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Accuracy of pill cutting
This was not a problem till I reached 9mg. Although I have an excellent pill cutter that leaves no residue, I don't have a lot of confidence in my accurate cutting of 5 or 1/2 of 10 to get to 9. Does it matter, over the month(s) that I'll be at 9? The pharmacy has only 1, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg tablets.
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My rheumatologist gave me scripts for 1, 2.5, 5 for 90 days once I started tapering. Easy to mix the different ones for the dose I needed until I got under 1 mg.
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1 ReactionI’m waiting for my pharmacy to fill my 2mg methylprednisolone script. Since the lowest dosage I have is 4mg, I had to cut a (really small) 4 mg pill into 4 sections just to be able to taper from 6 to 5. Apparently methylprednisolone does not come in 1 mg pills. Is anyone else on this medication?
@ellegeee
When I got to the odd numbers...for example, your 9, I would take 5mg and 4 or the 1mg tabs. I wanted all the odds to be in my favor!💞
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4 ReactionsCan you call a different pharmacy to see if they have the 4s or 2s? Then the doctor to call in either.
That's crazy making.
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1 ReactionI don't think any place in the US has other sizes, though of course they could be compounded. I'll ask for 1s and use a ton of them. Thanks.
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2 ReactionsOne would think your pharmacy could get a hold of what you need, boo. I only have the 5mg and dread the need to be dealing with all different mg. I have seen people here talk about other numbers. Glad to help.
My dad’s rheumatologist wrote scripts for all the different variations, with instructions to “take as directed,” do we could combine different ones for the correct dosage as mentioned above. With the larger doses, she recommended alternating, such as alternating 20 and 15 mgs. But I don’t think you’d want to do that when you get so low.
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2 ReactionsI just found out that the pharmacy can order the 2 mg methylprednisolone but I’ll have to pay out of pocket since it isn’t covered by my insurance. Since I (hopefully) will need the lower dosage in order to taper correctly, I’m willing to pay for it.
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3 ReactionsThat’s great about being able to get the smaller tablets—not great about insurance! But I think I’d be in the same boat with you you and still get the 2 mg doses to save my sanity and the worry about if it was the proper dose to prevent a flare while tapering.
Update: My pharmacy just advised that they can no longer order 2mg methylprednisolone (Medrol). I actually called Pfizer to confirm and they told me the lowest dosage they currently manufacture is 4mg which I already have. Now I have to call my Rheumy and ask why she prescribed Medrol rather than regular prednisone which I can get in all dosages.