Everything I've read, including what the pharmacist told me was to take it with food. This is because it can cause upset stomach and gastritis. That said I normally took my medications including prednisone before eating and never had an issue with an upset stomach. It would be a good question to ask your doctor or rheumatologist. I think it depends on the individual and the warning is to prevent an issue from taking the prednisone. I normally get up at 5 am and have a routine of things to do after which I take my medications. Then it's sometimes an hour or longer before I eat anything. I'm sure others have similar and different routines when taking meds.

I always keep an Ensure nutritional shake (to protect my stomach from the prednisone), water bottle and medication at my bedside so I don’t have to get out of bed on those rough days.

This is my second round of PMR. I used to make myself get up early, eat breakfast, just to take the prednisone. I usually was stiff and sore until some time in the afternoon. Then I felt great until bed time. I recently started taking my prednisone (currently 7 mg) in the middle of the night, when I wake up to use the bathroom. I only eat about 1/2 ounce of cheese (which I keep on my. Nightstand), and that is enough. Game changer: I wake up without any pain or stiffness - and usually feel good straight through bedtime. It’s taken me 3 years to figure this out.

I've had a slice of toast with peanut butter and jelly and that seems to help when I'm not hungry but need to take my meds. I've also had just a protein shake.

I pack a small waterproof lunch bag with an ice pack, an Activia and a Danone immunity booster, which I keep overnight by my bed. When I wake up around 6 to go to the bathroom I go ahead and take my dose of Prednisone,