Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

6 tablets once daily

21 replies

BWrose · 08/07/2018 11:25

I was prescribed steroids from the doctor to take. The tablets are 5mg. The instructions said to take 6 tablets once daily.

When I was first prescribed them on Friday, I took up the instructions as to take 1 tablet, 6 times a day. I sat down and did the sums for Friday to space them out evenly throughout the day. The same for Saturday. The same as well for today. I have it written down in a notebook on what I've taken so far and the rest of the times for tablet taking for the day.

Rereading the instructions and maybe I should have taken 6 tablets altogether - once a day.

OP posts:
Pixiedust2017 · 08/07/2018 11:28

Call your doctor or your pharmacist. If they are the tablets I think they are it should probably be all 6 tablets once a day at the same time best taken with breakfast.

Sirzy · 08/07/2018 11:28

With prednisone you normally take the whole dose for the day in one go.

GlitterGlue · 08/07/2018 11:28

It’s usually all at once with steroids, not spaced out. Why not ring the pharmacy just to double check?

Walkingthroughawall · 08/07/2018 11:32

Usually taken once a day so if that's what the instructions say that's how you should be taking it.

madamy · 08/07/2018 11:38

The instructions on the bottle/box should either say 6 tablets once a day (ie all together) or 1 tablet 6 times a day (spread out).
I can't imagine it's the latter as 30mg once a day is a very standard dose.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 08/07/2018 11:40

I'd read it as 6 all together.

Zucker · 08/07/2018 11:53

Take 6 once. All together at a chosen time.

Original poster
BWrose · 08/07/2018 12:10

Rubbish, I've been taking them wrong.

I wonder would I be losing effectiveness of the medicine, taking them spread out?

I do feel that there is an improvement. Still not feeling 100% better but there's an improvement all the same. I slept well, last night too.

I'm just after thinking of the medicine instruction this morning and my doctors surgery and local pharmacy where I got my medicines is also closed.

OP posts:
MilesJuppIsMyBitch · 08/07/2018 12:12

Not a doc, but have been prescribed them lots, and have always been told by HCPs to take all six at once. (Last lot on Monday, so recent advice).

Floralnomad · 08/07/2018 12:15

Agree with all the pp with prednisilone you take them all at once , I am pretty sure they only come in 5mg and 1mg tablets yet a starting dose is often 30/40 mg daily .

AornisHades · 08/07/2018 12:15

It's a 30mg dose once a day in the morning so all 6 together. That's what I had. I don't know if spacing them out makes a difference.

Amber0685 · 08/07/2018 13:30

You take them all together, usually in the morning, with or after food. This should only be for a short while though a week or so I think.

Munchyseeds · 08/07/2018 17:08

Just start taking them in one dose in the morning

bilbodog · 08/07/2018 17:45

I did this - it is 6 all in one go - my dr laughed at me when i told him how difficult it was working out 6 times a day.

youarenotkiddingme · 08/07/2018 17:50

I've always been prescribed 30mg which is 6 tablets in one go.

6 tablets once daily is 6 at once.

1 tablet 6 times a day is separate doses.

Grazias · 08/07/2018 17:52

Often the dose will be tapered. So 6 tablets the first day, five the second and so on.

Aragog · 08/07/2018 17:54

Yes, like others here, when I was taking my steroids they were all taken in one go. So 6 tablets , in the morning, every day of the week.

I don't have them now but have similar with Methotrexate. Initially I took all 6 on one dose, one day a week. It was making me ill though, so it is now a split dose - that is 3 tablets, two consecutive days a week.

So, re you taking them wrong - I imagine they will still be working, but not necessarily in the most effective way. So, from tomorrow, if I was you I would start taking them all in one go - maybe from tomorrow morning, with or just after breakfast.

Aragog · 08/07/2018 18:00

Grazias Sun 08-Jul-18 17:52:23
Often the dose will be tapered. So 6 tablets the first day, five the second and so on.

That's how I 'came off' of them, once my consultant had decided on alternative medication. Wasn't allowed to just stop - had to be a gradual thing.

keyboardkate · 08/07/2018 18:07

Is there a reason the tabs are not available in 30 mg doses, ie one a day?

I am sure there is a reason but I don't know what it is!

Bobzybaby · 08/07/2018 18:09

If it's prednisolone they are taken all at one time. I've been advised to take them AM with or just after food. The AM is apparently because of a side effect that can interrupt sleep.

digerd · 08/07/2018 18:52

My sister started off with 8 tablets all at once daily which made her into a "superwoman". She remained on a high even when reduced to 5 all at once daily.

I had to take 8 Prednisolone all in one go daily to fight a swollen tongue allergy after being in A&E for 4 hours with intravenous steroids and antiistamine for a week but did not experience this "high/superwoman" effect unfortunately.
Mine were pink soluble pills.
She did have excess energy and couldn't sleep and was up at 2am every night but never felt tired. I did not have that effect either but was 8 years ago

New posts on this thread. Refresh page