Coated Pred

[Hopingsail]

Hi Everyone,

I’ve been quietly getting on with my Pred Reduction (DL Plan) and pleased to report that I’m now on 3.5mg. I began splitting dosage a while ago: 2.5 Coated at bedtime (theory of slow release) and the rest at 4 - 6am or whenever nature sends me to the bathroom. This seems to have worked really well for me thus far.

For the next .5mg reduction I thought to reduce the bedtime dose to 2mg Coated - the early morning dose remaining the same.

I am informed that the 1mg coated tabs are available in the UK - but have had a real tussle with the local surgery Prescription Team to get them to order the correct tabs. Despite written letters and phone conversations I turn up at Pharmacy to discover that I have a further supply of UNcoated!

A. Am I correct in that 1mg coated are available UK?

Or

B. Do I just give up on the surgery and take the uncoated dosage at bedtime? (I’m aware that the coated cannot be halved so guess I will have to move to uncoated in a few months time anyway).

Advice appreciated as ever - I am aware that I’m in a critical zone so rather anxious not to do the wrong thing!

Frank

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

hi

1mg GR/EC tablets are available in UK. but are horrendously expensive compare to plain .. around £35 for 100 compared to less than £1 for 28. (Under £4 for 112).

So you see why you are having problems.

Odd thing is 2.5mg GE/EC are cheaper than plain.. supply & demand I guess..

At some time you are probably going to have to take plain ones to be able to reduce lower - but preferable when you want to not when forced to…

Not sure what you can do -except keep trying.

[Hopingsail in reply to DorsetLady]

The surgery prescription team finally got back to me just now - and it is the cost issue! She is going to take it up with her boss.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hopingsail]

Okay… but if you need EC/GR meds, you need them.,,

Hope you get it resolved…

..and as PMRpro has said -reduce the morning dose for now…, but you will the 1mg in time…

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Since you are taking e/c at bedtime for the slow release benefit, it is doing little or nothing until 4am or thereabouts anyway which is when you are adding the rest of the dose. So why does it mean you must reduce the evening part of the dose? If it were me, I would reduce on the morning part - which as I understand it, is plain pred anyway?

[Zebedee44]

I had exactly the same problem when I asked my doctor for 1mg EC when tapering from 5mg (one tablet) to 4.5mg (one 2.5 coated and two 1mg). I hoped that the very recent diagnosis of grade C œsophagites would justify my request for coated tablets but was denied them.

[KASHMIRI1]

Yes they are available in the UK I have 5mg, 2.5mg and 1mg.

[Hopingsail]

Many thanks for your contributions all. My reasoning for reducing the nighttime dose is that timing of the morning dose has become rather erratic. Been sleeping better so it’s sometimes 7am before I wake and take the 1mg top up. Was thinking to reduce the nighttime dose until it’s 1mg - then take .5mg off morning, then the evening dose etc. (All changes per 5 weeks).

Thinking of taking up juggling after this journey!

[DBE46]

My concern was because I have painful Osteoarthritis and medicate with paracetamol and Naproxine. So I thought stick to enteric coated pred but have been taking plain pred for 4 weeks now as I am down to 4mg with no ill effects. My meds are taken at all times of the day Thyroxine now taken just before sleep around 23:00, Pred toilet break anytime between 2 and 4 am, daily meds about 8 includes Omeprazole. My Naproxine and and paracetamol are 3 times a day and 7hrs apart. All works really well for me. Good luck with you pharmacy

[Nightingales]

I seem be very lucky with my GP and have had no problem getting them prescribed. They give me bottles of 100. If you have been advised to take them they should supply them. I have been diagnosed with GERD.

[Ana-16]

Hi there. I’ve had enteric coated 1mg prednisone for many months. My chemist has been able to access them without any problem and my gp was happy to prescribe them because of gastric issues. Good luck as you battle on

[darkred]

I've had good luck with using enteric coated capsules from Capsuline. You can google the company. I wish I had ordered the larger package initially because I soon ran out of them and then ordered the larger package. (Shipping costs are kind of expensive.) I don't order enteric coated capsules from amazon because I don't trust what they send. I have a sensitive stomach, so the enteric keeps me from having stomach pain. I hope this helps someone.

[Hopingsail]

just had a useful conversation with the surgery pharmacist and she has authorised 100 tabs of the 1mg coated. This gives me opportunity to wean myself off the coated which gives me a confidence boost!

Thanks everyone - as ever! Xx