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Predinsone at once or divided?

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Posted 4/3/2009 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,
I am on Lialda 4 tablets

starting taking Predinsone 40 mg total , 20mg twice a day (morning and evening)
My dr. is hoping to get the inflammation down so I can eat more fiber and get things moving and vary my diet.

Started on Monday Night, Now its Friday afternoon.

I don't like it's doing anything. I feel like I'm just taking Lialda! I'm not in bleeding diarrhea (I wasn't before the predinsone either), just can feel internal inflammation rectum. Stools are painful to pass usually once every day or two. and have alot of mucus My abodmen spends the whole day cramping, cold and in pain and am very fatigued of course. By body is trying constant trying to eliminate waste but is struggling. I am on a very simple diet, Fresh Homemade juice from a juicer (apple-pear-celery juice), cream of rice/soft pulverized oatmeal, sweet potato, and a food powder for UC made that helps provide nutirents.
Posted 4/3/2009 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
Forget to add: my question is do you think I should be taking predinsonse all in once dose? How long does it usually take to work? Predisone in the pass would work quickly for me almost instantly but that was over a year ago.
Posted 4/3/2009 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
I know ya can split up Lialda, but I've always taken my prednisone all at once in the morning.... like it says. I'd ask dr about it...I'm not sure what to tell ya.
Posted 4/3/2009 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor said the pred is more effective if it's split out through the day...something to do with our circidian rhythms or something. Anyway, when I was on 40mg, I took 10 mg 4 times a day; breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime. As I decreased my dose, I dropped the latest one each time.
Posted 4/3/2009 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
I've always been instructed to take pred all at once and first thing in the am so you don't have issues with sleeping, one main concern by splitting them is often people will forget to take their second dose of the day and with pred you don't want to messing around with mistakes like that and if you want to be able to sleep taking it first thing early am is best, I've also been told there is no benefit to splitting the dose.

:)
Posted 4/3/2009 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
Well if I am not wrong, I was always suggested by all the doctors not to take the Pred at bed time as it causes lot of damage since the Pred is not absorbed by the body as there is no physical activity at that time. All the doctors advised me to have the medicine in the morning alongwith milk instead of water. Besides this one has to take Calcium with Alpha D to reduce the side effects of osteoporaris and joint pains. Please consult your Doc regarding this but I repeat please do not take it at bed time otherwise you will have severe joint pains.
It takes about a week to 10 days to show positive result.
Posted 4/3/2009 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
Well if I am not wrong, I was always suggested by all the doctors not to take the Pred at bed time as it causes lot of damage since the Pred is not absorbed by the body as there is no physical activity at that time. All the doctors advised me to have the medicine in the morning alongwith milk instead of water. Besides this one has to take Calcium with Alpha D to reduce the side effects of osteoporaris and joint pains. Please consult your Doc regarding this but I repeat please do not take it at bed time otherwise you will have severe joint pains.
It takes about a week to 10 days to show positive result.
Posted 4/3/2009 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
I took it at bedtime and never had joint pain issues. Or insomnia. So who knows. I started pred on a Monday, and by Tuesday had definite improvement. By Wednesday my symptoms had pretty much disappeared.
Posted 4/3/2009 6:08 PM (GMT 0)

PSA.Delhi said...
Well if I am not wrong, I was always suggested by all the doctors not to take the Pred at bed time as it causes lot of damage since the Pred is not absorbed by the body as there is no physical activity at that time. All the doctors advised me to have the medicine in the morning alongwith milk instead of water. Besides this one has to take Calcium with Alpha D to reduce the side effects of osteoporaris and joint pains. Please consult your Doc regarding this but I repeat please do not take it at bed time otherwise you will have severe joint pains.
It takes about a week to 10 days to show positive result.

Correct, as I stated, taking it first thing early in the am will commonly ensure you won't have sleep problems at night.  The milk suggestion is mainly because the pills have such an awful aftertaste, but be careful if you have any lactose intolernace issues, then you'll want to be sure to use lactaid products (milk or pills) or you could take primadophilus reuteri probiotic which aids with lactose issues but back on topic, how long it takes to show progress is individual, the very first time I was on pred (18 yrs ago) by the next day I felt amazing (that was with 40mg start), but unfortunately for me pred no longer has any affect on me.

:)

Posted 4/3/2009 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all.  I left a message with the Dr. and am waiting a call back.  Right now I've noticed a little trouble sleeping so, I have a bit of a sore throat.  I think since its not working it and its minorily starting to affect my sleep maybe a full dose at once in the morning would be better. 

    I am really struggling to get calories into my diet and all food (causes pain) and my muscles are cracking (though I suspect this is because I have been on such a low protein diet, calorie diet for a long time). 

sweetmelody, I take Lialdla all at once, it would be interesting to see how it would affect me to split it up.

Fruitgirl,  I'm glad its working for you I hope it will start to kick in for me too.  I'm starting to think its better to decided per person on whether to spllit up predinsone or not but like you said we are no drs. (even though I distrust some of what Dr say)

PSADelhi, I am taking Vit. D3, B12 (I am vegan, though i take VSL#3 probiotic) and am going to pick up some calicum citrate at the Apothecary this weekend. 

Pb4,  I fear your point might be right,  I am much worse off than before.  A year ago I could have a whole jar of peanut butter and go into a flare and the predinsone would nip it in the bud (same dose too I believe).  Now its been 3 1/2 days on this easy to digest diet (cream of rice, oatmeal,(I would be doing no grains but I need calories!), Ulcerative Colitis Food powder, Juice from a juicer (apple-pear-celery))  and still nothing.

I really can't function, I'm in constant pain, don't go to school, work or anything.  I don't even feel like playing computer games, I live day by day wondering how I'm going to get enough calories while reducing pain, all foods cause pain and suspend the digestion process but the ones I have now are the best I can come with for my given situation, otherwise I'd be bleeding out of control.

I think I am heading for 6mp or something since I have never been in remission.  The only reason I don't bleed dirrehea is because I'm so restricted all the time but I have significant fatigue and constipation, rectal burning,burning of the eyes, and parts of skin.

I would like to try a water fast sometime (I have tried a juice fast and it worked well at first but I think I waited till my condition got to bad to try) but right now I am too low weight (Mid 120's, I am 5'10 used to be 155-165) and too nutriently depleted.

Sorry some of my thoughts are repeated but I have trouble functioning with all this pain and nutrition delpeted.

   

Posted 4/3/2009 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
Well I sure hope the pred kicks in for you soon....usually docs will put you on a maintenance med and then on pred so the pred can offer some relief until the maintenance drugs kick in.  How long have you been on the Lialda?

Feel better soon :)
Posted 4/3/2009 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, wow, I'm sorry you are so very sick. I hope you find something that works for you soon!
Posted 4/3/2009 7:46 PM (GMT 0)

I don't have a bunch of noticable side effects when I take prednisone but I wouldn't want to take 20 mg before bed!! 

Posted 4/3/2009 7:52 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking 60 mg a day for 3 weeks. I take it all in the morning and was advised to take it by 9:00 a.m. This does still seem to keep me awake but I suspect it is better to take it all in the morning. Some nights my sleeping pills don't even help. I am glad to take it all at once because I do get forgetful when I have to take pills throughout the day at different times.
Posted 4/3/2009 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
I posted a longer reply but for some reason it didnt get posted and deleted.  For me in my condition that's like writing an essay.  Here a shorter version

Wating for a call for the dr.

I am having a little trouble sleeping so maybe I should divide it up.  I

Fruitgirl, hope it continues to work for you and hope it will work for me soon, may we both be off the pred. soon and healthy again.

PSADelhi, I have muscle weakness but I think that's because of a prolonged low protein diet, low calorie diet.  I take Vit d3, B12 (vegan though take VSL#3 Probioitics) and will pick up some Calcium citrate

pb4, I fear you may be right, Predinsone a year ago (same dosage I belive) would stop a flare up from a whole jar of peanutbutter almost insantly,  but now 3 1/2 days on this simple diet and nothing.  

I'm probably heading for 6mp because I'm never in remission and the only reason I don't bleed direreha is cause I'm so restricted though I have internal inflammation for sure (I can feel the burn!) but I can't function like this.  I don't even have the energy to play a computer game really. too much pain all the time.

Right now I'm eating and the inflammation goes up no matter what unless I starve my self but I can't do that I'm nuturitently and low weight.  I live day to day trying to get enough calories in without falling of the edge.  I've been in pain all the time, out of school and work and all activities (stay at home all day) so long I've forgotten what it's like to live.  LIFE IS ALL PAIN, but hopefully things will be better soon.  It helps to have a community like this.

Sorry if my thoughts are cluttered but I have trouble funcitioning well in such pain and nutritionly depleted state.

 

Posted 4/3/2009 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
I see not that my message had already been posted.  Either the computer was acting up or my mind, wouldn't be suprised it if was the latter

Posted 4/3/2009 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Lialda for about 2 1/2 weeks.  I have noticed an effect but not enough (though Dr said it can take 1-2 months to fully work).  I hope so, I'd rather avoid 6mp. 

Just got off the phone with the dr.  He said you can take it all the predinsone at once if you want and probably should if its effecting your sleep a little.

He told me to hold tight, ( I see him next week) sometimes the predinsone takes a while to work.  I will let everyone know what happens.

 

Posted 4/3/2009 9:20 PM (GMT 0)

Prednisone makes me want to eat all the time - munchies!

I see you eat grains, I assume juice is from raw food.  I don't know about you but I was told NOthing raw, no grains, etc.  I eat white bread, rice cereal, well cooked veggies - few - small amounts of meat (I know you are vegan) and lots of peanut butter.  I have problems with anything with high fiber, etc.

Sure hope you get results soon from the medicaton.  Prednisone worked in about 4 days for me but I have a mild to moderate case.

ElaineNY

Posted 4/4/2009 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Elaine, I hope I can gain some weight I am very low now so hopefully. Predinsone needs to work soon hopefully, its been 4 days now so maybe it will kick in soon like it will for you, though unfortunately it doesn't feel like it.

Peanutbutter would kill me though, glad you can tolerate it, enjoy it!. Juice is about the best thing that I tolerate. It is made at home in a juicer out of fresh fruit, pear,apple with celery(neutral green vegetable). I would avoid grains but I have been calorie starved for so long its the only way to get em (combined with steamed veggies. I would eat low fiber but than everything gets stuffed up even more so I try and get just enough to push things along but its so painful. Hopefully Preds work soon. I think I'm deceptively bad. Sometimes I feel like I just want to eat more than this simple diet and say to the Dr., SEE HOW BAD IT IS?!
Posted 4/4/2009 1:51 AM (GMT 0)

Once again good luck.  Just seems like there is something high calorie out there you can eat or drink - like older people eat to keep up their weight.  I have gained about 6 lbs. from prednisone and I eat cheese, ice cream, white bread, eggs, pasta, rice cereal and just about anything bland and low residue.  Just feels like to me you have something else going on - digestive disorder or something - does not sound like JUST UC to me. 

Just hope you find what works - first of all prednisone and then a maintenance for you.

ElaineNY

Posted 4/4/2009 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
My pharmacist said you can do either but recommended taking it all in one does.

Also, for food try applesauce or roast chicken. My boyfriend was awesome and made me a whole chicken when I was flaring and in the process of being diagnosed, so that I could just pull what I wanted off the bone for meals, then made soup with it. You might also want to try looking into nutrient shakes-I'm pretty sure that one of the brands (boost or insure or something) is nondairy. Also, Naked brand smoothies I've found are great when I'm having trouble with solids, just make sure you don't get the ones with fiber. They have a really good banana chocolate protein shake.
Posted 4/4/2009 12:21 PM (GMT 0)
Nothing worse than letting several of those pills hit the back of your tongue. When we were taught "bitter back nine" in school to remember the cranial nerve that innervated the back of the tongue, they should have used this as the example. GAG!
Posted 4/4/2009 3:57 PM (GMT 0)

fruitgirl said...
I took it at bedtime and never had joint pain issues. Or insomnia. So who knows. I started pred on a Monday, and by Tuesday had definite improvement. By Wednesday my symptoms had pretty much disappeared.

Hi Fruitgirl

I still feel one should not take it during bedtime. It is my experience which is advising you all. Pred is a silent killer or what I term it as a termite which eats up the whole body and the immunity levels go for a six. The problem in having it during bedtime used to be that I would have my joints locked and had to crawl to go to washroom. Milk is suggested to make up the deficiency of calcium. Another important aspect is have your sugar levels checked regularly, if you are on steroids/pred.

Cheers and good health to you all.

Sorry if my views are a little harsh.

 

Posted 4/4/2009 4:23 PM (GMT 0)

All our experiences here is what helps us all.  We are all different but can see what COULD happen, etc.  I take mine early morning.  Just upped to 25 mg. for two days to see if I can stop the blood/mucous mix.  Otherwise, feeling pretty good.  I like what prednisone does for my arthritis/joint pain and my skin and the extra energy but know I cannot take it the rest of my life at this level anyway - and I am OLD!  LOL

ElaineNY

Posted 4/4/2009 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Elaine

Have you ever tried Sallaki/Boswellia for your knees and arthritis. It is very effective. Infact lots of people in Germany are also having it to cure arthritis. You may be able to get rid of Pred with Boswellia. My brother takes only Sallaki/Boswellia 400 Mg three times a day and gets into remission. He has stopped Pred for the last over 5 years now.

Pred is not good in long run. The skin becomes so tender that it can cause problems, as it did to me.
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