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Confused about dose

Posted , 20 users are following.

sharon35553
sharon35553

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

34 Replies

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  • Anniecurd
    Anniecurd sharon35553

    Posted

    I'm in Pennsylvania and my rheum gives me 1 and 5mg preds. I order from express scripts and they're sent automatically.

  • bob14677
    bob14677 sharon35553

    Posted

    I am also from Florida. My doctor prescribes 5mg and 1mg and allows me to self dose. I know I am lucky to have a doctor that understands better than most! I cut in half as required to get to the dose I need.  I have been diagnosed with PMR since Dec 2014 - after 6 months of the usual painful process. I take half in am and half in pm. Currently at 10mg after flare up, which seems to happen every time I get to 7.5. Starting dead slow taper (0.5mg drop) again.
  • Anhaga
    Anhaga sharon35553

    Posted

    Probably worth emphasizing that coated pred must never be cut.  
    • donna60512
      donna60512 Anhaga

      Posted

      The uncoated are scored for cuting.  My tens split easily with my thumbs, the fives do not do this, so must be actually cut.  I would kind of like the coated as I hate having to make sure I have had a meal befofe taking them.  I do not always eat at the same time.  
    • Oregonjohn-UK
      Oregonjohn-UK donna60512

      Posted

      There are 5 that also have a cut line but not all pharm companies do this.  The uncoated in the UK come in 10,5 and 1 mg and are OK to cut, but not the enteric coated ones.
    • donna60512
      donna60512 Oregonjohn-UK

      Posted

      Mine do have a scored/cut line.  They just don't seem to cut evenly.  I have two pill splitters.  I used the one that I thought was best, still crumbled a few of them.  I will look for my other cutter and see if it works better.  My 10 mg tabs were super easy.  I could simply use my thumbs and they split exactly down the middle.  These 5 mg tabs are much smaller and I couldn't use my thumbs to split them.  I was trying to do a week's worth at a time.  Thanks, Donna

  • audrey80537
    audrey80537 sharon35553

    Posted

    I am in Central Florida and I have gotten 1 mg

    and 2 1/2 mg. I have my scripts filled at Publix and have also gotten them in Walgreens

    • donna60512
      donna60512 audrey80537

      Posted

      I am in California, I use Walgreens, so will see if I can get some from my doctor.  Thanks!!!
  • JanSP
    JanSP sharon35553

    Posted

    I'm in Central Florida and get both 1mg and 2 1/2 mg pred at local pharmacies and from the out of town pharmacy my insurance is connected to. I'm so happy to be on 6mg now down from 80mg. with GCA since 2009. With the MTX, Actemra and pred. my immune system isn't fighting off much. Had a chest x-ray yesterday for a cough and I'm now on an antibiotic for some infection. Can't have my many warts frozen off now. The doc is worried about infection there too. As long as I don't turn into the tree man!

  • gilman
    gilman sharon35553

    Posted

    In the US, non coated tablets are available that contain 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, or 50 mg of prednisone.
  • Bergey
    Bergey sharon35553

    Posted

    I have used a pill cutter (CVS Pharmacy brand- US) for some time now.   It was worth it since I rarely waste any pills from mis cutting them!
    • ann57025
      ann57025 Bergey

      Posted

      I am in Western Australia we get the  non coated

      pills 1 mg 5 mg  I use pill cutter to half the 1 mg only reduce by 1/2 at a time

    • dea13
      dea13 ann57025

      Posted

      Hi Ann, same here, I am in Cairns :  smile  cheers

  • pauline36422
    pauline36422 sharon35553

    Posted

    the mind boggles at how many gps   dont know how to dose   pmr.  i am in uk. and cut my pills into half then a quater. the quater isnt always precise.  but  from one day to another it  evens  itself out

     

    • sharon35553
      sharon35553 pauline36422

      Posted

      Hi Pauline,

      I see a Rheumatologist who claims he specializes in pmr/gca and hes the second one Ive been to. The first one tapered me by 5 mil after only two months on the pred and I wound up in the hospital worse than before I started. He told me he doesnt like keeping patients on the pred for to long but I asked him why so soon he said because its best. Needless to say I never went back to him and while like the Dr Im seeing now, he was referred to me by my Neuro Opthomologist he is not on my insurance plan so ive been paying out of pocket which is quite costly. I have another new one to see next month so keeping my fingers crossed I like him. For now Im going to go back up another 2&1/2 mil which I will take in the evening. I take the 10 mil at 5am so Ill see if that works.

      Thanks

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