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Reducing Preds

Posted , 16 users are following.

liz12234
liz12234

I want to reduce my dosage from12mg to 11.5 is anyone successful in cutting that little 1mg pill, also i am quite stiff first thing in the morning so want to take my pills much earlier but dont like yoghurt, any other suggestions please.

0 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • ptolemy
    ptolemy liz12234

    Posted

    Have you got white non coated pills that you can cut? Some people have coated pills. If you have the non coated ones you can get a cutter from the chemist, you can also look on Amazon for all the different sorts of cutters available, as some are better than others. You can see people's comments about them then get the one you like from wherever you want.
    • liz12234
      liz12234 ptolemy

      Posted

      I have the non coated ones (chemist said they didnt do 1mg coated) i also have a pill cutter from Boots but it shatters both the 1 and 5mg pills, maybe i should invest in a more expensive one.
    • jean39702
      jean39702 ptolemy

      Posted

      My pharmacist showed me that I could break the 1 and 5 mg tablets in half without a pill cutter using my thumbs and forefingers. (Freshly washed hands of course)

      I'm now taking my prednisone between 1 and 2 am (the latter being the optimum time according to Eileen). I was taking them with yogurt but recently changed to having a few walnuts instead. The walnuts may have an added sleep aid benefit. The Yogurt was hard to take in the wee hours and I also think it was messing with my constitution.

    • EileenH
      EileenH liz12234

      Posted

      My pill cutter is great - my husband's works for him and not for me! They are - like us - all different!
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy liz12234

      Posted

      You are absolutely right they only to five and two point five mg in coated, my brain is going!
  • tina-uk_cwall
    tina-uk_cwall liz12234

    Posted

    Hello Liz, I have a pill cutter which is ok. However it is very important that the indented central line of the 5mgs tablet is placed exactly in line with the cutter otherwise the tablet does brake unevenly. But I also have a sturdy cooking board and a very very sharp knife and again as long as you place the blade of the knife into the indented line of the tablet you will be fine.

    1mgs tablets cannot be halted as they do not have an indented central line.

    therefore for you to make up the 11.5 dosage you'll need to use 1x 5mgs, 1x  2.5 (the halved 5mgs tablet), and 4x 1mgs tablets.

    so do make sure that you order the right amount of 1mg tablets to last the months prescription (120 tablets).

    i take my tablets with yogurt and almond milk (alpro). Maybe you could just drink the almond milk, don't get the sweetened variety, it's horrible, far too sweet. Just buy the ordinary variety. All the best, christina 

    • liz12234
      liz12234 tina-uk_cwall

      Posted

      Thanks for that i hadnt thought of that combination (long time since i was at school) not sure about the almond milk or the walnuts would a biscuit do. How do all you people tell the difference between a flare, side effects of preds and effects of reducing the dosage, i seem to get aches in different places, different days mainly in the mornings and my butt does not like being sat on for too long but compared with some of you poor folk i consider myself  lucky (hope im not talking too soon)
    • tina-uk_cwall
      tina-uk_cwall liz12234

      Posted

      Yes, I'm sure a biscuit would do, do you like milky coffees? Basically it's about lining your stomach so that the preds don't damage the lining of the stomach.

      steriod withdrawal is when your body gets use to an amount of steriods then gets the hump when you don't give it what it wants. Very often if you get withdrawal pains they appear within the first- second day but very soon within the week, lessen and disappear. A flare however us when the level of preds are not large enough to control the level of inflamation in our bodies at that given time, therefore the inflamation flares because there is not enough medication to stop it. Again you very often experience a return of the pains within a very short period of time but the pains get worse and worse until you experience a full blown flare.

      I hope you've been on 12mgs for at least 6 weeks and are feeling well on that dose, if yes then you should be fine, if however you are really worried why not alternate 12/11.5 daily for maybe 2 weeks, then go everyday 11.5? It's just an idea should you be a little hesitant. All the best. Christina 

  • karen28161
    karen28161 liz12234

    Posted

    I cut my 1mg tablet in half on a cutting board with a very sharp little vegetable knife ,it works really well xx
  • anthony13224
    anthony13224 liz12234

    Posted

    Hi Liz

                  I use nail clippers and have never had any pills shatter on me.

  • paula63201
    paula63201 liz12234

    Posted

    I prepare a week's worth of pills at a time and use a pill cutter for either the 1 or 5 mg Prednisone pills, depending on where I am. I got my small inexpensive Apex pill cutter on Amazon. Works fine for me. It is U.S. made. It is best if you can line up the cutting line with the blade. I take my Pred after breakfast between 8:30 and 9 am.
    • liz12234
      liz12234 paula63201

      Posted

      Thanks for all your comments, as i said i want to take the pills earlier as i have been pretty stiff at 8.30, i have been on 12 for 3wks is it time to go to 11.5 yet even though ive been stiff for a few days,
    • tina-uk_cwall
      tina-uk_cwall liz12234

      Posted

      Hi Liz, please see my last reply. I personally believe that you need to stay on each dose for 1 month to 6 weeks so that each dose can really establish itself and really control all the inflamation. If you reduce too quickly you could  get a flare and you won't know which dose caused the flare that current dose or the earlier dose all because you didn't stay on the old dose long enough for it to really get and keep ahold of the current inflamation. 

      Also, you say that in the mornings you are still quite stiff, I would definitely stay on 12mgs for a further 3 weeks, you may regret it if you don't. Recovery from this bloody condition is not a race. All the best, Christina 

  • Danrower
    Danrower liz12234

    Posted

    with EVTREME care, a large sharp curved edge kitchen knife on a cutting board, rolling the sharp over the center slowly.
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