Posted , 20 users are following.
Im in Florida and my Dr's are all telling me that I can only taper by 2&1/2 mil. They prescribe 5 mil pills and tell me to cut them in half, is this what everyone else her eis doing because I cannot get a script for any less, or are others cutting them into 1/4's but Im not sure as to how one can obtain such low dose pills.
Thanks again,
Sharon
0 likes, 34 replies
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Anhaga sharon35553
Posted
I don't know if there is a difference between states, but I can tell you in Canada we can get 1 mg tablets and I'm sure many Americans have been able to get 1 mg. Have you asked at the pharmacy?
Anhaga
Posted
sharon35553 Anhaga
Posted
karenjaninaz sharon35553
Posted
I live in NJ.
My rheumatologist gives me leeway to follow the protocol used here.
Karen
sharon35553 karenjaninaz
Posted
Hi and thank you Karenjaninaz,
I just spoke with my Dr and he said he has never prescribed 1 mil pred. I have another appt with a Rheumatologist on the 15th of Sept, they all say they are experienced with PMR/GCA but they all have different opinions so Im hoping I get better results with this new one.
Meanwhile I dont know what to do as far as the 10 mil im taking now, should I take half in am & half in the evening or stay on the 10 all at once and add back 2&1/2 of the cut dose.
Sharon
FlipDover_Aust sharon35553
Posted
Just because he's never prescribed it doesnt' mean it can't be done! What a silly reason! Ask the chemist if they have them, or can get them, then he has no excuse!
donna60512 FlipDover_Aust
Posted
FlipDover_Aust donna60512
Posted
I am, thanks Donna. Much better. I'll send you a PM.
donna60512 FlipDover_Aust
Posted
donna60512 sharon35553
Posted
I too am eaget to see the responses to this. My doctor actually wanted me to go from 10 to 5, but I am going down to 7.5 first as I am afraid to jump that much. I only have a prescription for 5 mg. Yesterday I split a week's dose into halves. I had to toss a few of them as they did not split properly and kind of fell apart. I think the ones I saved are pretty close to 2.5. Does anyone know if they make a 2.5??? I really want to try to convince my doctor to give me some. Fortunately he gave me enough 5s to last quite a while, so my wasted ones won't be a big problem.
sharon35553 donna60512
Posted
Ha, Donna you sound like I feel, my Dr gave me plenty of 5's and I too cut them and had to toss a few because they didnt cut right.
I also agree that tapering down by 5 mil is way to much. You need to do as everyone here states the slow taper, listen to me acting like I know what Im talking about, Im only repeating what I read hear and thus far there's lots of smart people here who know alot.
Good luck!
Sharon
donna60512 sharon35553
Posted
sharon35553 donna60512
Posted
donna60512 sharon35553
Posted
I agree from what eveyrone is saying, however, so far the five at a time has been okay for me. I began the 7.5 yesterday and I feel fine. I don't know though, it might take a couple of days to know for sure. I don't mind getting down lower if I don't have pain. I do not ever want to return to that horrible pain. Time will tell. He gave me a prescription for 60 5 mg tabs with three refills, so no danger of running out of them if I have to toss a few while splitting. Thanks for your response. :-)
renee39320 sharon35553
Posted
I also live in Florida and I have 5mg pills and 1 mg pills. They can all be cut in halves and quarters! I have the non coated kind. If they couldn't be cut I don't know what I would have done when I was on 7.5, 4.5, etc! I only went down 1/2 mg every two-three weeks. Have had PMR for 18 months and am down to 1mg!
donna60512 renee39320
Posted
sharon35553 renee39320
Posted
Hi Renee,
Thanks so much, Im definitely going to try and get some today. My Dr is nuts saying he wont prescribe them below the 5 mil so Im looking forward to my new Dr hoping he will. Meanwhile Ill try cutting the 5 mil into 1/4s until I use them up. I didnt know they come uncoated & coated, I think mine are uncoated.
Sharon
EileenH sharon35553
Posted
As far as I know you can only get the coated type of pred in the UK, it isn't available elsewhere - except for Rayos/Lodotra which also has a coating so can't be cut. It costs about $1700 per month in the US though!