1mg Enteric Coated Prednisolone tablets

[pammy_hyland]

Does anybody get Enteric coated Pred in 1mg tablets prescribed?...My doctor just prescribed them to be gentler on my stomach and sent the prescription to the chemist and he said he's never known them in a 1mg tablet and he doubts they even do them ..he's given me the prescription to try somewhere else..but I'm wondering now ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

They are manufactured, but not in huge numbers so are very expensive compared to plain ones…such is probably why many pharmacies don’t stock them.

Is your pharmacy private or one of the bigger chains?

[pammy_hyland in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks..One of the bigger ones in the town I live in .

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Well they do - honestly, sometimes I am left wonder about some pharmacists ability to look things up!! Was it a large chain of chemists or a small private one>

There are regular hiatuses in supply as a batch is running out but I'm fairly sure there is a new lot recently. They do seem to require a bit of aplication to track down the supply.

Someone posted 3 months ago having been given them so someone knows!

Hopefully the people who sorted it out last time will see this and reply

Otherwise, the contact details for Phoenix Labs who still make it I think are here

medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

Distribution is Alliance Healthcare *Distribution) Ltd.

alliance-healthcare.co.uk/

[pammy_hyland in reply to PMRpro]

He said they do them but he'd not seen them in the 1mg tablet ..I said can you order them for me and he said no try somewhere else ..I might try Boots chemist tomorrow

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to pammy_hyland]

Boots will probably claim they don't exist - they have form! But it is their holding company Alliance that distribute them - at present at least.

[pammy_hyland in reply to PMRpro]

Any idea where to try ? Xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to pammy_hyland]

I've given you contact info for the manufacturers and distributors. One or other should be able to help if someone doesn't see this tomorrow. A couple of ladies did the homework but I can't remember their names.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Think  Kendrew was one… but can’t remember the other - should do as we had a Chat about it… but like you I have many to trawl through…

[pammy_hyland in reply to PMRpro]

Thankyou that's brilliant xx

[pammy_hyland in reply to PMRpro]

Thankyou I've noted them down ..

[Floridafan in reply to pammy_hyland]

I’ve had the 1mg enteric coated since 2019, mine are from Well Parmacy

[pammy_hyland in reply to Floridafan]

Thankyou x

[LWNE in reply to pammy_hyland]

Hello, like others I have never had a problem getting these -mine toocome from Well .pharmacy...

[Omanain in reply to pammy_hyland]

Tescos! That's where I got my first batch. Now both my local Boots and Lloyds Online Pharmacy seem to have no trouble with supplies. You local chemist just has to look them up -Phoenix Labs, gastro resistant prednisolone, 1mg tablets.

[autumnlass in reply to PMRpro]

Hello Pro. I have found Boots very frustrating at times! Especially with the dry eye gel … they never have it, and never order it! However, yes they did dispense enteric coated 1mg Prednisone a week ago!

Box of Prednisolone Medicine

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to autumnlass]

I won't patronise Boots unless it is absolutely unavoidable!

[autumnlass in reply to PMRpro]

The alternative chemist in my area is atrocious! Needs must etc …..😉

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to autumnlass]

Well yes!

[pammy_hyland in reply to PMRpro]

No I didn't go to boots I went to another local chemist he's ordered them this morning and I have ring back at 4.30 to see if the've sent them so 🙏🙏

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to pammy_hyland]

Is this one reasonably easy to get to for you? And call out the one at the practice.

[pammy_hyland in reply to PMRpro]

Yeah only a bit further thats what I will do as I went back to my doctors surgery pharmacy this morning and gave him 4 names and addresses of who manufactures them..he still said no he couldn't....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to pammy_hyland]

Tell the GP - they are supposed to be providing a service.

[Omanain in reply to PMRpro]

We only have two Boots outlets in our small town, Now I use Lloyds Online Pharmacy and so far, no problems.

[HamishPMR in reply to PMRpro]

Alliance wholesalers was till recently part of Boots Co.

[pammy_hyland in reply to HamishPMR]

Thankyou.. where do you get them now instead of boots ? x

[autumnlass in reply to pammy_hyland]

Hello! I live in a small town with a big Boots! The dispensary at my practice and, at my request looked them up and sent the script over to Boots! They initially dispensed the cheapos which I returned and therefore were wasted, and issued me with the e/c ones. 🙄

[HamishPMR in reply to pammy_hyland]

Boots will still use Alliance

[Omanain in reply to pammy_hyland]

Lloyds Online Pharmacy.

[Rugger]

I have had them prescribed for years! They are relatively expensive, so I wonder if your pharmacist was stalling...... They are 10x the price of a plain tablet - 30+p each, compared with 3p!

[HamishPMR in reply to Rugger]

If the GP prescribes enteric coated then the NHS will reimburse the pharmacy for enteric.

[Rugger in reply to HamishPMR]

Yes, either they just couldn't be bothered, or were truly out of date, because 1mg coated haven't been around for many years......!

[pammy_hyland in reply to Rugger]

Both I think 😔

[pammy_hyland]

Probably he didn't look it up and I said can you oder them and he said no try somewhere else xx

[autumnlass in reply to pammy_hyland]

😕

[SnazzyD]

I had them throughout along with 5mg.

[pammy_hyland in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks...Do you get them from a larger chain chemist or just local ?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to pammy_hyland]

It isn't the individual chemist that is important - it is their supplier.

[Highlandtiger in reply to pammy_hyland]

I get them from Superdrug. I got some yesterday. The transition to the new batch seems to have worked much more smoothly this time.

[pammy_hyland in reply to Highlandtiger]

Thanks ... but we don't have a pharmacy in our Superdrug xx

[Sharitone]

I got some dispensed today! It did take the pharmacy several days to get hold of them, but they've always managed so far.

[pammy_hyland in reply to Sharitone]

Okay thanks..I asked our pharmacy at our doctors as my doctor electronically sent him the prescription he told me he hadn't got any so I asked if he could order them in and he said no you'll have to try somewhere else ..so I'll have to find a pharmacy that will ..

[Lonsdalelass in reply to pammy_hyland]

I had the exact same problem about 4years ago, with the same answer from my dispensing pharmacy.....in the end, after some digging and delving I went back in with an email and telephone number from Ken at Phoenix labs in Ireland and handed it to them saying that's who you need to contact, and to put them on back order.....hey ho, they were there in a couple of days. I had been spitting feathers!

[pammy_hyland in reply to Lonsdalelass]

I know that's how I feel he plainly said no when I asked him to order and didn't even look into it ..Grrrrrh

[Sharitone in reply to pammy_hyland]

Lousy pharmacy!

[SheffieldJane]

I get them from Boots. There was a problem for a while with the 1 mgs, but I get them steadily now.

[pammy_hyland in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks xx

[Lyndaki]

I was given them by the local Co-op chemist in Leicestershire in August….but I didn’t want them as I’m trying to reduce to 0.5mg & they can’t be cut! Hey ho 🙄

[Rebsy]

I get 1mg prescription. I get mine from Boots.

[diana1998]

I had them in 1mgs. My surgery dispense for me and I had no trouble. We also have a private chemist and he'll try and get anything.

[pammy_hyland in reply to diana1998]

Thankyou x

[Ana-16]

Hi. I’ve had 5 mg, 2.5 mg and 1mg enteric coated tablets. My local chemist provides them. My gp specifies that they must be coated. Good luck

[pammy_hyland in reply to Ana-16]

Thankyou x

[Heron82]

I get them from the surgery pharmacy and have been for the last 4 yrs. also get 2.5mg ones. Good luck

[pammy_hyland in reply to Heron82]

Who manufactures them please ?

[Heron82]

Phoenix Labs

Company image

Address

Suit 12 Bunkilla Plaza, Bracetown Business Park, Meath, Ireland

WWW

phoenixlabs.ie

Prednisolone 1 mg Gastro-resistant Tablets

Active Ingredient:

prednisolone

Company:

Phoenix Labs

See contact details

ATC code: H02AB06

There may be other manufacturers. Look on eMC on the product information

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Heron82]

No, only manufacturer. And they have been very helpful when contacted with providing the details a lazy pharmacist can't be bothered to find.

[pammy_hyland in reply to PMRpro]

Yep exactly what I was thinking x

[lennysmummy]

I get 1mg coated from Tesco pharmacy on repeat

[Telian]

Hi pammy

I get the 1mg pred without any problems at all. Phoenix Labs are the supplier. My pharmacy is private. As Pro says a little thinking from your Pharmacy would save you chasing what is available. 🌺

[pammy_hyland]

I'm going back in to speak to my doctors surgery today and I will see the pharmacist too to say they do make them and can he order..its just easier if you can get them regularly from the pharmacy attached to your doctors..

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to pammy_hyland]

Certainly is - and they are probably an independent pharmacy too who are usually far more helpful, However, maybe being the in-house phamacy makes life too cushy for them and the customer is no longer to be hung onto.

[pammy_hyland in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I think precisely the case...I have now got them from the other chemist who looked them up..ordered them and received them all in one day...I will have my prescriptions sent to in future so the others have lost my trade and respect now and rightly so...Thanks for all your help xx

[Katiecatweazel]

Morning,

My 1mg gastro resistant Pred tablets are manufactured by

Strides Pharma UK Ltd,Unit 4, Metro Centre Tolpits Lane, Watford, Herts WD18 9SS

I get them regularly from the independent pharmacy attached to my GP in Bath.

Best wishes.

[pammy_hyland in reply to Katiecatweazel]

Thanks x

[bussell]

My pharmacy seems to have no problem with this. In fact I've had a repeat prescription filled with in the last two weeks for 200 x 1mg tablets without a murmur. Made by Phoenix labs. Be insistent! Good luck!

[AshPen9]

I was the other person in the lengthy conversation a few months ago about these tablets. No chemists could get them at the time, but I contacted Phoenix Labs and they confirmed that they were definitely being manufactured, so it seemed to be a supply/ wholesaler issue. Boots eventually got hold of them for me, and I have since had them several times from our village chemists. Sounds like a chemist who can't be bothered doesn't it? Now you've got the details you should be able to find someone who'll get them for you. They are expensive though, £40 ish a bottle last time I enquired. Sadly I don't need them at the moment, had to go back up to 5mg. Good luck in your search pammy.

[pammy_hyland in reply to AshPen9]

Thanks I have managed to find a pharmacy and have got them all in one day..thank God that he was bothered enough to try and will supply for the future ...I've only ever managed to get down to 4mg and be stable in my 12 year journey and so this is a maintenance dose for life now ...

[AshPen9 in reply to pammy_hyland]

Same here, I haven't got PMR but my rheumy said I'll be on Pred for life. Tried to go to 4 very very slowly but flared so went back to 5mg. My ESR is back down to normal now, CRP always been normal. However I've still got symptoms, which weren't there before I started to taper. Having a scan and if there is still inflammation the rheumy is unfortunately threatening MTX. Hope not! Glad that you have found a friendly chemist.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AshPen9]

I'd be a bit resistent to adding MTX if you are able to get back to 5mg. I am convinced that 5mg pred is not worse than MTX plus some pred - and there are rheumies who agree with me.

[AshPen9 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro. I AM going to resist as much as poss, and he has said in the past that the 5mg on its own is safer for me than adding in anything else. However if this scan shows inflammation rather than OA he says something will have to be done. Family history not good so he thinks I particularly need to avoid long term inflammation. So I presume its either up the Pred or start MTX. I'm going to argue that I was perfectly fine on 5mg with almost no symptoms until I caused the flare by trying to drop to 4mg, so surely a temporary increase in pred should sort it out. I did up the dose initially, but only for 10 days. He told me to drop to 5mg after that. Last year however I needed a month at 10mg and another month to drop back to 5mg. I want to try extra pred but he's bothered about me needing increasing amounts long term. Will try to get him to say OK. Got a lot going on at home ATM and if my hair started falling out it would finish me off!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AshPen9]

My hair started to fall out almost immediately but it wasn't the hair that made me say no more - it was the overwhelming fatigue. It was so awful after 3 weeks that had it got any worse I'd have stopped functioning altogether and as time went on that wouldn't have been an option.

[AshPen9 in reply to PMRpro]

Sounds horrendous, you couldn't have carried on with it in your circumstances could you? Luckily for me I have no fatigue when on 5mg. I absolutely don't want it to come back. My rheumy's really nice, I'm hoping that he'll buy into my reasoning. Thanks very much for your input PMRpro, I really appreciate it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AshPen9]

I know a few top rheumies who are very much of the opinion that since MTX isn't guaranteed to get everyone off pred altogether in PMR, if they have got to a lowish dose, like 5-6mg, then it isn't worth putting them at the risk of the MTX side effects. It works brilliantly for a small cohort of patients - but it is a minority. I've never felt bad on pred (methyl pred was another matter mind) and wasn't prepared to feel worse for the sake of getting a few mg lower.

A friend of a friend who is a top immunologist told me some years ago that they are very concerned about the gay abandon with which rheumies put patients on one drug on top of another to get a result. The longterm effects may be even worse.

[AshPen9 in reply to PMRpro]

Here's hoping that my very nice rheumy isn't into gay abandon! I may quote you!

[pammy_hyland in reply to AshPen9]

I've never been able to get below 4mg im on that now for life as a maintenance dose as I tried many times and said I didn't want to end up going right back up again ...I had to fight fir it but its been 12 years now I've had PMR ..I feel good at 4mg and even better now I have the Enteric coated Prednisolone..Good luck with your journey stick up for yourself ❤

[AshPen9 in reply to pammy_hyland]

I will pammy, and good luck to you too with your e/c pred supply!

[pammy_hyland in reply to AshPen9]

I've got some now from another local chemist but only 30 to try and he says he can supply regularly so thats fab and he's really pleasant and helpful so I've moved to there now...xxx

[Broseley]

I asked my GP for them. He tapped away on his computer and said no, they can't be prescribed, they are not available on the NHS. At least you guys have got a prescription!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Broseley]

We have had this discussion on other threads, they are available on NHS - otherwise they wouldn't be listed in the drugs tariff. But some Trusts have decided that they will not let doctors prescribe them - based on cost and effectiveness. But mainly cost I suspect. Most sizes are more expensive [apart from the 2.5mg dose, which is actually cheaper than plain.}

[pammy_hyland in reply to DorsetLady]

They are... I've just got them from another pharmacy who looked them up ..ordered them and they were ready for me at 4 30 all in 1 day ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to pammy_hyland]

Service as it should be…good. But you’ve had a stressful couple of days sorting out a mess that didn’t need to be so… 🤦🏻‍♀️.

[pammy_hyland in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you...I know its awful that we have to go through these tribulations xx

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to pammy_hyland]

Yes it is …. especially when somebody can’t be bothered to do their job properly. Glad you got it sorted

[AshPen9 in reply to Broseley]

My GP told me that they were 'blacklisted' Broseley, but she could, and did, override it because she thought that they were warranted. I have reflux and an intermittent swallowing problem, I also take 2 other meds that can irritate your stomach. Maybe worth another try?

[Broseley in reply to AshPen9]

Thanks, definitely!

[pammy_hyland in reply to AshPen9]

What Rubbish ...I have them now and she's changed my Lansoprazole for Omeprazole and twice a day now..and given me my Gaviscon Advanced on prescription too as I have the same problems as you...mission accomplished now xx

[AshPen9 in reply to pammy_hyland]

Great result!

[Suedeshayes]

Hi. I get nothing but enteric ones, (Phoenix Labs ones) , and I live in a small town in Scotland and they don’t seem to be difficult to get at all. 😁

[pammy_hyland in reply to Suedeshayes]

Got them now from another pharmacy who looked them up ...ordered ...received and I have them in my hand all in one day ...xx

[Pangolin43]

Hello pammy_hyland. I’ve never had a problem. They come in a small plastic bottle rather than a blister pack 100 at a time. My chemist is a Lloyds. Good luck 🤞

[pammy_hyland]

Got them now from another pharmacy who ordered them in ...xx

[Bfp1]

Hi - I take 4mg of pred daily and have done for v long time - before that, i took lots more and have tapered, but always with 1mg tabs. Now, i take 4x 1mg daily and have been for simply ages. Wont ever get less.

I am prescribed 1mg packs of pred every 3 months - never had any issues at all getting them. Also could get 5mg etc.

I live in London.

If i can help further, by taking a photo of a pack - just say. Never been a problem ever.

Ps i hate steroids and what they have done to me - but it is what it is and was up to 500mg for a few days once! And 250mg.

Being on 4mg still does all sorts of things but my weight has dropped and my face returned. And witg immune suppressants and a lorry load of other meds, vasculitis, PMR not as aggressive and more controlled. I won’t take more except if its just for a short time.

Fybro - nothing touches it.

I will help in any way I can.

Vbw xx

[pammy_hyland in reply to Bfp1]

But are they the enteric coated gastric resistant ones ? that's what we are talking about ive been on the normal uncoated Prednisolone for 12 years but I've been swapped because of stomach problems becoming much worse

[Blossom20]

Yes, I get them. There was some discussion about this on here a while ago.

[joyce69]

I’ve been using 1 mg enteric coated for about 5 years now. I sometimes have difficulty at teh pharmacy but not recently. Phoenix labs have been very helpful when I’ve contacted them direct. Good luck.

[pammy_hyland in reply to joyce69]

Got them now thanks xx

[Blossom20]

I thought I replied a few days ago but I can't see my post. Yes, I get them. At first my doctor said they didn't exist...There have been lots of posts about it.

Good luck!

[pammy_hyland in reply to Blossom20]

Not my doctor just the pharmacy...Finerly I've got them now thanks x