On prednisone taper

[Aqua47]

Thanks so much for all the replies to my question. I was given prednisone January 12 when the orthopedic doctor thought I was just having lower back pain from the slipped vertebrae I have. (6 day dose, starting with 30 mg, reducing by 5 a day) He wanted me to have another MRI. I began to have terrible pain again on day 6. For 2 days Ihad no prednisone, but when I discovered PMR, I started taking 20 mg of prednisone (I had some from a previous condition that I hadn’t taken). The pain went away instantly. I saw my primary doctor on January 31, when he told me to try 10 mg. That has worked pretty well, but every time my pain returned I went back up to 12.5. My pills are 10, so it’s hard to break them any smaller than 2.5.

The advice you all gave me has convinced me not to stop abruptly, and just really crack down on my diet. Thank you all again! ❤️

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you need 12,5 - that is what you need. And your doctor needs to cough up with 1mg tablets - best to adjust the dose with the 2,5mg cut portions. They are essential to taper and find the right dose - you don't stay at 12,5mg forever,

[Aqua47 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. I will try to get that. When I got my prescription refilled yesterday, the pharmacist said he couldn’t substitute any of the 10 with 1 mg tablets without a prescription.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Aqua47]

No, they aren't really allowed to. Bit silly really as it applies even if they don't have enough to fill a script, not allowed to substitute something different. Until it suits them, and then it can be a different matter!

[piglette]

The starting dose is normally between 12.5 - 25mg. In the US they often even start at 30mg.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

According to quick online search results you can get following size tablets -

Prednisone - 1mg; 2.5mg; 5 mg; 10mg; 20mg; 50 mg; and on the patient information leaflet in the box the manufacturer usually lists all doses.

So please ask for smaller tablets …and your pharmacist is being a bit pedantic- with one eye on the cost per box… as PMRpro has said, they can and do amend things when it’s to their advantage.