Taking dose early am?

[Wheelygood99]

I am experiencing aches when I first get up until about 2 to 3 hours after taking pred, so normally until about 10.30, them am pain free for rest of day. I was advised a few days ago in the PMRGCA zoom meeting to try taking my pred dose in the early hours to see if it helped. But I have found that even taking dose at sat 4am, by 7.30 I'm still just as achy as if I hadn't yet taken the dose. It's as if the drug doesn't assimilate in the same way while asleep as if I had been up and around. Could that be so? Or do I need to take it even earlier? Or would a split dose help? Thanks.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

You need to take it earlier that 4am -that’s the time when the inflammatory substances that cause the aches and pains are shed. So try taking around 2am.. so Pred is in system ready at 4am when that happens,

Think that’s what was said - if you are refer to Wednesday meeting.

Try that firstly -and if it still doesn’t work, then maybe you’ll have to think about splitting dose.

[Wheelygood99 in reply to DorsetLady]

I think I heard what I wanted to hear! as I am typically awake around 4am anyway and wouldn't require a special alarm. I may have to try that although I am reluctant as my sleep pattern is already rubbish. Thanks for replying.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Research showed that the ideal time to take prednisone is 2am, prednisolone 3am for the optimum management of morning symptoms. The difference in time is because prednisolone doesn't have to be processed by the liver so is ready to work immediately once it is absorbed.

It might help to avoid the awkward time taking the pred if you split the dose - to do that you take about 2/3 in the morning and the rest late enough that the effect carries over to the next morning.

Have you tried using an electric blanket BEFORE you get up to warm your muscles up and then gentle stretching while you are still warm or in the shower? And it MAY be something other than PMR causing the morning stiffness.

[Wheelygood99 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for those suggestions.

[Hidden in reply to Wheelygood99]

Yes, thank you. I am still having symptoms despite 15mg. I might try 10 in the morning and 5 last thing at night, as you have suggested, to see if it makes any difference.

[piglette]

I have always taken mine at 2am, but I tend to lie in bed listening to the radio at nights so it is not a problem.