Prednisone Question! How to take

I always take all 40 mg first thing in the morning. That's what my doctor told me to do. I don't know if it's supposed to help the flare end faster, but it makes it easier to sleep at night.

"Tapering" usually describes when you are coming off of prednisone, you will take 35mg for a few days, then 30, then 25, etc.

Hi,

Unless you have been specifically told by your GP to stagger the dosage, it's really best to take the whole lot in one go (and from the sound of the bottle instructions, that's what you're meant to be doing). Bear in mind that your body would naturally produce corticosteroids in the morning, so this is the best time for you to take the Pred - preferably with breakfast. As already mentioned, you're less likely to have trouble with insomnia if you take the dose early in the day.

Good luck,

Make sure you are ALWAYS taking pred with food!

I've taken mine in two doses or all at once in the AM. To stay with your body's natural rhythm it is best to take it before 9:00 am. However, at the higher doses, I found that it didn't seem to "last" all day and by the afternoon/early evening I was cramping and uncomfortable again. That's when I started taking it in two doses.

I second Beth's suggestion about the calcium and vit D!

I use the chewable ones when on pred...

make sure you get calcium and make sure you get potassium - banana's and potatoes.


I have to take mine in the morning also or I can't sleep.

Prednisone can suck the calcium right out of your bones. This is a good reason to have a DEXA (bone density) scan if you have been on pred for more than a few weeks. Doctors SHOULD warn patients about this, but rarely do! I found out about my osteopenia from chiropractic x-rays a year after my first nine month stint on pred.