt the signal would be reliable enough on mobile for an alert even if I could work out how to set it up. We are supposed to avoid stress on which for me means very little tech!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to herdysheep

I use the alarm setting - can set up to 3 alarms on my cheap and cheerful burner phone. No signal required and even works when the phone is switched off.

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply to PMRpro

👍

herdysheep profile image
herdysheep in reply to PMRpro

Well I didn't know that!

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply to herdysheep

Yes I find I need to do things in the morning as the day progresses things fall by the wayside. Agree on tech causing stress!

ancientprune profile image
ancientprune

I started on 15mgs by 7am b ut had the shakies and wobled all day.Weaned down to 4mgs and had a horrible flare.Back up to 8mgs but still had shakieness so tried backing pred to 5am which cut the time for shakes to half the day.Tried taking pred at 4am one day and that seemed to give me more time steady on my feet.would cutting back from 7 to 4 am be harmful? I suffer from incontinence so am awakned every 1-3 hours and try to time the pred during one of those times.Any advice would be helpful.Have had pmr fo a year an a half.

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply to ancientprune

Hi ancientprune, I’m not sure, would be a good question for a new thread so experts could weigh in.

Waking up every three hours is not fun! Hope you can work it out.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to ancientprune

Not likely to cause a problem - it's just a bit early for that first day, infinitely better than 3 hours late!

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