Splitting !mg Coated Pred

[Omanain]

Does anyone know if half a coated pred is the same as half an uncoated pred or should they not be split for another reason? Thanks

[piglette]

Do NOT split a coated pred. You are destroying the coating.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The purpose of the coating is to protect your stomach - if you split them, that is no longer the case, your stomach is exposed to the pred. So don't split them - you might just as well split a plain tablet and they are FAR cheaper.

Why do you want to split them? You don't need to split e/c pred until you get to below 2mg - a 2,5mg tablet gives the 1/2mg step and you add 5s and 1s to get the total dose. By the time you get to 1.5mg pred the dose is mostly low enough to cope with a 1mg and 1/2mg plain pred.

[Omanain in reply to PMRpro]

I am on 2mg now and want to go down to one and a half. I know it would ruin the coating, but is this the only reason? I do not have any uncoated pred and don't want to ask for them in case they stop the coated ones.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Omanain]

It is really though once you break that coating it will be absorbed more quickly - but then, so will plain ones.

[Omanain]

Yes, I was thinking maybe carry on taking the 1mg coated pred at 11pm as usual and the broken half the next morning. I Just have to try it and see. It was just that some members say you MUST not cut them and I wondered if there was a reason why I shouldn't apart from the obvious one.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Omanain]

The reason you are given them is to protect your stomach - cut them and that benefit no longer applies.

[AndrewT]

Dear Omanain,

NO Don't 'Split/ Cut' the Coated Tablets, that is Rather Unwise!

They DO however Come in 2.5 mg, as well as the 5mg so, that should help a bit anyway. I was On these for some years, after I first became ill- around 25 years ago now! Subsequently my Medication(s) have Changed, quite a bit, but I AM still On Prednisolone- 6mg but not coated.

The best 'Thing', to do, is to call Your 'Own Doctors/ Consultants' and, to ask, their advice Omanain. After all they, really do, know You best- give them a call, my friend.

Very Best Wishes

AndrewT