2.5mg enteric coated or 2mg + cutting a half of uncoated?

[diana1998]

I'm wondering if this can make a difference in how one feels overall and if anyone has tried this? I know the coated take much longer to start to work. I ran out of 2.5 brown pills so have been forced to cut a half and I've been feeling different somehow. I have read that some members have tried 2.25 and cutting a pill into quarters in order to reduce even more slowly.

[123-go]

Hi. I’ve never been in your position but many others have and there are a number of helpful answers and suggestions in ‘Related Posts’. PMRpro has commented here:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Difficult to say - but it could just be the pred is hitting your system all at once whereas the 2.5mg coated pred means a slow rise in blood level to its peak which is usually lower than when 2.5mg uncoated gets to its peak.

[diana1998 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. Trial and error I guess.

[Exflex]

I’m on wk 3 of a 1.75 to 1.5 taper, 5w in total. Walking with the grandchildren yesterday and I felt discomfort in my left upper arm as my arms were swaying back and forth, as you do for balance. One of two or three things going on. It could be muscle atrophy due to more than 3 yrs on Pred, Adrenal, or PMR. I’ve decided I’m going to have a rest before attempting the next 1.5 to 1.25mg step.

I saw a GP last week for an unrelated issue and she asked about my general health. Mentioning the 1/4mg reduction over 5w she was quite surprised but didn’t press me to go any faster. I forgot to mention the catch phrase Lower-Slower.

[Ronnie101]

I, too, am wrangling with swapping between gastro resistant and ngr. I've been taking 2 gr tabs at 6 pm, followed by a half of a ngr 1 mg tab at 11 pm. It seemed to be working until I had a flare last weekend, so I'll probably have to rethink!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Ronnie101]

Yes but that may not be down to the mix of tablets, could just be you have gone too low on your dose.... and if that's the case doesn't matter what tablets you are taking, or when.

[Sharitone]

As far as splitting the tablets is concerned, I actually reduce by 1/8mg at a time - doses with 1/8 in them are achievable by splitting a 2.5mg into 4. I have had greater success reducing by tiny increments - below 4mg I could no longer reduce by 1/2 mg at a time.

I alternate between coated, for preference, and uncoated when necessary for splitting, often with a dose comprised of both. It takes longer to take effect, but overall I have found there is no difference.