Can you split gastro resistant Pred safely.

[genius64]

I'm reducing Pred with caution, 15mg to start and now down to 9.5mg in 5 months. I am on a waiting list to see a rhumy so have no guidance other than this brilliant forum. As I suffered gut problems on uncoated Pred I was put on gastro resistant ones that help. My question is can I split these safely to get the right dose. I only have 1mg, 2.5mg and 5mg and as I can only get 1 months prescription fir 1mg it's difficult to decrease. Thank you.

[Koalajane]

I believe that the coated pred should not be cut

[genius64 in reply to Koalajane]

Thanks Koalajane I thought this would be the case. You've got to be in Oz with a name like that.

[Koalajane in reply to genius64]

No in UK but have always lived koalas and my daughter lives there

[SnazzyD]

No you shouldn’t. I used a mixture and cut a non-coated 1mg when I needed a half but took it a few hours later to try to coincide with the coated Pred.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

No - because by cutting it you negate the whole point of the coating. The coating is to protect the stomach from the direct irritant effect of the pred and by breaking it the inside filling of the tablet is exposed and can come in with contact with the stomach. You might just as well use plain pred which will cut better anyway and gives the same result - a cut tablet exposing the contents.

You need to speak to your doctor and insist that you are given enough g/r pred to make up the dose and show them the arithmetic: 5mg plus 2.5mg plus 2x1mg for 9.5mg, 5+4x1mg for 9mg, 5+2.5 + 1x1mg for 8.5mg and so on.

[genius64 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRproAlways know you will answer my questions.

[piglette]

How often can you get 1mg replacements? If you can get a repeat every month, which I can, you should be OK, or are you saying they just give you 30 tablets a month? Just ask your GP to give you more 1mg tablets. Tell them you will need 4 x 1mg ie 120 tablets a month, if you reduce to 9mg.

[genius64 in reply to piglette]

Thanks piglet, I'll do Just that.

[Judyliz]

You only need the uncoated 1 mg of prednisolone when you are reducing to 1 1/2 mgs prednisolone and then 1/2 mg. With a wee bit of jiggery-pokery with the g/r pred you will be fine until then. I expect you have already worked this out so sorry if it appears really obvious.

[genius64 in reply to Judyliz]

Hi Judyliz, I appreciate what you are saying. I need this forum to confirm my thoughts. Thanks.