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General health

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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

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