Can you split Prednisone dose for GCA?

How is the Actemra working for you? Did it help to reduce prednisone? My husband is asking if you had any side effects from the Actemra. Also, he’s on 80 mg right now of the prednisone and we are contemplating having him take 60 mg in the morning and 20 mg in the evening. That’s my recommendation. He would prefer to do 50 mg in the morning and 30 mg in the evening. Yesterday he took 80 mg in the morning before they told us we could split it. He took an additional 20 mg in the evening and did great. He woke up headache free. And in much better spirits. The Chief of Rheumatology said 40/40 or to play with it and find what works so long as it’s 80 mg per 24 hour period.

I agree. We might have to try to get a new rheumatologist.

When I was on Prednisone for my GCA, I split my daily dosage anyway I wanted with no ill effects because I thought I was supposed to. Three 10mg tablets a day I assumed meant one every 8 hours, so that is what I did. I didn't realize that I COULD take it all at one time. After being off Prednisone for 6 months and being put back on it for 6 months prior to switching to Actemra, I just took the entre daily amount at one time. Felt no difference between the two ways.
Actemra worked fine for me for the 90 injectins I took (on each week). No side effects, and it cleared up my GCA to the point I was able to stop taking it after 90 weeks. There has been a slight expected "back slide" after stopping. I now have periods of tiredness during the day similar to the feeling I had prior to taking it. But, my doctors haven't pinpointed the reason. Many things can cause this including poor sleep habits, depression, medical, or other medications. I think I should have continued the Actemra, but at a lower dose. My clotting platelets were creeping lower with the Actemra and I have a touch of thrombocytopenia so that was an added incentive to cease the Actemra. Once off the Actemra, my platelets went back up.

The day after the last two injections of Actemra i have experienced blood pressure readings quite a bit lower than normal and unusual fatigue. Back to normal the following day.

Split dosage:
I would follow the recommendation of the Chief of Rheumatology.

I did drop a little on the Acterma, a couple months of alternate weeks instead of weekly, but that was to see if my infection would rise back up as opposed to withdrawal. As far as Prednsone, taper off as low as you can reasonable go for as long as you can. My first rheumatologist had me stop that abruptly at around 10mg. Had withdrawal like you see dope addicts in movies. Dry heaves, severe vomiting. I had to go back on 20mg and taper off again at MY speed down to about 1/2 mg every other day.

Yes, the Actemra is quite forgiving. No noticeable side effects while on it either. It IS rough on teeth and bones, he'll probably be advised to add calcium to his diet.
On Prednisone I had high sugar, I swelled up and looked like a "cabbage patch" doll (and I don't like cabbage patch dolls : ).

Thanks for the info on Actemra. I didn't know that about teeth and bones. I had read that was a possible issue with Prednasone. I've asked my husband's rheumatologist about adding calcium and Vit D since I've read over and over that it's suggested and she said no. I will ask again and ask her to explain why. We are going to get a baseline bone density test done in the next couple of weeks. Any idea why she'd say no?

Thanks for the info on Actemra. I didn't know that about teeth and bones. I had read that was a possible issue with Prednasone. I've asked my husband's rheumatologist about adding calcium and Vit D since I've read over and over that it's suggested and she said no. I will ask again and ask her to explain why. We are going to get a baseline bone density test done in the next couple of weeks. Any idea why she'd say no?