Prednisolone packaging change.: I had Prednisolone... - PMRGCAuk

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Prednisolone packaging change.

suelm profile image
17 Replies

I had Prednisolone supplied by Relonchem and Accord, different packaging so when I opened a new packet of Accord 1mg it was actually 5mg. So instead of taking 8.5mg I have taken 12.5 for a week! Realised when preparing my weeks meds today, do I just go back to 8.5mg or should I take it more slowly.

I have just seen my consultant who has me on Methotrexate and has told me to be on 3mg when I next see him in 4 months time, so taking it slowly may be problematic!

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suelm profile image
suelm
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PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

You can drop straight back - up to 7-10 days at a higher dose isn't usually enough to do anything adrenal-related. It is often suggested for sorting a flare caused by overshooting the dose you need: add 5mg to the dose where you flared for a week to 10 days and then f=go back to the dose above where you flared. You can just go back to your usual dose though as you aren't dealing with a flare.

Your rheumy may be being a bit optimistic about your taper - MTX doesn't work for everyone and often takes a few months to start to help anyway. Don't let him bully you.

suelm profile image
suelm in reply toPMRpro

Thank you very much. I am definitely going to look at the numbers rather than the colour of the box from now on. In the meantime I have had a completely pain free week and was able to swim in Druridge Bay in Northumberland, the North Sea was pretty chilly at 7am, it was in aid of Mind. If I had not made the mistake that might not have been possible!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply tosuelm

I was going to say - I was surprised you didn't notice how well you felt! Hmm - the North Sea is pretty chilly any time of day - any time of year!! Rather you nor me!!

suelm profile image
suelm in reply toPMRpro

I had just had covid so had stopped taking Methotrexate, I put the improvement down to no MX side effects! I usually have two or three days exhaustion when I can hardly get out of my chair together with nausea, in fact much like the covid I had!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply tosuelm

I DO support TRYING methotrexate - but NOT when it makes life unpleasant for more than a day a week!

suelm profile image
suelm in reply toPMRpro

I did ask if I could try reducing without MX but my consultant said he would review in 4 months when I was at 3mg.

I also asked about adrenal function but he said it shouldn’t worry me till then, ie 3mg, at which point we could deal with it.

He suggested injections to help the nausea, as that is a minor problem I refused, injections would not help with exhaustion and aches!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply tosuelm

My rheumy suggests taking half before bed and half the next morning - says he finds it reduces the risk of nausea. That certainly wasn't a problem I had. But the aches and fatigue made me feel worse than PMR with no pred!! That wasn't acceptable!

Esradral profile image
Esradral in reply toPMRpro

I recently reduced to 9 1/2mg from 10mg following a very slow reduction. Woke very early the next morning with sickness and spent last two days dozing all day uncontrollably, feeling very out of sorts. Could this be a reaction to this very small dosage alteration? I don’t have a temperature and done a lateral flow test, negative.

suelm profile image
suelm

i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4828...

suelm profile image
suelm in reply tosuelm

North East Skinny Dip 10th Anniversary!

Bcol profile image
Bcol

North Sea, this time of year, no thank you very much, but we'll done you and for a great cause. Packaging changes can be very confusing and very annoying. My 1mg tablets now come in a bright pink box which is about four times as big as the last brands box, but the tablets themselves are about half the size, really difficult if not impossible to cut in half.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toBcol

North Sea, any time of year, lovely. But NOT swimming! Ever ...

Rose54 profile image
Rose54

Hil did the same back in May was taking 15 mg instead of 7mg .

MrsNails profile image
MrsNails

A couple of weeks ago l pushed out ‘Next Weeks’ Pred (l’m a packet against contents checker, a Nurse in a Previous Life) who set myself up with 60mg of Codeine for a week…….

It was only when l was tidying up l thought that’s odd - why the Codeine box? But they were the same size & manufacturer…..

Easy Done but the Meds Gods were looking over my shoulder….

Time to do next weeks after another cuppa ☕️

PMRnewbie2017 profile image
PMRnewbie2017

Hmmm, can i ask, are you saying the box said 1mg but there were 5mg tablets inside? Or had a dispensing error been made? Or did you take the wrong packet from your stocks at home?

If the tablets were incorrectly packaged you must report it as this is a major safety issue.

suelm profile image
suelm in reply toPMRnewbie2017

I hold my hands up completely my fault!

PMRnewbie2017 profile image
PMRnewbie2017

Oh dear and easily done, both small white tablets and depending on the manufacturer, not always of vastly different sizes.

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