Have you confused the prednisolone tablet dose?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi again

Following my post this morning, in which I mentioned my concerns about the difficulty distinguishing between a 5 mg and 1 mg tablet. I've received several replies that echo my worry.

It has been pointed out that there are other preds that are easier tell apart, but the ones that I had were almost identical.

Have you had the same experience? perhaps it's something we could change?

2

I am very careful when dispensing my 5mg and 1mg tablets. It would be very easy to mix them up although the 5mg is bigger it is not hugely so. I can appreciate how easy it would be for people to end up taking the wrong dosage.

3

No.  Where I live there is a significant difference in the size of the 5 and 1 mg tablets.

4

Almost the same size in Kentucky, USA. I have to be very careful.

5

Hi Darlene

My problem tablets are made by a company called Genesis pharmaceuticals.

My new prescription collected today are totally different, the 5 mg twice the size of the 1 mg, so much easier to tell apart. These are made by Wockhardt.

I'm going to ask the pharmacist if he can keep me on these, I suspect it's a price driven problem, but surely that must be secondary when we could be in serious pain if we take the wrong dose?

Regards Jan

6

Thanks Anhaga

Today I collected another prescription, same Prednisolone, but different manufacturer. Great because these are much better, the 5 mg being twice the size of the 1 mg.

I'll enquire if my pharmacist can keep these in stock in future.

Problem hopefully solved.

Regards Jan

7

Hi Silver

Please see my replies to Anhaga & Darlene.

Might be worth checking with your pharmacy?

Regards

Jan

8

I note that mine seem to be made by two different companies, 5 mg Teva-prednisone, which apparently is also available in a 50 mg size, and 1 mg Winpred, which is only available in 1 mg size and seems to be the generic name. I'd say the 5s are a good three times the volume of the 1s.

9

Yes, the same here in Vancouver, WA USA....almost the same size.

Walgreens puts the 1 mg in a smaller container than the 5 mg. tablet so I know the difference by the container.  I still have to be careful.

 

10

Next time I go to the drugstore I'm going to congratulate them on their choice of generics!  (NS, Can)t  

11

Just to make it more interesting, here in Japan, 5mg is smaller then 1mg tablet. However, 5mg is pink and 1mg is white, so it is easy to tell them apart.

12

Thank you, Jan. I shall.

13

one wonders what the manufacturers do when they get mixed up.

14

Whatever container you get your tablets in - get a waterproof felt tip pen and write the number on the outside. If it is a bottle then use a sticky label. 

Use a dosette box and dispense your pred tablets once a week when you can do it in peace and quiet and be sure which bottle is which. 

If you have difficulty tell the pharmacy who will possibly dispense the tablets in better labelled containers or put a label in big type. 

Unfortunately, I think it is very unlikely you could persuade a particular company to change - they would have to get a lot of new equipment! 

15

Thank you Eileen

As you can read from the other replies seems like there are dozens of differing packaging, my problem ones are in blister packs, identical in size and number, even the box in which they come is the same pink!

But my new scrip is of different manufacturer, different colour outer packaging and completely differing size if tablets, ergo no problem.

Yes we can all dispence into suitable weekly pouches but that doesn't stop the worry of opening the little box and seeing in my case 6 identical tablets, how much easier to have a colour difference / shape /size

Jan

16

I keep all mine in the original packing and write the number on the outside - and dispense one pack at a time so they don't get mixed up. 

In the UK it is unusual to get them always from the same manufacturer - but I think pred in the UK has a habit of always being small and white, whatever the dose!

17

I've had about 4/5 different pharma companies.  All white (if non enteric) some do vary in size between 1 and 5's.  Have also found one pharma doesn’t mould cut on 5's - had to get them replaced at pharmacy.  All – at least in the UK – are in blister packs and clearly marked.  Good advice about dosette box and dispense when you can concentrate on them.

18

I just leave them in the bottle they come in from the pharmacy.I

I take out the amount of 5's I need, put the lid on and set the

bottle back on the counter.   Take out the amount of l;s I need

from that bottle put the lid on and set back on counter.  I've

never had a problem mixing them up.     Pretty simple.

19

Indeed, let's just hope their quality control systems are up to the job.

20

Hi Eileen, my doc prescribes me the gastro resstant pred, which are coloured, red 5mg grey 2.5 as yet not down to 1mg.

hope the Canada trip was enjoyable.