2 week break

[1SillySossij]

So I have come down sick with what I think is covid, high temperature sore throat no appetite. I missed my jab because idon't want to take it while I am feeling so ill. Later in the week I am going away to an Important overseas event and don't want to spoil it with nausea and exhaustion and this is going to mean a 2 week break
I am 8 months in and on 12.5 mg. What should I do? Lower dose when I get back for example?

Contact your provider and ask their advice. I suspect it will be borderline, but it's best to ask your pharmacist to make sure.

I took 1 week off when on 10mg. My next dose, I felt so ill. Even dropping back to 7.5 didn't help. I came off for a full month and resumed at 2.5. I really wouldn't take a break that long if you can help it. I'm on 5mg again now and feeling slight effects but nothing like what I did first time round.

It’s explained in your patient information leaflet.

No it isn't. That explains what to do if you're a few days late for a dose, not two weeks.

It literally says that you can take the next dose two weeks after the previous one, which was the OP’s question.

I don't want to ask my provider because I don't want the decision to be taken out of my hands

It doesn't. It says that if you are more than 4 days late, you should wait until your next week's dose. You are only missing one week, but it will be two weeks since you last injected. If you miss more than two weeks (doses), it will be three weeks since you last injected which is why you are supposed to ask your provider's advice.

If it was me I would take a partial dose rather than miss your next one entirely - 60 clicks of the pen is a full dose so maybe take your next dose and count to 48 which would be the equivalent of 10mg!

I think we will need OP to clarify her exact dates as we have interpreted her posts differently. Is she missing two weeks or two jabs?

If, for argument's sake, OP usually jabs on a Monday and her last jab was 31 March, she can jab on 14 April with no ill effects. I have done it myself. The only thing to be aware of is that the effect of that dose can be stronger.

I am missing one jab, so 2 weeks between doses.

In which case the page from the patient info leaflet applies and you will be fine, OP.

Incase anyone else is in a similar situation, in the end I reduced the dose (from 12.5) to 10.It has absolutely hit me like a train and totally wiped me out for a couple of days. So with the benefit of hindsight a lower dose would have been better

Just for clarity the blocks in the diagram above are not supposed to indicate separate weeks. They are a diagrammatical representation of when in a single week you can take a missed dose - hence the Sunday in the second set of blocks is crossed out. People please think!

Apologies to be a bitch but looking at you @VelociraptorsVelociRapping - the OP is unwell because she listened to you.

No it’s not.

The second Sunday is crossed out because that’s the missed dose day. You can take it 1-3 days late. If you’re more than 3 days late you just skip it and go back to normal dosing day.

@HuskyNew has explained to you why you are wrong. I have no idea if you’re a bitch but you don’t know how to read a calendar.

I gave OP exactly the information provided by the manufacturer and only added a warning that the dose would likely have a stronger effect if she chose to go ahead. She is an adult with agency who chose not to consult her prescriber. Take that up with her.

Just listen to your body and use common sense. If it were me I might just take a half dose - but only if you feel able. I was ill the other day - in my case wondering if it were caused by MJ itself - and therefore just did not want to take my regular dose. So I awaited an extra day, felt better and took it then, no harm done. If I have an important event like a holiday I would also consider lowering my dose if I felt unsure of current reactions.

I am shocked that people seem unable to read the information leaflet and that when some of them do in fact read it, they do not understand it.

If anyone is ever in either of these positions, please, please contact your pharmacy. Pharmacists are trained for exactly this, and they will give advice that allows you to make an informed decision without taking away your agency in the matter.

@VelociraptorsVelociRappingwas absolutely right, the instructions are crystal clear, and it is concerning for your own safety using this medication if you cannot understand the basic written instructions.

Some providers even advise to restart on same dose after even longer breaks than 2 weeks depending on individual prescribing history. But this should only be done with support from your provider.

You should perhaps refrain from giving any advice if you do not understand the leaflet as it could be harmful to others, and also yes in your own words you were being a bitch the way you did it too.

Thank you for the defence @WeAllHaveWings. The unfairness of that post really bothered me yesterday.

Apologies if it bothered you @VelociraptorsVelociRapping I agree my comment was unnecessary. You are right it is a calendar and not as I interpreted it. I do think it's very unclear though. The written instructions are much clearer ( missed dose can be taken up to 4 days after usual day, but if longer, skip completely to the next week). I do still think that telling someone they will definitely be fine with that is a bit dubious though, as missing a full week can have an impact as it obviously did on the OP. We are all trying to manage our own experience on this drug and breezy overconfidence on behalf of others can be as dangerous as misinterpretation of a diagram. But let's not fight about it!

Well, there’s no ‘if’ when I’ve told you that it did, is there? Nevertheless, apology accepted. Thank you.

The subtext of my post was ‘you’ll be fine in line with the guidance issued by the manufacturer’ but I’ll take the feedback that this apparently needs to be explicit.

I think you’re very gracious to accept that "apology " @VelociraptorsVelociRapping your post was quite clear & correct.

Absolutely agree @Arglefraster , what a non apology!

The OP could have reacted badly this week regardless of the dose they took. Others have done the same after a break, followed the instructions and had no adverse effects, the OP was simply unlucky. @VelociraptorsVelociRapping posts both sharing and explaining the instructions when quizzed were very clear and accurate.

@Puppylucky your own "breezy overconfidence" 🤔 desperately trying to attempt to lay blame on a poster, who gave sound advice, for making someone else ill is genuinely impressive - especially when so detached from reality.

Thank you @WeAllHaveWings I appreciate your insight - yet another example of the judgements we are all making on this thread about someone else's experiences. Your breezy overconfidence shines through :-)