How do you take your Prednisolone?

[InTheMoors]

My instructions on the medication just says 'take with food'. I split my dosage into three and take it with my meals. I assume that this is OK but should I be taking the dosage all at once?

[Koalajane]

hi, I was told to take mine all together with breakfast

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The recommendation is to take the entire dose at once in the morning, preferably with food. There are a few reasons for that but mostly because all the inflammation is created in the early morning at 4-4.30am and taking all the pred at once is the most efficient way of dealing with that. Another reason sometimes quoted is that that most closely follows the natural production of cortisol so means less adrenal suppression but that is less applicable to us as we take high enough doses for long enough to suppression cortisol production anyway, However, once we are below about 10mg it again becomes important so a single dose in the early morning creates the best conditions for the return of adrenal function - a level of pred in the blood at midnight that is as low as possible.

[InTheMoors in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the answers, I'm glad I asked. I was never told this. My morning dose of 8.5 mg is now ready!

If DL is reading this I got a pill cutter from Amazon, costing £3.99! I never knew such things existed.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to InTheMoors]

I am… and good shot…hope it helps 😊and agree with others, Pred taken in one dose is best.. certainly early days …and what is normally suggested.

[Kritterkid in reply to PMRpro]

Hi PMRPro, having read this, I want to move my dosage time from 9pm to around 6am. Any suggestions for the best way to do this? Can I take it at 9pm and then the next day at 6am, and then at 6am from then on?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Kritterkid]

No reason why not … but you’ll only know when you try…

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kritterkid]

No reason why not - you should have a really good day but that bit extra shouldn't be a problem. Or you could take a half dose in the evening to carry you over the night and then start the entire dose in the morning the next morning.

[Kritterkid in reply to PMRpro]

Morning, just an FYI, last night I took a half dose and then a full dose this morning. I am really feeling the extra dosage in the short time period.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kritterkid]

Feeling it good or bad?

[Kritterkid in reply to PMRpro]

Oh, lots of energy. I know to watch out for this energy, and to pace and be gentle with my joints. I have, however, changed sheets, done laundry, and raked a few leaves. So the way steroids can mask pain is so darn true.... and I am consciously done for the day at 11am feeling really really good still but not over-doing. Thank you!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kritterkid]

It doesn't MASK pain - it relieves the inflammation that CAUSES the pain. It is doing something essential - long term inflammation is very bad for the body.

[Pixix]

take mine between 2 and 3am daily, for five years. But I don’t sleep well due to other diseases so that’s easy for me!

[9lives]

hi that’s interesting as when I was first diagnosed with PMR 9years ago I was never told how to take my medication by GP. Like you I split the dose until I found this site which explained so much.

And the miracles of a pill cutter 😹

Carole

[Groggrim]

Hello. I'm late to the party but I take mine (3 tablets) with my breakfast. I have porridge with blueberries and I swallow the tablets half way through in a spoonful of natural greek bio yogurt.

[AzollaNuisance]

I started on 15mg in 2023 and now on 2mg per day since September last year. Take the two tablets dissolved in a small glass of water with breakfast.

[Bcol]

Hi, from sunny parts. I used to take mine on one dose around 02:00 with some yogurt and a banana. That way it's in your system before the nasties come out to play at around 04:00-04:30 ish.

[Phoebenooby in reply to Bcol]

I thought of taking it in the early hours, but I don’t know how you can wake up at that time eat food and then go back to sleep? 🙈

[Bcol in reply to Phoebenooby]

I know it sounds strange,but it was never a problem for me. I had problems sleeping anyway due to my OA. I'm still normally awake around then and still have my non Pred tablets at around that time and go back to sleep in my recliner.